Setting up the Lidl Satellite System: For Beginners

boardy

Ok, so we're newbies to setting up a satellite system. Hopefully, by setting up a new thread, we can get help setting up our systems and avoid intruding on the other Satellite posts.

Question 1: I've everything connected but I'm getting 0% signal. Granted, I'm holding the dish out the window facing at what I think is 28.2 degees south for Astra 2, and there's no obstruction ahead of me. Shouldn't I at least get some sort of signal by moving it about. I know to keep it in the one position for a while before moving it again. Am I being too imprecise? Is the Sat-Finder that came with the system required to pin-point the satellite? At the moment, I am just using a portable TV looking for signals.

KTRIC

I'm getting one of these this evening, was just wondering is the finder device the same as the one the are selling seperatly for 11.99 ??

DjDangerousDave

Get onto that roof you slacker! 10 Mins and im driving at top speed to get home to install mine. You are going to have to point it South East anyway, so im going to start by putting the mounting bracket on the wall in that direction.

You need to sort out the inclination of the dish too. I think about 28 deg abouve the horizon is where u need to be pointing the thing. maybe thats why ur getting nothing.

DjDangerousDave

K-TRIC wrote:

I'm getting one of these this evening, was just wondering is the finder device the same as the one the are selling seperatly for 11.99 ??

LOL, will i tell him or will i leave it to someone else. They are sold out since 9am.

Tony

You really need to fix the dish on the mount and make very small changes in direction and elevation before you get a signal.

boardy

There's only one problem with me getting on the roof: I may be able to get up there, but the only way down would involve a call to the fire brigade.

I wish there were an idiot's guide to setting this stuff up. If I point the dish to the South East, there should be at least some signal (even 1%). But I'm getting didley squat. I even rewired the coaxial connections to make sure that the LNB is getting power.

swoofer

if it was that easy there would be no installers, u dont say what size dish, 60cm is a must for ireland, u can use smaller but it is even harder to find the sats.

the guide is

1. fix dish on pole that is 90% perpendicular. it has to be straight, if not u are blowing in the wind.

2. ensure lnb is fixed correctly.

3. set the elevation angle, for sky is is quite upright, look at dishes nearby.

4. have a compass, find due south - 8%w.

5. move dish to 28%e using compass.

6. have sat meter plugged in

7. move dish back and forth / up/down very slowly.

good luck

boardy

Thanks for the input GB.

The dish size is 57cm, which is the standard that came with the Lidl system.

By the way, for those who purchased this system today, did the included Sat-Finder come with a cable? Because I had to cut a piece from the long coaxial cable and try to slot one end into the LNB and the other into the Sat-Finder as they didn't supply extra coaxial connectors either. Is this cable suppose to supply power to the LNB?

Lidl were also selling an LED Sat-Finder for around 12 Euros - maybe I should have bought that one.

DjDangerousDave

Im getting an average of 65% signal strength on Astra B1 @ 19.2E and im recieving MTV2 POP Grand.

Astra 28 East says i have a signal of about 60% too, but im sure this cant be correct. This is happening when i turn to BBC1 on the reciever.

Would astra 28 east be better?

Dave.

DjDangerousDave

boardy wrote:

Thanks for the input GB.

The dish size is 57cm, which is the standard that came with the Lidl system.

By the way, for those who purchased this system today, did the included Sat-Finder come with a cable? Because I had to cut a piece from the long coaxial cable and try to slot one end into the LNB and the other into the Sat-Finder as they didn't supply extra coaxial connectors either. Is this cable suppose to supply power to the LNB?

Lidl were also selling an LED Sat-Finder for around 12 Euros - maybe I should have bought that one.

I used another cable to connect it up. none supplied.

Chong

Does anyone what the going rate for getting a technician to install the dish.

The Muppet

WDK wrote:

Does anyone what the going rate for getting a technician to install the dish.

Probably more than you paid for the system. It's straigh forward to set it up. If there are any sky dishes near you point it in the general directtion they are pointing. Connect up the reciever and power it on with the sat finder in line. and the slowly move the dish until the beep from the finder is loudest and you should be on a sattelite. If its not the one you want continue to do this until you find the one you want.

Chong

Well I have all the brackets connectors and cable, I bought my dish in Maplins. I have done everything possible I have spent 4 bleeding hours at it.

The Muppet

WDK wrote:

Well I have all the brackets connectors and cable, I bought my dish in Maplins. I have done everything possible I have spent 4 bleeding hours at it.

Where are you based ?

Chong

I can get installed for 45 euro which is not bad.

deadl0ck

So, is Astra 2 the best Satellite to point at for general English programs and movies ?

Tony

deadl0ck wrote:

So, is Astra 2 the best Satellite to point at for general English programs and movies ?

look up www.lyngsat.com and decide for yourself

deadl0ck

OK - looks like there are three Astra 2 sat feeds all on 28.2 degrees: 2A, 2B and 2D

Does this mean I can get all three of these feeds ?

DjDangerousDave

are u using one of the lidl boxs deadl0ck? if so, when u point it at 28.2 you will get all the bbc stuff and all the stations that are tuned into 617 > 680 on the box. I had mine on the 19 E astra 1B and you get a lot of european stuff, u get german eurosport and bbc world service, cnn, cnn europe, euro news, and a few good music stations sky news too. I also had it pointed at hot bird and there was a lot of european stuff also, i did not really see anything of intrest. but it may be worth a look. ur best bet is to try out the different sats and decide for urself. im going to point mine at astra 19E. i hope all this info is correct im just remember it off the top of my head from lastnight.

Tony

deadl0ck wrote:

OK - looks like there are three Astra 2 sat feeds all on 28.2 degrees: 2A, 2B and 2D

Does this mean I can get all three of these feeds ?

Yes of course as well as eurobird

deadl0ck

Yep - it's one of the Lidl systems.

I got it for my parents as a surprise, as they live in the arsehole of nowhere and have only an Ariel (RTE1, RTE2, TG4, TV3 and bad reception of BBC1, BBC2 UTV and Channel 4). I won't get a chance to set it up until sometime next week when I'm down there so I'm trying to get as much advance info as possible.

Looks like Astra is the way to go for programs for them.

On the lyngsat page, will I be able to view any channel (on my selcted satellite, of course) that has an "F" in the Video Encryption Coulmn (I'm assuming this means free) ?

boardy

I got my lidl system all sorted. It's up and running fine now.

Here's a few tips:

Use the supplied Sat-Finder, making sure that you plug it into the dish side (and not on the receiver end)

It's ok to actually hold the dish and try and find the satellite. Then you will be able to get a rough marker for when you are putting it on the bracket. I didn't have to put the dish on the roof - it's at a convenient location at the back of my house

I used a portable television to help me fine-tune the signal

Make sure that the channel on the TV (receiver) is set to the satellite that you are aiming for e.g. Channel 617 (and up) for Astra 2 (It sounds obvious but as a newbie, I wasn't doing this and wasted time)

I think my biggest problem was with the LNB. As it can be secured on a number of positions on the holder, I moved it all the way to the end (away from the dish) and then tightened it. That seemed to have solved the problem that I was having (no signal).

And finally, use the helpful information provided in these posts as I wouldn't have been able to complete this little project without it

Cheers Lads.

boardy

And one more thing .......

It ain't all that difficult.

Drag00n79

deadl0ck wrote:

I got it for my parents as a surprise, as they live in the arsehole of nowhere and have only an Ariel (RTE1, RTE2, TG4, TV3 and bad reception of BBC1, BBC2 UTV and Channel 4). I won't get a chance to set it up until sometime next week when I'm down there so I'm trying to get as much advance info as possible.

Deadl0ck, you might be better off with a digibox and a UK Free to View card. Perfect reception of the ITV regions, Channel 4 and Five as well as getting your BBCs free to air.

deadl0ck

I'll see how I get on with this first. My parents are happy enough with the 8 channels and reception they have, so any extra channels with half decent programmes and films and they'd be delighted.

Pataman

Where can I get one I have tried a few Lidl's and they are all sold out!

Chong

Afternoon all I decided to tackle my dish again today. I got a lend of a compass of neigbour and set too it. After 2 hours I finally got Astra 19.2, I am ecstatic plus there is an added bonis of not having to pay for someone to install it.

Just keep it at cause its hard without a sat finder.

Best Luck

deadl0ck

boardy, exactaly what channels have you got on the system so ?

alanceltic

Was lucky enough (or unlucky enough haha) to get one of the lidl dishes and duly slapped it up on my house the following day and pointed it in the general direction of my neigbours sky dish. Using the sat finder I manage to find a decent reception but when I went to view the channels they are all in german!!! It seems to be pointed at the astra sat 1B 19.2E. What im looking for is the english channels which seem to be programmed on numbers 617 onwards. Do I need to re-direct me dish slightly further east, and if so do I also need to adjust the upwards/downwards angle too??? What is puzzling me is that if i click the info button on one of the Astra28EAST channels (Eg BBC1 London Channel 617) the system is saying that the signal is at 86% and the quality is at 70% (same as they are for ASTRA SAT1B (eg channel 1) but im not getting any picture........ Someone please advise me if i need to re-adjust the dish before I trundle back up on my roof because im puzzled why im picking up a signal on ASTRA28EAST but no picture. Any advice would be HUGELY appreciated,

Cheers

Al

Jenny_H

I need advise on tuning in the Lidl Satellite Dish. We have spent 4 to 5 hours att his since we got it and still haven't managed to pick up anything.

Can anyone help with following?

How do you use the sat finder -the higher the tone the better? or the lower the tone?

Will you get a picture while the sat finder is connected?

What does 28 East mean? Is is 28 on the compass or 28 degrees from the East?

We're based near Limerick - can anyone tell me what position the dish should face (tilt upwards/downwards)?
Do we have to tune anything on the receiver or will we automatically pick up something once the positioning is correct?

Finally (I think) does it matter which position on the LNB we connect to for single use?

Is ther anything else we need to watch out for?

Sorry for all the questions but we are desperate at this stage.

Chong

1) Higher the tone the better.

2) No you wont get a pic while the sat finder is connected.

3) If there is any Sky Digital erected dishes in your area try and judge by them. Also its 28.2 Degrees South East . Must have is a compass.

4) Most channels come pre installed plus should have the slightest of tilts.

Note the compass is vital!!!

mayto

after you have found the satellite with the sat finder,slowly start turning down the beeper ,moving dish left/right ,up/down until you get loudest beep again.keep on doing this till you can bearly hear a beep from sat finder.at this stage the dish is aligned perfectly.its the only accurate way to set up a dish.

Chong

Too right mayto I spent 4 hours at it wednesday and the best part of 2 and half today.

claw14

Ok folks, worked at it a while today and now have ASTRA2 tuned in (Or so I think). My question is. does anyone know how to group the chanels together? i.e. I have a few channels in the 600 range , then a few blank channels and again just above 700 I have a few more. If I could group all the ASTRA2 channels together It might be easier to see what I have.
I'm a first timer so any help I can give other first timers I will try.

It's not too bad if ya just settle down and go through it slowly.

The Muppet

Jenny_H wrote:

What does 28 East mean? Is is 28 on the compass or 28 degrees from the East?

Standing behind the dish and facing the back of it turn it slowly to your left and you will get astra 2. The Arm with the LNB on the end should be {nearly} horizontal.


I got pictures on mine with the sat finder in line.

The cable will work from either connection on the lnb.

The higher the tone the stronger the signal.

Good Luck

Zaphod

WDK wrote:

2) No you wont get a pic while the sat finder is connected.

Barring the possibilty that the finder is somehow faulty, it will make no difference to the operation of the receiver. Therefore, if the receiver is tuned to a specific channel and the dish is properly aligned, the picture will be displayed regardless of whether the sat finder is connected or not.

greg-h

Please be carefulll with the lidl satellite meters as the can give you a bad shock I know it only 18 volts but youll feall it as said above I think you are better to mount a compleatly vertical pole and use a compess It wont take as long to those who have bought a satellite system I wish you good luck with it and hopefully you will have embarked on a truly fasanating hobby.

Zaphod

claw14 wrote:

My question is. does anyone know how to group the chanels together? i.e. I have a few channels in the 600 range , then a few blank channels and again just above 700 I have a few more. If I could group all the ASTRA2 channels together It might be easier to see what I have.

Page 32 of the manual:
Go to the submenu 'Channel Assignation' via Menu->Channel admin and there you have the option to Move channels, also to Skip, Delete, Lock channels or add them to the Favourites list.

deadl0ck

Please be carefulll with the lidl satellite meters as the can give you a bad shock

WTF ???
Can you elaborate on this a little more ??

duck1

I got one of the lidl digital satellite systems on Thursday and only put it up today. I put the bracket up vertical on a east facing wall and connected all cables up. I got two coaxial connectors 4 d satellite beeper and wired it up. I dont knoe if its working right. I moved the dish around in several positions and cant seem to any signal on any of the satellites (no compass). The beeper is loudest with the dish facing almost into the wall (s)/(N) or the ground - it doesnt seem right. Im not sure what to do - there are no other sky dishes around within a mile

boardy

deadl0ck: I have all the FTA Astra 2 channels.

Duck1: You main problem is that you put the dish on your east-facing wall, which is why you are getting some response when you are pointing it into the wall (i.e. southerly). Put the dish on a south wall, then barely move towards the east.

The dish itself should be barely pointing up, with the LNB arm almost pointing straight out. Even though I have a large wall in front of me, I was able to find a signal by just standing on a chair and pointing south, south-east. The best bet would be to look at Sky Digital dishes nearby.
Note: You can do this without a compass, and yes you WILL get a reception on your TV even with the sat-finder connected.

A portable TV is handy. Connect it to the receiver and tune in the correct channel range e.g. 617 for Astra 2. I located a gap in all the obstructions (urban area) in the front of me, stood up on a chair, and pointed the dish south and worked from there. The sat-finder will change to a higher tone immediately after finding a signal. When you know that there is a signal around, put the bracket on the wall in order to fine-tune by tiny movements of the dish.


Best of luck.

boardy

With Astra 2, should I not be getting be Astra 2A (e.g. CNN International) and Astra 2B (e.g. Sky News). Do they have to be manually configured? I am getting most of the Eurobird and Astra 2D channels.

Humbly seeking guidance ....

claw14

I know how you feel duck1. I am a first time installer and it took a few hours but I got it to work. My advice does not come with a guarantee but it worked for me.
On the black bracket that came with the dish there are markings, which show the degrees of elevation. There is also a mark on the metal bracket to correspond with these marks. If you set this close to 22 - 25 degree's first and tighten it up. No this is what got me. It seems like the disk is pointing downwards but go with it for a mo. Now face the dish to where the sun is roughly around noon. Tighten the bracket enough so you can move the dish left to right and it's not falling all over the place. Connect up you sat finder and slowly move the dish from left to right. You should see the signal rise when you find the satellite.
Just a note on the sat finder, which wasted a lot of time for me. On the sensitivity knob, turn it fully "off". You should have one led light on and a low tone. Now turn it up until the second and third leds come on, then turn it back until just after the second led goes out. I had it fully turned to the lowest setting and couldn't find a thing DOH!!! as soon as I set the sensitivity correct I found a ASTRA in a few mins.

Have fun !!!!!

dec2000

I went up to Newry yesterday and they had about 12 left - cost €107 though with the exchange rate :mad:

We set it up today and moved it around and accidently came across Astra 2. Slightly tilting the dish gives the other Astra satelitte with Sky News and the likes. Is there a way to tune both these in? we were looking at Sky News and BBC News 24 - both have the same satelitte strength but only one will come in and the other will say Audio/Video not available. Slightly angling the dish will allow the picture through for the opposite channel. Is there any way to get both these together? Was recently down in Waterford where they had a sky dish and receiver with no card and it was set up to receive the free channels and I could swear they were able to see BBC News 24 and Sky News! Help appreciated!

deadl0ck

boardy - by "all FTA astra 2 cahnnels", do you mean Astra 2A, 2B and 2D ?

boardy

deadl0ck: See my question 4 posts up.

duck1

After much frustration over the last few days, I finally got the dish tuned in this morning to astra 28.2/5E! I took note of the tips in the messages and got a compass, found south east direction (from bracket on -- "correction" NE facing gable)and after that much to my surprise it was not too hard to find the satellite. As claw14 said - the degrees marked on the black bracket give a good guide as to where 28.2 deg is situ. I did not use the supplied buzzing sat-finder and I think it was for the better. I set up the dish using the signal monitor function in the menu - although I am only getting 58 - 62% signal but good picture and sound on most of the preprogrammed channells. Does anyone know whats the story with getting eg. skynews, reality tv, QVC, Community channel etc. which are not already preprogrammed in the box on astra28??? Also why am I getting a strong signal of about 60 - 75% on 19E but only picture and sound reception on astra28???

Tony

Try a network search on a couple of transponders and it should download everything available

duck1 wrote:

After much frustration over the last few days, I finally got the dish tuned in this morning to astra 28.2/5E! I took note of the tips in the messages and got a compass, found south east direction (from bracket on -- "correction" NE facing gable)and after that much to my surprise it was not too hard to find the satellite. As claw14 said - the degrees marked on the black bracket give a good guide as to where 28.2 deg is situ. I did not use the supplied buzzing sat-finder and I think it was for the better. I set up the dish using the signal monitor function in the menu - although I am only getting 58 - 62% signal but good picture and sound on most of the preprogrammed channells. Does anyone know whats the story with getting eg. skynews, reality tv, QVC, Community channel etc. which are not already preprogrammed in the box on astra28??? Also why am I getting a strong signal of about 60 - 75% on 19E but only picture and sound reception on astra28???

Zaphod

duck1 wrote:

Also why am I getting a strong signal of about 60 - 75% on 19E but only picture and sound reception on astra28???

Same reason as post #40 on this thread.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=291375&page=2&pp=20

deadl0ck

Originally Posted by deadl0ck
OK - looks like there are three Astra 2 sat feeds all on 28.2 degrees: 2A, 2B and 2D

Does this mean I can get all three of these feeds ?

Yes of course as well as eurobird

boardy - That was in Post 20 in this thread - so according to Tony, you should be able to get all the Astra and eurobird

Unless he meant you could get them seperatly - I meant all together, without having to go near the dish (I assume you do to boardy)

Can anybody calrify this and if so is it hard to do, i.e. is there some specific setting on the receiver ??

If somebody HAS successfully set up the dish, can the please let me know what English language channels they receive (and please don't post a link to www.lyngsat.com as it still doesn't clarify exactly what I should expect to get when I get down to my folks and set this thing up for them) ?

dadsarmy

I have all the channels on 28e but could someone tell me how to set up to receive the eurobird satalite, it is not listed in the pre-programed satalite list.(Lidl receiver)