Tripod satellite dish install with a satellite finder meter: Freesat:
Please note; a satellite dish needs a clear view of the southern sky, trees and buildings will block the satellite signal.
- Use your compass and aim the satellite dish at approximately 145 degrees.
- The Angle of elevation is important and needs to be looking up at about 25 degrees. The dish will however, usually look as if it is pointing nearly straight ahead. This is due to the satellite dish having an “off set arm”. Please see the diagram and picture below.
- Next connect your satellite dish to the satellite receiver and the receiver to a television. To set up and connect your satellite box to the television and satellite dish, please read our Wiring up your satellite help file.
- Once your satellite system is all connected, with the television switched on, go to the signal strength menu on the receiver. To do this you will need to refer to your instruction manual.
- Above is the picture of the signal strength menu from a Grundig freesat receiver. Different makes of freesat receivers will have a slightly different looking menu.
- With your compass, aim the satellite dish at about 135 degrees.
- Where the cable goes into the LNB, at the end of the satellite dish arm, is where you now need to connect your satellite finder meter. The satellite finder has “To LNB” written on one connector and “To REC” written on the other connector. The “To LNB” end needs to be connected to the LNB on the satellite dish. The “To REC” needs to be connected to the cable running back to the receiver. Do make sure it is the right way round otherwise it will not give you a reading.
- Now you need to adjust your satellite finder so the needle is pointing at number 2.
- Begin to turn your satellite dish slowly round to the west, about 1 to 2 degrees at a time. The sky satellites are the most eastern group of satellites that can be easily received in Europe.
- As soon as you pick up a signal the needle will move to the highest position on the satellite finder and will emit a high pitched noise. You will not pick up anything if you start moving the dish erratically.
- Once you have a signal move the needle back down to number 3 on the satellite finder. Then move the dish again, left or right, up or down, which ever direction improves the signal strength.
- Keep repeating the procedure of moving the needle back down to number 3 on the dial every time the signal increases.
- After a few adjustments, which ever direction you move the dish left or right, the signal strength decreases.
- Please note, if you need to adjust the satellite dish left or right to improve the signal, you only need to undo the suction pad, make your adjustment and re-attach.
- Once you have a satellite signal, it will be displayed on the television screen as shown.
- If you have both signal strength and signal quality, congratulations!
You should notice on the menu, under signal strength and quality, ‘Lock indicator OK’, ‘Network ID 00 3b’ and ‘Transport Stream 07fd’.
If you have signal strength, low or even no signal quality, as well as a different ‘Network ID’ this means you have tuned in to a different cluster of satellites.
Incorrect satellite alignments are often tuned into Astra 19 degrees, or Hotbird 13 degrees. You will need to move the dish slightly round to the east.
Once you have aligned your satellite dish, tighten the bolts.
Whilst tightening the bolts up, keep an eye on the satellite meter. As the bolts tighten they can move the satellite dish slightly off the signal.
If you notice the signal strength or quality start to fall, make slight adjustments to the alignment to bring the signal strength back.
Now that you have installed your satellite dish, you can sit back and watch your favourite programmes or listen to a wide variety of radio programmes.
