Do I need a satellite finder?

mhku

mhku

Super Moderator
Staff member
My Satellite Setup
TM Nano ~ sg2100
My Location
Midlands
Hello,

I have a Dreambox 500 and am getting everything together to set it all up (Motek HH motor). Will I need a satellite finder or once I've set the dish at 0 degrees will the Dreambox automatically scan and find all the satellite channels available to me?

What is the best image to use when I set up the box?

Thanks and please forgive my newbie type question and any inherent stupidity in it ;)
 
using a satfinder would be better, as you really only want to do the setting up once....

remember this is really important, this can determine the quality of the picture and also the amount of channels available to you.

so try your best to get it spot on!!

as for the image to use, its all down to personal taste.... i would reccomend one that updates regulary, like gemini or Hydra. also you will get plenty of help from other users on here too, as these are very popular images with plenty of users.

as for newbie stupid questions :) dont worry about it mate, asking questions helps you learn stuff (well some people anyway lol)
we were all new to the hobby once
 
So setting the dish at 0 degrees is not enough- the 500 has no magic " scan and find the satellites" setting? ;)
 
LOL, no magic, just patient and meticulous set-up.

If you get the mounting pole spot on, you are 80% there.
 
Hi,

I too was a bit confused thinking that scan meant the box moves the dish up and down and back and forward looking for satellites. You have to move the dish to find the first satellite then the box scans the frequencies to find available channels from that satellite.
When you have the first satellite and recalibrate the motor, the motor finds the rest.
I used a mobile phone. Me on the roof and the wife watching the signal stength as I moved the dish.
 
Yes, that's true, but you may find that you can then fine tune the sat positions manually to further improve the reception on each bird.
 
I had BIG troubles finding strong signals. Tried to use the built in Satfinder (DB7000), crap as far as I know. Then I bought a cheap beeping device for 10E app. Super easy.

Recommended, saved lots of time for me.

Henrik
 
I saw those SLX on cpc- good price. How did you use a mobile phone to measure signal strength from the dish?

thanks for all the replies :)
 
I used once a baby phone in front of the tv speaker while I was on the roof moving the dish...
 
Doh! I see... you used the phone to speak not to measure signal strength. </idiot>
 
mhku said:
Doh! I see... you used the phone to speak not to measure signal strength. </idiot>
Click to expand...

Yep, exactly! I put the dreambox on a FTA channel on west one, then moved the dish sideways until I heard the baby cry. I sort of marked the position and then kept moving more until the signal broke off. I then moved the dish back to the middle between the two points. Was pretty good as well, I checked it afterwards by moving the dish sideways with the motor and there was not much gain in signal...
But this was only to fix the sideposition. If you have also to move the dish up and down it might be better to have someone on the phone giving you directions.
 
Good job i have a cordless house phone and a spare upstairs! I'm sure it'll all make more sense as soon as my dish comes (hopefully midweek) and I start playing next weekend.

;)
 
Yeah, but do you have a baby on the other end to give you up/down instructions?!?!?!
 
No, only a couple of cats! Best not ask the GF to help- asking for trouble!
 
yea, start using words like....

sliding up and down..
side to side
and pole!!

and she will get the wrong idea lol
 
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