Self-configuring a satellite dish is quite a feasible task. How difficult is it? Depends on the approach to this issue. And any question right approach always solved.
I tried to present the material in detail, step by step, in an accessible language - a kind of instruction for "dummies". So that a person who does not even know what SAT TV is can also get a positive result.
A bit of theory
How does satellite TV work? I'll try to be concise and brief, if possible. Satellite television- this is a system where the transmission of a television signal is carried out from the transmitting center to the consumer through an artificial satellite of the Earth. Television satellites are located in geostationary earth orbit above the equator.
Geostationary orbit (GSO) - a circular orbit located above the Earth's equator (0 ° latitude), being on which an artificial satellite revolves around the planet with an angular velocity equal to the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation around its axis.
In the horizontal coordinate system, the direction to the satellite does not change either in azimuth or in height above the horizon, the satellite "hangs" motionless in the sky. The geostationary orbit is a kind of geosynchronous orbit and is used to accommodate artificial satellites (communications, broadcasting, etc.).
The satellite must be facing in the direction of the Earth's rotation, at an altitude of 35,786 km above sea level. It is this height that provides the satellite with a period of revolution equal to the period of rotation of the Earth relative to the stars. (Extract from Wikipedia).
As a result, it turns out that television broadcasting satellites are always in one place, and do not go anywhere, transmitting a television signal to us. We just have to set up our satellite dish to the satellite we are interested in to receive a television signal.
Let's move on to practice
We collect directly satellite dish. Usually in the box with accessories, there is an instruction. Even if it is not, I'm sure you can handle it. All bolts and nuts must be tightly tightened. Do not tighten only strongly directly the fastening of the converter (gun) and the bolts responsible for the vertical angle of the satellite dish.
Mount the converter itself in the middle of the mount, if it is long enough, and you are wondering how to fix it? Away from the satellite dish, or closer? The output for the cable in the converter is located perpendicular to the ground. We will tighten all this immediately after we achieve, during tuning, the maximum signal strength and quality values.
Choosing a place to install a satellite dish
The satellite dish is assembled, we start looking for a place to install it. The kit usually comes with a wall mount. Accordingly, you need to choose the “correct” wall. A wall bracket is attached to the south side of the house. The wall we need is determined quite simply. At lunchtime, the sun shines on it. For confidence in right choice directing the antenna to the satellite of interest to us, we survey the surroundings in search of nearby satellite dishes.
Almost all of them look slightly plus or minus in one direction. We saw a satellite dish not far from you with the Tricolor logo or without it, but with a diameter of 55-60 cm, wonderful, this is probably the 56th degree of east longitude. If you are tuning "Tricolor TV Siberia" or "NTV plus Vostok" your tuned antenna will look exactly in the same direction.
Mounting bracket for satellite dish.
The bracket must be fixed rigidly and tightly, but not dangling in any way. I usually use the following fastener.
For brick, concrete and wood. Plumbing screw with a turnkey head for 17 or 13.
For an antenna with a diameter of 90 cm, in a standard situation, a length of 5-6 cm is sufficient.
I just screw it into a tree, and into concrete or brick, having made holes with a perforator, I put plastic dowels. The manufacturer of the dowels does not matter. Branded for 30 rubles apiece or simpler for a ruble and a half, it does not matter.
When installing a satellite dish bracket on foam concrete, aerated concrete, sibit, I use special dowels.
If the house is sheathed with siding, I get long plumbing screws, and I make spacers from metal tubes. Having cut or drilled holes in the siding of sufficient diameter for the passage of the tube, I calculate the required length of the spacers. Leaning against the wall, the tube should stick out about a centimeter further than the siding. Well, then it's a matter of technology. We string a bracket onto the bolts, then spacers from metal tubes, and we attract the structure to the wall. When tightening the plumbing screws, the bracket rests against the spacers protruding from the siding. And the siding stays nice and clean.
I also use spacers in some cases for a greater removal of the bracket from the wall. There are cases when, when setting up a satellite dish, the edge of the dish rests against the wall of the house, and the antenna does not have enough turn to the satellite. By increasing the distance between the wall and the bracket using spacers, I increase the angle of rotation of the satellite dish.
There are cases when the antenna mount must be fixed to the metal. Let's say. vertically standing metal beam. In these cases, I use metal screws with a drill, with a hex head. I'm screwed by them too. Having completed the task of installation, fastening the satellite dish to the conscience, we move on.
Preparing the receiver for setting up a satellite dish.
As a tuning device, we will use a satellite receiver (receiver) purchased by us in the kit, and our own TV set, and it would also be nice to bring our neighbor Mikhalych or our beloved wife to the process. When choosing an assistant for setting up a satellite dish, first of all, pay attention to whether the candidate for assistants has the following qualities. Goodwill, calmness, resistance to stress in non-standard situations. Choose the best of the candidates, in a hopeless situation, take the one who is at hand. Of course, you can set it up in one person, but it's more fun together.
We mount the antenna on the mounting bracket, then we connect the satellite receiver to the TV. Now we need to make the receiver visible to the TV. To do this, you need to connect the receiver to the TV using one of the methods proposed by the manufacturer of the satellite receiver.
On the back of our technology, we study the methods available to us:
HDMI;
scart - scart (comb);
RCA (tulips);
Y, Pb, Pr (tulips);
scart - tulip;
RF OUT (HF - output connection via coaxial cable).
Having connected the option we have chosen and turning on all the equipment in the network, we, by pressing the menu button located on the receiver's remote control, should see this very menu on the television screen. If the menu is not displayed, then something is going wrong. Remember that usually each television connector is signed. In order for the TV to “see” the satellite receiver, we must correctly display the selected connection method using the TV remote control.
Usually, the buttons of the following format are responsible for choosing how to connect any equipment to the TV.
On the button, or under the button, it is written or drawn the following options:
- a rectangle with an arrow entering inside.
We find our option, and achieve the display of the menu image on the television screen, by pressing the button of the same name on the remote control of the satellite receiver. Next, we need to display the power and signal quality scales on the screen. The general scheme of actions for all satellite receivers is approximately the same.
1. Menu and OK.
2. Select the item Installation, or Installation and OK.
3. Perhaps, once again select the item Installation, or Installation and OK.
4. And we get into a window where two scales are displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Let's consider the view of the window on the example of a budget receiver common in Novosibirsk with a Galaxy Innovations GI S1025 card reader.
What should we have enabled and disabled? Usually, to tune a satellite dish to one satellite, by default, all settings in satellite receivers posted as we need. In the first line, we just have to choose the name of the satellite on which we are going to tune the satellite dish.
For Raduga TV - ABS 2 _Ku 75.0°E this is a new satellite. Since the satellite appeared recently, it can be written as ABC_1 Ku 75 E
For and Telecards - Intelsat 15 85.2°E.
For Tricolora TV Siberia and NTV plus Vostok - Express AT1 56.0°E.
In the second line LNB type, the converter type is indicated. For Raduga TV, Continent and Telecard, a universal converter of linear polarization Ku band is used. In the settings in this line, universal must be selected, i.e., the local oscillator frequencies of 9750 MHz and 10600 MHz are selected.
For Tricolor TV Siberia and NTV plus Vostok, a universal Ku band circular polarization converter is used. The line should contain the frequency of the local oscillator 10750 MHz.
DISEqC is disabled by default. You don’t need to turn it on, this setting is used when we set up a satellite dish for several satellites.
The positioner is disabled by default. You don't need to turn it on.
22 kHz is off by default. You don't need to turn it on.
0/12V Must be on or auto
Polarization Auto We don't change anything here either.
Tone - signal Off.
LNB Power Must be on.
Having achieved the display of power and quality scales on the TV screen, we connect the coaxial cable coming from the converter to the receiver. Having previously screwed the F-connectors (sockets) onto the cable.
An accessible and understandable video, thanks to the author. I only recommend that the central core be left longer, 5-6 mm, so that the F-connector “sits” on it when screwing on.
Usually, when a coaxial cable is connected, and the receiver settings are correctly set, the power scale displays the converter “seen” by the receiver, in the form of an increase in the scale as a percentage.
I highly recommend screwing the F-connectors to the converter and satellite receiver by hand, without any keys and pliers.
By entering the transponder editor, you can select a specific transponder for which we will configure the satellite. What is it for? Some transponders come with a stronger signal, others are weaker. A stronger transponder is easier to catch when setting up a satellite dish.
And also if your satellite receiver does not support the DVB-S2 standard, but only the standard, you will not be able to set up a satellite dish by setting the transponder (frequency) of the DVB-S2 standard in the receiver.
By standards, satellite receivers can be divided into two groups:
— with DVB-S standard support
- with support for DVB-S and DVB-S2 (the ability to view HD channels)
Below are all the transponders I recommend for self setting satellite dishes go to DVB-S standard, with the exception of NTV plus Vostok. At NTV Plus Vostok, all frequencies are in the DVB-S2 standard and all equipment supports the DVB-S2 standard
Transponders by which I “catch” the desired satellite
The current list of transponders (frequencies), and the list of channels coming from them to any satellite can be viewed as one of the options on Frokus.net:
So, all the preparatory work has been completed, with the approximate direction of the satellite dish to the satellite we are looking for, we have decided, we proceed to self-configure the dish.
Self-configuring a satellite dish
The most interesting moment is coming, which can bring us both bitterness and disappointment, as well as joy and pride. Of course, the feelings we experience will depend on the result obtained.
You will be looking for a signal, the assistant will carefully look at the TV screen, watching for changes in the signal strength and quality scales. Ideally, if it is possible to turn the TV towards the window facing the same wall on which the satellite dish is fixed. Then you and the assistant will not need to use cellular communication. Your hands will be free to work. If this is not possible, you will have to use phones. The task of the assistant is to inform you in time about all the changes occurring in the signal scales. Let's start looking for a signal.
Vertically, we set the mirror perpendicular to the ground, slightly raise it up, and from left to right, or from right to left, smoothly, very slowly move the satellite dish in search of a signal. Any changes in the scales, the assistant should immediately inform you. If you walked from right to left, and back from left to right, and silence, change the angle of the satellite dish in the vertical plane, slightly raising the antenna higher. And again repeat the search horizontally.
No result? Raise the antenna mirror vertically a little more, and repeat the search horizontally, from right to left and from left to right. If a color slipped in the scales and got lost, congratulations, you just missed the satellite signal, and you more specifically know where it is. Having caught the signal, gently try to amplify it just a little bit. Trying to move the mirror a little left and right, and up and down. We have reached the maximum signal, start tightening the fixing nuts.
While tightening the nuts, the assistant reports all changes in the signal, at this time it is necessary to monitor the indicator of the second scale - the quality of the signal. I usually tighten the nuts first, which are responsible for the vertical angle of the antenna. Then the nuts for direct fastening of the antenna to the bracket are evenly tightened.
After all the nuts are tightened and the satellite dish is fixed, we check whether we really set it to the maximum. On both sides, with both hands, we take the edges of the antenna, and gently, slightly, without much effort, we direct the dish a little to the left, and then to the right, without breaking the tightened fasteners. We do the same with the satellite dish and up and down. The assistant at this time promptly reports information about the state of the signal. Do not forget that during the tuning itself, we must be behind the antenna, and not in front of it.
Remember? We have not yet tightened the converter mount. We are trying to amplify the existing captured signal by adjusting the converter. Try to move it forward, back, turn it slightly to the left, to the right, and fix it to the maximum signal.
This method of self-tuning a satellite dish, of course, is not at all feng shui. But the main thing for us is to get the result, good result. If in the rain, and in the snow, and in the wind, you calmly watch TV through a self-tuned satellite dish, the image does not freeze and does not square, so we have achieved what we wanted.
Setting up a satellite dish according to the degree of complexity.
And order the installation, or install a satellite dish yourself.
Broadcasting of Continent TV (Telecards) is carried out from a modern Intelsat-15 satellite (85.15 * E) TV signal encoding - Conax, Irdeto. Satellite TV Telekarta TV is available to 99% of the population of Russia. So connection is possible in every home. Before proceeding with the installation of a satellite dish, you need to determine the direction to the satellite. To do this, we need 3 parameters: the azimuth value for our settlement without taking into account magnetic declination (because the magnetic declination is taken into account on the maps), the value of the elevation angle, the angle of rotation of the converter.
For Nizhny Novgorod and the region, these values will be:
Azimuth values 133.6*
Elevation values 14*
The angle of rotation of the converter is approximately 30 * clockwise
We offer you 2 options how to determine the direction to the satellite:
1. Determining the direction to the satellite by compass. We go outside and take a compass with us. We stand with our backs to the building on the southeast side of the object, where you plan to install. We determine the direction to the north by the compass (i.e. when the index arrow of the compass points to 0 * on the dial). We set aside the azimuth values, clockwise, taking the north as the reference point, for Nizhny Novgorod and the region it is approximately 133.6 *. We visually select and remember a landmark, for example, a building or a tree, the received direction will be the direction to the Intelsat 15 satellite.
2. Determining the direction to the satellite by compass. For the exact direction to the satellite, we take a map (you can print a map from search engines). We mark the object where it is planned to install a satellite dish. We determine the direction to the north. Using a protractor, we determine the angle of 133.6 * (for Nizhny Novgorod and the region) clockwise on the map, taking the north as the origin - this will be the direction to the Intelsat 15 satellite. In the received direction to the Intelsat 15 satellite we mark a landmark, for example, the corner of a neighboring roof. We save the value of the elevation angle and the angle of rotation of the converter, because they will be useful to us for next steps. We go outside and find the intended landmark.
Before installing a satellite dish, pay attention to the presence of obstacles that may interfere with satellite reception. Nearby houses, trees and the like are considered obstacles.
To install a satellite dish you will need:
Perforator or drill for drilling holes in the place where the antenna bracket is attached;
Anchor bolts, screws or through studs for fixing the antenna bracket on the wall;
Insulating tape and a sharp knife for cutting cables;
Wrenches (from 10mm to 22mm) or adjustable wrench;
Pencil or felt-tip pen to make marks on the antenna mount.
With a marker we mark the place for attaching the bracket, drill holes and fix the bracket. We collect the satellite dish, in accordance with the attached diagram, and put the antenna on the bracket. Tighten the adjusting nuts so that it is possible to move the antenna with some effort in the vertical and horizontal directions alternately.
Install the converter.
Install the converter in a standard mount (holder) on the remote rod of the satellite dish (head) to the antenna reflector and securely fix it taking into account the required angle of rotation, for Nizhny Novgorod about 30 *. For the convenience of adjusting the tilt of the converter, on its body, as a rule, a scale with a zero mark and marks through 5 * is applied.
Loosen the adjusting bolts to later determine the vertical elevation angle.
Using a plumb line, set the mirror of the satellite dish strictly vertically.
Adjust the satellite dish vertically (for Nizhny Novgorod 14 *), taking into account the offset angle of the satellite dish. When tuning to a satellite, the antenna axis should be directed below the satellite by the value of its offset angle, the offset angle can be found in the data sheet of the antenna.
Set the satellite dish in azimuth 133.6 * to the previously planned landmark. Fix the adjusting bolts.
Start cutting the cable, remove the outer insulation 12 mm from the edge. Without damaging the central core, remove 10mm of dielectric with foil. Peel back the remaining cable shielding foil. Screw the F-connector onto the cable until the central core appears.
Connect the cable to the converter, connect the other end of the cable to satellite receiver. Insert the access card into the receiver. Turn on the power of the receiver and go to the menu. In the receiver, the settings of the Intelsat 15 satellite are set.
Converter polarization setting
To adjust the polarization of the converter, it is necessary to turn it by a small angle in the converter holder. The rotation is performed as follows:
a) if tuning to the satellite (Intelsat-15, 85 ° E) is carried out to the west of the meridian of 85 degrees east longitude, and if you look at the reflecting surface of the antenna, then the rotation must be performed clockwise.
b) if the tuning to the satellite (Intelsat-15, 85 ° E) is carried out east of the meridian of 85 degrees east longitude, and if you look at the reflecting surface of the antenna, then the turn must be performed counterclockwise.
c) if tuning to a satellite (Intelsat-15, 85° E) is carried out on the meridian of 85 degrees east longitude, then the converter should look down with the connector.
| West 85 gr. | East 85 gr. |
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Setting up the receiver for receiving the Intelsat-15 satellite, 85 ° E.
To "catch" a satellite, you first need to set the parameters of one of the satellite's transponders in the receiver. To do this, on the TV you need to select the video input to which the receiver is connected.
On the receiver's remote control, press the MENU button and the receiver's "Main Menu" will be displayed on the TV screen.
Using the button (to the right), select the item "Easy setting", then OK and the submenu "Easy setting" will appear on the image, perform the settings in accordance with Fig. 1
Next, select the Intelsat 15 satellite. This completes the receiver setup for receiving the Intelsat-15 satellite, 85 ° E. considered completed. All other satellite parameters will be set to default. (For Coship CHD-01/IR receiver). For other models of Continent TV receivers, the settings are performed in the same way.
Searching for a signal in the satellite receiving sector
Determine the antenna reception sector for the Intelsat-15 satellite, 85° E. To determine the satellite reception sector, read the article
Next, loosen the screws (nuts) for fixing the antenna in a horizontal and vertical position so that the antenna maintains its position and rotates with some effort. Install the antenna in the middle of a certain scanning sector in elevation and slowly move the antenna first to the right, then to the left in a certain sector of the antenna azimuth (Fig. 3). Then slightly change the elevation angle of the antenna and again move it in azimuth from the search sector (Fig. 4). It is necessary to move the antenna slowly, without jerks, because. the receiver has a small inertia of "capturing" the signal, 2-3 seconds. The entire scanning procedure must be carried out until the signal appears on the receiver indication scale. Then, according to the indicator, set the maximum signal level, while keeping in mind that the signal level can change when the antenna fasteners are tightened. When tightening the nuts, it is necessary to follow the sequence and not tighten the nuts immediately to the end, but sequentially and gradually tighten them. Sometimes at an intermediate stage of tightening the nuts, it is necessary to adjust the antenna in elevation or azimuth. The above procedure must be carried out carefully, tuning the antenna to the maximum signal level is required to avoid signal loss in bad weather. After finishing the antenna tuning procedure, it is necessary to adjust the polarization of the converter according to the maximum signal level. This completes the satellite tuning procedure.
| Fig.4 Scanning in the satellite location sector |
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Similar to tuning to the Intelsat-15 satellite, 85 ° E. Continent TV can also be tuned to other satellites using linear polarization. To do this, you need to determine the satellite location sector, make settings in the receiver and follow the instructions for setting up Continent TV. Tuning to satellites using circular polarization is even easier, because. converter polarization adjustment is not required in this case.