GTMedia V8 Finder 2 For SAT ID

[Gregroadwarrior]

I have Dish Network and receive signals on a Dish 500. My biggest frustration is pointing the dish with a meter and not knowing what SAT I'm on. My receiver doesn't ID SAT or it takes a long time to register. I bought a GTMedia V8 Finder 2 to point and identify SAT. I set up my GTMedia, but it only receives signal power, but no signal quality. Has anyone configured their Finder to for Dish 62.5, 73.7, 110, 119. I'm very much a novice to technical SAT. Appreciate any assistance.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Dish uses right and left polarities, which the V8 Finder cannot detect.

 

[Gregroadwarrior]

Dish uses right and left polarities, which the V8 Finder cannot detect.

Thanks, that figures.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Thanks, that figures.

If you're interested in picking up free channels ("FTA") with a slightly larger dish, like a 90cm, the finder will work great for those.

 

[Gregroadwarrior]

Dish uses right and left polarities, which the V8 Finder cannot detect.

Can you recommend an inexpensive device that would detect Dish satellites while pointing? It drives me nuts to hit on a satellite with high signal strength and my dish receiver can't recognize it. Thanks for your reply.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Can you recommend an inexpensive device that would detect Dish satellites while pointing?

If you're having trouble with your Dish equipment, why not call Dish? You are not required to point/install your own equipment..

Are you an RV'er? I think the Tailgaters from Dish point themselves. That could be an option..

 

[primestar31]

Can you recommend an inexpensive device that would detect Dish satellites while pointing? It drives me nuts to hit on a satellite with high signal strength and my dish receiver can't recognize it. Thanks for your reply.

Just get one of these, and you'll never have to worry about it again. It'll aim itself automatically: DISH Playmaker Portable Satellite TV Antenna

 

[cyberham]

Dish uses right and left polarities, which the V8 Finder cannot detect.

This is an educational moment for me. Wouldn't the finder simply indicate the wrong polarity? Show horizontal instead of left and vertical instead of right like a receiver?

 

[comfortably_numb]

Wouldn't the finder simply indicate the wrong polarity? Show horizontal instead of left and vertical instead of right like a receiver?

I've seen L and R Directv TP's from 101 scan in on my GTMedia S5X from time to time, but it isn't dependable and it's only because they are so strong.

 

[Titanium]

I've seen L and R Directv TP's from 101 scan in on my GTMedia S5X from time to time, but it isn't dependable and it's only because they are so strong.

A meter does not care whether the signal polarity is linear or circular.

The meter (or receiver) simply outputs a supply voltage, switching protocol, correct LNB band control switch points and applies applicable LO frequency to the IF to display the correct transponder frequency. In order to read the data in a transport stream, the meter must be able to handle the type of encoding on the transport stream.

 

[waylew]

I've seen L and R Directv TP's from 101 scan in on my GTMedia S5X from time to time, but it isn't dependable and it's only because they are so strong.

H/V-R/L doesn't matter depending on the lnbf.they both use 13v/18v switching.But the local oscilator has to be set correctly.10750 H/V-11200(I think) R/L for DiSH.Now whether the V8 can lock a Dish signal I don't know.
As these boxes are for Euro/Asia I'm pretty sure they to pick up both H/V-R/L.

 

[Titanium]

Dish uses right and left polarities, which the V8 Finder cannot detect.

V8 can detect any polarity, but it does not decode turbo 8psk.

 

[cyberham]

V8 can detect any polarity, but it does not decode turbo 8psk.

Therefore, the best plan is for Gregroadwarrior to put his Dish receiver and TV beside the dish and orient the dish while watching the signal on the receiver. This is how I oriented my Shaw dish when using pay satellite TV. The receiver had a good signal meter built into it.

 

[comfortably_numb]

the best plan is for Gregroadwarrior to put his Dish receiver and TV beside the dish and orient the dish while watching the signal on the receiver

Or he could order the item from post #7 and save all the hassle..

 

[comfortably_numb]

V8 can detect any polarity, but it does not decode turbo 8psk.

Thanks, I knew it couldn't "see" Turbo, but didn't realize it could detect L and R polarities. Why does my receiver see Directv TP's on 101 sometimes when the LO is set to 10750?

 

[cyberham]

I've blind scanned in a very high frequency tp (12676?) sometimes in past on 101W. DirecTV may have a strong spot beam there.

Lyngsat says DirecTV uses DSS SR 20000 FEC 6/7 which is different from Dish 8PSK SR 21500 FEC 2/3 (Dish's Turbo tps). Maybe the DirecTV encoding is closer to DVB-S/S2 so our receiver senses it. If tuned to a Dish tp with Turbo my experience is my FTA receiver senses nothing.

 

[cyberham]

Or he could order the item from post #7 and save all the hassle..

$$$$

 

[comfortably_numb]

$$$$

Good to have lots of it for this hobby!

 

[Pepper]

What I've learned since getting the V8 finder:
- Connected to an LNBF, even if it's obstructed, will have a signal reading.
- Make sure the LO frequency selected matches the LNBF!
- If you don't already have a known transponder entered in, you'll never see a quality reading.
- You can tell which satellite it is, if you have a unique transponder (freq+polarity+symbolrate) for each one.
- You can get lucky by adjusting the dish for the highest signal reading, then doing a blind scan.

And to address the H/V-L/R issue: no receiver cares about that. The LNBF selects which direction/orientation based on the input voltage, and linear/circular is determined by the physical construction and electrical properties of the LNBF. Once the signal comes down the wire it's just a signal, no polarity at all.

Whether or not it can detect or find anything on the dish satellites, is something I will add to my list of things to do next opportunity to "waste time in my dish garden" as Mrs Pepper refers to it.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Whether or not it can detect or find anything on the dish satellites, is something I will add to my list of things to do

As Titanium mentioned, Dish uses Turbo 8PSK so you'll never find a Dish TP (unless there are any non-Turbo TP's in use, not sure if there are anymore)