TROOPER
09-29-2008, 03:10 PM
Using the "SATELLITE FINDER" meter and making a portable battery pack: by Grandpooba
How to use and make your own battery pack for your low cost "Satellite finder". That is commonly available at most satellite stores and on most on-line auctions for around $10.00 USD. In a satellite dish installation I have found this to be a very valuable tool. Its pluses are, it is low cost, very sensitive, portable, it works very well. Its drawbacks are, It does not identify the Satellite, needs a STB (receiver) to power it (there are some recent models that do have a battery pack accessory, but more than doubles the price).
MAKING YOUR OWN BATTERY PACK for the SATELLITE FINDER
If you are a do it yourselfer you can make a external battery pack that allows you to peak the dish in remote locations (your roof) with out having to bring the STB and TV to the dish site, or having to power up/down the STB each time you connect/disconnect the cable(s). My pack is 9 each AA Alkaline batteries in a battery holder, with battery holders positive hooked to one side of a toggle (On/Off) switch and the other side of switch to the center conductor of the RG-6 Cable with a standard "F" cable connector. The outer shield of the RG-6 cable is hooked to battery pack negative. To use, I have the ON/OFF switch "OFF". I connect the Battery pack "F" connector to the “To REC”eiver" side of the Satellite finder, I then connect the “TO LNB” side of the Satellite finder to the Dish LNB, and turn the switch to “ON”.
TO USE:
To use the Satellite finder, adjust the knob for half scale on the meter, make an adjustment on the dish, and re-balance the meter to center, repeat the process, keeping the meter in the center.
How to use and make your own battery pack for your low cost "Satellite finder". That is commonly available at most satellite stores and on most on-line auctions for around $10.00 USD. In a satellite dish installation I have found this to be a very valuable tool. Its pluses are, it is low cost, very sensitive, portable, it works very well. Its drawbacks are, It does not identify the Satellite, needs a STB (receiver) to power it (there are some recent models that do have a battery pack accessory, but more than doubles the price).
MAKING YOUR OWN BATTERY PACK for the SATELLITE FINDER
If you are a do it yourselfer you can make a external battery pack that allows you to peak the dish in remote locations (your roof) with out having to bring the STB and TV to the dish site, or having to power up/down the STB each time you connect/disconnect the cable(s). My pack is 9 each AA Alkaline batteries in a battery holder, with battery holders positive hooked to one side of a toggle (On/Off) switch and the other side of switch to the center conductor of the RG-6 Cable with a standard "F" cable connector. The outer shield of the RG-6 cable is hooked to battery pack negative. To use, I have the ON/OFF switch "OFF". I connect the Battery pack "F" connector to the “To REC”eiver" side of the Satellite finder, I then connect the “TO LNB” side of the Satellite finder to the Dish LNB, and turn the switch to “ON”.
TO USE:
To use the Satellite finder, adjust the knob for half scale on the meter, make an adjustment on the dish, and re-balance the meter to center, repeat the process, keeping the meter in the center.