How to use a satellite finder?

Kilcullen

Hiya,

Does any one know how to use a satellite finder?

I have a simple satellite finder with the 2 connections on each side (1 for the LNB and 1 for the receiver), so far so good.

On it is a meter going from 0 to 10 with a neadle and 2 leds (1 green- 22KHz and 1 red - H/V) and then there is a knob for what is supposed to be gain with value ranging from -6 to 6.

Oh, i forgot, it is supposely beeping.

Now, what am i supposed to do in order to find the correct satellite i need (Atlantic Bird 3).

Can anyone explain how it is used?

Also, how is the elevation found?
I am looking for the elevation for Atlantic Bird 3 elevation from Kildare?

Can anyone help.

Thanks.

JoyPad

If you know your geographical coordinates, go here to compute the azimuth and elevation for AB3. If you don't, see NOTE below.
Select the satellite with the radio buttons, then input your coordinates in the boxes and click Calculate. Write down the values for azimuth and elevation.
For reference, select Eurobird/Astra2 as well and click Calculate again. Write down these values as well. They are very useful if you have any Sky minidish within sight.
If you see a minidish, try pointing your dish roughly in the same direction. If you can manage to tune in Astra2, using a neighbour's minidish, then make note of the elevation of the dish from the scale usually marked on it. Most of the times the values marked on dishes will not match the values calculated, but the markings can help you to adjust the dish for desired elevation.

For where I am, Astra2 is A=136, E=20.5, according to calculator. AB3 is 175/29.3, which means that if I had my dish tuned on Astra2, I need to move it about 9 degrees up (and I can use the markings on the dish to adjust it to 9 degrees up), then I move it to the right for 29 degrees. With correct elevation, you move the dish a centimeter at a time, until you get a tone of any sorts in the satfinder. Then use lots of care in moving the dish around to achieve best signal. We're talking millimeters here. When the best azimuth is found, you can try finetuning the elevation. Tightening the screws can be a pain, you'll see.

I have a satfinder myself, but I never actually used it. I have a little TV that I can take to the garden, with the AV receiver and I use my satellite receiver's signal menu, a lot better than satfinder's LEDs.

Good luck!
JP

NOTE: For precise coordinations, check this page. Download Ireland file and open it with your favourite text editor. Search for your town's name and get coordinates from columns 4 and 5. The value for longitude is negative because we're west of the Greenwich meridian. This value should be inputed as such in the calculator. Alternatively, you can download GorbTrack, which uses that file in a more civilized manner: you select your position from a list of countries/towns, then select satellite and retrieve azimuth and elevation values.

Kilcullen

Thanks JP,

I have a Sky dish as well but am trying to put another dish which i got in France to another TV, so i'll try.

Thanks for the info.

Kilcullen.