Slimline setup with cheapo meter

[GSHastings]

I'm new to the latest 5LNB dish technology. Having recently purchased the HR20 and then upgrading my Directv service to HD, I discover that my 12 year old 18" round single LNB dish isn't going to cut it. The folks at D*never said a word about it. I just kind of slowly fumbled into that realization.

Next mistake: I purchased a new AU9S slimline dish on the Internet. The day it arrives, I discover that D* would have come out and upgraded my dish for free.

I re-strung my coax with new 2 new runs of RG6Q using compression fittings, redo the ground wires, replace ground terminal blocks, etc.

Then I discover I'm going to need a signal meter to set this baby up. Almost everything I can find on the Internet suggest sophisticated meters which cost about $100 on up. If I hadn't already blown $100 on the antenna, I probably would have talked myself into getting one of those.

I went to a local satellite service retailer (I live in a small town) and picked up a $25 meter called the SF-99 Satelite finder. He said that he "thinks" his installer uses one, but that the new big dish might have too much gain, and peg the needle. (I can return it if I can't get it to work).

Sure enough, the little instruction sheet that comes with the meter says I might need to use a 5db attenuator if there is too much signal strength. So...I go searching for one of those. Long story short, I even called the manufacturer of the meter, and they had no idea of where I could get one.

I did see one blurb on some internet forum that a 20' piece of RG6 between the dish and the meter might be enough attenuation.

So, that's a long winded way to ask: Do any of you good folks have some experience in using these cheapo meters with the large high gain dishes? Or am I wasting my time?

My plan is to get the dish installed (it will be a techincally and mechanically very sound installation). Then at least get the dish aligned well enough to use the system. I have D* scheduled to come out in about 3 weeks, and will just have them do a precise alignment, and possibly install two monopole braces.

Thanks,
Greg

[FTA Michael]

I've used a cheapo meter with a Dish Network dish, which ought to have similarly powerful signal strength. My cheapo (and they look pretty generic) had a knob to adjust the meter. And that became the basis for the art of signal peaking with the thing - turn it up to get the meter off 0, move the dish until the signal pegs the meter, then turn it down until the meter shows 10-20% of its range, then move the dish until pegged, and so forth.

[GSHastings]

Thanks for the input.

I've been lead to believe that the large slimline dish will peg the meter so badly that the gain knob won't turn it down.

I climb the roof tomorrow to start the process, and will have a long length of RG6 available to use as an attenuator if necessary.

Thanks,
Greg

[eakes]

I have used an inexpensive signal meter to align a number of satellite dishes. In the past week I have aligned two slimline dishes using this meter with a 6 DB pad. Total alignment time was about 10 minutes for each dish. Using this method one can get a good peak within a 1/4 turn of the nut driver aligning on a transponder on 101. The tilt and elevation was preset in accordance with the guide info for my location. Select the transponder to align on then adjust the az until the meter indicates a signal. Tighten the bolts holding the antenna to the mast and then use the fine adjustments to peak the signal. I got 96 to 100 on 101, then checked 119 and also saw 95 to 100 readings which indicated there was no need to tweak the tilt. On 103b I found readings of 88 to 98.

The 6 DB was purchased at RadioShack several years ago, they should still stock the item. Whatever pad you get needs to pass DC.

[GSHastings]

The 6 DB was purchased at RadioShack several years ago, they should still stock the item. Whatever pad you get needs to pass DC.

My local Radio Shack is almost totally clueless. I was trying to get some 12ga. solid copper wire for a grounding wire (same project), and the sales staff didn't have a clue what I was asking for. They showed me everything from speaker hookup wire, to telephone line. !!

Doing a search on Radioshacks website doesn't turn up anything for "attenuator" or pad.

Can you discribe to me what the device is, and might be used for in other applications?

Thanks,
Greg

[GSHastings]

One other questions concerning this project.

The dish has 4 coax connectors. I'm initially only going to be using two for my HR20. But I might run the other two feeds to my old D*Tivo box.

So I'm going to put some 3' RG6Q cables on the two spares so that I won't have to disturb the setup later.

I picked up some little terminator caps from Radio shack. But, when I checked the my 3' cables after putting the terminators on, I discovered that they seem to short the center conductor to the shield through an approximately 74 ohm resistance.

Should I use those terminator caps? Or should I use plastic caps so that there is no continuity between the shield and center conductor on the spare cables?

Thanks again,
Greg

[eakes]

I just spent some time at the RS web site and can't find the attenuator. It should be located with the TV accessories (coax cable, connectors, amps, etc). However, if you can find a 4-way splitter that has DC pass then you can use that as an attenuator (IN to either of the OUT ports).

I would not put terminators on the unused ports. And, yes, the terminators are just that - they provide a 75 ohm termination to the port or line.

[GSHastings]

Thanks for all your help and advice.

I'll try your suggestion about the splitter. And I do see several sources of attenuator pads on the internet. If I can't get things to work today, I'll order a couple.

Cheers,
Greg

[glennb]

I used the HR20 signal meter to align my dish.
Worked fine.

The instructions that came with my dish said - DO NOT USE THE SATELLITE RECEIVER TO ALIGN THE DISH !! Then each step along the way said - Set meter to setting blah, blah, blah or alternately use the satellite receiver set to satellite blah, and an even numbered transponder. Go figure.