How to properly align your satellite dish - Discussion and Tips - Page 5 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

heho · 2006-10-02, 06:49 PM

Hi everyone;

I've got a BEV 6100 receiver and a Dish 500 with a SW44 switch and am having trouble finding satelite 82.

We get very good singal strength on satelite 91, around 92%, when we switch over to check the status of satelite 82 it shows "Wrong Dish - Satelite 91" and is receving around 90% signal strength.

We can change the scew of the dish all the way up and down at small increments and still never receive the signal from the 82 satelite. Even when we unplug the 82 line into the SW44 switch and try to receive signal from the satelite 82 we still receive a signal strength. This sounds confusing even to me, so let me make a simple table.

LNB 91, and 82 plugged in:
Sat 91 Singal Strength 92%
Sat 82 Signal Strength 89% (Wrong Sat - Satelite 91 Error)

LNB 91 plugged in ONLY
Sat 91 Signal Strength 92%
Sat 82 Signal Strength 89% (Why are we still receving signal strength with only the cable from 91 plugged in

LNB 82 plugged in ONLY
Sat 91 singal strength 0%
Sat 82 singal strength 0%

Could this be a problem with the switch itself? Or are we just not positioned correctly?

If you need any more information please ask. All your help is appreciated.

Thanks

kandkt · 2006-10-02, 07:05 PM

Quote:

We can change the scew of the dish all the way up and down at small increments and still never receive the signal from the 82 satelite.

I think that you are adjusting the elevation angle and not the skew. See my previous post below for instructions on how to set up the dish.

Quote:

This is how I set up several satellites with no problems:

- Set up the skew angle to the desired setting (on the back of the dish, you should have two nuts that you can loosen and twist the dish to the skew angle setting indicated in your manual).
- Only use one LNB (91 degree) and ensure that you have it installed on the correct side of the y adapter.
- Tune into the 91 degree satellite (use transponder 11 for this) ... you should get very close to 100% strenght depending where you live.

Once the above is done, all you should have to do is install the second LNB and you should have the 82 bird. You may have to do a little fine tuning, but nothing major.

The most common error I have seen is thinking you are tuning into one satellite with the wrong LNB. By using only one LNB at a time and ensuring it is installed in the correct position, you should eliminate this potential problem.

I also strongly suggest marking each of your cables so that you know which cable is coming into your house from which LNB. You will need to know this when wiring your SW44.

I hope this helps. I have installed several systems this way and have never had any issues (unless there is an object in the way blocking the satellite signal). Good luck.

Kevin

heho · 2006-10-02, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kandkt

I think that you are adjusting the elevation angle and not the skew. See my previous post below for instructions on how to set up the dish.
Kevin

Nope, I'm adjusting the scew, which is the physical rotation of the dish once you have your direction and elevation set correctly.

We've made our own cables (its a lot cheaper to buy a roll of coax than to buy a premade 200' cable), and wiring into the switch is correct, and have nothing blocking our line of sight.

orion456 · 2006-10-02, 08:10 PM

1. get a satellite finder, they cost around $25. It makes it super easy to find the best signal WHILE YOU STAND ON THE ROOF.

2. temporarily run a cable out a window or door directly from the receiver to the 82 LNB (satellite finder inline). Adjust the position of the dish until 82 shows up. you should be able to swing the dish back and forth and find 91 & 82 with just the one LNB and your trusty satellite finder.

3. now that you know where 82 is, connect the cable to the 91 LNB and you should have a 91 signal as well.

4. reconnect the old cables and switch, you should now have both satellites. if you don't something is defective and it isn't the dish position.

Eddie · 2006-10-02, 10:52 PM

Quote:

get a satellite finder, they cost around $25.

Or, if you have a small TV around, try this -
http://www.freemyimage.com/ims/pic.p...4fSIQW&i=12020

Ed

vmpv · 2006-10-03, 10:09 AM

Also keep in mind you need to use an active transponder on 82. I've read 5 is now in use and I think I used 11 when I set up my dish. But there are some that are not in use. Do a search and I'm sure you will find a list of what transponders are currently active on Sat 82. Sorry, if I were at home I would do a scan and post for you. If you are unsure, send me a P.M. and I'll check tonight.

YOYOJim · 2006-10-05, 02:49 PM

I had the same problem finding SAT 82 and the solution is in this forum, but you have to wade through a lot of suggestions to find the right one.

What worked for me was to completely disconnect the 82 SAT cables into the switch. When I did this, I completely loss signal for 91. The reason, I believe is that both LNBs are locked onto sat 91 and sharing the power.
If this happens, you will need to reallign for ONLY SAT 91 with the SAT 82 cables removed from the switch. Maximize SAT 91 signal then do checkswitch.

Reconnect SAT 82 and checkswitch again.
82 will probably then come up.
Maximize signal on both using SKEW.

Hope this helps.

twsmith · 2006-10-23, 01:43 PM

I had the same problem and was pulling my hair out for the past couple weeks. 85% on 91 and 78% on 82 but a message stating wrong satellite for 82. I followed a suggestion that stated run check switch and try to cancel. It wouldn't cancel but when it completed testing the switches the 82 signal was locked on the correct satellite and it downloaded the program info and suddenly I had my HD channels!

I guess it's kind of common sense, if I had all my connections done properly, how could I have a signal from the same satellite (91) on both LNB's when the LNB's are physically aimed 10 degrees apart by the y mount?

trellaine · 2006-10-25, 02:49 PM

I am looking at switching back to BEV after a few years, mostly due to programming choices.

Quick question: I want all the HD channels. What is the minimum package required to get the HD channels.

Now, most importantly my second question: I use to sub to BEV before but I was told that I may not be able to get the HD channels due to the possibility of no clear line of sight to the satellite.

How do I find out whether I can actually get the signal from my balcony? Otherwise there is no point in getting BEV.

Thanks

mr weather · 2006-10-25, 04:17 PM

HD programming is on 82. Find a sat finder utility using Google, enter your coordinates and it will tell you where to look to find 82.

If you can't see it from your balcony you're out of luck unfortunately.

trellaine · 2006-10-25, 04:58 PM

How do find my co-ordinates? or find them?

GusX · 2006-10-26, 07:33 AM

If you are indeed in Vancouver (as your profile states) ... your dish will need to be pointed to 135.5 azimuth.

http://www.kusat.com/install/calculator2.php

trellaine · 2006-10-26, 08:53 AM

Hmmm so is there a tool I can get to help me find this?

And is it complicated to use?

I have heard of a satellite finder?

Thanks

orion456 · 2006-10-26, 09:16 AM

Get a compass, find north, correct for your location and then locate 135 degrees. If you can see clearly in that direction, you're go!

mr weather · 2006-10-26, 10:12 AM

Yes, a compass is an extremely helpful tool in satellite finding!

You could also use Google Earth to zero in on your rough location using the satellite photo. Not only will that give you your coordinates but you can use landmarks for the various compass direction (i.e. so-and-so street runs east-west).

2006-10-02, 06:49 PM	#61
heho Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wingham, ON Posts: 2	Having trouble finding Satelite 82 Hi everyone; I've got a BEV 6100 receiver and a Dish 500 with a SW44 switch and am having trouble finding satelite 82. We get very good singal strength on satelite 91, around 92%, when we switch over to check the status of satelite 82 it shows "Wrong Dish - Satelite 91" and is receving around 90% signal strength. We can change the scew of the dish all the way up and down at small increments and still never receive the signal from the 82 satelite. Even when we unplug the 82 line into the SW44 switch and try to receive signal from the satelite 82 we still receive a signal strength. This sounds confusing even to me, so let me make a simple table. LNB 91, and 82 plugged in: Sat 91 Singal Strength 92% Sat 82 Signal Strength 89% (Wrong Sat - Satelite 91 Error) LNB 91 plugged in ONLY Sat 91 Signal Strength 92% Sat 82 Signal Strength 89% (Why are we still receving signal strength with only the cable from 91 plugged in LNB 82 plugged in ONLY Sat 91 singal strength 0% Sat 82 singal strength 0% Could this be a problem with the switch itself? Or are we just not positioned correctly? If you need any more information please ask. All your help is appreciated. Thanks

2006-10-25, 02:49 PM	#69
trellaine Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 960	Direction to 82? I am looking at switching back to BEV after a few years, mostly due to programming choices. Quick question: I want all the HD channels. What is the minimum package required to get the HD channels. Now, most importantly my second question: I use to sub to BEV before but I was told that I may not be able to get the HD channels due to the possibility of no clear line of sight to the satellite. How do I find out whether I can actually get the signal from my balcony? Otherwise there is no point in getting BEV. Thanks

2006-10-25, 04:58 PM	#71
trellaine Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 960	Co-ordinates? How do find my co-ordinates? or find them? Last edited by trellaine; 2006-10-25 at 04:59 PM. Reason: missing word

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2006-10-02, 08:10 PM	#64
orion456 Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 112	1. get a satellite finder, they cost around $25. It makes it super easy to find the best signal WHILE YOU STAND ON THE ROOF. 2. temporarily run a cable out a window or door directly from the receiver to the 82 LNB (satellite finder inline). Adjust the position of the dish until 82 shows up. you should be able to swing the dish back and forth and find 91 & 82 with just the one LNB and your trusty satellite finder. 3. now that you know where 82 is, connect the cable to the 91 LNB and you should have a 91 signal as well. 4. reconnect the old cables and switch, you should now have both satellites. if you don't something is defective and it isn't the dish position.

2006-10-03, 10:09 AM	#66
vmpv Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Whitby, Ont. Posts: 757	Also keep in mind you need to use an active transponder on 82. I've read 5 is now in use and I think I used 11 when I set up my dish. But there are some that are not in use. Do a search and I'm sure you will find a list of what transponders are currently active on Sat 82. Sorry, if I were at home I would do a scan and post for you. If you are unsure, send me a P.M. and I'll check tonight.

2006-10-05, 02:49 PM	#67
YOYOJim Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4	I had the same problem finding SAT 82 and the solution is in this forum, but you have to wade through a lot of suggestions to find the right one. What worked for me was to completely disconnect the 82 SAT cables into the switch. When I did this, I completely loss signal for 91. The reason, I believe is that both LNBs are locked onto sat 91 and sharing the power. If this happens, you will need to reallign for ONLY SAT 91 with the SAT 82 cables removed from the switch. Maximize SAT 91 signal then do checkswitch. Reconnect SAT 82 and checkswitch again. 82 will probably then come up. Maximize signal on both using SKEW. Hope this helps.

2006-10-23, 01:43 PM	#68
twsmith Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1	I had the same problem and was pulling my hair out for the past couple weeks. 85% on 91 and 78% on 82 but a message stating wrong satellite for 82. I followed a suggestion that stated run check switch and try to cancel. It wouldn't cancel but when it completed testing the switches the 82 signal was locked on the correct satellite and it downloaded the program info and suddenly I had my HD channels! I guess it's kind of common sense, if I had all my connections done properly, how could I have a signal from the same satellite (91) on both LNB's when the LNB's are physically aimed 10 degrees apart by the y mount?

2006-10-25, 04:17 PM	#70
mr weather Veteran Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 1,950	HD programming is on 82. Find a sat finder utility using Google, enter your coordinates and it will tell you where to look to find 82. If you can't see it from your balcony you're out of luck unfortunately.

2006-10-26, 07:33 AM	#72
GusX Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 532	If you are indeed in Vancouver (as your profile states) ... your dish will need to be pointed to 135.5 azimuth. http://www.kusat.com/install/calculator2.php

2006-10-26, 08:53 AM	#73
trellaine Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 960	Hmmm so is there a tool I can get to help me find this? And is it complicated to use? I have heard of a satellite finder? Thanks

2006-10-26, 09:16 AM	#74
orion456 Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 112	Get a compass, find north, correct for your location and then locate 135 degrees. If you can see clearly in that direction, you're go!

2006-10-26, 10:12 AM	#75
mr weather Veteran Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 1,950	Yes, a compass is an extremely helpful tool in satellite finding! You could also use Google Earth to zero in on your rough location using the satellite photo. Not only will that give you your coordinates but you can use landmarks for the various compass direction (i.e. so-and-so street runs east-west).