Satellite TV system not working - please help

Spangnodulan

We moved to our new house 3 months ago - the previous owner left the satellite dish but not the box (I think he watched Sky). We decided we wanted the TV in a different room so we extended the cable from the one room into another using satellite coaxial cable recommended by the shop owner.

We then bought a Lidl Silvercrest receiver box and have tried to tune it in with no luck. The signal quality and intensity measures flick up and down to 20% but never get any better no matter where we point the satellite dish (we have been trying to pick up Astra 2).

We borrowed a meter (also a Lidl model) from a friend but again that's not beeping when I suspect the dish is pointing in the right direction. Can anyone give us any advice - is there's something wrong with our set up or is the equipment dodgy?

All advice gratefully received - I'm running out of DVDs to watch!

Tony

what connections did you use to extend the cable?

Spangnodulan

My husband did it and he's not very good at explaining himself! It sounds like some sort of coaxial connector which should have linked the cores OK. Unfortunately I can't go and look as it's now buried in the wall. Is it possible there's a fault? We can get at it if necessary.

Tony

you should be using two f connectors and a double female F, "ordinary" connectors will not work correctly

Spangnodulan wrote: »

My husband did it and he's not very good at explaining himself! It sounds like some sort of coaxial connector which should have linked the cores OK. Unfortunately I can't go and look as it's now buried in the wall. Is it possible there's a fault? We can get at it if necessary.

Spangnodulan

Thanks for that - you were right we had used the wrong connectors! The cable has been retrieved and is now connected with the correct f and double f connectors.

However now when I connect the Lidl satellite detector to the dish, it just gives out a persistent high pitched wail so high that I can't even put the earphone in my ear. I thought it was only supposed to make a noise when the dish was pointing towards a satellite. There is no variation in tone/pitch as I move the dish.

So progress has been made but as one problem is solved another is created!

Tony

turn the gain down on the meter. Take a look at the video on this page http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Freesat_DIY_satellite_systems.html

Spangnodulan

Very helpful video - thank you.

Unfortunately the Lidl satellite detector doesn't have a volume or gain control. Perhaps Lidl management feel that bleeding ear drums is a good look for their customers!

Tony

Spangnodulan wrote: »

Very helpful video - thank you.

Unfortunately the Lidl satellite detector doesn't have a volume or gain control. Perhaps Lidl management feel that bleeding ear drums is a good look for their customers!

Ok could be you are picking up radiation from buildings, try elevating the dish higher. I'm amazed thet use earplugs and no volume control, at worst they expose themselves to a "duty of care" lawsuit

Spangnodulan

I will try adjusting the elevation tomorrow although we're not in a built up area so I wouldn't expect too much problem from the buildings. Meanwhile if anyone has successfully used a Lidl Satellite finder...

CHW

I have. Hang the earpiece cable over your ear if it's too loud. There is also a beeper through the receiver, IIRC, when you have the intensity and quality displayed, you press a number on the remote, 1 or 2 probably.

Check dishpointer.com to see if the dish is pointing in the general direction it needs to for Astra 2 at your location. If it's not, then loosen any nuts, and adjust to get it more or less in the right direction. If it seems to be pointing in the right direction, try altering the elevation (up/down). In my experience, left/right directions are more commonly out than up/down directions.

If there are any other satellite presets in the receiver, see if any of them are showing channels - possible that previous owner had it pointing at 19E or 13E maybe.

Sam Radford

See dish alignment movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qMbbi2l9JA

Sam Radford

Spangnodulan wrote: »

There is no variation in tone/pitch as I move the dish.

That's often a sign that the LNB connection is open-circuit. Maybe that connector again?