This LNB position gave the best results in my setup. If you're
not sure just place the LNB half way.Arteficial
Satellites, TV, Radio, Deepspace Radioastronomy
Online tv/radio satellite guides
Improvements
LNB position in the
holder
This LNB position gave the best results in my setup. If you're
not sure just place the LNB half way.
LNB skew to improve
signal
Just a few degrees. Experiment for
optimal result. Here in Europe a few millimeters negative skew
gave the best signal on Astra.
Tips
When you set the skew (Polarity) on your LNBF you are lining up
your dish exactly to the same horizontal/vertical position as the
satellite in the sky. The satellites all lie in a curve in the
sky ( Clarke Belt ) and so are at different heights. Ku
satellites use Horizontal and Vertical liner polarization and so
the skew has to match the (H/V) position of the satellite for
optimum satellite signal strength/quality.
Rotate the LNBF clockwise for - skew values.
When the LNBF is straight up and down it is in the zero position.
Keep your LNBF in the zero position when using a motor mount.
Polarization is not a factor with circular (L/R) polarized DBS
LNB.
On a multi LNB DBS satellite dish (Phase III / Dish 500...) the
reason the skew is set is to simply level or align the LNB'S with
the satellites in the sky.
Tweaking
and modifications
This is a close up of a TRIAX satellite
dish where the alu arm leaves the dish. To improve the signal
(only a very little +/- 2%) we can cover the opening with thin
alu plate. The aluminum plate needs to be "molded" (can
easily be done by hand) to fit the curve of the dish and fit the
opening. Then paint it in the same color as your dish and glue it
on.
This is the result. Of course, this
modification will not alow you to fold the arm back up.
Satellite related software
Sat_Explorer
http://www.f1orl.org/satexG.htm
It provides visibility forcasts as a waiting delay and a
visibility duration very quickly and all the time.
Ten (and even more) satellites can be monitored simultaneously.
Examples of satellite dish mounting
Satellite
dish mounted beside the house +/- 3 meters high
Satellite dish mounted on a little tripod total
length approx. 1,5 meters high
I bought a garden hose and burried it 10 cm under the ground.
Before this I shoved the coax bit by bit into the hose. A little
oil inside the hose helps if it is a long one (like in my case it
was 25 meters long). Next plan...camouflaging the dish by
painting it army style.
Tip: I used a double insulated and reinforced gardenhose. Grease
the cable and lay the gardenhose as strait as possible and push
the cable inside bit by bit.
Coaxial Cable
Picking coax cable for your dish is an important decision.
The distance from your dish to receiver and the type of cable you
use will directly affect the amount of signal that is delivered
to your receiver.
Cable type Loss per 100' at 1000 MHz
RG-59 12 dB
RG-6 9.8 dB
RG-11 7.8 dB
Attention should be paid to the installation of the cable.
Connectors not crimped and weatherproofed properly are certain to
cause future problems. If routing the cable underground be sure
to use conduit.
If you have to find the best
place to put your satellite your first priority needs to be
making sure your site has no obstructions towards the southern
sky. By using a compass you can better pinpoint the major
direction of the satellite.
Example: Astra 23.5 East = from South turn the dish 23.5 degrees
towards East.
The satellite must be pointed towards a clear sky in order to
pick up the signal that you want to receive. Even things such as
branches and leaves can stop this signal from coming through.
If you decide to mount your dish to a wall inside your window
then you will have to get rid of the glass and replace it with
plexi glass as the signal won't penetrate glass itself.
It is of the utmost importance that you get the perfect satellite
dish alignment if you are going to have trouble free satellite
reception. This is to align the satellite dish to the satellite
in order to receive the signal.
Make certain that the pole or tri-mast assembly is vertically
plumb. Check it with an Angle Finder or a level
By using a compass and inclinometer you can check the arc from
your proposed site. Inclinometers are available at most hardware
stores and are sometimes called an "angle finder".
Golden Tip: if you have EQ-telescope mount you can use it to find
the elevation and using the finder allows you to quickly see if
the sky is free of obstructions.
Satfinder: satellite signal finder
Simply wire this affordable device between your dish and your
receiver, turn on your equipment and adjust your satellite dish
until the meter indicates optimum signal strength.
If you use a signal meter you can hook it into the system right
at the dish and it responds to the signal immediately making it
much easier to aim your dish. You do not need any one else to
help you if you use a meter at the dish.
No batteries required, it is powered by the receiver. It has a
built in light and audio tone.
Great product for the Do-It-Yourselfer
Easily set up satellite dishes on RVs, motor homes, picnic
tables, truck, decks, roofs, or anywhere you want to setup your
dish.
Make adjustments yourself without a secondary helper
What took 30 minutes now takes 30 seconds
Radio astronomy
Did you know that you can
receive radio signals from Jupiter with your shortwave receiver?
Jupiter is a source of powerful bursts of natural radio waves
that can produce exotic sounds when picked up on Earth using
simple antennas and shortwave receivers.
The shortwave radio signals from Jupiter aren't a sign of
extraterrestrial intelligence. The emissions are generated
naturally by plasma instabilities in Jupiter's magnetosphere.
Most space physicists say that ionized gas in the upper
atmosphere above Jupiter's magnetic poles sometimes behaves like
a powerful radio laser or maser. The radiation can be so intense
that Jupiter frequently outshines the Sun as a source of radio
energy at ham radio wavelengths.
Examples of shortwave reception of Jupiter's radiation:
http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/library/mm_exhibits.htm
http://www.spacetoday.org/SolSys/Jupiter/JupiterRadio.html
