Help/Advice with DStv dish alignment and Signal Qualities

[thee_DG]

Good day fellow techies and DIYers,

I would assistance with the dish alignment / Smart LNB skew as I'm having a problem with the signal qualities of the tuner userbands. I'm currently all getting signal qualities in the teens and signal strengths mostly in the upper 70's and 80's.

The userbands for the xtraview are set to 0, 1, 2 (Explora), 3 and 4 for the Single Views. The other Explora is set to 5, 6, 7. I have picture and sound but no Catch Up content is downloading.


My set-up was previously an SD Dual View and I have upgraded to a 3 decoder xtraview (1x Explora & 2 HD Single View) with the heartbeat being diplexed into the Unicables, running through the Smart LNB. There is also an independent Explora connected to the Smart LNB.

I would like to know whether it is worth it to buy a field signal meter (FSM) / satellite finder and then fiddle with the alignment myself or should I call out an installer to align it for me? Any DIY tricks perhaps...

Regards,

 

[friedpiggy]

From what I remember from about two years ago when I last had anything to do with this type of thing, The cheapest meter back then was about R500 and wasn't very accurate. I am sure prices have come down since then. Personally I would just call a techie out and get them to give it a proper setup. Wont be that much more than a meter and you also wont have a piece of tech lying around the house afterwards gathering dust.

 

[cpu.]

I took a 37 cm TV up with me and a short cable. Connected it up and tuned in with live view.
Also look at the neighbours to get the general direction and tilt.
The LNB alignment I search online (can't remember and Youtube might also have something nowadays).

Edit: the tv trick might not work with all the new stuff, since I still have SD and a old school setup.