Caravan satellite TV

[iainwiththesterling]

Hi All,
I have an easyfind satellite system. Now, I am a very patient guy and I have spent hours trying to sort this out, but I really struggle with it. Although I can get a seemingly good signal (green light on the LNB) I often find I have problems receiving some channels. So, I usually have a good picture on Channel 4, but cannot receive BBC1. I have re-scanned for all of the channels by connecting the receiver to my fixed dish at home, and so I reckon this must be a hardware problem, probably with my tripod mounted dish or LNB. Anyone have similar problems?
I am thinking of getting rid of the Easyfind system and getting a "Multimo" dish instead - does anyone have any experience of them?
Iain

 

[JTQ]

I have recently purchased an Easy find LNB to exploit the imbedded software on a new Avtex TV.
I am not overly impressed as like you I have occassionly had a green without a full house of channels, whereas with my meter finder I got good results.
So now I use both Easy Find and the meter together. I use the Easy Find to know I am looking at the right satellite cluster but refine the setting via the meter.This works well the two systems of aligning complimenting each other.
I long ago was recommended to put an attenuator [6dB Screwfix] into the meters LNB feed so the signal had to be very strong to achieve a full scale reading. That was a valuable bit of advice.
The only other advice is to ensure your LNB has adequate "skew" set; if not this can lead to dropping out of some channels.

 

[Surfer]

Use this site to set up your satellite dish. http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

 

[otherclive]

We had some issues in September with channels not being where they were expected and some were not normal signal strength. But it could have been caused by they channels being switched between transponders on the Astra satellites due to having to work around because of the delayed launch of the new Astra which has now taken place. So I will hang onto the kit and see what happens early in 2014 when the new satellite has been commissioned.

 

[RogerL]

Use this site to set up your satellite dish. http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

That site, by David Sullivan is brilliant.
Most times I can get a good signal just by using the compass bearing (needs preplanning to find the bearing from where you're going) but occasionally it all goes pear-shaped - so I just refer to a page on David's website which suggests doing a manual tune on the Freesat EPG channel and just watching the on-screen signal strength until it's good - then you know you're on the right satellite!

 

[Surfer]

Use this site to set up your satellite dish. http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

That site, by David Sullivan is brilliant.
Most times I can get a good signal just by using the compass bearing (needs preplanning to find the bearing from where you're going) but occasionally it all goes pear-shaped - so I just refer to a page on David's website which suggests doing a manual tune on the Freesat EPG channel and just watching the on-screen signal strength until it's good - then you know you're on the right satellite!

Problem is that you have 2 other satellites not far off so always best to check network id and transport stream numbers. I think he does mention this. We always use the Sky box vor signal unless a very bad area then use signal meter.

 

[Dustydog]

David Sullivan certainly set the pace brilliantly.
Network ID must always be 0002.

However I have noticed the transponder stream id varies quite a lot from the expected 07d4 although everything works perfectly.

 

[RogerL]

Use this site to set up your satellite dish. http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

That site, by David Sullivan is brilliant.
Most times I can get a good signal just by using the compass bearing (needs preplanning to find the bearing from where you're going) but occasionally it all goes pear-shaped - so I just refer to a page on David's website which suggests doing a manual tune on the Freesat EPG channel and just watching the on-screen signal strength until it's good - then you know you're on the right satellite!

Problem is that you have 2 other satellites not far off so always best to check network id and transport stream numbers. I think he does mention this. We always use the Sky box vor signal unless a very bad area then use signal meter.

The advantage of using the Freesat EPG channel is that it can't be mistaken for anything/anywhere else - set the box to monitor 11426 V 27500 A and if the signal strength OR quality is less than 50% then you're still in the wrong alignment !
I know nothing of Sky - Freesat does everything we need.

 

[bertieboy1]

I always select a TV channel (usually101 BBC1 ) when tuning into the Freesat satellite.Then move the dish until a picture appears on the TV screen.
The receiver having been pre-tuned to the satellite
It always works for me and is very quick.
I use a Humax Foxsat HD receiver but don't know if this works with other receivers.
This way you know you are pointing at the correct satellite.