Using horizon digital satellite meter for dummies?

alan767

Hi I'm currently trying to align a dish using a Horizon DSM without any luck whatsoever.

I connect it from LNB to input ,switch on and select Astra 2D but it just keeps scanning relentlessly...Bliip blip blip...

The dish was already aligned correctly and when I adjust the rotation and elevation it slowly in roughly the same position it finds nothing?

Does this device even indicate in any way when your getting close?

Could the LNB just be faulty?

Thanks

Peter Rhea

Are you referring to this device?

Have you read the manual or any other literature (tests etc.) associated with it?

What exactly are you expecting it to 'find'?

alan767

Hi Peter this is the one I'm using - http://www.horizonhge.com/products_digi_sat_hdsm_usb.html

I watched some youtube demos on this but to my dismay, none actually explained in lay terms the correct technique for success with this contraption.

I was expecting that when the dish was getting close to the correct alignment that the meter would indicate this in some way but it just seems to constantly scan?

I connected it to a neighbours dish [which has been professionally installed and aligned ]and a second "bar" appears on the display showing 100% and the blip blip becomes a contant tone so this is what I'm expecting to find when the dish is correctly aligned to Astra 2D.

Peter Rhea

alan767 wrote: »

I connected it to a neighbours dish [which has been professionally installed and aligned ]and a second "bar" appears on the display showing 100% and the blip blip becomes a contant tone so this is what I'm expecting to find when the dish is correctly aligned to Astra 2D.

That would suggest that your own dish isn't actually aligned properly, or the dish face & lnb have become misaligned wrt each other or, as in your OP, the lnb could be faulty.

Also, Astra 2D is gone now, but the same frequencies are used by its successors at 28 degrees east. Just in case someone might suggest that could be a problem.

alan767

That was a very useful link you provided Peter thanks!

I learned that this meter has a LNB/Cable test function and tried it connecting the cable coming down from the LNB to the combi box and its failed every time!

I now need to go up and connect directly to the LNB and run the test again.

I should have mentioned that the dish was aligned and working fine until last week when there was strong winds.

Thats interesting that the LNB and dish can become misaligned. I presume strong wind could possibly cause this to happen?

Can such an issue be rectified with a bit of gentle persuasion or would a new dish/lnb be required?

thanks

Peter Rhea

It usually takes more than wind to knock the lnb off focus, unless the dish arm is badly corroded.

The Cush

alan767 wrote: »

Thats interesting that the LNB and dish can become misaligned. I presume strong wind could possibly cause this to happen?

Can such an issue be rectified with a bit of gentle persuasion or would a new dish/lnb be required?

The strong winds could certainly give the dish a little nudge that can knock it out of alignment and lose the signal and as you say a litte bit of gentle persuasion could get the signal back. When you get it back retighten all the bolts. Had to realign my brothers dish in the last few months.

Also check the cable connection to the LNB.