HOW
TO USE A SATELLITE FINDER

A satellite finder
is a very handy tool that can help you locate the satellite and see the signal strength to
tune it in. Satellite Finders range in price from $10 for the simple models up to
several hundred dollars and higher for the top end models. This article will detail
the basic model (picture above), which is the most widely used.
It is not
surprising how many users purchase a finder and then have trouble using it. While
they are fairly basic in use they are primarily manufactured in China. For the
engineers who write the instructions for the finders, English is not their first language,
so the instructions often are confusing and many times incomplete. We will attempt
to clarify that here.
Before using a
satellite finder properly, it helps to understand what it does and how it interfaces with
the dish. Lets start with the dish.
At the end of the
arm sticking out in front of the dish is a part know as an LNBF (or LNB) LNBF stands
for Low Noise Band Filter. The curved dish reflector collects "noise" or
signals from space from the direction in which you point the dish. There is a
surprisingly large amount of noise that comes from space, from various sources. The
job of the LNBF is to collect the noise, filter out most of which is not needed for
satellite reception (specific frequency ranges) and pass the remaining signal back over
the RG-6 cable(s) to the receiver.
Each LNBF model is
a little different in its decibel output from other models due to the number of
"eyes" or sensors. Some models only have one "eye" to see a
single satellite while other may have five sensors to see five satellites. Some have
even more for special programming requirements. So, it is important to calibrate
your finder's decibel range (dB) to match your LNBF's resistance range each time you
use it. Here is how to do that.
Your satellite
finder requires 13 - 18 volts DC power to operate. That power comes from the
satellite receiver, through the RG-6 cable to the LNBF, so when you connect the finder
into this circuit it is being powered by the satellite receiver. This does
not apply to the DirecTV SWM system. We will explain that further on in this
article.
You will need to
connect the cable from the receiver to the "REC" input of the finder. This
is usually the connection on the right as you look at the face of the meter. It
should be indicated somewhere on the finder, near that connection.
You will then need
to connect a cable from the LNBF head to the other connection of the finder, labeled
"LNBF".
If you are using
our eZee-Aim© system when setting up your tripod, there is a
very good chance you are pointed at the satellite(s) or very close to them. It
is important that you are not receiving a signal from the LNBF when calibrating the dB
gain. The easy way to prevent receiving a signal is to cover the LNBF head
with aluminum foil or some other covering to prevent it from receiving a signal.
Once the LNBF is
covered you can adjust the dB gain knob of the meter until the needle is mid-scale, around
5 on the dial. Your meter is now calibrated to the LNBF.
Remove the
covering from the LNBF and observe the needle on the meter. If it doesn't move
higher it indicates you are not on a satellite and you will need to move your dish left,
right, up, or down as necessary to get a signal.
If the needle pegs
to the right when you remove the covering from the LNBF it indicates you ARE on a
satellite, but it will not tell you which one. Again, if you are using our eZee-Aim©
system in most cases, you will be on the correct satellite. At this
point, check the display on your TV set using the satellite setup portion of the receiver.
Once you confirm you are on the correct satellite(s) and if the signal
strength needs to be increased, return to the dish.
If the signal
strength needs to be adjusted higher, lower the dB gain knob slightly to put the needle
back in the middle. Make small adjustments to the dish, as necessary, to increase
the signal level. Note: If the dish was already receiving the maximum signal
before you lowered the dB gain knob, you will be unable to raise the needle any higher as
you are at maximum signal already.
DIRECTV
SWM USERS: If you are using a meter such as this one with a DirecTV SWM
system you cannot simply run the cable from the Power Inserter (PI21) through the meter as
shown above. You must use a SWM splitter to bypass the 21 volts to the LNBF and
power the meter with its own 13-18 volt power supply. See diagram below. We
sell both of these items on our website here.

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