(buying and) Installing Satellite myself. Pointers? things to watch out for?

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › (buying and) Installing Satellite myself. Pointers? things to watch out for?

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Regs

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Snowflake

#291682 20-Jan-2010 23:47

Regs: i was on my roof on sunday looking at the dish i bought from trademe less than two years ago because it had rusted on the dish. i was going to sand and repaint to make it look a bit better. when i got up there i noticed that all the supports were almost rusted away too and its probably going to blow off in the next big wind.....

talk about "murphys law".....! tonight is windy as hell and I have a shaky signal :| might be replacing the dish sooner, rather than later. perhaps time to install a UHF and switch to HD..

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sxz

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#294946 31-Jan-2010 16:41

So I'm at Kuratau with the 60cm dish I bought of trademe.

We have it set up through our strong 4651 receiver to the TV. Have followed all the directions and hav eit pointed in the right direction. WIth the height angle, I think we have it right, but its one of those arm style ones with the LNB coming off an arm at the bottom (like all sky ones I see around) and understand that effects the angle.

My worry is no matter where I point it the TV only shows 20-25 signal and 10-20 quality. Even when unplugged.

The instructions coming with the dish were crap. In chinese. I see reference to a 'focus' of the lnb which looks like pulling it in or out from the arm (so distance between lnb and dish increases and decreases).

No sat finder, wish I had bought one.

THink I have the reciever set up properly.

Does anyone have any bright ideas? Going crazy here.

Glad I got a free telecom 3g stick...

richms

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#294952 31-Jan-2010 16:48

Firstly, is the pole dead level in both directions?

Secondly, there should be degree markings on the dishes mount, that will tell you what elevation you are at - if not you got a crap dish that will be hard to install. The angle of the arm has nothing to do with the elevation angle. There may be an offset but it will be specific to a single dish.

Satilite finders IMO are pretty much a waste of time. THey squeel at nothing - point the dish at a tree and off they go. All they let you know is that you have hit the satellite when panning it horizontally, which someone downstairs watching the meter on the tv can tell you just as well.

Once on satillite they are usually maxxed out so no use at fine tuning the aim of it.

Richard rich.ms

kiwisat

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#294973 31-Jan-2010 17:47

I beg to differ with the previous post re satfinders, if used correctly. They will squeal at nothing ( well almost) but they have their place, particularly when setting up a sky box.

However you don't have one so as richms advised, you should find an angle scale on the side bracket of the dish. For your location that should be set to 42 deg for Optus D1 see http://www.dishpointer.com.../ and input your location for the correct line to the satellite.

Make sure you have the correct LNB set up in your receiver to match the LNB supplied with the dish ( LO 11300 Mhz most likely). It will be a single LNB, not Universal, but you may be given the option in your Strong receiver to input a low and high frequency, which should both be 11300.

It is also helpful to have the dish mounted at ground level temporarily with the receiver and dish alongside, rather than attempt a shouting match from the roof to telly watcher. (Often ends in tears). And sweep slowly with the signal meter in the Strong enlarged if possible and TV1 selected.

Hope this helps.

Paul

illicit

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#295076 1-Feb-2010 07:52

Cheap 'Sat finders' have all been useless in my experience, out of approx 40 - one has worked! ...and that was a while ago too. They show no signal, then immediately jump to full signal, even when adjusting the gain knob - giving no middle ground to adjust/align from.

The good ones come in a black box and include a compass and a short lead. Can't remember the brand.

freitasm

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#295101 1-Feb-2010 09:31

Can we please keep facts checked? If you are going to mention a specific brand, make sure you don't use sentences like "brand x is useless" but instead make sure you present reasons why one brand shouldn't be used such as "brand x won't do this and you need it to have that" and so on.

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Jaxson

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#295110 1-Feb-2010 09:55

A basic sat finder can have it's place. It has a level knob to adjust down so it doesn't squeal at just anything.

allstarnz

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#295134 1-Feb-2010 11:00

Jaxson: A basic sat finder can have it's place. It has a level knob to adjust down so it doesn't squeal at just anything.

totally agree, it's very useful to get the initial lock, then refining can be done with the sat finding functionality on the set top box. I've also found it useful if I want to know if I can actually get a particular bird from a location.

I just have one of the DSE ones, and it does the trick for me.

kiwisat

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#295157 1-Feb-2010 12:18

Perhaps we should start a thread titled 101 uses for a useless satfinder.

1. They can test the operation of a LNB
2. They can indicate if your receiver is outputting power
3. They can test the cable.
4. They can be helpful in finding a satellite.
5. They can join 2 cables together.

They are very limited when it comes to C band satellite location.

Paul

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