What does searching for satellite signal mean when trying to hook up a satellite receiver and TV in a campground?

My wild guess would be: The satellite antenna you brought with you to the campground is not

accurately pointed at the satellite you're trying to receive from, and consequently the receiver

can't hear the bird.

Either that, or else there are trees in the way between you and the satellite.

Whatever the specific root cause, that message means the receiver isn't hearing any satellite signal.

So in addition to the suggestions above, some others are:

-- a bird sat on the end of the feed at the focus of the dish, and dropped a moist, radio-opaque load on it;

-- the cable came loose at the dish;

-- the cable got pinched in a hinge somewhere between the dish and the receiver, and broke;

-- the cable came loose at the back of the receiver;

-- a power supply failed somewhere, and the LNB at the dish isn't getting any power;

-- the "front end" of the receiver has failed;