Satellite TV Fine tuning tips

I'd like to share the tips I found very useful in optimizing a satellite TV set up, it a guide that I've used. Normally you can check the signal strength and quality value on your Satellite TV, satellite receiver has this function for verification. In my receiver remote control it is the button Info, go ahead and check it.

If this is what you're getting :

0 Strength and 0 Quality (all zero!)
First check all connection are in proper, most common in this type of problem is that the coaxial cable from LNB are connected in marked "in from antenna", this should be connected in "in from dish, digital in or LNB in" label. I somewhat experience this on my initial set-up the label on the back of my receiver is in chinese!, good thing there's only two connection for coaxial cable, it was a trial and error for me.
Another factor for this is the RG6 coaxial cable, this could be grounded or with moist in it. Check the cable or replace it if possible.

0-30 Strength and 0 Quality
On these level check for any obstruction on the satellite dish to the satellite.

40-60 Strength and 0 Quality
with these level there might be a minor adjustment to the initial set-up, most common problem for this are that the bolts are not tightened properly, or heavy wind and rain experience or something bump your dish. you should place the dish to its original set up position (if you have markings on the dish), or perform the dish pointing (if you can, well it easy but tiring!) or call someone who knows how to catch a satellite. Once everything is OK make sure to mark the pole and the side of the dish holder for future reference of the angle ang elevation.

40-60 Strength and 30-70 Quality
With these signal only fine-tuning of LNB is needed until you reach an optimum signal quality between 70-100. this is done by twisting the LNB clockwise or counter clockwise depends on the signal you're getting wait for at least 5 minutes to register the signal on your receiver, if it is getting lower twist it on other way (of course you have to loosen the LNB collar first before doing the twist). After optimization do a channel scan or blind scan.

Always check first the signal strength and quality everytime you encounter any problem with the your satellite TV to give you an idea.

Satellite TV - Rain Effect

I know that ku band (high frequency, 11~12 GHz) are much affected than low frequency because of their dispersion from weather disruption (affected by the elements in the atmosphere). But how rain really affect the Satellite radio signal?, I've gathered some info on the rain/snow issue on our satellite TV (just to have a clearer understanding). The term used for this is Rain Fade, rain fade is the result of disturbance of the rain to our radio signal. There are 3 areas that rain fade may occur:

1. from our broadcast station to the satellite.
2. from the satellite to our satellite dish.
3. and from rain/snow in the satellite dish itself.

The effect of rain fade can be simply explain if we take the properties of water (somewhat like a soft crystal / mirror or glass), it doesn't totally deflect the signal but it somehow alters it through its absorption properties. It can absorb some signal (some are wash away by rain) other get deflected.
It also can scatter the radio signal, an example of this (analogy of mine) is when you play around with a flashlight and face it on a wall, you can make the light reflection much bigger on a longer distance (the light is scattered once it pass by the glass), same goes with the our radio signal when passes a rain, it is being scattered. At least we now have an idea everytime it rain and Satellite TV signal is no good, we can just imagine the rain fade effect.

Satellite TV Receiver

The Receiver is whats visible inside the house (the satellite dish is located outside of course!) it resembles a small DVD player connected to the video input of the TV. It has its own remote control and special features on its own.

The main function of the receiver is to get the digital MPEG2 signal (I'm gonna check this out) and convert it to analog where the TV is most use to. It also de-crypt some encrypted signals, these are the pay-per-view thing. It has to have a decoder chip which communicates with the received signal from the satellite. I think this would be the card which I see on the receiver, this would also be the one they are all been talking about hacking (well! enough about that for now). Another function that is very helpful during set-up is the signal and quality indicator, the indicators tell us if the Satellite TV set up is optimized or needs some fine tuning (satellite dish adjustments). The last and my favorite is that is also pick up programming schedule signal which you can always check from the remote control to check the programming guide.

Some frequently ask question (that i know cause I ask them too!). Can we use 2 TV with 1 receiver (just like a cable TV)?. Normally one Satellite dish set has a receiver, if you want to split the signal ( for 2 TV's) and you only got 1 receiver this will work but both TV set would have the
same TV program all the time since only 1 receiver is controlling it ( never tried this one yet), the rule is you can't watch two different programs on two TVs hooked up to the same receiver. The only way to do this is to have 2 receivers for each TV (which I have already tried - it will work), even if there is one Satellite dish it will work just fine. I've read somewhere that there are other receivers that have upgraded its function, one example is that there are receiver already in the market that have a hard disk for recording programs, and who knows the receiver technology may improve a lot (let's check it out!).