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 Elevators

Last time I've post a topic on Clarke's belt or Geosynchronized orbit which is very useful in our communication specially on our satellite TV, coincidentally I saw this episode on National geographic on space travel (I forgot the episode title). Discussing space exploration that we are stuck to for 30 years now (the last when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon). Since the great problem of space travel is cost (millions of dollars will be spent), because of the chemical fuel that would be used to lift up a spacecraft from earth and almost 90% of the spacecraft would be dedicated to just the fuel container itself. That's when different idea was shown to minimize the launch cost.

One idea is using a satellite elevator, by using the geosynchronized orbit which is stationary to us, satellite elevators is very possible. The idea is to use the satellite elevator to lift the spacecraft from earth and launch it in space (cool!), it is much cheaper then since it doesn't much use chemical fuel. If your an anime fan you probably saw this concept already, in Gundam 00 anime they use satellite elevators to transport people to outer space powered by solar, in their fictional era there is little or no more fuel in the middle east and main source of earths' energy comes from a satellite harnessing solar energy (watch it you'll like it , if you are fascinated by robots.). Who knows maybe in the near future we may also receive an energy and a broadcast from space to our Satellite TV!.

Geosynchronized Satellite

When I first heard of the principle geosynchronized or geostationary satellites, I wonder how's that?. Of course we all know the moon orbits around the earth but not in stationary, unlike satellites which have a footprint on earth and and it is just there in his place day or night.

Well after reading some stuff on satellites (satellite TV), it enlightens me that there is a Geostationary orbits on earth in which satellites orbits in the direction of the earths rotation, it about 22,300 miles (approx.) above the earth ground, with this altitude it produces an orbital period equal to the earth's period of rotation (meaning - same speed) that is why it always seems stationary to a fixed point on earth. The satellite concept was invented by a science fiction novelist Arthur C. Clarke back in the 1940's, that is why it is also called Clarke's belt.
Actually it is not stationary it just moves the same as our Earth, since to us on the ground the satellites seemed not to be moving we just have to know the exact position of a satellite (for a satellite TV) to point our satellite dish and received/maintain the link to the satellite TV signals without worry that the satellite (in my case the Agila 2) might be out of sync. Good for us all!

Painting the Satellite dish

A friend of mine who also owns a satelliteTV dish set up decided to get funky and painted his satellite dish, from the original color of light beige to blue (not funky at all!). He used a can spray paint (don't know the label), I ask him if there was any change on the audio/video quality on TV, he said none (or he just don't observe it well?).

Is it really ok to re-paint the dish from its original color? I did some researched on this issue of painting the dish (with our friendly google of course!) and got sleepy reading on forums and tech sites. But knowledge is power right! (how come I'm more powerless? LOL!).

And the answer is, Yes!, Satellite dish can be re-painted but there are several guidelines that should be followed so as not to affected the signal quality and damage the satellite dish itself.

Painting Guidelines:

• Don't use lead based / glossy type / metallic paint. The reason for this is that it increases the reflection from the sum and may disrupt with satellite TV reception and may burn the LNB.
• Don't paint the LNB (Low Noise Block), you'll get no signal at all!
• Use only light color paint and the coating should be light also. (Spray paint is advisable, paint brushes gives a thick coating)
• Use high quality paint that will not peel easily.
  

During my inquiry, I stumble upon some Satellite dish, that I never even think of to have:

• There's a satellite dish cover, only the dish and there's the whole dish set-up, it won't interfere with the signal according to the advertisement even with covers.
• There is also a dish that don't even look like a dish. Look at the embedded photo, pretty neat huh!. The dish that is in rectangular shape also has a capability of camouflaged (great!), they call it sqish, it is from UK. A photograph of the surrounding wall has to be taken and the sqish take it and it will just blend with its background (coolness!)

Whatever customization you want just don't compromised the looks of your dish to the signal quality of your satellite TV. My light gray dish color is fine for me. (for now!).

You're Grounded

I remember when I was just a kid (not that i'm grounded), my parents would tell me that to shut off the TV and radio whenever there is a series of lightning, 'cause it may attract through our antenna (conventional antenna) and radio and TV would burn. Well, we often do that after we hear a thunder, although we know that light is faster than sound and that you may be strike by lightning even before you hear it (no use turning it off, LOL!). I thought of this because there is one thing that I overlooked on my Satellite TV set up, the satellite dish is also an antenna. There is a very small chance or even zero chance that a satellite dish would be strike by lightning, since it is not installed too high (majority is roof level, mine is not even on a roof level) there are much more higher objects than this. But lets not take that chance, there is still a possibility, it is even a strict provision or there is a regulation on grounding on some areas (yes, we do).

Grounding is a way on protecting our equipment, it re-direct any power surges (lightning or current running from Receiver to LNB) away from our equipment (in this case the receiver and LNB) to the ground. I found some simple procedures (googling!) on how about to do it on a satellite dish set-up. All you need is:

• a copper wire
• a Grounding block, this ensures a good contact to LNB, in addition to copper wire)
• and any metal or conductor type material that directly points to the ground or you can just bury some metal rod (majority of household, already has a grounding you can just attached it to various parts of your home).

The rule is to attached your ground wire to a metal or any conductor type material that will discharge the electricity into the actual ground.

Some researched pointers:

• for copper wire use#6, or higher (it can be insulated or not)
• the wire going to the ground rod should be straight as possible (Important: limit any bending and do not make an arc out of the ground wire- the electric charge may get lost!)
  

As for precaution during thunderstorm, disconnect all power cords to your outlet, since there is a large probability that an electric power line will be hit by the lightning than your Satellite dish/antenna, even from a far location it will still create a power surge or fluctuation that can damage any of your equipment at home. You see, you can't just turn the TV the off.

Note:
There is also a coaxial cable that already has a grounding wire attached to it, consider looking for that type, if you're buying one.

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.

SatelliteTV splitting

I once wonder if my satelliteTV setup can be used in multiple TV sets, although currently I only own a single TV, it just cross my mind. I did saw some residential house near mine who has an installation of 2 satellite dish, that set-up could be for 2 TV sets, but hey! a single dish will do fine.
If you ever tried to split the coaxial cable for a cable TV for 2 TV, it is different from the satellite TV setup because we have a Receiver that needs to decode the signals. I've read in some forum that they were able to use one receiver for 2 TV's, the catch for this set-up is that both TV will have the same channel or program since they are controlled by a single receiver (I haven't try this one), at least you can leave your couch and still watch the same channel on your kitchen or bedroom and be back again without missing any portion of the shows (if it is ON). There are two ways in having a this done but you need an extra cash on this, because thre will be some modification on the set-up.
One is to have 2 receivers for 2 TV with a single coaxial cable from single LNB, this means we have to use a splitter for the receivers (this one I've already tried with my friends' receiver and a portable TV), this works just fine and different channels for both TV is viewed, I just don't know yet the pros and cons of this set-up because It is advised by some expert (this is the second one) that rather than splitting the coaxial it is best to buy a dual LNB (can connect 2 coaxial cables) for 2 receivers you will have the same result as of the first with minimal problem I guess (cause from my experience splitting coaxial cable, smells trouble). And because it is more of an advantage for a multiple TV set, cause aside from a dual LNB, there's also a quad (4) and Octa (8) available LNB (there's still some that I don't know of) , of course you have to match this with the receiver on how many TV you want. Well maybe I'll do this in the future if I'll be able to buy another TV.