Slimline Dish Update?

Installations have been reported, it is basically seems to be as they run out of AT9s. One report on either DBStalk or SatelliteGuys did a careful compare of signal strength, peaking each dish with the same meter and the Slimline gave a slightly higher reading on the receiver.

All the ones I saw posted were by installers. I have not found one online yet but I have not been searching too hard (my locals come in fine OTA)

You can find them on everyone's favorite auction site if you plan to install it on your own... If you want to go through Directv, you are at the mercy of the local installer.

I read the same review - and the numbers were so close - quite frankly, I've had more variation when I plugged in my WB68 Multiswitch in reception than what was reported.

(If you search for it early this year, my Ka number went up 8 points WITH the multiswitch - which I found bizarre as I assumed it to be a passive switch - as it does not need a seperate power supply).

That 8 points (from 92 without and 100 with) is much greater than the 1 or 2 points shown between the AT9 and the Slimline.

An issue for me is the weight of this dish compared to the AT9. Since the info I read indicates that it's not much smaller than the KaKu, does anyone know if there's much difference in the weight between the two?

It's supposed to be half the weight. I believe the reflector is plastic but I could be wrong.

I believe the official number was 30% weight reduction.

It was supposed to be smaller and lighter.

We now know the surface size is not even 5% smaller.

Weight on the AT9 is 32 lbs. I really doubt that the other is 50% less.

AT-9 weights 37 lbs- dish + mast

Slimline weighs 33 lbs- dish + mast.

The "SlimLine" is 32.25" x 22.50" = 725.625 sq in surface area as compared to 29.50" x 25.50" = 752.25 sq in surface area for the AT9. (SL is 26.625 sq in smaller.

Is it possible to post a link to some pics of the "slimline" dish? TIA

You know, I thought the AT9 was 36 lbs and the Slimeline was 32lbs and actually typed that - but decided to double check it before I hit submit. I checked the SolidSignal website which lists shipping on the AT9 at 32 lbs. Another site also used 32lbs shipping...so that is the figure I used.

I searched for 45 minutes for a definitive answer as to the weight of the Slimline and could not find it - so again - I used the 32 lbs figure from SolidSignal for shipping the AT9

http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_...Day2-22-06.pdf

Page 31

Thanks, meany. That looks much better than the AT9 dish. The LNB setup on the AT9 seems like such a hacked together piece of junk. Defiinitely v.1. I'm waiting for the first MPEG4 national HD channel to launch before I install the new dish. Thanks, again.

Quite simply, I don't think a wife or anyone that has a problem with the appearance of an AT9 will find the Slimline 1 bit more acceptable.

It's not a piece of art for God's sake.

FWIW, I just ran out to grab some dinner at a resturant - and on the way there was a D* white install truck 10 houses down the street (remember its past 9pm local). Now, I saw the truck there on Wednesday, lol, and was wondering wtf was up with that.

So, yes, again I stop and go ring the doorbell (as the lights were all on - the garage door open and 10 cars outside, I figure they aren't going to be asleep) and ask to speak the the D* Installer. Owner asks me in - he and his bud are all watching football in HD and drinking while the D* installer is working.

Apparently another installer had been there 2 days ago but wasnt going to go up on top of his 2 1/2 story house - so this guy was doing it today - wasn't the same installer - and he had not been there for 3 days straight.

Got his cellphone as I wanted to pay him off the books to adjust my AT9 to make sure the Ka feed is peaked correctly.

I asked him about the slimlines and he gave the typical "they are not out yet". I told him they were and being installed in other markets - he said they have only one for demo in the shop to learn how to install it.

I stated they probably want to use up the AT9s in stock before rolling out the slimlines. He then confided to me that was correct.

He also stated that the slimlines are easier to adjust than the AT9. I didn't get into it with him about what that means as he is going to come by in several days "off the clock".

But again, this a very large market which was in the first batch up with the HD-LILs.

So, it seems they are just trying to use up the old stock AT9 first.

The slimline is currently being installed in our DMA, as dealers run out of AT9s.

Just had an AT9 installed by D* installer, and my single strength across all sats is no higher than 76.

Is this normal for the AT9, or did the D* installed just do a crappy install?

Also I am getting nothing from Sat 99, has this bird launched yet?

I vote for crappy install.

IF your receiver is an H20, it normally only reads in the 70s. However, a crappy install is very probable . As for 99, your area might not have any spotbeams coming from 99. It is up and operational

longrider is correct. My H20 gets everything in the high 70s, while all the other receivers are in the high 80s and 90s.

My AT-9 was installed on Thursday. My new H20 reports signal strength in the 70s and the HR 20 shows in the 90s. My H20 has about 200 ft of cable between it and the dish. 103 reports signal failure, yet I get the two MPEG-4 HD stations available to me. I found that to be a pleasent surprise. My installer said that 99 isn't even turned on. He also offered to come back and install a slimline when they're available. I'll only take him up on it if I have problems with the AT-9. My first rain even with the new dish is today.

Bill

Thanks everyone for the great feedback!

Sorry I should have provided more information:
Yes I have two H20's along with 3 other various non-HD D* devices.
I'm located in the Philadelphia PA market - "GO EAGLES"

New Question:
Can anyone tell me what HD channels are using the MPEG-4 standard? Sorry if this is a stupid question!

To add - I went up on the ladder today to inspect the work and found the following:
1) No grounding wire installed to the AT9
2) Only three (3) screws placed in the main bracket - which is making me nervous given the weight of the AT9!

Will_Mor - My sat 103 is also reporting 0 signal, but I get all the HD channels plus the all the local HD. My installer said the same thing about sat 99, but I did not want to take his word on it. Also, I will have my first rain today as well.

Well I'm off to bitch to the D* CSR to see what they are going to do for me about the crappy dish install.

I'll keep you all posted on how I make out.

70s for many transponders is a normal reading on the H20. It displays a relatively lower SS reading than other receivers. This lower display of signal strength does not affect actual reception and doesn't increase rain fade. Many people have reported less rain fade problems with the H20 than older receivers. As always, YMMV.

Call D* and demand that they come back and ground the dish and coax per NEC (National Electrical Code). This involves running a bonding ground wire from both the dish mast and the coax indoor entry point to the main electrical power ground source, which is often below the electric meter box.

This image shows typical grounding for an antenna, but the dish ground would be the same. Both coax entry point and antenna/dish mast must be grounded to power ground.

Just spoke with the D* CSR concerning the poor installation of the AT9. They wanted to give me a $70 credit, which I refused for now - they are going to send out a "Lead Technician" on Tuesday to correct the installation issues.

We'll see how that goes!

Also asked about the new Slimline dish - D* CSR, has no idea of what I was talking about!

Again, thanks all for all the information provided.

Just curious, why did you refuse a "sorry for the trouble" $70 bill credit?

Will do ARXAW - thanks for the detailed drawing - I'll be sure to share this information with the Lead installer on Tuesday!

It's pretty sad that we the customer have to educate the so called professional!