Hi, this is getting out of hand, i am trying to get my pansat 3500sd with dish500 installed. looking for the best angles to positioned the dish is very confusing specially after i find out that Satellite finder v4.3 gives me this coordinates: Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 Latitude 40° 52.950'N Longitude 74° 22.980'W
I tried a few..and they all come up almost exactly the same..its a guide, then U tweak it!...basically aim towards Mexico...I don't ever use these calculators...and I use DTV dishes were skew is not a factor..
Dish Pointing Tips General Site Survey To get a signal, the satellite dish must be pointed directly at the satellite, with NO obstructions between the two. This means NO trees and NO buildings. Take into consideration future tree growth, house remodeling or additions and new construction in your area.
The satellite signal WILL NOT PASS through leaves or branches. Use our Satellite Look Angle calculator to determine the proper dish angles.
Finding a Clear Line of Sight
Get yourself a good compass, the best you can afford. Check the "Azimuth" and "Elevation" for your location here!
Locate at least one site on your property that has a clear view to the satellite.
Do you have at least one clear view to the satellite? Remember, no trees, leaves, or buildings can be between the dish and the satellite.
If the answer is NO, your site may not be suitable for installing the satellite system.
If the answer is MAYBE, you may want to contact a local digital satellite dealer for information about having a professional installer conduct a thorough site survey.
If the answer is YES, your site should be suitable for installing the system. Go ahead to the next section of these instructions.
Where Is Intelsat America 5 Satellite?
The satellite is always located south of Texas. That means if you live in Florida, you must have a clear line of sight to the southwest; if you live in California, you must have a clear line to the southeast.
Depending on where you live, the satellite will be at an elevation angle between 30 and 60 degrees. Southern states point more toward 60 degrees; northern states point more toward 30 degrees. Use our Satellite Look Angle calculator to determine your dish elevation and azimuth.
LNBF Polarization Tilt (skew):
Your LNB is marked with a label indicating the polarization tilt. Your local LNB polarity offset information varies by location. If you are in Houston, TX your LNB polarization is to be set at 0 degrees. But if you are on the California coast your LNB polarization could be as much as minus 30 degrees (clockwise rotation). And if you are in Maine your LNB polarization could be as much as plus 30 degree (counter-clockwise rotation). Peaking the dish and adjusting the polarity of the LNB will greatly improve your Signal Quality reading.
When adjusting your LNB, it's not going to be turned more than 31 degrees (unless you live in Hawaii). Also be sure you don't leave that LNB plastic bracket loose. The LNB won't pick up the satellite if the bracket is loose, and it's slightly off. Finally, when thinking about degrees, remember that 30 degrees is about 5 minutes on a clock. Don't turn the LNB too much!
Make certain that the pole or tri-mast assembly is vertically plumb. Check it with an Angle Finder or a level. If the pole or tri-mast is not plumb, your azimuth and elevation will not be accurate and will cause difficulty when pointing the dish. Also, if you are using a pole mount, make certain you pour a sufficient footing that will provide proper ballast. A pole that does not have sufficient ballast will lean over time, causing you to lose the signal. Your mount must be very strong and can not wobble. You must use at least 4 lag screws (correct size for your installation) in the base mount one on each corner.
When pointing the satellite dish, allow 5-10 seconds between any movements of the dish. This allows the receiver to complete a signal scan, and lock indicating that you have located the signal.
A reasonable signal strength is between 50 and 80. If it is lower than that range, you are either pointing into an object (e.g. trees, shrubs, or structures) or pointing above or below the satellite. Your antenna installation position must have a clear view angle of the satellite you are trying to receive.
There are other satellites within 2 degrees to the left or right that may use the same frequency. This will provide a strong signal strength reading but no signal quality or signal lock. If you have a high strength reading but are not able to lock on, try adjusting the dish slightly to the right or left.
When you are attempting to set up a satellite dish in a heavily wooded area or one with lots of man made obstructions, it helps to understand how the dish really works. One common misconception is that the dish points 'directly' at the satellite. This isn't the case for most dish designs. The apparent elevation of the dish is 15 or more degrees lower than it's actual receiving window. Have a look at this diagram.... it's easier to see it than it is to explain it.....
If you complete the above steps properly, your chance of a successful installation is 99.9%.
Be aware that when you have finished your mechanical installation and you are trying to aim your dish that the receiver waits about 3-5 seconds after it locks on to the correct signal before it registers on the receiver's signal meter on the antenna aiming screen on your TV. Move your dish in very small increments (2 deg East or West each instance until you find the signal then 1 deg to peak signal). If you move the dish too fast and do not pause between moves you might go thru the signal before the receiver can tell you that you are on the signal.
If you use a signal meter you can hook it into the system right at the dish and it responds to the signal immediately making it much easier to aim your dish. You do not need any one else to help you if you use a meter at the dish.
Compare Signal Strength and Quality Zero Strength and Zero Quality:
If this is the symptom you are experiencing, then the receiver is currently not receiving the signal from the dish. Check all connections between your receiver and the dish. Make sure that they are all plugged in to the proper place and are tight.
One of the most common connection problems is to have the cable coming from the dish plugged in to the connection marked "In from Antenna," which is incorrect. The cable coming from the dish needs to be plugged in to the connection marked "In from Dish, Digital In, or LNB IN"
Also, the cables might have developed a short or might have gotten moisture in them, especially out at the dish. If this is a possibility, you may want to have an installer check the cables or take them to an installer yourself.
0-30 Strength and Zero Quality: If you are experiencing these levels of strength and quality, you are getting only noise signals. Make sure that there are no obstacles between the dish and satellite.
40-60 Strength and Zero Quality: With this level of strength and a lack of quality, it is very likely that the dish has moved since its initial installation or you are still off alignment. We recommend going through the Dish Installation pointing steps and finding the satellite signal again. This will likely take just a few minor adjustments of the dish since it should not have moved very much. Key causes for this problem include bolts not being tightened properly, heavy winds, or the dish being struck or bumped by something. Once the signal has been found again, make certain all bolts are tightened well.
We also recommend that once you have everything tightened down and have your signal back, make a mark from the cap mount to the pole with paint or some other permanent substance. This will give you a reference point, should any future problems occur. You can also make a mark on the side of the cap mount where your elevation markings are imprinted.
40-60 Strength and 30-70 Quality: This level of strength and quality indicates that the dish needs to be fine-tuned to the satellite. You may have noticed that prior to getting the "Bad or No Signal" message your picture was occasionally blotchy and your audio may have been out of sync with the picture. These are all symptoms of the need to fine-tune the dish. Optimum signal quality is between 70 and 100.
TIP: You can fine-tune your dish by going back to the signal strength screen. While the signal bar is running, have someone out at the dish. He will need to loosen the collar that holds the LNB. This is done by slightly loosening the two screws that hold the collar together. Once these screws are loose, slowly twist the LNB a fraction of an inch. After each movement allow 5 seconds for the receiver to register the change and update your quality reading. If the quality readings immediately begin to get lower while the adjustments are being made, then the LNB needs to be turned in the other direction. Once the LNB fine tuning is complete, tighten the two screws on the LNB collar. You may then complete the scan by pressing START.
thanks so much for replying LK, the dish 500's lowest skew graduate number is 40, there's not much space to reach 30 or even 35. any suggestion on that. and you think that the coordinate from DN (skew 127) is not correct.
hi billy, that the same prog from dishnet***, i used but i get nothing. LK, i tried the coordinate from DN and satfinder but no luck, i did a check on my mast and everything looks square. this weekend i'll be taking a small tv on top of the roof and see what happend. wish me luck
If is VERY simple to align the dish...should take 10 minutes!...aim towards Mexico (SW) and put on a DN 110 channels below and let it rip...slowly start moving the dish....the higher the TP number, the better U are aligned to get those and all the lower TP numbers..TP (transponders= channels)
Guys, i have a breakthrought, SKEW: 33.9 means: 33+90= 123 degree. which make lot of sence to why i could not find any lower number than 40 on the dish500 skew meter. so my coordinate will be for 110W: 227_30.4_124 and to your advice LK, i'll scan for channels using sat110w with higher TP. above 16 i guess will do it. Ok, my feet are not dry yet, as i have to align the dish this weekend. i'll keep you inform if i run to any problems
You need to put your satellite skew at 90 degrees straight up and down first. Then you move the dish to 245 on your compass and then when you are sure you have it pretty close then put your skew at 127 and your elevation at 27.If you were trying to set your dish with the scew already set then you are probably throwing it off a few degrees which would mean no signal.This is what I did and it worked.If you have dish 500 the azimuth 245 elevation 27 and skew at 127 should be right on the number for your zipcode.
billy, i tried the setting that you mentioned. then i moved my box to my neighboor's house, they have direct_tv, i connected my stupid box their cable and same level 80p and quality is 0. means that my box has serious problems, by monday i'll be calling to ask for RA#. bty, i am using pansatusa factory bin. which doesn't void the waranty. let's hope i'll be getting better luck next time
Lk, correct me if im wrong, DTV with no skew apply only for 18" round dish. but if im using dish 500 which is elliptical or oval (cant remember the exact word), then i need to use the skew for DTV
Hi, i had the tv and the receiver on the roof, and yes i did receive over 90% level but no signal. what will be or are the signs of bad lnb and how do you troubleshoot it. thanks