mlh
Walker, Louisiana
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Joined: 12/07/2006
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I just wanted to offer this tip. I see a lot of posts about problems aiming satellite dishes. I bought a tripod and used it for a while and it was very difficult to get it level and KEEP IT LEVEL while turning the dish. I often took 30 minutes or more to aim it. I bought a Home Depot bucket and a bag of cement and stuck a pole in the bucket making sure it was level before it dried. It IS a little extra weight to carry, but for someone who NEEDS their tv as much as me, that was ok. The first time I used it, it took less than 30 seconds to find the satellites. Also, the tripod was top heavy which meant you had to anchor it in the ground. A lot of campgrounds have gravel which is very difficult to get an anchor into. All you have to do with the bucket is make sure it is on level ground. If not you just need to shim it and it is not going to move. Hope this helps someone.
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DonC
Twin Falls, ID
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Joined: 05/14/2007
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I think something like this would work as well...umbrella stands
http://www.target.com/Umbrella-Bases-Stands-Patio-Furniture/b?ie=UTF8&node=14226971
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mlh
Walker, Louisiana
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Joined: 12/07/2006
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Some of the heavier ones may work as long as the pipe is level once you tighten it down.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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total cost $10.00 - build time half hour - set up time about 10 minutes
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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Eycom
Fl to NY
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Joined: 09/12/2004
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A fulltimer turned me on to the Bullseye years ago. Compact, top quality, idiot proof, versatile mounting, and absolutely stays where you place it. Worth every dime.
F-350 PSD
Lance 1121
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RHR
Tecumseh, Kansas
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Joined: 02/09/2004
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I also vote for a bullseye. I have had one for approximately 5 years. The thing I like is if you use the stake or brackets to mount it you can remove to screw knobs to remove the dish and put it away. When you get back a few hours later you just put the dish back on the stake or bracket hooked up to most anywhere and your back to watching TV in a couple of minutes
Hitchhiker 2 LS RKTG 32.5
Chevy 3500 Duramax,Allison 2004 SRW
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creeper
Richmond Hill, Georgia
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Joined: 12/22/2003
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I find it very easy to level/plumb my tripod, that's because I don't do it. The Align-a-site takes all that leveling nonsense away...
Makes setting up the tripod very easy without carrying heavy concrete or patio umbrella mounts. If I'm on a hard surface I have a 5 gallon plastic water jug. We use it when we dry camp and need water and use it for a weight for a the tripod. I've never had to use it for that purpose yet. Usually I just stake the tripod down.
Try putting a concrete bucket on a sloped campsite.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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creeper wrote:I find it very easy to level/plumb my tripod, that's because I don't do it. The Align-a-site takes all that leveling nonsense away... .
seems to me that all the AAS does is show you where to point, you still have to set up the dish, aim it towards that "hole" etc.??? I'd put that money towards a VueCube, Winegard, etc. myself.
bumpy
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Larry Cohen
Mobile, AL
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Joined: 04/23/2006
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I vote for the Bullseye mount too....only problem is there is an indefinite or permanent hold on availability due to the original maker selling to another company that doesn't seem to have its act together...I sent them an email 3 weeks ago to see if they are alive...no response yet...they were supposed to resume production last May....not a good sign....too bad...it's a great product
2006 Mountain Aire 43
Wife and 4 sugar gliders are co-pilots, along with Garmin Nuvi 660
05 Honda Pilot with Air Force One supplemental brake
Blue Ox Aventa II towbar
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creeper
Richmond Hill, Georgia
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Joined: 12/22/2003
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Bumpyroad wrote:creeper wrote:I find it very easy to level/plumb my tripod, that's because I don't do it. The Align-a-site takes all that leveling nonsense away... .
seems to me that all the AAS does is show you where to point, you still have to set up the dish, aim it towards that "hole" etc.??? I'd put that money towards a VueCube, Winegard, etc. myself.
bumpy
Then you would be wrong. You don't have to plumb your tripod, bucket of cement or patio stand. Plumbing the mast is the most important step of setting up a dish, yet it is often the least adhered to. I've helped many campers set up their dish. The first thing I do it whip out my level and check their mast and nearly every time it's not plumb.
The AAS allows you to completely skip the step of plumbing the mast, regardless of terrain. After setting the AZ, Elevation and skew I often don't have to move the dish.
An added feature of the AAS is being able to find holes through trees.
I just couldn't see spending $600 on cube that you leave laying on the ground outside your campsite.
But, who know maybe one day I'll get tired of spending less then 15 minutes setting up my dish.
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