If you have trouble with your Dish tailgater not finding satellites, there may be a problem with the location.
Some obstacles prevent the tailgater from finding the satellites. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to resolve the issue.
If your Dish tailgater is unable to pick up a satellite signal, reboot your dish receiver. It is the first step for troubleshooting and may solve issues you have with your tailgater. To reboot, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.
Nothing is more devastating than a faulty Dish tailgater. If the error persists, some part of your dish may be damaged.
Check the cables and the internal components of the system. It is best to find out the cause of the problem to apply the appropriate solution.
Why Dish Tailgater Not Finding Satellites?
There are two main reasons why your Dish tailgater is not finding satellites. If you know which is causing your problem, you can choose the right solution to fix it quickly.
Obstructions to the Tailgate’s View
Trees, branches, severe weather, and other things may be blocking your tailgate’s view of the southern sky.
Coax Cable not Connected Properly
Make sure the coax cable between your tailgater and receiver is connected correctly.
Faulty Device
If you mount your tailgater on the bottom side of your vehicle, there’s a big chance it gets damaged.
Partial Signal Loss And Complete Signal Loss
These two conditions can lead to partial signal loss and complete signal loss. Both can be resolved by unplugging the power cord for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in again.
Partial Signal Loss
Partial signal loss may be due to obstructions to the tailgate’s view of the southern sky and improper connection of the coax cable.
Complete Signal Loss
This happens during severe weather and if the cables are damaged. If it’s the former, simply reboot your device.
Note: It may take up to 5 minutes for the receiver to power back on.
How to Fix Dish Tailgater Not Finding Satellites
A dish tailgater allows you to see the best entertainment programs while you are on an adventure.
It ensures that you don’t miss your favorite shows when camping, RVing, and tailgating. So, when it cannot find satellites, it can be pretty annoying.
Solution #1: Check for Damaged Cables
If your dish stops functioning, but you cannot fix it with a simple reboot, there may be problems with the connection.
The cables might have been damaged. When this happens, you can easily send back the device to the company.
- Open the carrying box used to cover the tailgater.
- Split the rubber tubing to check for damaged wires.
- Cut down damaged wires and re-solder some new ones.
- Glue up the rubber and add some amalgamating tape.
Note: Even if only a single wire is broken, your dish tailgater will not find satellites. Reconnect the damaged cable to make the device work again.
Solution #2: Reboot Your Dish Receiver
Like other connection issues, a simple reboot of the dish receiver may be the answer. If there is bad weather, reboot your dish receiver.
- Unplug the receiver power cord from the electrical outlet.
- Wait at least 10 seconds.
- Plug it back again.
This might solve the issue. But, if it does not, move on to the next solution.
If the weather is good, but you still encounter the same issue, there could be a glitch with the receiver. You may need to discharge the receiver completely.
- Unplug the receiver from the power source.
- Press the power button on the receiver and hold it for 15 seconds.
- Plug the receiver back and wait for 10 seconds.
- Press the power button on and give it time to start.
- Check to see if the issue is resolved.
Note: If this does not work, contact customer support. The problem may be with the provider. It may also be a hardware issue.
Solution #3: Check for Obstacles That Can Interfere with the Signal
Make sure nothing is blocking the dish tailgater’s view of the southern sky.
Tree branches and buildings, for instance, can interfere with the transmission of the signal between the antenna and the satellite.
The antennas usually look for the Western Arc satellites, which are found above the equator.
The satellites are typically located in the south of Arizona and California, but they can sometimes be farther west above the Pacific Ocean.
So, if you experience a Dish tailgater not finding all satellites, move the antenna to other areas.
Solution #4: Is There Severe Weather In Your Area?
Anytime it is raining or bad weather, your Dish satellite may experience a partial or complete loss of signal.
When this happens, unplug the receiver power cord from your electrical outlet. Wait for at least 10 seconds before plugging it back in.
If this doesn’t solve the not finding satellite problem, get a bigger dish antenna.
If you live in an area with a rainfall season, a bigger antenna will cater to the event your signal is lost. Talk to your provider if they can upsize your dish antenna.
A weak dish can also be a problem. Breeze can quickly move it, causing issues now and then, especially during bad weather.
Solution #5: Reposition Your Dish Tailgater
Check if your Dish tailgater is mounted on a sturdy surface. If it keeps getting shifted due to the surface, you mount it on. There is a possibility that it will not find satellites.
To solve this, reposition your dish tailgater.
- Place your Dish tailgater on a smooth surface to avoid unnecessary movement.
- Mount it in a position where you don’t have to move it often.
- Make sure it faces the southern sky.
Note: If your dish tailgater is not in the proper position, you need to adjust it to have a smooth user experience.
Solution #6: Reauthorize Your Service
If you have not used your Dish tailgater for over 14 days, you need to get the equipment and the programming reauthorized.
Consider this solution if you are also receiving the Dish promotional channels and PPV channels only.
- Set the Dish outdoor system and make sure you are receiving satellite signals.
- Sign in to your Dish account.
- Select Dish Outdoors.
- Find the Reauthorize Now button and press it to send a signal for reauthorization.
- Allow at least 5 minutes for the reauthorization process to complete.
Note: Your service will be out during the reauthorization process but should be back once complete.
In most cases, the Dish tailgater not finding a satellite issue can be resolved by rebooting your device. It takes only a few minutes to unplug the cord and plug it back in again. Wait for about 10 seconds to give time for the power supply to dissipate entirely.
Read Next: How to Turn off Standby mode on Dish?
Last Thoughts
If you are having a Dish tailgater not finding satellites, this post will help you understand what causes the problem and how to fix it.
If you have tried all the steps mentioned above but still face issues, contact the Dish Outdoor support team or your antenna manufacturer for additional assistance.
If you find this post helpful but continue to have difficulty with your Dish tailgater setup, our blog can help with your problem.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.