Satellite Dish Installation without Sat Finder

Glen_Quagmire

Hi there,

tried to post this yesterday but never went through...

I have bought the below satellite dish and I am going to install it myself. Question I have, is this easily done without a satellite finder?

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/SKY-Freesat-Satellite-Dish-Zone-2-Quad-LNB-MK4-HD-Sky-Astra-Hotbird-/161586343521?hash=item259f4bee61:g:h04AAOSwk5FU0gSy

There is a dish directly above where I will be installing my one so I should be able to get the direction about 90% right by aligning it the same as the one above, however how difficult is it to fine tune?

Is it just a case of having someone at the dish and another person at the TV and shouting back and forth until the signal improves?

Is there any way to know if you have the best signal possible by a setting on the satellite receiver (I have a Wetek Play) or am I best off just going out and getting a satellite finder?

Cheer lads

Sam Russell

use http://www.dishpointer.com/ which allows you to put the pointer on your house at the exact point where you are placing the dish. Select the satellite you want to look at - 28.2E ASTRA 2A | ASTRA 2C | ASTRA 2D | ASTRA 2F and you will get the direction. Look for a landmark to point the dish at.

Set the bottom arm at near horizontal and then you are fairly close. A satfinder, like the ones you put in line and have an ear piece would make it easy to get a picture. You then use the signal strength on the TV/satbox.

To make life easy, make sure the satbox/TV is already tuned to the satellite. After that you shout or use a dect phone. Start with BBC1 as it is a strong signal and then go for France 24 as it is a weaker signal.


Good luck with that - and do not fall off the ladder.

Glen_Quagmire

Sam Russell wrote: »

use http://www.dishpointer.com/ which allows you to put the pointer on your house at the exact point where you are placing the dish. Select the satellite you want to look at - 28.2E ASTRA 2A | ASTRA 2C | ASTRA 2D | ASTRA 2F and you will get the direction. Look for a landmark to point the dish at.

Set the bottom arm at near horizontal and then you are fairly close. A satfinder, like the ones you put in line and have an ear piece would make it easy to get a picture. You then use the signal strength on the TV/satbox.

To make life easy, make sure the satbox/TV is already tuned to the satellite. After that you shout or use a dect phone. Start with BBC1 as it is a strong signal and then go for France 24 as it is a weaker signal.


Good luck with that - and do not fall off the ladder.

Thanks mate, I'll give that a go and see how I get on. My satbox isnt arriving until Monday so I will just get the dish up and do the fine tuning when I have the box set up to the 28.2 satellite

GY A1

Glen_Quagmire wrote: »

Thanks mate, I'll give that a go and see how I get on. My satbox isnt arriving until Monday so I will just get the dish up and do the fine tuning when I have the box set up to the 28.2 satellite

Have u an old sky box to connect to the dish
At least I can check the signal strength and that u have a picture before ur box arrives
Then that's the job finished ;-)

The Cush

I use one of these Digisat meters, basic and easy to use, good for installing and realigning if required in future.

http://www.creativesatellite.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p2170.html

Gerry Wicklow

Only move the dish a few mm at a time left/right or up/down. Also remember if you are watching the TV it may take a second or two between any move at the dish and it showing on screen.
Cheapo, sub €20 meters are available from the likes of Woodies or Argos and can save a lot of cursing in the long run.

Sam Russell

I have used a little beeper type satfinder with an ear piece and that gets me close enough to have a picture and then I used the built in signal strength for the satbox.

OP, where are you based? I could lend you a beeper box if you are nearby.

Glen_Quagmire

Sam Russell wrote:

I have used a little beeper type satfinder with an ear piece and that gets me close enough to have a picture and then I used the built in signal strength for the satbox.

Sam Russell wrote:

OP, where are you based? I could lend you a beeper box if you are nearby.

I'm based in Finglas mate, where are you?

Sam Russell

Glen_Quagmire wrote: »

I'm based in Finglas mate, where are you?

PM me, I am based in Dublin 4

Glen_Quagmire

I got sorted, thanks for the offer though mate