I have a Pansat 3500SD+, 90CM Ariza Satellite dish, and a SNH031 Invacom LNBF.
I haven't had any luck with receiving channels. I have a little inline satellite finder and I think I have a good signal on a satellite, but I can't get any channels! On my TV it is showing only a 5% signal and no quality. No matter what I try it doesn't change from 5%.
I was trying to get Galaxy 19 (97W) at first, then without any luck I was going for Galaxy 17 (91W). But considering the signal is stuck at 5%, I think picking a satellite is the least of my problems.
Help?
Is this your first FTA experience?
The SNH-031 LNBF is Universal, not Standard.
So you have to set up your receiver appropriately.
Also, for aiming, please use one of the satellite calculators to get the proper azimuth.
There is a magnetic variation (aiming correction) that must be applied, and it varies across North America.
If these ideas don't help, we'll talk about the many other things that could go wrong.
I agree with Anole's conclusions and recommendations.
The first indication that something is incorrect or malfunctioning is your signal level reading. When it is that low, you are either NOT connected to the LNBF or you have set the parameteres incorrectly. If everything was set up correctly and there is no equipment malfunctions or failures, you should detect a higher signal "level" reading even if you are pointing your dish at the dirt or a brick wall.
The LNBF generates its own signal (just unusable background noise - inherent noise from the amplifier portion and electronics within the LNBF) that your receiver should detect if all is well. If you don't detect this inherent background noise, your receiver is not listening to any signals coming from the LNBF (because a setting is incorrect) or the LNBF is dead or not connected.
When you troubleshoot this problem, remember to reduce your system to the most simple components. That is, remove all external switches (if you have any) and bypass the H-H motor (if you have one installed) and run a direct cable from the receiver to the LNBF. Then, treat your dish (motorized or not) as if it were a single, fixed point dish aiming at one individual satellite.
Doing the above will rule out all those extraneous possibilities and reduce your problem areas to a smaller set of components.
Refer to Troubleshooting rule #5.
Troubleshooting rules:
#1 Look for the obvious
#2 Check the power supplies
#3 Check the cables
#4 Check the settings
#5 Divide, Reduce and Conquer
#6 Substitute or replace and recheck your results
#7 Compare and track results
#8 Keep notes of all findings beginning from rule #1
#9 Research and read
#10 Ask questions and use notes from #7 to explain and describe details
#11 Don't change anything until you know what you are changing and why you are changing it.
#12 Only change one thing at a time
#13 Don't become discouraged. Keep your cool. Walk away and stop thinking about the problem until you feel relaxed.
#14 Cheat! Well, if you must. Ha Ha.
I just made that all up, but it is pretty much correct.
Good luck.
RADAR
