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- Free to Air Installation -
A satellite free to air installation can be
accomplished by most people that have the patience to follow
instructions and a moderate electronic knowledge. If this is not
for you, it will be far easier for you to contact a local
satellite installer in your area to assist you. This tutorial
assumes you wish to receive multiple satellites using a dish
mover or rotor. If you only wish to receive a single satellite,
your task is much easier as you have but one satellite to locate
and your dish will be fixed on the single location. For most
broadcasts in the United States and Southern Canada, a dish size
of 90cm - 1.2 Meters (35" - 48") is sufficient. Larger dish sizes
may be required for more northern or out of footprint
locations.
Definitions to
Know
Elevation This is the angle between
the broadcast satellite above the horizon and your physical location on
Earth, where your receiving satellite dish will be. This is the
up/down adjustment on the satellite dish. All
commercial satellites in geo-stationary orbit are located 22 300
miles above the Earth. The curvature of the Earth means that the
farther you advance East or West from the satellite orbital
location, the more you will need to adjust your elevation. For
example, if the satellite orbital location is located directly
over the state of Texas, your elevation in New York will be lower
than that of someone living in Texas.
Azimuth This is the compass
direction to your satellites location. This is the left/right
adjustment on the satellite dish. For example, to find a
satellite located at 101 degrees longitude , your azimuth in Los
Angeles, California will be 137 degrees. Also, as there is a
difference between true and magnetic North, to find a satellite,
you may also need to compensate or correct your values for
magnetic deviation. (See below image) For Los Angeles, the 137
degree azimuth must be corrected by subtracting 14 degrees, so
the true compass direction is 123 degrees. This corrected value
is known as your declination angle
Locations West of 0 need to subtract the value shown. Locations
East of 0 need to add the value shown.
Polarization This is the correction
that compensates for curvature of the Earth relative to the
satellite signal for linearly polarized satellites. This is also
known as tilt or skew. Linearly polarized satellites use both
vertical and horizontal polarization. To correctly receive
signals on satellite transponders, your dish must be adjusted so
as to receive the signals head on. Your polarization adjustment
compensates for the curvature of the Earth by rotating the LNBF
left or right. Note that some fixed dish configurations adjust
the polarization by tilting the entire dish rather than the lnbf.
A negative polarization is in a clockwise direction from
vertical. A positive polarization is in a counterclockwise
direction from vertical.
Step 1: Satellite Site
Survey
The first step in a free to air installation is critical as it will determine your
eligibility to receive satellite signals. Not all homes are capable
of receiving signals as natural barriers such as trees, mountains
and also man-made barriers such as buildings and other structures
can block signals. Because the signal from the satellite is relatively weak,
it must have an un-obstructed view of the satellite in order to receive
a satisfactory signal. Also bear in mind, seasonal changes, in particular to
homes with seasonal vegetation or shrubs, so you do not end up installing your
satellite in a location that will be blocked when spring comes and leaves from trees
obstruct your signal.
Many areas will be able to receive some
satellites, but possibly not others because of these barriers. If
your site survey reveals that you are not able to receive the
entire satellite belt, you will need to determine the best
location for your dish to be able to receive the satellites of
most importance to you. Bear in mind that if a particular
location in your yard is not suitable, moving the location 100
feet or more can make a tremendous difference.
Consult our Free to Air Satellite
Channel Listing and pay particular attention to the
satellites that you are interested in receiving. Each satellite
will have an orbital slot, such as 119 degrees West. You should
now choose the furthest Eastern satellite and note down the
orbital location. Now choose the furthest Western satellite and
note down the orbital location. The difference in the two
locations is your ideal uncorrected satellite range that you will
be aiming to receive. Note that your actual pointing direction
will require correction due to the difference between true and
magnetic North. You will now need to lookup your Eastern and
Western satellite locations on our Satellite
Pointing Page in order to receive your corrected values.
Select the city nearest to you and select the far eastern
satellite from the list. Your "Azimuth" or compass heading will
be calculated, note it down. This is the precise compass
direction that you will need to point to in order to receive that
satellite. Now repeat the procedure for the far western
satellite.
The two locations are your corrected ideal range of view.
Additionally, if there is a particular satellite of paramount
importance to you, will will also want to note down the azimuth
for it as well, as you will want to ensure that you can receive
it, even if it means not being able to receive some others. Also
make a note of the elevation of the satellite. The lower the
elevation, the closer it is to the horizon. You will also need to
bear in mind of your physical location. If you live near the East
coast, the farthest western satellites will be much farther down
on the horizon that the Eastern satellites. This will make it
more likely that trees to buildings can block the signals. If you
live near the West coast, the opposite is true.
You will now need a good compass. Walk outside and locate your
far eastern satellite azimuth on your compass. If the elevation
for the satellite is low to the ground, such as 5-10 degrees, you
will want to make sure that there are no tall trees or other
obstacles in your path within 200-400 feet from you. Now slowly
sweep your compass west until your reach your far western
satellite azimuth. As well make sure there are no tall trees in
the way. Are there any tall trees in between the two points? If
so, you may want to try other areas of your yard to see if a
better location is available. If there are some tall trees in
your way and there is a particular satellite of interest to you,
you will want to compromise so as to favor reception of that
particular satellite over some less important ones. Once you have
located an ideal location, ensure that you will be able to
install a pole in the ground at that location and also that you
will be able to bury the coaxial cable from the location to your
house.
Step 2: Acquire and Install Mounting
Pole
You will now need to determine the diameter of your mounting
pole as well as the height of the pole. Most small Ku band dishes
use a 1 5/8" diameter pole. Larger dishes will require a larger
diameter of pole. If you already have your dish, consult the
manual or measure the mounting bracket. Your pole should be a
minimum of 5' above the ground and 18-24" below the ground. If
you have some obstacles to overcome, you may wish to use a taller
mounting pole. Your pole will need to be secured with numerous
bags of concrete to prevent movement. A general rule of thumb is
one bag for every foot of pole height. Stormy locations may
require more. For best results, use a steel pole which can be
obtained from most steel fabricators. You will also need a 4'
level and a small torpedo level.
Dig a hole 18-24" or more below the surface. Install the pole
and fill the hole with concrete. You will also want to use a
generous amount of concrete above the surface or you will need to
bury the pole deeper. Assuming the cut on the top of the pole is
a square 90 degree cut, place the torpedo level on the top of the
pole and the 4' level on the sides of the pole. The pole must be
both plumb (90 degrees vertically) and level (90 degrees
horizontally). Check for plumb in three directions on the pole
and also place some sort of brace against the pole, preventing
movement while concrete is curing. You will need to check the
pole for plumb several times in the first few hours to ensure no
movement has occurred and correct it if it has. You also need to
allow 24-48 hours to the concrete to harden before attempting to
mount the dish. Once cured, the dish should be solidly mounted
and should not move if shook. If movement occurs, you will need
to further solidify the pole with additional concrete above the
surface.
Step 3: Install
Dish
Installation of standard stationary free to air satellite
dish
A standard installation of a stationary satellite dish or several dishes
connected to a DiSc switch is fairly straight forward. Many late
model digital receivers come with an on-screen dish signal meter,
however you may find it far easier to purchase a low cost
satellite signal finder, available from most satellite retailers
for under $25. The signal finder will allow you to locate Ku band
satellite signals as well as fine tune them for optimum
operation.
Your first step will be to run your coaxial cable from your
house and satellite receiver to your dish location, allowing for
enough cable to secure it to your mounting pole and run through
your dish and to your LNBF. It is always better to leave too much
cable until your permanently mount your dish rather than too
little. For best results, you should staple the cable to the side
of your house and bury any exposed portion that runs across the
ground to prevent damage. When stapling, ensure that your staple
does not penetrate the cable or you will have a short which will
prevent your system from operating.
Assuming that you have a pole in the ground in in some cases a
mounting bracket affixed to a solid surface and assuming that you
have checked the mounting pole or bracket to insure that it is
both plumb and level, you should assemble the dish and LNBF
mounting arm assembly. At this time, you should have all your
satellite locations as well as all your elevation and azimuth
settings. As your dish will be fixed in one position in the sky,
you will be limited to whatever programming is on the satellite
of choice. Locate your chosen satellites elevation and set the
elevation angle on your satellite dish, you will find the
elevation reference points on the side of your dish. Bear in mind
that you may still need to fine tune it after you have located
your signal. Mount the dish to your mounting pole, run your
coaxial cable to your LNBF, set your satellite dish polarization
by adjusting or rotating the LNBF to the required setting and
secure your LNBF to your dish. Most dish manufacturers include a
polarization scale that you can use as a reference. You will
still need to adjust this setting later, so tighten the LNBF just
enough to prevent movement. If you are using an external signal
finder, connect the LNBF end to the LNBF and the coaxial from
your house to the receiver side of the finder.
Step 4: Free to Air Receiver
Setup
You should now have your dish mounted temporarily outside and
your coaxial cable connected to it. The dish should be set to the
elevation and polarization that you calculated earlier. Connect
the coaxial from your satellite dish to the receiver and connect
the receiver to your television. Consult your receivers operating
manual for the setup setting. Initial satellite setup varies from
receiver to receiver, some are easier than others. Follow the
setup procedure and setup the satellite from which you will be
receiving programming from. Once you have this complete, you will
want to return outside to your satellite dish in order to locate
your desired satellite.
Step 5: Satellite Dish
Alignment
Assuming that you have your elevation and polarization setting
correct, and assuming that you have a signal finder connected to
your dish, set your signal meters sensitivity to the half way
point. Move the dish to the far left and slowly rotate it right
until your signal meter picks up an active signal. One you have
locked onto an active signal, you will need to adjust the signal
finders sensitivity so that you can find the optimum signal
strength. Once you have peaked the signal by adjusting the dishes
azimuth, you should return inside to insure that you have locked
onto the correct satellite. Peruse the available satellite
channels and compare them to your satellite channel reference. If
you are locked onto the wrong satellite, you need to return
outside and continue searching for the correct satellite. Once
you have the correct satellite, you now should return to the on
screen dish tuning meter and return outside. Once again, ensure
you have optimum signal by minutely adjusting the sign from left
to right until you have peaked the signal. Once you have achieved
the optimum signal, you should lock the dish into position by
securing the azimuth adjustment bolts which secure it to your
mounting pole.
You now need to loosen the elevation bolts so that you can
slowly adjust the dishes elevation for optimum signal strength.
Once again, you may need to adjust your signal finders
sensitivity to achieve this. Slowly move the dish up and down
again until you have peaked the signal strength and lock the dish
into position.
The final setting is to fine tune the polarization setting.
Some receivers have a separate meter for this, consult your
manual for details on accessing this feature. You may find it
easier to have a person on the inside watching the meter while
you are adjusting the dish on the outside. Loosen the LNBF and
slowly rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise until you have
achieved the optimum signal. Once complete, disconnect the signal
finder from the LNBF, measure the final coaxial cable length,
allowing a short drip loop to hang from the bottom of the LNBF
mounting arm and permanently secure the LNBF and all other
mounting bolts.
Your final signal strength should be in excess of 60% or more.
If it is below that level, you will need to check for obstacles
in the satellites path, such as trees. A low signal will cause
outages in heavy rain or other weather. This is known as rain
fade. If you have a tree in your way, you my find upgrading to a
larger dish is necessary. This is also true of satellites that do
not specifically target your area in their footprint.
Once you have achieved a good signal, congratulations and
enjoy your free to air system.
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08/04/2008 11:20 AM
In order to give the website a better focus, we are phasing out the less popular areas of the site, including the high definition and digital video recorder areas and forums. This will leave the site focused on digital satellite television and satellite radio.
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Smallville 8:00 pm ET
An "It's a Wonderful Life" episode -- and it isn't even Christmastime. Clark (Tom Welling) gets wind of some messages from the past saying Brainiac (James Marsters) wanted to kill Kal-El as a baby. That has him wondering what life in Smallville would be like if he'd never existed. Jor-El plays "Clarence the angel" and shows him, and the answer will surprise you -- repeatedly -- in "Apocalypse."
The Color Purple 8:00 pm ET
It was remade as a Broadway musical, but the original movie -- whose big-time loss at the Academy Awards had a lot of folks seeing the color red -- remains a great "watch" 23 years later. That's due in large part to Whoopi Goldberg's portrayal of an abused wife who finds love from an unlikely source -- her husband's mistress -- and hope from her sister's incredible journey. Oprah Winfrey gives a gut-wrenching supporting performance.
Flubber 9:00 pm ET
Robin Williams brings his wacky energy to the Fred MacMurray role in this 1997 remake of Disney's "The Absent Minded Professor." His character, Philip Brainard, inadvertently invents a miraculous substance that bounces, flies, looks like a prop left over from "Ghostbusters" and may save his struggling school from financial ruin. Marcia Gay Harden plays the college president, who also happens to be Brainard's girlfriend.
I Witness 8:00 pm ET
Shouldn't there be a comma in that title, a la "I, Robot"? Nah, it wouldn't help. A lukewarm direct-to-video drama from 2003, it stars Jeff Daniels as a human rights investigator who stumbles upon 27 dead bodies near a U.S.-owned factory near the U.S.-Mexican border. Could this be the work of drug gangs? A cover-up by the evil American corporation? Does anyone care? Sadly, in a better-made movie, you might.
The Big Country 8:00 pm ET
Although better known for his singing, Burl Ives won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance in director William Wyler's sprawling 1958 Western epic about two ranching families feuding over water rights. Gregory Peck plays the sea captain who gets caught in the middle of the feud when he comes west to marry into one of the families. Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors also star.
Ugly Betty 8:00 pm ET
Remember Gina, the Suarezes' former neighbor and nemesis? She's back, married to a doctor and eager to torment Hilda (Ana Ortiz) with her wonderful new life. Betty (America Ferrera) faces another difficult woman at work: Renee (Gabrielle Union), who's convinced Betty is trying to steal Daniel (Eric Mabius) from her. Ava Gaudet returns as Gina in "Burning Questions."
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 9:00 pm ET
Um, so what exactly was he training for? In this episode, a washed-up boxer turns up dead at the brothel where he'd been living and training. None of the working girls were exactly fans of his, and he had a number of close calls in a single night ... but which was the fatal one? James Whitmore, Wendy Makkena and Peter Stormare guest star in "Ending Happy."
Grey's Anatomy 9:00 pm ET
Who says you can't go home again? In "Piece of My Heart," Addison (Kate Walsh) is back at Seattle Grace as a guest surgeon, and she's amazed to see how her ex-colleagues' lives have changed. Also back in the picture is Rebecca, aka Ava (Elizabeth Reaser), the amnesia patient, who has a surprise for Alex (Justin Chambers). Meredith and Derek (Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey) get their first clinical trial patient.
Supernatural 9:00 pm ET
It's not nice to take things from people who are still using them, Doc. An alleged zombie case brings Sam and Dean (Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles) to Pennsylvania, where they encounter not a zombie but a doctor (Billy Drago) who has stayed alive since the 19th century by stealing other people's vital organs. Sam deals with him while Dean heads off to confront Bela (Lauren Cohan) in "Time Is on My Side."
Tabatha's Salon Takeover 11:00 pm ET
Its name means "heavenly," but Tabatha Coffey finds it closer to the other place. Let's just say the owner of the De Cielo Spa and Salon in Burbank, Calif., could stand a few lessons in keeping his establishment clean. And he doesn't exactly take that news graciously. Tabatha enlists the help of his staff to clean up the place and attempt to adjust his attitude in this new episode.
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