Searching for a satellite without a meter.

[freetv]

I'm just wondering how hard is it to aim at a satellite without a meter. My equipment will arrive shortly but I just have the followings:

1. A powerful enough computer.
2. Dvb Pci card (TH1020A)
3. 36'' Dish
4. and a Motor.

Any idea to make this task less painful?

Is TSReaderLite23b a good program for measuring signal that the card received?

Please help. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Helped me find the satellite belt, mainly because my dish hardwares
elevation scale was off by 7 degrees. It does not help in finding any
specific satellite because the dish network sats overpower the FTA sats.
If I was going to try a pc, pci card setup. I would put the kitchen table
out in the yard, level it, have the pc there next to the dish. Do the
alignment there. Then carefully mark everything, move dish to permanent
mounting location. Best Luck

[bobkat]

You will need luck -- and plenty of it. Trying to align a dish using those Twinhan cards is really hard; the signal meter takes forever to lock the signal; and of course by that time you have moved the dish off the satellite.

But good luck if you want to try it .... :?

kat

[freetv]

Thanks, everyone. I don't think I want to spend time for this. I will buy a meter.

Can you explain What is "TRUE SOUTH"? Why do I need it? And how do I calculate mine? I'm in Southern Cali.

Thanks so much.

[bobkat]

Another tip -- those signal "beeper" meters are virtually useless for finding FTA satellites like T5, G3C and G10R. Only a Birdog or Signal Loc 10 Pro are any good at sniffing out those birds. You are probably best to borrow a FTA receiver from someone and use the receiver for aligning the dish.

Or call dtsexpert -- he's in your area - sort of..... SF Bay area.

kat

[freetv]

Thanks bobkat, you're the best.

I live in Southern Cali, dtsexpert is in Northern Cali... I would'nt want to bother him anyway....

I want to get G10R.

I have some DirecTV receivers, but these won't work for searching FTA signal right? Just want to make sure. I might have to buy one FTA receiver and return it after I'm done or keep it if I like it.

Are those FTA receiver only sell on the internet? I search for it on Fry's, Best Buy, Radio Shack and I don't think they carry it there. The problem is: I ran out of time for shipping. I need it this weekend.

Any help would be very appreciated.

[bobkat]

DirecTV receivers are no good for finding FTA satellites. If you can borrow a FTA receiver from a buddy that would be ideal. Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc. do not carry FTA receivers. So you're pretty much limited to internet buying unless there is a satellite retailer in your area that might stock these; check out the yellow pages under "Satellite Receiving Equipment'. You never know.

kat

[ZeroBeat]

Buy a 9" portable TV for $45. Take it and your receiver up to the dish. That's what I did. Used my extension cord from the patio. Also used a Garmin GPS navigator to get true south.

[freetv]

Thanks,

Has anyone tried this method to get true south?

http://www.shelterinstitute.com/tips/truesouth.htm

It saids you don't need a compas or any navigation and still get an acurate true south.

[ZeroBeat]

As long as it is sunny. 8)

[ddd]

i think those days are passed...we need some thing better...but something to have in minde...

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by ddd

i think those days are passed...we need some thing better...but something to have in minde...

What you talkin' 'bout, Willis??? :?: :?: :shock:

kat