Help req'd in setting up Freesat installation

charynda · 12-06-2009

I bought a cheap Goodmans SD receiver and a Freesat satellite dish to set up myself. Satellite dish kit included a compass and satellite finder (analogue with 1 green power light and 6 red lights - with high pitched audio, and a little plug in plastic handle to increase or decrease whatever!!) but no instructions on how to use the finder.

I found the website at Dishpointer.com which gave me the necessary info regarding the elevation (22.4 degs), skew (-14.4 degs) and direction (141 or 145 degs). It also gave me the "line of sight" from my property. Comparing the "line of sight" and the compass bearing there is quite a difference.

When I connected the satellite finder to the dish I found the red lights were fully on and the noise level very high and this did not alter not matter how far I moved the dish. I substituted the lnb for one that had been outside for at least 10 years and this one responds very well, only activating the finder when I presume it has found a signal.

The message on my TV screen remains as "Signal not found" no matter how strong a signal I seem to have picked up.

I would like to know which direction or compass bearing I should be aiming for and any help in explaining how to use the finder would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

**satelliteman** · 12-06-2009

Welcome,

I found the website at Dishpointer.com which gave me the necessary info regarding the elevation (22.4 degs), skew (-14.4 degs) and direction (141 or 145 degs). It also gave me the "line of sight" from my property. Comparing the "line of sight" and the compass bearing there is quite a difference.

Not accurate enough, magnetic variation to factor. (The horizontal angular difference between True North and Magnetic North).

When I connected the satellite finder to the dish I found the red lights were fully on and the noise level very high and this did not alter not matter how far I moved the dish. I substituted the lnb for one that had been outside for at least 10 years and this one responds very well, only activating the finder when I presume it has found a signal.

Sounds very much like you need to adjust the sensitivity of the meter, it could be reading noise.

The message on my TV screen remains as "Signal not found" no matter how strong a signal I seem to have picked up.

It's unlikely your locked onto the satellite. You may also have stumbled across one or more of the high powered satellites close by as the meter will just detect a simple signal. If your using one of those meters, work West to East, the last 'close' one to peak East within your rough compass bearing will be Astra2/Eb1 (freesat).

***Huevos*** · 12-06-2009

Originally Posted by charynda

I substituted the lnb for one that had been outside for at least 10 years

If that is from the analogue days it is probably not a universal LNB.

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Help req'd in setting up Freesat installation Information exchange on LNBs, Single satellite, motorised and multi-satellite systems. DiSEqC switches, positioners, motors, actuators, dish-alignment etc.