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General Site Survey |
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To get a signal, the
satellite dish must be
pointed directly at the
satellite, with NO
obstructions between the
two. This means NO trees
and NO buildings. Take
into consideration
future tree growth,
house remodeling or
additions and new
construction in your
area. |
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The satellite signal
WILL NOT PASS through
leaves or branches. |
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Use our
Satellite Look Angle
calculator to
determine the proper
dish angles. |
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Finding a Clear Line of
Sight |
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Get
yourself a good
compass, the
best you can afford.
Check the "Azimuth"
and "Elevation"
for your location
here! |
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Locate at least one
site on your property
that has a clear view to
the satellite. |
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Do you have at least
one clear view to the
satellite? Remember, no
trees, leaves, or
buildings can be between
the dish and the
satellite. |
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If the answer is NO,
your site may not be
suitable for installing
the satellite system. |
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If the answer is MAYBE,
you may want to contact
a local digital
satellite dealer for
information about having
a professional installer
conduct a thorough site
survey. |
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If the answer is YES,
your site should be
suitable for installing
the system. Go ahead to
the next section of
these instructions. |
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Where Is Intelsat
America 5 Satellite? |
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The satellite is always
located south of Texas.
That means if you live
in Florida, you must
have a clear line of
sight to the southwest;
if you live in
California, you must
have a clear line to the
southeast. |
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Depending on where you
live, the satellite will
be at an elevation angle
between 30 and 60
degrees. Southern states
point more toward 60
degrees; northern states
point more toward 30
degrees. Use our
Satellite Look Angle
calculator to
determine your dish
elevation and azimuth. |
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LNBF Polarization Tilt
(skew): |
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Your LNB is marked with
a label indicating the
polarization tilt. Your
local LNB polarity
offset information
varies by location. If
you are in Houston, TX
your LNB polarization is
to be set at 0 degrees.
But if you are on the
California coast your
LNB polarization could
be as much as minus 30
degrees (clockwise
rotation). And if you
are in Maine your LNB
polarization could be as
much as plus 30 degree
(counter-clockwise
rotation. Peaking the
dish and adjusting the
polarity of the LNB will
greatly improve your
Signal Quality reading.
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When adjusting your
LNBF, be sure you don't
leave that LNBF holding
bracket loose. The LNBF
won't pick up the
satellite if the bracket
is loose, and it's
slightly off. Finally,
when thinking about
degrees, remember that
30 degrees is about 5
minutes on a clock.
Don't turn the LNB too
much! |
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Make certain
that the pole or
tri-mast
assembly is
vertically
plumb. Check it
with an
Angle Finder
or a level. If
the pole or
tri-mast is not
plumb, your
azimuth and
elevation will
not be accurate
and will cause
difficulty when
pointing the
dish. Also, if
you are using a
pole mount, make
certain you pour
a sufficient
footing that
will provide
proper ballast.
A pole that does
not have
sufficient
ballast will
lean over time,
causing you to
lose the signal.
Your mount must
be very strong
and can not
wobble. You must
use at least 4
lag screws
(correct size
for your
installation) in
the base mount
one on each
corner. |
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When
pointing the
satellite dish,
allow 5-10
seconds between
any movements of
the dish. This
allows the
receiver to
complete a
signal scan, and
lock indicating
that you have
located the
signal. |
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A reasonable
signal strength
is between 50
and 80. If it is
lower than that
range, you are
either pointing
into an object
(e.g. trees,
shrubs, or
structures) or
pointing above
or below the
satellite. Your
antenna
installation
position must
have a clear
view angle of
the satellite
you are trying
to receive. |
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There are
other satellites
within 2 degrees
to the left or
right that may
use the same
frequency. This
will provide a
strong signal
strength reading
but no signal
quality or
signal lock. If
you have a high
strength reading
but are not able
to lock on, try
adjusting the
dish slightly to
the right or
left. |
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When you are
attempting to
set up a
satellite dish
in a heavily
wooded area or
one with lots of
man made
obstructions, it
helps to
understand how
the dish really
works. One
common
misconception is
that the dish
points
'directly' at
the satellite.
This isn't the
case for most
dish designs.
The apparent
elevation of the
dish is 15 or
more degrees
lower than it's
actual receiving
window. Have a
look at this
diagram.... it's
easier to see it
than it is to
explain it..... |
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If you complete the
above steps properly,
your chance of a
successful installation
is 99.9%.
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and you are trying to
aim your dish that the
receiver waits about 3-5
seconds after it locks
on to the correct signal
before it registers on
the receiver's signal
meter on the antenna
aiming screen on your
TV. Move your dish in
very small increments (2
deg East or West each
instance until you find
the signal then 1 deg to
peak signal). If you
move the dish too fast
and do not pause between
moves you might go thru
the signal before the
receiver can tell you
that you are on the
signal.
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If you use a
signal meter you
can hook it into the
system right at the dish
and it responds to the
signal immediately
making it much easier to
aim your dish. You do
not need any one else to
help you if you use a
meter at the dish.
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Compare Signal Strength
and Quality |
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Zero Strength and Zero
Quality: |
If this is the symptom
you are experiencing,
then the receiver is
currently not receiving
the signal from the
dish. Check all
connections between your
receiver and the dish.
Make sure that they are
all plugged in to the
proper place and are
tight.
One of the most common
connection problems is
to have the cable coming
from the dish plugged in
to the connection marked
"In from Antenna," which
is incorrect. The cable
coming from the dish
needs to be plugged in
to the connection marked
"In from Dish, Digital
In, or LNB IN"One of the
most common connection
problems is to have the
cable coming from the
dish plugged in to the
connection marked "In
from Antenna," which is
incorrect. The cable
coming from the dish
needs to be plugged in
to the connection marked
"In from Dish, Digital
In, or LNB IN"
Also, the cables might
have developed a short
or might have gotten
moisture in them,
especially out at the
dish. If this is a
possibility, you may
want to have an
installer check the
cables or take them to
an installer yourself.
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0-30 Strength and Zero
Quality: |
If you are experiencing
these levels of strength
and quality, you are
getting only noise
signals. Make sure that
there are no obstacles
between the dish and
satellite.
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40-60 Strength and Zero
Quality: |
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With this level of
strength and a lack of
quality, it is very
likely that the dish has
moved since its initial
installation or you are
still off alignment. We
recommend going through
the Dish Installation
pointing steps and
finding the satellite
signal again. This will
likely take just a few
minor adjustments of the
dish since it should not
have moved very much.
Key causes for this
problem include bolts
not being tightened
properly, heavy winds,
or the dish being struck
or bumped by something.
Once the signal has been
found again, make
certain all bolts are
tightened well. We
also recommend that once
you have everything
tightened down and have
your signal back, make a
mark from the cap mount
to the pole with paint
or some other permanent
substance. This will
give you a reference
point, should any future
problems occur. You can
also make a mark on the
side of the cap mount
where your elevation
markings are imprinted.
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40-60 Strength and 30-70
Quality: |
This level of strength
and quality indicates
that the dish needs to
be fine-tuned to the
satellite. You may have
noticed that prior to
getting the "Bad or No
Signal" message your
picture was occasionally
blotchy and your audio
may have been out of
sync with the picture.
These are all symptoms
of the need to fine-tune
the dish. Optimum signal
quality is between 70
and 100.
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TIP: You can
fine-tune your dish by
going back to the signal
strength screen. While
the signal bar is
running, have someone
out at the dish. He will
need to loosen the
collar that holds the
LNB. This is done by
slightly loosening the
two screws that hold the
collar together. Once
these screws are loose,
slowly twist the LNB a
fraction of an inch.
After each movement
allow 5 seconds for the
receiver to register the
change and update your
quality reading. If the
quality readings
immediately begin to get
lower while the
adjustments are being
made, then the LNB needs
to be turned in the
other direction. Once
the LNB fine tuning is
complete, tighten the
two screws on the LNB
collar. You may then
complete the scan by
pressing START. |
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