SF-95 Satellite Finder

[kend18]

Did anybody use this equipment, SF-95 Satellite Finder ?? How useful is this product to align the Triple LNB Oval Dish ??

[SouthernSky]

Did anybody use this equipment, SF-95 Satellite Finder ?? How useful is this product to align the Triple LNB Oval Dish ??


I'd say pretty useless though I admit I've never read the directions. The only time I sell these is to folks with a single LNB (DirecTV or DISH 300 dish) who use them while traveling in their RV's or truckers (and now SUV's...). You *can* use it on the DISH 500 but you need to be able to move it back and forth (think quick release connectors) to peak it. You have to be pretty good to make this work though.

Because the triple LNB has a built-in multiswitch, not having a meter with a settable or switchable 22 khz tone (alternating between 101 and 119 satellites) makes the job damn near impossible. Forget 110 (the center LNB) even exists. If you get the two outside ones correct (101 and 119), 110 will be peaked as well.

If you're an installer, buy one. If you've installed a system yourself, pay an installer with the proper meter a service call fee to come out and align it for you. You'll be much happier and certainly less frustrated.

[xgrep]

If you're an installer, buy one. If you've installed a system yourself, pay an installer with the proper meter a service call fee to come out and align it for you. You'll be much happier and certainly less frustrated.You can use an inexpensive satfinder to peak a dish500 or triple-LNB dish, but you need to first make sure that the mast is *perfectly* vertical and that the skew is set correctly. Otherwise you don't stand much of a chance. For what it's worth, I've done installs with and without a satfinder, and unless you're aiming at a hard-to-get bird (61.5 was at 14 degrees elevation for me), it's not much better than listening to the tone on the signal strength screen.

The advice of SouthernSky is the best: get a competent installer to peak it for you.

x

[SouthernSky]

After doing a few hundred, you should be able to look at a cloud and you'll have a good idea where to find the satellite as well as nearby ones. :lol:

I've forgetten my inclinometer/compass on at least two occasions and used the "SW" on my truck's electronic compass and still found the right satellites within minutes (with my meter to peak it, naturally). Of course, as it has been reiterated 1000 times here, if that mast isn't 100% plumb on a multi-LNB dish, it's a very frustrating way to spend your extra time.

You just kind of get a feel for pointing after doing it for so long.

[kend18]

I think the mast is plumb because I have an existing 18" dish with dual LNB that work great before. After removing the old dish and installed the Triple LNB with the Oval Dish. I get a signal strength of 94 on satellite A at 101 degree and strength of 94 on sat C/B according to my RCA DRD 430 RG Reveiver in the dish pointing, but I can't catch any channel at all. Searching for Satellite Signal is all I'm getting.

[xgrep]

I think the mast is plumb because I have an existing 18" dish with dual LNB that work great before. After removing the old dish and installed the Triple LNB with the Oval Dish. I get a signal strength of 94 on satellite A at 101 degree and strength of 94 on sat C/B according to my RCA DRD 430 RG Reveiver in the dish pointing, but I can't catch any channel at all. Searching for Satellite Signal is all I'm getting.On the assumption that the mast is plumb (which seems likely), the signal strengths you're getting suggest something else is wrong. You're not doing DishNetwork, so it can't be a DishPro related problem, but it sounds like something needs to be set on your receiver to get it to recognize these birds, which your dish seems to be reasonably correctly aimed at. Is this DirecTV?

x

[SouthernSky]

Check channels 100 (test channel) and 99 (test channel for 110).

If you see the DirecTV logo on 99, 110 (the middle LNB) is correct.

If you see channel 100 and 201 and 500, but no other channels, call DirecTV and ask them to resend the signal. While you're on the phone with them, verify the access card number, serial number and receiver ID (in some cases) are correct in their system if the box has been previously activated.

Just some other thoughts not knowing your exact situation.

[Mike500]

If your dish is correctly aimed, you should at least get the barker channels.

Never assume that the post was correctly plumb from the previous install. I've seen a lot of poles not vertical, especially from those mounted on the roof. The shingles did not allow precise alignment on a lot of the first mounts. There was no slot on the mounting foot for adjustment.

Also, some of the Channel Master elevation protractors are mismarhed by 3-4 degrees. I once spent several hours on one of these, until I replaced it with a properly marked dish to test the signal. Finally, I was able to reposition the dish compenasating for the error. This was a round dish, but it could likely happen with a Phase III dish.

Being a professional installer and having a lot of components available helps. I'd recommended taking your receiver to a friends house with either a round, and preferably Phase III dish and test it there. You need to eliminate all other possible factors for error.

[kend18]

This is for Directv

[PSB]

You HAVE to use the internal level that comes with a Phase III dish then set the angles on dish exactly as stated on the onscreen menu for your zip, the phase III internal switch defaults to the 101 satellite with any old cheap meter, so all you need to do is peak in the 101 bird and every thing else is all set, thats the beauty of this dish! One tip is to take into account the weight of the dish when it is placed on the mast as this can pull it off plumb, if you get the level plumb with dish on its a breeze to point, I use the Channel Master 1009IFD satellite meter, but any one will work for a PhaseIII.