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

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sxz

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Ultimate Geek
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Topic # 56602 18-Jan-2010 19:14

Hi guys. Looking to buy a dish to install at family holiday batch in Kuratau, Lake Taupo. I have a freeview decoder that we had used at home in the past and is now surplus to our requirements (mysky!). This can go to the batch to go with the new dish.

My questions are as follows:

1) For general Freeview goodness (Prime etc - no fancy foriegn channels needed) is a 60 or 45cm dish ok? Central North Island, on a hill, no higher ground for miles.... Why would I bother with a 90cm dish?

2) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/TVs/Satellite-receivers/auction-266142590.htm is this sort of thing suitable?

3) Are the cables easy to install?

Cheers for your help guys

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Master Geek
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Reply # 290949 18-Jan-2010 20:01

1. 45 cm is just fine.

2. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=265556437 will give you an alternative.

3. It only requires one cable so fairly easy.

allstarnz

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Reply # 290983 18-Jan-2010 21:52

Dishpointer is a good resource to see where you need to point your dish to, and where would be good on the house to mount it.

The only issue with a 45cm might be rain fade. If you can fit it, a 60cm might be safer

kiwisat

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Reply # 291018 18-Jan-2010 23:49

If a decent 45 cm dish is aligned and receiving the V Pol Test signal on D1 in NZ, it will Not suffer rain fade when connected to a half decent free to air receiver, ever, on D1 freeview NZ channels. I guarantee it.

Lyngsat is a good resource for satellite information and footprint maps and this one, http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/optusd1_nzb.html will give you an idea of recommended minimum dish sizes and the strength of the NZ beam, when compared to Australia.

As you can see the EIRP figure equates to a dish size of less than 50 cm and that is exactly the case for all of NZ. You could probably pick it up with wok if you wanted to give it a go.

illicit

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Reply # 291059 19-Jan-2010 08:21

Without the correct equipment to align the dish (and quite importantly, the LNB) I would recommend a 60cm for the OP to allow a 'margin of error'

kiwisat

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Reply # 291069 19-Jan-2010 08:42

The only "correct equipment " you need is a satellite receiver attached and a suitable spanner to adjust and lock the dish.
As stated, when tuned to SBS there is no margin of error, hence perfect alignment of D1 results. I have sold nearly 300 of the 45 cm dish to individuals in NZ with clear instructions on how to tune the LNB and dish to the V pol from D1 using the Test transponder.

All reports back have been positive.

grolschie

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Reply # 291078 19-Jan-2010 08:54

kiwisat:
You could probably pick it up with wok if you wanted to give it a go.

Now that would make a great photo essay or youtube vid.

Regs

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Reply # 291118 19-Jan-2010 10:03

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.....

so, be careful what you get from trademe - your cheap installation might just end up costing you more in the long run... at least make sure the dish is coated well - your link says powder coated, perhaps ask them how well it lasts.

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richms

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Reply # 291236 19-Jan-2010 16:18

A friend ordered a dish of TM, it arrived warped because of courier damage.

I would suggest picking up and taking with you.

Richard rich.ms

kiwisat

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Reply # 291254 19-Jan-2010 17:51

That is a great suggestion. Unfortunately there are not many who allow a pick up. Kind of tells you something about the trader IMHO.

richms

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Reply # 291262 19-Jan-2010 18:06

Yeah, it tells you they don't like problematic buyers who come back to their house and make a scene when they think they have rights that they do not... Thats the problem with trading from a house. Pickups and having your address known are a big problem.

Some traders will meet at places to exchange goods - one I know uses the st lukes mall carpark, another at sylvia park. - Just ask them since in your case it would suck to find its warped when on holiday and have no tv..

Richard rich.ms

kiwisat

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Reply # 291276 19-Jan-2010 19:13

IMHO yet again, I believe passionately in supplying a quality product and providing a service where requested.

Problematic buyers only ever come from problematic sales, so if your product and personal service is up to scratch, then no problem. I have always allowed a pick up, in part to train the buyer.

Most of my customers are retired couples with a mobile camper or caravan who want to take TV on the road, so the satellite dish setup by necessity needs to be simple. They both need and want help early on but become experts in a very small space in time. After all, they may be setting up the dish every day.

In-sufficient packaging is the only reason for goods to arrive damaged but there is a cost, and my product is always well packaged but costs a little more because of that.

sxz

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Reply # 291287 19-Jan-2010 20:16

Thanks guys!

I would really like to see that wok thing - if anyone gives it a go be sure to chuck a pic up on this post

gumboot

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Reply # 291312 19-Jan-2010 22:03

Find out what the rotation is on the LNB. I thought I had it all sorted on the batch (at Pukawa just round the corner!) full signal but no quality. eventually got a wireless signal and got the answer on google, the lnb I has was about 80 degrees around.

I would set it up on the ground first to make sure you know everything is ok before you start. and without a proper dishpointer I would get the tv outside and watch the signal strength and quality meters from that

Cheers

Regs

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Reply # 291313 19-Jan-2010 22:09

grolschie:
kiwisat:
You could probably pick it up with wok if you wanted to give it a go.

Now that would make a great photo essay or youtube vid.

not exactly freeview reception, but use of a wok all the same....

$10 wok keeps TV station on air
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10425224

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Jaxson

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Reply # 291424 20-Jan-2010 11:13

gumboot: I would set it up on the ground first to make sure you know everything is ok before you start. and without a proper dishpointer I would get the tv outside and watch the signal strength and quality meters from that

Yeah I've taken to taking the sat receiver and a portable DVD player with AV inputs up on the roof. Used along with a sat finder etc it just makes the whole thing that much simpler and you know you're getting the best alignment possible. Looks a bit naff but gets the job done really well.

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