Fixing an LNB

[kop442000]

Hi guys,

I have got myself a digital receiver, and my digital LNB is in the post. My dish is already up, so my next step is to swap the old LNB with the new one. How hard is this job? Can I do it while the dish is still attached to the wall? Are there are online guides I can refer to or anything?

Also when it comes to pointing the dish in the right direction, is that something that I can do myself, or would I need to got someone to come and sort that for me?

Thank you!

[SatelliteHelp]

Hiya.

Assuming your dish has a standard 40mm mounting clamp, then it's a five minute job.

On the clamp itself, there should be a single screw (or maybe two) - and yes, you can do it while it's in place if you have a head for heights

If your dishes are old, a squirt of WD40 might give you a head start, and be carefull you don't wreck the head of the screw.

Simply undo, replace the LNB and tighten up. There are a few different clamp designs, but it should all be very straightforward. You can experiment with the exact position of the LNB later to maximise your signal strength and quality.

As far as forwards/backwards positioning of the LNB in the clamp, set it in the middle for now.

You will also need to 'twist' the LNB in the clamp depending on which satellite you are pointing at.
The further east or west you go, the more twist, or 'skew'.

For 28E or 30W start off with about 15 degrees from vertical, and experiment later to maximise the signal strength and quality. Actually, quality is more important than strength with digital. For Thor at 1W the LNB would be practically vertical.

If viewed from behind the dish, you would twist it anticlockwise for easterly satellites and clockwise for westerly.

Finding a satellite in the sky is easy with a satellite meter, a compass and some experience. Doing it without the experience is more tricky, but very possible with a little patience. It's also good fun and makes the whole experience personal

Satellite TV is not quite the same if you don't get a little frostbite and the odd skinned knuckle!

Don't forget to apply some 'self-amalgamating' tape around the F connector at the end of the coax when the job is done. This is special tape which actually joins to itself over a period of time forming the perfect waterproof boot over the connection. A good investment unless you like climbing ladders

Give us a shout before you go for the install, and we'll give you some more tips on finding those pesky birds

SH

[Analoguesat]

If the bolts are rusted give them a good dose of WD40 a couple of days beforehand. :clap:

[SatelliteHelp]

LOL, and buy a big hammer! >

[kop442000]

Thanks guys that's great.

You almost make it sound exciting, I am looking forward to it! I will let you know how I get on..

cheers!

[kop442000]

...and then when I get and correctly fix my LNB, and assuming I point my satellite in the direction I want, will I get something on my screen that will tell me I have done it correctly, even without a card or anything?

I mean will there be an obvious sign that I have done it right, as opposed to pointed it in wrong direction or not fixed LNB properly?

Forgive my ignorance, but what will a card do? I assume just unlock certain channels?.. what is the difference between cards?

My plan at the minute is to have one dish pointing at Hispasat cos the main thing that I want is Spanish TV - but I think I would like to use the other dish later to watch the french version of the premiership games on TPS if at all possilbe. (Or any equivalent!)

So would I need a card for either of them? I assume that I would have to do some pc-receiver high-tech wizardry to unlock the channels...?

Basically I think that my question is... assume I have a digital receiver, digital LNBs fixed and my dished pointing in the right direction - what else do I need?

Thank you!

[kop442000]

...sorry. I have just looked at a different thread of mine and I did get an answer to a similar question... Analoguesat told me:

"TPS is easy enough to open.You require either a TPS via2 flash running on a goldcard in a viaccess receiver, or a patched receiver if your receiver supports patching"

So is TPS the best option at the minute do you think for premiership football? If so, I have a technomate 1500 CI+, I need to buy a goldcard? I assume I can get one from ebay? And is "TPS via2 flash" the software I need or something?

Also what about the hispasat channels.. do I need things for them, or will I have plenty of Spanish-speaking channels open to me anyway?

Thanks guys.
kop442000

[SatelliteHelp]

Originally Posted by kop442000

...and then when I get and correctly fix my LNB, and assuming I point my satellite in the direction I want, will I get something on my screen that will tell me I have done it correctly, even without a card or anything?

I mean will there be an obvious sign that I have done it right, as opposed to pointed it in wrong direction or not fixed LNB properly?

Forgive my ignorance, but what will a card do? I assume just unlock certain channels?.. what is the difference between cards?

My plan at the minute is to have one dish pointing at Hispasat cos the main thing that I want is Spanish TV - but I think I would like to use the other dish later to watch the french version of the premiership games on TPS if at all possilbe. (Or any equivalent!)

So would I need a card for either of them? I assume that I would have to do some pc-receiver high-tech wizardry to unlock the channels...?

Basically I think that my question is... assume I have a digital receiver, digital LNBs fixed and my dished pointing in the right direction - what else do I need?

Thank you!

Blimey... that's a lot of questions!

OK. The best thing to do is to buy a satellite meter (eBay is as good as anywhere else). Something like this is what you want:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DIGITAL-SATELL...QQcmdZViewItem

They go for about a tenner.

That will make it easier, and is a good investment if you're going to be doing this a few times.

If you don't want to spend the money, then you can get by using the signal strength meter in the receiver itself. Read through the manual. Tune to a good strong transponder and just take your time. I'll do a quick dish setup FAQ for you later.

You won't need a card to do any of this, as you can tune into a FTA channel, like BBC World.

A card will just unlock some encrypted channels. There are legal subscription cards for different packages on different satellites, and there are programmable cards, like the gold card which 'simulate' a real card and are obviously illegal.

The alternative to that is to program your receiver with an illegal firmware upgrade, which is probably what your mate has done.

I'd leave all that for the minute, until you have your setup sorted and working. Don't introduce too many variables all at once.

Your plan outlined above is good. One dish for Hispasat, and one for Hotbird (where TPS lives).

You can also get some Premiership on Hispasat, but they are encrypted (see note above). Many Spanish channels are Free To Air, and you can watch them straight away with the equipment you have.

A little PC wizardry will be required to upgrade the firmware in the receiver, along with a null modem cable, but it's not hard. Just be carefull that you follow the instructions. More on that later too.

If I were you, I'd get the meter and a null-modem cable (9 pin). Use the meter for the setup, and keep the cable for later when it's all working and you want to expand your channel choice. You could also get a 2-way DiSEqC switch in readiness for adding your second dish if you want. Global are a good make, if a little expensive.

SH

[SatelliteHelp]

Originally Posted by kop442000

...sorry. I have just looked at a different thread of mine and I did get an answer to a similar question... Analoguesat told me:

"TPS is easy enough to open.You require either a TPS via2 flash running on a goldcard in a viaccess receiver, or a patched receiver if your receiver supports patching"

So is TPS the best option at the minute do you think for premiership football? If so, I have a technomate 1500 CI+, I need to buy a goldcard? I assume I can get one from ebay? And is "TPS via2 flash" the software I need or something?

Also what about the hispasat channels.. do I need things for them, or will I have plenty of Spanish-speaking channels open to me anyway?

Thanks guys.
kop442000

TPS is my choice for football at the moment, though you might understand Canal + on Hispasat better if you're learning Spanish!
Get the FTA stuff working first, then go for a receiver firmware flash. Don't rush this unless you want to trash your receiver before you get to enjoy it

The Technomates flash really well, and there is a reliable source for this.

[kop442000]

Thanks guys that's great.

Like you say, I will get everything up and running first before I start worrying about the more complicated stuff.. and you have given me enough info to go on for that at the moment.

Just by the by... my receiver was supplied with a "Software Update Cable" - which is in the post. Is the the same as the "null cable modem" you mentioned?

Cheers!