Any experience with a Sat Finder

[DJ Rob]

I have a dish that seems to need a little tweaking every few weeks. I was looking at getting a Sat Finder (SF-99) like the one Dish Depot has for $30.

I was wondering if anyone has used one of these devices and how good they work. Are they more accurate than the Dish pointing screen?

I have a Dish Pro LNB/system and I'm not sure if it would be compatable.
Thanks.

[Jacob S]

Your dish should NOT be needing retweaked every few weeks. I would call the installer/retailer that put it in and demand them to come back out and fix their messup. They MUST warranty their installation for 90 days. If they refuse just tell them that you will call Dish and they will lose their commission as a result. This is, of course, if it was due to install error. It should have been put in correctly in the first place but some make errors but they should fix their mistakes free of charge if it was their fault.

f you would rather just get a satellite meter then it will be compatable with the DishPro lnbf/system. Make sure whenever you go to use the meter that the needle is in between 0 and 1. You can test to make sure you are getting juice in the coax wire from the receiver by putting your hand in front of the lnbf and the meter will act like it is picking up a strong signal. Move the dish to where there is no signal coming in and move the knob until the needle is on 5 in the middle. Whenever you get closer to the satellite it will start moving to the right towards 10. You may hear and audible sound coming from the meter while this is going on.

What you need to know is that the meter is more sensative than the signal meter on the receiver so it may show a signal coming in on the meter you have at the dish and not show up on the meter on the tv because the signal is not coming in strong enough. Another thing is that it will show the signal from other satellites as well so you may get confused as a result. Make sure your mast/pole is plumb and that you set your skew, and elevation correctly by putting the zip code in on the signal screen. When your mast/pole is plumb your skew and elevation numbers are true. Your azimuth is used with your compass.

Whenever you start getting a signal you can fine tune the signal by adjusting the knob to the left which causes the needle to go to the left and then continue adjusting the dish causing the needle to move to the right towards 10 again. Keep doing this until you find the satellite. I would try moving the dish to the left and right and that you are close to your azimuth using your compass and then you should see on the meter when you come close to the correct satellite.

Since you are using a Dish500 you should connect it to the left side (for 119) and make sure that matches the signal screen on your tv having 119 selected as well.

[DJ Rob]

Your dish should NOT be needing retweaked every few weeks.

Because of a large building in the way, the only place I can get signal is where the dish is now - on a not-so-very stable fence.
That's why the dish drifts a little from time to time.

I may just have to invest in the meter to save me some time running in and out of the house to tweak it.

Thanks for your advice!

[Jacob S]

You may want to try stabalizing the fence more. The post that the dish is on could be stabalized by driving a pole in the ground by the post and clamping or tying in some manner that post to the pole, or better yet, just buy a thick metal pole (exhaust pipe) that is 1 5/8" diameter and drive it in the ground and put the dish on that. You can use some concrete to help keep the pole in place but if you drive it in the ground enough then you do not need concrete if you need to move the dish in the future.

[DJ Rob]

This fence is fastened onto pavement in a parking lot so it would a bit hard to strenghten it any more. I may eventually move the dish before winter to a more secure spot. So far it has lasted a year where it is - it just needs a little tweaking after a windstorm or a bunch of snow....

[Nick]

"...the dish is...on a not-so-very stable fence.That's why the dish drifts a little from time to time."

Forget the satfinder - don't waste your $$ - you don't need it. What you do need is a rock-steady mount. Get a steel post sunk in concrete.

Unless you just enjoy going out repeatedly to tweak your dish. :rolleyes:

Avoid wood - it warps.

[waydwolf]

This fence is fastened onto pavement in a parking lot so it would a bit hard to strenghten it any more. I may eventually move the dish before winter to a more secure spot. So far it has lasted a year where it is - it just needs a little tweaking after a windstorm or a bunch of snow....
Then you need one of those buckets that 40lbs. of clumping cat litter comes in, a level(especially one with two bubbles each at 90° to each other), a bag of pre-mixed concrete, and some water. And the pole too.

Put the bucket on a known-level surface(i.e. concrete you've checked w/your level), mix up the concrete and fill the bucket, shove the pipe into it and hold it with the level tied to it so it shows plump upright and keep it there until the concrete has set enough to hold it up itself.

After it completely dries and sets(about a day), mount the dish preset to the appropriate angles but with the bolts on the pole clamp slightly loose. You may want to put a little salad or household lube oil on the pole under it to allow it to rotate smoothly for later.

Once that's done you place a couple inch thick pile of sand where you want the pole, set the concrete on it still with the level attached to the pole. Carefully shove and slide it back and forth until the thing shows level and then proceed with aiming the dish. Tighten the bolts when you peak the signal and it should be fine unless someone hits it or the wind takes it.

Placing a pile of concrete blocks around the bucket and filling the space between with sand can increase the stability a little more. An alternate method is to place the bucket in the center of a 4'x4' sheet of plywood with guy wires from near the top of the pole just underneath the dish to the corners with turnbuckles to tighten and adjust it. Home Depot of course carries everything you need.

I've had two customers for whom this had to be done due to one and only one line of sight from a similarly paved area.