Setting up a satellite dish: instructions on setting up a dish for a satellite with your own hands

Satellite television provides the potential user with slightly greater opportunities in terms of visual entertainment than standard TV. True, modern technologies are already bringing society closer to completely abandoning any antennas and using exclusively small modular set-top boxes.

But for now, satellite television reception remains in demand. This means that setting up a satellite dish in conditions of independent organization of TV reception remains relevant. Let's look at this point in more detail.

In the article, we examined in detail the issue of choosing a place to install the “dish”, the technology of its installation, and also examined step by step how to configure the antenna for satellite broadcasting.

Preparing equipment for setup

There is probably no need to explain what a satellite dish is. This element of television equipment has already become firmly established in everyday life, and therefore is familiar and understandable to almost everyone.

Meanwhile, it is one thing to imagine a satellite “dish” in general, and quite another thing to consider the device technically and technologically.

An antenna mirror installed on the wall of a building, fully equipped to receive a television signal. This has long been a familiar household accessory, increasingly being installed independently.

Firstly, satellite dishes of the “dish” type are available in different diameters.Secondly, in order to receive a signal from the satellite, the “dish” included in the installation kit must be precisely adjusted.

Antennas of different diameters allow you to receive signals of different frequencies (from different satellites). And each satellite used is in an individual geostationary orbit.

True, for the household sector it seems typical to use antennas with a diameter of no more than 1 m, and often no more than 50-60 cm (NTV-plus, Tricolor-TV).

Therefore, we will focus on such products in order to show potential owners how to configure a satellite dish with a diameter of 50-60 cm to a satellite.

Correct Antenna Installation

Executed correctly "plate" installation greatly favors the setup procedure. Therefore, you should strictly follow all the manufacturer's recommendations when installing the antenna.

The installation of satellite dishes allows for all sorts of variations, but it is necessary to observe all the details of the settings for an individual instance. Then interference from one mirror to another is completely eliminated

Thus, for the Tricolor installation, the characteristic distance and angle values ​​are the numbers 100 and 40. In other words, in front of the antenna mirror at a distance of 100 m, the presence of any objects (objects) that hide part of the sky is excluded.

However, the established “pure” distance parameter is not the only criterion. In addition, the same “clean” angular view should be ensured.

That is why at the marked distance, 40 m in height from the horizon (along the central axis of the antenna), the presence of any foreign objects should also be excluded.

Considering that the satellite “dish” is mounted at a certain angle and at a certain height from the earth’s surface, the ideal installation picture should be approximately as shown in the diagram below.

This is what it looks like, if not ideal, then actually correct installation of the “dish” that will have to be tuned to the satellite in order to get a high-quality signal on the TV screen

When installing equipment, you should ensure protection against possible falls from the roof or other objects of ice, snow, or water.

The surface of the mirror of the mounted satellite dish is directed to the “southern” region of the sky. After completing the installation, connecting the cable and installing the receiver, you can proceed directly to fine tuning to the satellite.

Choosing the optimal weather

First, you should learn the main rule: it is recommended to adjust the “dish” under favorable weather conditions.

Therefore, it is important to ensure that there is no dense clouds, precipitation or strong wind.

Favorable weather for tuning: clear sky or light clouds, complete absence of wind or light breeze. This is one of the main requirements if the potential installer expects to quickly set up the system

Stages of setting up a dish for a satellite

The next step is a detailed instruction description of how to independently configure the installed satellite dish to receive high-quality pictures on the TV screen.

For a potential owner of television equipment, these recommendations will be very useful - guided by them, you can begin setting up.

Step #1 - setting the “azimuth” and “elevation angle”

Along with tuning the antenna, the installer will have to learn concepts such as “elevation angle” and “azimuth angle”. To make the teaching easier, let us remind you: azimuth should be represented by the angle of horizontal deviation of the “plate” to the left or right.

Both angle parameters are usually provided by the equipment manufacturer's instructions. Usually the instructions contain a table indicating large settlements and the values ​​of the angles in relation to the location of these settlements.

An example of setting up an antenna mirror based on the “azimuth angle” parameter. To perform this action, it is most convenient to use a regular tourist compass. However, more often the direction is set “by eye”

To accurately determine the azimuth angle for a particular location, the potential installer will need a compass. Holding the device in the palm of your hand, find a position where the red arrow exactly coincides with the “South” mark.

Next, on the scale you should find the value of the “azimuth angle” for a given area, for example, 204°, and align the found point with the center of the device by placing, for example, a small ruler on the scale. The resulting direction is the orientation for the antenna.

Setting the required “elevation angle” parameter using a simple plumb line: 1 – converter module; 2 – plumb line; 3 – antenna mirror; A, B – parameters “X” of negative and positive “elevation angle”, respectively

The elevation angle can be determined using a simple plumb line and a protractor ruler. The weight, which acts as a plumb line, is attached to the zero mark of the protractor - the conventional horizon line. Next, the desired elevation angle parameter is marked on the protractor scale.

Step #2 - ensuring a high-quality TV signal

Pre-installation of the antenna mirror in “azimuth” and “elevation angle” does not always provide a high-quality picture on the TV receiver screen.

Often, the installer has to perform so-called “fine” tuning, which consists of minor changes in the position of the mirror and subsequent monitoring of the picture on the TV.

First of all, the installer should use the “Antenna Settings” OSD menu item. This section of the system menu is equipped, in addition to options with parameters, with a pair of adjustment scales.

They are located at the very bottom of the “Antenna Settings” menu window and are indicators of “fine” mirror tuning.

Performing “fine” adjustment of the direction of the mirror to the satellite signal is provided by the system menu of the transceiver - a module included in the home satellite TV equipment

As noted above, initially the frontal plane of the mirror is directed to “South”. Traditionally, users who perform the installation themselves do not use a compass due to the banal lack of a tool, but set up the mirror “by eye.”

Therefore, you have to slightly adjust the position of the “plate” by moving it horizontally.

Usually it is necessary to change the position of the mirror with some shift towards the “East”. The displacement, as a rule, does not exceed 10 mm (1 cm), after which it is necessary to wait a little (signal capture criterion) and control the levels of the indicator jacks of the setting window.

Theoretically, both signal level scales should increase. Thus, by moving the antenna mirror with small movements, it is necessary to achieve maximum values ​​of both indicator scales (optimally - 80%).

Step #3 - Performing “fine” tuning

Sometimes in the process of “fine-tuning” operations, a potential installer may well encounter some nuances.

For example:

• only one indicator is filled to 80%;
• The indicator scales are filled, but there is no picture.

Such nuances are usually caused by the detection of false signals coming from other satellites or the appearance of some foreign objects in the radiation pattern area.

In such cases, you should continue to move the antenna mirror until a real signal appears.

Upon completion of the entire setup procedure, all that remains is to save the received parameters in the memory of the receiver module and start watching television broadcasts via satellite

Provided that a real source is detected, a stable image appears on the screen, which can only be brought to acceptable quality (filling at least 80% of the scales of both indicators) using the above adjustment methods.

Assuming a real signal, the option settings windows are filled with information regarding the source.

For more information on setting up your satellite dish tuner, see this article.

Having achieved optimal adjustment of the antenna mirror, the installer needs to fix the “dish” in the optimal position. At this point, the setup work can be considered complete.

Some DIYers abandon satellite antennas and make TV signal catchers themselves. Such options are quite workable if the TV tower is installed nearby.

You can find interesting ideas and detailed instructions for their implementation in the article - DIY TV antenna: step-by-step instructions for assembling popular TV antenna models

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Below is an actual full-fledged video course that is ideally suited to the topic under consideration.

After reviewing the video materials, the potential installer has every chance to become a professional equipment setup technician:

The practice of setting up satellite dishes yourself shows that doing it yourself is quite achievable. Despite all the apparent difficulties, technical installation issues are solved in fairly simple ways.

The conclusion is obvious: by doing self-installation, a potential buyer of equipment saves considerable money on the installation and configuration procedure.

Do you have anything to add or have questions about setting up your satellite dish? You can leave comments on the publication, participate in discussions and share your own experience of installing and connecting the “dish”. The contact form is located in the lower block.