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With pointing values in hand, it is time point the satellite dish. Most installations use a Super Buddy for this process. For a recap of how this is done please watch the installation video on just this section.
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Pointing The Dish - 4:42 minutes
Step-by-Step instructions for using a Super Buddy to point a satellite dish to locate an orbiting satellite.
(Right-click above link and choose "Save Target As" to save video to desktop) |
Below is a method of pointing the Galileo 1.2 Meter satellite system using a Birdog satellite finder.
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First, locate the pointing parameters you obtained from the SatMaster Software (or other method). Each installation is going to have unique pointing parameters, but for this program, we will use the pointing values listed on the left.
Our example dish needs to be pointed to 44.02 degrees of elevation, 134.07 degrees of azimuth, and -25.57 degrees of polarization / skew.
Remember that the pointing value for skew is the offset of the entire radio assembly once it has been oriented for vertical OR horizontal polarity (for both the BUC and LNB). These orientations are located on the customer information sheet. They are not something that can be calculated. |
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Raise the dish elevation to 44 degrees. Use the Fine Elevation Adjustment bolt to do this. Remember to pull back on the top of the reflector to prevent the adjustment bolt from binding. |
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Use the elevation indicator on the Right Side, or "B" Side, of the mounting bracket, and lift the dish to 44 degrees. |
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With a hand compass, locate the magnetic (compass) bearing of 134 degrees.
Magnetic north is always 0 degrees. In this example, the dish will be pointing South-East. |
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Using your compass as a guide to rotate the dish to point roughly toward 134 degrees. |
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Lastly, place an inclinometer on the transmitter, and slowly skew the radio assembly until it is sitting at negative -25.57 degrees. The inclinometer must face away from the dish to obtain an accurate reading.
Negative numbers mean that you are going to turn the radio COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. A positive skew reading indicates turning the radio CLOCKWISE. |
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The Birdog is an excellent tool for locating any orbiting satellite. |
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Use a 10' length of coax cable and connect one end to the "input" connector on the Birdog. |
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Connect the other end to the LNB receiver. You need only finger tighten these cables. |
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Turn on the Birdog by pressing and holding the "on" button until the screen powers up. |
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Scroll right or left to search for satellites. The satellite you'll be pointing to will be indicated on the work order, as well as the transponder. For this example, we're going to be looking for KH AMC4.
The "K" stands for "Ku Band", the frequency band in which the satellite operates, and the "H" for "horizontal polarization". |
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With a free hand, CAREFULLY and slowly adjust the dish, watching the Birdog display and listening to it's beeps. You may need to raise or lower your elevation slightly, as well as adjusting your azimuth. Be patient here - trust your compass reading, and don't go too far outside of window early on. If you're still not finding it, THEN you can expand your search.
A note of caution: TRUST your compass! The Galaxy 11 KH satellite has the SAME spectrum fingerprint as AMC4 KH. This means that if you're just listening the birdog, you could peak the dish on G11 KH. However, G11 is at longitude 91 degrees, where AMC4 is at 101. By checking your compass heading, you can stay on target for the Fine Pointing, and not get locked onto the wrong satellite. |
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When properly aimed, the Birdog will chime and say "Found" on the display. This indicates that the unit has confirmed the spectrum fingerprint - again, check your compass - and confirms that you're looking at the right satellite. |
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At this point, lock down the sleeve nuts on the Mounting Bracket, over either the pole mount or the Non-Pen stand. From here on out, we'll be using the Fine Adjustment Bolts for both elevation and azimuth to improve the pointing. |
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The top meter, marked "S" is the signal strength of the satellite signal. This is it's Signal to Noise Ratio. The bottom meter, marked "q" is the "Inverse Data Error Rate" and is used for skewing the dish radio. You are trying to get the highest signal possible on both meters.
Click HERE to for the birdog manual. |
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Use the Elevation Fine-Adjustment Bolt ... |
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... and the Azimuth Fine Adjustment bolt to increase the signal strength, as read on the Birdog. |
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Note: when you skew the dish, the signal strength will stay the same, but the "q" factor for polarization will change significantly. Use small movements, as always, to avoid "overshooting" your numbers. |
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Use the Birdog to increase the q-rating on Skew to it's highest possible. |
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Be prepared to spend a LOT of time fine tuning the satellite dish to it's highest signal strength. Dishes that are properly pointed during the installation are dishes that stay online during storms, perform well, and don't slow down the rest of the satellite network by having multiple errors.
This is the step that makes for excellent installations and quality installers - relax, breath, concentrate on the numbers. |
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Pointing with the Birdog is good, but not perfect. For AMC4, the HIGHEST Signal strength you will see on the Birdog is 82 dBm. The highest Q-Factor is 92%.
Later on, during the cross pol stage, you will be guided through fine-tuning the dish even more. While it may be tempting to "leave the fine tuning until later", your crosspol times will go MUCH faster and easier if you're already as well pointed as you can be with the Birdog Installers who rely on the NOC to Cross-Pol the dish and use that as their fine pointing are installers who spend extra hours on site, on the phone.
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