General information about satellite TV
Before installing a satellite dish, you need to read the general information that will ultimately help you when setting up the equipment. First, let's find out what a geostationary orbit is. It is in an orbit that is about 35,000 kilometers above the earth and is equal to the equator. Broadcast satellites are located in geostationary orbit. It is at this altitude that the speed of the Earth is equal to the speed of the satellite, so the satellite hangs over the same point on its surface. The location of a satellite in geostationary orbit is called a stationary point. From the Earth, the stationary orbit is "visible" in the sky in the form of the so-called "Clark's belt". Clark's belt is "visible" as an arc of a curve that degenerates from a circle at the poles to a straight line at the equator. Clark's belt "rests" on the horizon exactly in the east and west, regardless of location. In the technical manual for satellite equipment, the positioning points of satellites are indicated by their geographical longitude: the angular distance from the zero (Greenwich) meridian. This must be taken into account when orienting the antenna and give a correction: from a given point, the Greenwich meridian is "visible" at an angle inverse to the longitude of the place. How some stationary satellites are visible from Greenwich is shown in the figure.Determination of azimuth and elevation
To accurately install a satellite dish, you need to know: the latitude and longitude of your location, the satellite you plan to tune to, these parameters determine the elevation angle (how much the antenna is tilted. Turn the antenna up and down) and azimuth (turn the antenna to the right and left). The antenna is tuned by turning to the right - left and up - down and the signal is viewed on the satellite receiver at a certain frequency.Azimuth is the angle measured from north in a clockwise direction.
Elevation is the angle in the vertical plane between the horizontal and the direction to the satellite. First you need to determine your coordinates. Let's say you are in the coverage area of the IntelSat 904 satellite, at a point with coordinates 55 degrees 53 minutes north (55 ° 53 "N) and 37 degrees 26 minutes east (37 ° 26" E). Please note that coordinates can be specified both in the form “degrees - minutes” and “degrees - decimal fractions of a degree”. In the second case, the same coordinates will be presented as 55.88 degrees N. and 37.43 degrees east longitude. You can calculate the direction to the satellite using the Online calculator on our website or using the "Satellite Antenna Alignment" program.
Using any of the above tools, determine the azimuth and elevation for the Intelsat 904 satellite (the position is 60 degrees East). As a result, we got an azimuth to the satellite of 153.3 degrees and an elevation angle of 23.2 degrees (the differences in the second decimal place are associated with the accuracy of the coordinates and calculations and do not affect the antenna tuning).
In the direction where the antenna should be directed, there should be no tall buildings, trees, high-voltage lines nearby.
Antenna selection
The choice of a satellite dish basically comes down to buying an antenna with the required diameter. As a rule, the quality of satellite broadcasting mainly depends on the diameter of the "dish", so if in the central parts of the satellite coverage, 60 cm of the dish may be enough, then for the regions located at the edges of the satellite coverage, a larger diameter will be required, which can be equal to and 1.5 m.Installation of a satellite dish in elevation
1. Assemble the satellite dish according to the instruction manual.
2. Fasten the satellite dish bracket. The plate fasteners (anchor bolts, studs, nuts, screws, etc.) are selected depending on the wind load and the material of the wall to which the satellite dish is mounted.
3. Install the satellite dish converters in the holder with the connector downwards so that atmospheric moisture does not get inside the satellite dish converters.
4. Connect the cable to the satellite dish converters using the F-connector *.
5. Attach the cables to the bow of the cymbal converter with plastic ties or insulating tape.
6. Seal the full length of the F-connector with 2 layers of insulating tape and apply a layer of silicone sealant evenly to the insulating tape.
7. Install the satellite dish onto the bracket. Tighten the adjusting nuts so that you can move the antenna vertically and horizontally with some effort.
8. Attach the cable to the satellite dish bracket with plastic ties or electrical tape. Leave a 1m cable near the antenna, also securing it to the bracket.
Converter, multifeeds, disks
The signal received by the "Mirror" of the satellite dish is focused on the converter ("head"). In the converter, the signal is reduced in frequency by the value of the frequency of the local oscillator of the converter (indicated on the converter itself) and is transmitted through the cable to the satellite receiver (tuner). And already the satellite receiver receives the signal going through the satellite, processes it, decodes it and transmits the finished “picture” to the TV set. To tune our antenna, we need 3 Ku-band linear polarization converters, since the satellites to which we will tune our antenna broadcast in the Ku-band of linear polarization. On the stickers of these converters, the main reception parameters are applied: Receiving frequency 10.70-11.70 GHz, 11.70-12.75 GHz; Intermediate frequency 950-1950 MHz and 1100-2150 MHz; LO frequency: 9750 MHz and 10600 MHz; Self-noise level: 0.3 dB. The use of two local oscillators is due to the fact that the Ku-band is quite wide (2050 MHz), therefore the Ku-band is divided into two sub-bands 10700-11700 and 11700-12750 MHz.
Considering high density the location of satellites in orbit, one satellite dish can simultaneously receive signals from two, three, four or even five satellites that are in close proximity to each other. Accordingly, two, three, four and five converters should be used for this. Additional converters are attached to the supporting rod of the satellite dish (arc) with special holders - multifeeds.
Such a combination of satellites on one dish Amos 4.0 W, Astra 4A 4.8E, Hot Bird 13.0E is usually called a bunch of 4W + 5E + 13E.
An example of a popular combination for 4 satellites on one plate Amos 4.0 W, Astra 4A 4.8E, Eutelsat 9B 9E, Hot Bird 13.0E bundle 4W + 5E + 9E + 13E
We will not consider all possible combinations, this is beyond the scope of this article. It should be said that there are a lot of them and for viewers of different countries such combinations are different. In this article, we will consider tuning a satellite dish to the popular combination 4W + 5E + 13E, for you the combination may be different, but the principle of tuning remains the same.
Considering that the satellite receiver can supply power to only one converter, in such cases, a DiSEqC switch can be installed, which automatically switches power from one converter to another, depending on which satellite you are watching. 
Since a satellite dish is a mirror for a satellite signal, the signal reflected from its surface is collected in a bundle and enters the converter. When installing additional heads on side multifeeds, the reflected signal from the right satellite in relation to the central one should be caught on the left side, and the reflected signal from the left satellite on the right side. That is, we have a central satellite Astra 4A 4.8E - we will catch it in the center of the antenna, the Amos 4.0 W satellite is located to the right of 4.8 degrees, so the signal from it should be sought from the left side. The Hot Bird 13.0E satellite is located to the left of Astra 4A, so we will look for a signal from 13 degrees on the right side. 
Setting up a satellite dish:
1. The first step is to tune the dish to the central satellite, in our case it is Astra 4A 4.8E. Using an engineering compass corrected for magnetic declination, set the antenna to the desired azimuth. Roughly, by eye, we expose the antenna alignment to the elevation angle. To tune the antenna, we need to take out the TV with the tuner and put it closer to the installation site so that we can see the percentages on the tuning scale. We do not connect the power switch (disks) yet, so as not to get confused with satellites. We do the initial adjustment according to the middle converter, which is also the central one.2. Second: We connect the TV and the converter to the receiver, turn on the equipment, select in the receiver menu ("Installing the antenna" -> "Manual search"). We drive in the required signal parameters (with the prepared transponder frequencies), according to the instructions for it.
3. Turn on the signal search mode. Carefully and smoothly swing the antenna up and down until the receiver "grabs" the satellite. If “not caught”, we check the azimuth again and, changing it in steps of 3 degrees to the right and left, we repeat the “swing” procedure. When the signal is caught, very carefully, slightly turning and shaking the antenna, we achieve best quality and signal strength. Quality is the priority.
At 60% level and 80% quality, reception stability will be twice as high as vice versa. Carefully, in several steps, tighten the antenna fastening nuts and the angle of inclination tightly. In this case, you need to monitor the signal all the time. From the main menu of the receiver, we check if the satellite is caught. If all parameters were set manually, failures, as a rule, do not happen. But if there is no signal or image, we weaken the plate, and - we start over.
4. After you have caught the desired satellite and fixed the position of the antenna according to the maximum signal - Turn on the "Level - quality" again and, carefully moving back and forth and slightly turning the converter in the socket, while achieving maximum readings on the QUALITY scale.
Attention! The antenna adjustment must be done while standing behind the dish mirror holding the converter bracket with your hand. You cannot turn behind the mirror - it can be deformed, and from any interference in front of the antenna or in front of the converter head, the signal decreases or disappears altogether. Once again, we make sure that the antenna is tuned exactly to the satellite to which we tuned it, and not to some other one. To do this, scan the transponders from table 1 and turn on some kind of channel.
Tab. # 1. Parameters for configuring the Satellite dish:
| Satellite | Transponder | Channel for visual inspection |
| Astra 4A (4.8E) | 11766 H 27500 | 1 + 1, TET, 2 + 2 |
| Astra 4A (4.8E) | 12073 H 27500 | News One, Glas, Business |
| Astra 4A (4.8E) | 12399 V 27500 | Inter, NTN, Mega |
| Hotbird 13B / 13C / 13E (13E) | 10815 H 27500 | Russian Music Box, TBN Rossiya |
| Hotbird 13B / 13C / 13E (13E) | 11034 V 27500 | RTR Planeta, Shanson TV |
| Hotbird 13B / 13C / 13E (13E) | 12597 V 27500 | EuroNews, Perviy kanal Romania |
| Amos 2/3 (4W) | 11139 H 30,000 | 112 Ukraine, Tonis, Inter |
| Amos 2/3 (4W) | 11175 H 30,000 | Telekanal STB, M1, Novy Kanal |
| Amos 2/3 (4W) | 10842 H 30,000 | UA TV, Boutique TV |
5. Setting up additional 2 satellites (Amos 4.0 W and Hot Bird 13.0E) is to find the position of the converter relative to the central one. We connect the next converter to the receiver, for example, the Amos 4.0 W satellite. In the menu, set its parameters. DO NOT TOUCH ANTENNAS, smoothly and carefully turn the converter left and right until it "grabs" the satellite. Make sure to "catch" what you need, as described above. Moving the converter back and forth (this is the so-called pre-focusing) and rotating (alignment along the polarization plane), we achieve the best signal. Similarly, we adjust the third converter for the Hot Bird 13.0E satellite. 6. After all the manipulations, you must once again make sure that all the satellites are set up correctly, check the tightening of all antenna elements again. 7. Now you can connect DiSEqC (Dissek) using the prepared and marked cable lengths with the corresponding convector. Unforgettable in the receiver to set the port numbers for each satellite. Then we transfer the equipment to the house. That's it, this completes the installation of the satellite dish. It remains to select and configure the desired programs (channels) in the receiver menu.
Selecting a satellite tuner (receiver).
Today satellite receivers, depending on technical characteristics, can be roughly divided into four main classes:4th grade: These are usually budget satellite receivers designed to receive unencrypted TV channels. Most often they do not have a card capture reader. The TV is connected to them using RCA (tulips), SCART or HDMI cables. These receivers reproduce TV programs in digital standard DVB-S / S2, MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 video compression format. The cost of receivers ranges from $ 18-25. An example of a budget receiver can be Sat-Integral 1225 HD Able, Tiger X80 HD, Tiger 4100 HD
Grade 3: The third class includes receivers that, in addition to the previous receivers, have a card reader that allows you to install cards of paid satellite operators. Before choosing a receiver with a card capture reader, you should find out in what encoding the operator whose services you want to use is broadcasting. These can be encodings Conax, Irdeto, Viacces, etc. As a rule, each receiver supports one encoding option, in rare cases - several types. These receivers reproduce TV channels in the DVB-S2 standard and cost $ 30-60.
Grade 2: The receivers of the second class include the most common this moment HDTV receivers (DVB-S2 standard, video compression format MPEG-4). For example, receivers Openbox S4 Pro + HD, Amiko SHD-8900 Alien, GI S8120 or Sat-Integral S-1210HD.
1 class: First-class receivers include HDTV receivers with advanced capabilities and cost from $ 200, which, in addition to receiving high-definition satellite signals, can function as a home media center. So, for example, they have the ability to install, or already contain additional digital tuners on board that allow you to connect cable TV standard DVB-C, which is present in your home, or digital terrestrial television of the DVB-T standard, which can be received on a conventional terrestrial antenna, for example, as in the Optibox Raptor HD.
Conclusion In this article, we examined only the main stages of setting up a satellite dish (dish) using the example of a popular combination of three satellites Amos 4.0 W, Astra 4A 4.8E, Hot Bird 13.0E. Installation and tuning of antennas to other satellites is carried out in the same way and consists in such stages as: - selection of satellites, selection of their frequencies; - determination of the coordinates of the terrain, determination of the azimuth; - antenna installation; - setting according to the above described method.
Despite the name, the article below will not tell you how to make a satellite dish yourself or solder a receiver. Just a note on what you need to purchase and how to install and configure everything yourself in order to watch TV channels "on a plate".
Suppose you live in a country house, in a village, or simply "far from civilization." But I want to watch TV, and not a couple of channels broadcast on the air.
(A small digression: at the moment digital terrestrial broadcasting is actively developing. Find out if the number of channels you need is available in your area via terrestrial digital television? In this case, you will only need a set-top box to receive a digital signal (if the TV does not support), and the antenna can not be changed.)
And now you have decided to acquire satellite equipment for watching many TV programs. First you need to decide: what channels do you want to watch? If your goal is various Discovery, Viasat and / or purely sports channels, then we immediately inform you: it is better to conclude an agreement with one of the companies that provide satellite TV services for a monthly fee. Such channels are transmitted in encrypted form and only some of them will be able to be viewed "on the ball". Fortunately, in our time, companies engaged in the installation of satellite equipment and providing paid services enough. You can order the installation even in the wilderness, the only question is the cost.
If you decide to take this path, then we will give here some tips:
1) if there are several offers, carefully study the list of provided channels in a particular package, the need to pay extra separately for sports, educational channels, etc.;
2) possibility free installation equipment by the company's specialists;
3) Is there a separate fee for "mileage to the client" when leaving?
4) it is not superfluous to pay attention to the reputation of the company: read on the Internet, ask customers;
5) find out if the reception of the signal equipment installed by the company is of high quality in your area;
6) it is often possible to profitably connect (for example, equipment or installation at cheap prices, half of the monthly fee for a more expensive package for some time, or even a couple of months of "freebies") for various kinds of promotions; as a rule, large firms conduct them regularly to attract clients: New Year, for the anniversary of the company, etc .;
7) well, and advice that is suitable for any transaction: carefully read the signed contract BEFORE signing, and not after, coming home and relaxing at your favorite TV channel; it may well be that a seemingly profitable promotion obliges you to use the services for at least a couple of years after the conclusion of the contract, otherwise the penalty will be written off, etc .; in general: be always on the alert! and, enjoy your viewing!
For the same who decided to do everything himself, material below.
Again, to begin with, let's make a reservation: this information most suitable for those who live in the European part of the former USSR.
So what is needed?
For starters: desire! The desire to do everything yourself (well, or with someone's help). Without this, you may not reach a successful finale. Then patience, a steady hand, a minimum of tools and a little Money... Regarding the latter. Much depends on where, what and from whom you will buy. But even buying everything new, you can easily invest in the equivalent of 100 UDS, unless, of course, chasing branded equipment. And it doesn't always make sense to buy everything new, for example, if there is a profitable used offer on the market. The same plate or receiver is not a flash drive: they can work for a very long time and with high quality (although there are reliable flash drives :)).
And again, a small digression: introduction to the world of satellite television... What is this anyway? First, let's take a look at Wikipedia.
Geostationary Orbit (GSO) - a circular orbit located above the equator of the Earth (0 ° latitude), being in which, artificial satellite revolves around the planet with an angular velocity equal to the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation around the axis. In the horizontal coordinate system, the direction to the satellite does not change either in azimuth or in height above the horizon; the satellite "hangs" motionless in the sky.
Those. somewhere high in space, at an altitude of about 36 km from the surface of the Earth, an artificial satellite of the Earth, which is a powerful transceiver of a television signal, rotates synchronously with it. It receives the signal from powerful (high-power) terrestrial transmitting antennas and transmits it over a large area below it. In fact, there are many satellites. Each of them broadcasts to a specific territory according to the directivity of its transmitting antennas. Several conclusions follow from this: the satellite is very far away, it is limited in mass, volume, power supply capabilities, it cannot be repaired if something happens, hence the complexity, duplication of systems, etc. From all this, the conclusion: the power of the transmitting signal is limited, the signal from the satellite is very weak.
Then, a satellite is expensive, which means it needs to be used to the maximum: to transmit through it as many channels as possible over a large area of the Earth. Second conclusion: conventional technology, also in our country the broadcasting of on-air television and radio is not suitable - there are too few transmitted channels. Therefore, satellite television uses modern digital data transmission methods. The third conclusion: all channels cannot be "crammed" into one satellite for technical and organizational reasons.
Now let's see: what do these conclusions turn out to be for us?
Reception technology required weak signal... For this, a parabolic antenna is used. Here, the larger the area of the parabolic mirror, the better. Better for a signal that is collected and focused to a point. But the larger the antenna, the more expensive and heavier it is. It is more difficult to mount it, and to fix it securely to counteract a strong twist is generally a problem at home, as a rule. Therefore, in practice, they choose a size sufficient for high-quality reception, and this is for most of Eastern Europe, a diameter of 0.8 meters. One of the most common diameters is 0.95 m.
There are two main types of satellite dishes: direct focus and offset. The former have a signal receiver (feed) at the focus of the parabolic mirror, which coincides with the geometric one. In the latter, the signal from the parabolic mirror collected to a point is reflected to a point below the geometric center of the antenna. This eliminates the shading of the effective area of the antenna by the feed and its supports, which increases its efficiency with the same area of the mirror with the direct focus antenna. In addition, the feed is installed below the center of gravity of the antenna, thereby increasing its stability under wind loads. The offset antenna mirror is mounted almost vertically. Depending on the geographical latitude, the angle of its inclination changes slightly. This situation excludes the collection of atmospheric precipitation in the antenna bowl, which greatly affects the reception quality. The antenna is not a circle in the clearance, but an ellipse, elongated vertically. The dimensions of the offset antenna are usually given in terms of gain in relation to direct focus. If this size is the same horizontally, then vertically it will be about 10% larger.
In the future, we will mean by a satellite antenna only offset, as the most common.
Direct focus antenna.
Offset antenna.
Also distinguish between fixed antenna mounting and movable. In the first case, the antenna is fixed to the base, in the second - to a special positioner. The task of the latter is to turn the antenna along an arc for positioning to the desired satellite. The turn signal is usually given by a satellite receiver. It takes some time for accurate positioning to the satellite when selecting a program from a satellite other than the current one. Technically implemented using a motor-actuator. An expensive and, accordingly, not a common solution. It will not be considered in the practical part.
As mentioned above, the signal from the antenna is focused to one point, where a device called a converter is installed (LNB head or low-noise block converter or low-noise monoblock converter). Based on the name "satellite converter", it immediately becomes clear that this device is converting (converting) something. An electromagnetic signal is emitted from the satellite, which is focused by the satellite dish on the converter and converted by the LNB head into an intermediate frequency. This is necessary in order for the signal to be carried efficiently further down the cable. In addition, the LNB head amplifies the received signal. Further, the signal through the coaxial cable from the LNB head goes to the satellite receiver, which, as a rule, is made as a separate device (the so-called satellite set-top box), but can also be built into the TV.
Due to the fact that the satellite is very far from the receiving antenna, it is necessary to direct this very antenna very accurately to the satellite itself.
To summarize: in order to receive satellite television, it is necessary, in addition to the television itself, to have the following equipment.
1) Parabolic antenna with a diameter of 0.8 m.
2) LNB head.
3) If there is a desire to watch TV programs from more than one satellite, then a switch (switch) of the DiSEqC heads is required.
4) Coaxial cable.
5) Satellite receiver.
This is where the theoretical part ends. Let's move on to practical.
First, determine where to mount the parabolic antenna. Height above the ground does not play a special role. It is important that there are no obstacles on the satellite-antenna line. Even the crown of the tree. For residents of Eastern Europe, the direction to the satellite will be south with an offset to the west or east, depending on the coordinates of the antenna and the satellite. After all, we remember that geostationary satellites are launched into equatorial orbit.
The mounting location must be strong and secure: even the slightest vibration of the antenna will lead to loss of signal. The best option is the main wall of the building or reinforced concrete roof slab. But other options are also suitable, for example, a rigidly reinforced, vertically installed iron pipe of such a diameter that it does not swing when the wind gusts. Depending on the selected mounting option, select the appropriate fastener, which is fixed on one side to a fixed surface, the antenna itself is attached to the other. As a rule, the antennas themselves are not equipped with such a part. It can also be a home-made product, the main thing to remember is that the antenna has a large windage and it will need to be accurately directed to the satellite, i.e. reliability and ease of installation and tuning of the antenna itself is important.
Then choose the actual antenna. It is better to ask the owners of satellite equipment in your area what diameter of the "dish" they use and whether the reception is of good quality during thick clouds and / or rain. If, for example, it turns out that when receiving on an antenna with a diameter of 0.8 m, there is a loss of signal during heavy rain, then you should think about purchasing an antenna with a diameter of 0.95 m. diameter does not make sense. In addition, it may turn out that the person who provided you with the above information simply does not point the antenna accurately to the satellite. In general, advice from knowledgeable and experience of neighbors with "plates" will help here.
After that, it is worth deciding from how many satellites you want to watch TV programs? In theory, you can "overgrow" antennas like mushrooms after rain, but in practice the most common option is one "plate", a mount for three receiving heads, three LNB heads, a DiSEqC switch for 4 heads, then a cable from DiSEqC to the receiver, the receiver itself, and from him to the TV. This is the so-called multifeed scheme. Let's look again at Wikipedia.
Multifid is a set of devices (in particular, converters) designed to receive a signal from several satellites to one parabolic antenna. A multifeed is often called a bracket on which additional converters are attached.
This scheme has been worked out for years, it allows you to watch a maximum of Slavic-language programs with a minimum investment. With three LNB heads manually, without resorting to special equipment, it is possible to adjust the acceptable signal quality to the three most popular satellites in Eastern Europe: Amos 4W, Astra 4.9E, Hot Bird 13E.
The beauty is that you can use one antenna for these satellites. First, the antenna with a central head is tuned, as a rule, on the Hot Bird 13E, although it is possible on any other. This changes both the position of the cymbal itself and the head to achieve the maximum signal level. The signal from this satellite will be the strongest with a good quality setting. Then the other two are tuned, but with only the heads themselves.
The most common type of LNB head is one-way, as the most popular and cheapest. From it the signal goes through the cable to the DiSEqC switch or to the receiver. With this scheme, it is possible to serve only one TV with a signal. But there are heads for more outputs, which allows one antenna and LNB head to supply more than one receiver with a signal, thus saving on equipment. This is very convenient if, for example, there is more than one TV in the house.
LNB heads: with one outlet and four.
In the second case, all 4 outputs can be connected to different receivers or DiSEqC. The receiver can work simultaneously with only one LNB head, and this is where you need a DiSEqC switch if you want to watch several satellites on one "dish". Depending on the program selected by the user, it connects one or another LNB head to the receiver and supplies it with the supply voltage required for the head to work. In the overwhelming majority of cases, there is only one DiSEqC between the LNB head and the receiver, but there are intricate circuits with DiSEqC cascading, but these are such rarely demanded cases that we will not consider them.
Next, you need a coaxial cable to connect DiSEqC and the receiver. It must be taken with a margin of a couple of meters relative to the distance that you measure out. But remember that the longer the cable, the greater the loss.
It's time to talk about the receiver. This is a very broad topic.
For most TV channel lovers, the simplest receiver, for example the Orton 4100C, will do. But general information Choosing a satellite box won't hurt anyone.
First of all, if you have a modern TV, then look at its instructions or read in Internet networks- it may happen that the required digital signal receiver is already built into this TV. If not, here's something to look out for.
1) The number and type of signal outputs, as a rule, there should be at least three of them: normal antenna output, SCART, normal Video-out. In this case, it is easier to avoid a connection conflict if there is other video equipment also connected to the TV, such as a DVD or BLUE-RAY drive, a game console, a digital terrestrial television receiver, etc.
2) Does the receiver support HDTV (High Definition Television) signal reception? In our area, this is still a curiosity - the presence of clearly broadcasting (in their native language) HDTV channels, and even those that you can watch for free, but time does not stand still.
3) Availability of instructions in plain language.
4) Number and type of service connectors. They are necessary for flashing the receiver. Re-flashing is necessary to fix errors in the current firmware or to update the channel list. (Yes, yes, a receiver is the same specialized computer as a telephone or a router and it also needs to be uploaded from time to time). Ideally, there should be two of these connectors: RS-232 (double row pins) and USB. If there is no USB, then it is not a fact that your computer has an RS-232 (aka COM-port), but if you wish, you can buy an RS-232-to-USB adapter. And you also need a so-called null-modem cable. If there is no RS-232 on the receiver, but only UBS, then this is not so scary, because any (well, almost) Personal Computer older than 1996 has at least one USB port.
5) As a consequence of the previous point, it is very desirable for the receiver to easily find the firmware, for example, the program code from the manufacturer, and the list of channels on a specialized site, or both in the second place. There are many options for popular models, but for exotic ones you will have to look. But you have to be careful, it is not so difficult to "screw up" the receiver.
6) If it is not possible to flash the receiver, then it must support adding satellites and channels, entering keys, in manual mode from the remote control. This is a tedious business and requires care, but there is less chance of completely disabling the equipment. Although ... in capable hands ...;)
7) If there is a desire now or in the future to watch paid channels, then the receiver must support special cards security with keys. This means there is a dedicated connector and firmware support.
Everyone knows that satellite television is one of the pinnacles of modern technology. But there is such a principle: everything ingenious is simple. It is not difficult to handle satellite television subscriber devices, and installing a satellite dish with your own hands is quite within the power of a citizen who does not know how to use a soldering iron and who has completely forgotten Ohm's law. But accuracy, ingenuity, an accurate eye and a faithful hand are required, as well as the ability to use a compass and basic knowledge of astronomy.
Do you need documents for it?
Do I need to coordinate home satellite TV in some authorities, register, get permission? There is no need. Satellite broadcasting is free. True, when you "catch" the satellite, tune the receiver and see the list of channels, then many will be marked with an asterisk, exclamation mark or some other icon. These are paid channels. To watch them, you need to buy a key card. If you know in advance which of the paid channels you need, you can purchase a card for them together with the receiver, or from a satellite broadcasting company.
However, if you live in an apartment building, you will need permission from the owner or the building operator to install the antenna on a wall or roof. But if the antenna is fixed to the balcony fence, and the supporting structures did not move during its installation, then permission is not needed.
However, in this case, the antenna will sway more in the wind, and in bad weather the reception will be unstable. Therefore, many subscribers order the installation of satellite dishes from specialized companies, and they themselves coordinate all issues with the housing office. In Russia, the largest of these is Tricolor.
General information about satellite broadcasting
The broadcast satellites are located in geostationary orbit, 35 786 km above sea level in the plane of the Earth's equator. The orbital speed at this altitude is equal to the speed of rotation of the Earth, so the satellite hangs over the same point on its surface. The location of a satellite in geostationary orbit is called a stationary point.
In reference manuals, satellite positions are indicated by their geographic longitude: the angular distance from the zero (Greenwich) meridian. This must be taken into account when orienting the antenna and a correction should be made: from a given point, the Greenwich meridian is "visible" at an angle inverse to the longitude of the place. How some stationary satellites are visible from Greenwich is shown in the figure.
Example 1: longitude of the center of Voronezh - 39 degrees 15 minutes east. The position of the satellite Eutelsat II F4 is 7 degrees to the east, i.e. from Greenwich, this satellite is visible 7 degrees to the east. If the Eutelsat II F4 were hanging exactly over the prime meridian, the antenna would have to be rotated 39 degrees 15 minutes towards Greenwich to receive it, i.e. west. And since Eutelsat II F4 has already been "shifted" by 7 degrees to Voronezh, the antenna must be turned to the west by 32 degrees 15 minutes.
From the Earth, the stationary orbit is "visible" in the sky in the form of the so-called "Clark's belt". It should not be confused with the celestial equator. The angular height of the celestial equator changes throughout the year, and the Clarke belt is "visible" as an arc of a curve that degenerates from a circle at the poles to a straight line at the equator. Clark's belt "rests" on the horizon exactly in the east and west, regardless of location.
At a particular geographic point, the highest point of the Clarke Belt is located exactly to the south, and its angular height is equal to the reciprocal latitude of the place: 0 at the poles and 90 degrees at the equator. Therefore, at high latitudes, the reception of satellite television is difficult or completely impossible: the Clarke belt "falls" on the horizon, and the satellite signal, even if it "shines" here, "stalls" in the atmosphere.
Example 2: the geographical latitude of the center of Voronezh is 51 degrees 20 minutes north. The highest point of the Clarke Belt can be seen from here at 90 degrees minus 51 degrees 20 minutes = 48 degrees 40 minutes exactly in the south.
Satellites do not emit signals in all directions; that would be too wasteful. The transmitting antennas of the satellites are directional and, as a rule, "illuminate" the territory of the owner country, or the region to which the broadcast is being conducted. Therefore, all the satellites visible from a given location cannot be “caught”: it may be visible, but it “shines” in the other direction.
If the satellite "shines" exactly downward, then, in principle, it can broadcast to the entire hemisphere below it, having an antenna with a directional pattern with a little more than 10 degrees aperture. However, at a distance of 36,000 km, this requires a transmitter power of more than 10 kW, solar panels corresponding area, and all such a satellite must be put into orbit with a heavy carrier. Therefore, there are not so many broadcast satellites.
Video: basic points of the direction of the satellite dish
Satellite TV - at home
Let's say right away: manual alignment (i.e. orientation to the desired satellite) of a highly directional antenna is a delicate matter. It is not theoretical knowledge that decides here, but experience, working skills ("muscle memory") and just flair. Therefore, when buying a "dish", at least in the same Tricolor TV, it is better to immediately order an installation with adjustment. With the masters who have filled their hands, this is a matter of course, so the service is not too expensive.
However, even if you are not a big fan of doing everything, after a storm or heavy snowfall, the antenna may need to be re-aligned. Therefore, the alignment procedure will also be described below. But before aligning, the antenna with the equipment must be selected, purchased and installed.
What and how are we going to watch?
Reference guides indicate the locations and signal parameters of all fixed broadcast satellites. But in a particular locality, the conditions for their admission can vary significantly. An ordinary hillock, especially in the northern regions, can make the satellite invisible, which actually shines well here.
Therefore, when buying an antenna, consult with the seller which satellites are well received by you, choose three (one antenna can receive up to 3-4 satellites), and write down the parameters of their signals:
- Carrier frequencies of satellite transmitters. For example, for one of the most popular satellites - Sirius - it will be 11.766 GHz; all satellites broadcast on the so-called. Q-band with an average frequency in the region of about 10 GHz. But do not try to "catch" the frequency of the satellite - not the 20s outside, and not even the 60s.
- Polarization planes of signals. At the same frequency, two signals with mutually perpendicularly directed vectors of the electromagnetic field can be transmitted without mutual interference. The direction of polarization is the direction of the electric vector. Polarization can be horizontal "H" or vertical "V".
- Data transfer rates. Satellite broadcasting is digital, using SR (Single Root) technology. An example of speed designation: 27,500 SR or just 27,500. The numbers mean how many frames (packets) per second pass through the communication channel. Just do not confuse it with a teleframe: here a frame is a data packet organized in a certain way.
- LNB local oscillator frequencies for selected satellites. They lie in the same Q-band, but differ from the carrier by the value of the intermediate frequency, which will go to the receiver. For example, with a carrier of 11.766 GHz and a local oscillator frequency of 10 750 kHz (10.750 GHz), the receiving frequency of the receiver will be 1016 kHz (1.016 GHz). That is why frequencies are not "caught", as radio amateurs used to catch: the closer we get to the TV, the more the frequency setting error affects.
Antenna selection
The choice of the antenna itself is reduced to determining its diameter. For home reception in the southern regions, a "plate" with a diameter of 60 cm is sufficient; in places from St. Petersburg and to the north, for stable reception, you need an antenna mirror with a diameter of 1.2 m.
Many people think that it is easier to “catch” a satellite with a large “saucer”. Just the opposite. A large mirror provides a signal of a higher level and quality, but this is achieved by narrowing the radiation pattern, so it is more difficult to “catch” the satellite with a large “dish”. Large aperture antennas are used most of all as signal sources for terrestrial broadcasting systems and in other cases where further transmission is required.
If you are going to receive several satellites, then you need to purchase a multifit along with the antenna - a mounting plate for installing several converters with the ability to adjust their position separately. As a rule, sellers immediately ask: "One socket or multifit?" In any case, you can put one converter in the multifit, and then add another one; multifit is inexpensive. So it is better to immediately buy a "plate" equipped with a multifit.
Choosing a converter
The next step is choosing a converter. The converter is the very "head" that converts the signal from the satellite, which is good "piercing" the atmosphere, into a signal for the receiver, which can be processed by conventional electronics without much difficulty.
Converters are of three types: circular polarized, switchable H-V and fixed. The former are the least sensitive, but they can receive any signal. The latter are the most sensitive, but to receive signals with different polarizations, they must be rotated 90 degrees. Under normal reception conditions, it is better to use a circular or switchable converter.
The sensitivity, the level of intrinsic noise and the stability of the local oscillator frequency (on which the level and quality of the signal depend significantly), as well as the protection of the converter from weather influences (after all, it is outside) vary greatly from model to model and from manufacturer to manufacturer. It is better to choose a specific model, suitable for the price, according to the recommendations of the antenna seller and the reviews of experienced subscribers.
Receiver and equipment
But the quality and signal level almost do not depend on the model of the receiver in domestic conditions. Here you need to focus on service functions and price. Only one condition: if you are going to watch TV “in digital” with HD quality, the receiver must have an Ethernet output (connector computer network). You don't have to worry about the compatibility of standards: all modern network devices "understand" all commonly used communication protocols without additional explanations.
As for the additional equipment, you need to purchase DiSEqC - a power switch for converters. A household receiver (by the way, in Russian, a receiver is a receiver; tracing paper from English is made so as not to be confused with radio receivers) provides power for one converter; to switch from satellite to satellite, you need to switch the power to the corresponding "head".
Antenna installation
What should be the correct installation of a satellite dish, you can see in the figure. An important circumstance: the mounting part ("neck") of the pipe stand (highlighted in green) must be strictly vertical in two planes. Otherwise, aligning the antenna will turn into a long painful work.
The location for installing the antenna must be chosen carefully. There should be nothing in the alignment of the mirror, not even window glass. The side of the mirror does not coincide with its geometric axis: oblique incidence mirrors are used for satellite reception. Where the mirror is actually "looking" is also seen in the figure. The fact that the southern part of the sky should be viewed from the antenna installation site does not require explanation.
If you live in a private house, do not be lazy to raise the antenna higher. Raising the antenna by 10 m reduces the dustiness of the air around it by half, which greatly affects the quality of reception.
First, only one pipe stand is mounted. A set of a mirror, its adjustable mountings, a bracket and a converter is assembled at home - this is more convenient, first of all, to verify the verticality of the tube stand.
Fastening the satellite dish to the wall cannot be done with self-tapping screws in plastic dowels - the antenna will "go away" over time. Collet pins with a length of at least 200 mm and a diameter of at least 8 mm must be used, a base plate is put on them and secured with nuts and locknuts.
Video: an example of mounting a cymbal
Aligning the satellite dish
Engineering compass
The engineering compass makes alignment of the satellite dish very easy, even for a beginner. How it looks can be seen in the figure. The price is low. Its advantages:
- You can take the azimuth at a glance without moving the compass.
- Rotating the limb with a risk, you can take into account the magnetic declination of the place in advance; it must be found out at the local weather station before adjustment. There is no reference data, because the magnetic declination changes from year to year.
- The compass is equipped with a deflector that significantly reduces deviation.
Skillfully using an engineering compass, a competent and accurate person, who for the first time in his life took up the adjustment of the "dish", accurately "catches" the satellite for half an hour. If you use a regular Andrianov's compass or a tourist compass, you don't have to think about the magnetic declination: the error in setting the azimuth will be greater.
Note: magnetic declination at mid-latitudes does not vary much from place to place. It is enough to find out what it is like in the regional city.
Adjustment procedure
The magnetic declination must be taken into account right away. If it is east, it must be subtracted from the longitude of the place; if western - add to it. At first glance, it may seem that you need to do the opposite, but keep in mind that the satellites are in the south; magnetic declination is given for the north end of the compass needle.
Next, we calculate the true azimuth of the average of the received satellites, as described at the beginning of the article. Then, having turned by an angle corresponding to the longitude of the place, the layout of the satellites (we believe that our latitude is not very different from Greenwich), we roughly determine its elevation angle.
Then, aiming at the converter bracket, like on the barrel of a gun without a front sight, using an engineering compass, corrected for magnetic declination, set the antenna to the desired azimuth. Roughly, by eye, we expose the antenna alignment to the elevation angle.
To align the antenna, we move the TV set with the receiver outside closer to it; powered through an extension cord. We do not connect the power switch yet: the initial adjustment is made according to the middle converter. Then:
- We connect the TV and the converter to the receiver, turn on the equipment, set the desired signal parameters in the receiver's menu ("Installing the antenna" -> "Manual search"), according to the instructions for it.
- Turn on the signal search mode.
- Carefully and smoothly swing the antenna up and down until the receiver "grabs" the satellite. With a 60 cm dish and if all corrections are correct, no azimuth correction is required.
- If “not caught”, we check the azimuth again and, changing it in steps of 3 degrees to the right and left, we repeat the “swing” procedure. For a 1.2 m mirror, the step is 2 degrees.
- When the signal is caught, very carefully, "not breathing", slightly turning and shaking the antenna, we achieve the best quality and signal level. Quality is the priority. At 60% level and 80% quality, reception stability will be twice as high as vice versa.
- Carefully, diagonally, in several steps, tighten the antenna mounting nuts tightly. In this case, you need to monitor the signal all the time. If, when tightening a nut, the signal "floated", it is left for now, and the diagonal is tightened to it.
- From the main menu of the receiver, we check if the satellite is caught. If all parameters were set manually, failures, as a rule, do not happen. But if "suddenly" - weaken the plate, and - start over.
- We turn on "Level - quality" again and, carefully moving back and forth and slightly turning the converter in the socket, we achieve even better as possible.
Step into space from the steps of the university
Astronautics can be different - private, student, amateur. All these are different facets of the same phenomenon, namely, the ability to penetrate into orbit not only for state corporations of the largest space powers, but also for an almost ordinary person. Yes, the booster industry, space stations and space tourism more long time will require trillions of investments and remain the lot of the elite, but today anyone can touch the cosmos at a certain level!
Photo from the personal archive.
My interlocutor is Alexander Shaenko, an engineer who has been working in the space industry for more than ten years, a candidate of technical sciences, a teacher at the Moscow State Technical University. Bauman. He took part in the development of the Angara launch vehicles, the Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, and worked as a leading engineer at one of the first private Russian space companies. Today Shaenko, together with the students whom he teaches, practically in a garage, creates a satellite and prepares it for launch:
“We want to launch the satellite by the students, which has never been done before,” Alexander begins.
- How? It is known that many satellites have already been launched by students - both at Moscow State University, and at Moscow Aviation Institute, and at your place in Baumank, and at the Siberian State Aerospace University ...
- In fact, almost all of these satellites are student satellites are very, very conditional. They are launched according to the scientific work plan of the university, which is prepared mainly by professors and researchers of the university, and are made mostly at state-owned enterprises of the space industry - that is, students there, in fact, only stand nearby and observe.
- What do you plan to change in the current approach to student space exploration?
- I once worked for a young private aerospace company, and to demonstrate the seriousness of our plans, we made a satellite. Literally - we came to the office, where there were only tables and chairs, and after a year and a half our satellite went into orbit! It had equipment for monitoring the radio broadcast and collecting data about sea vessels. This satellite, albeit not a scientific one, was built by the hands of recent students, and not ordered from the aerospace state corporations, and quickly! I believe that within the framework of university cosmonautics there should be not only serious satellites with a scientific program, in which students are involved insofar as, but also simpler satellites, even without the goal of obtaining new scientific data, but designed, calculated and made directly by students' hands.
- What kind of satellite are you going to launch?
- This is a satellite for visual observation called "Mayak", on which we began work last summer. The whole task of the satellite is to be visible from the Earth, but very clearly! Anyone can see it with the naked eye, and you cannot confuse it with anything - the glow will be so bright! After launching into orbit, a gas reactor will start operating on the satellite and inflate a polymer metallized shell with gas in the form of a huge pyramid. Its edges will reflect the sun's rays and glow brighter than the most visible stars.
- At what stage is the work today?
- We test equipment - inflatable shell, gas reactor, electronics. The work is close to completion - we recently checked the inflation of the shell and the operation of the gas reactor in the stratosphere, at an altitude of 10 kilometers - in conditions of extremely low (up to minus 70 degrees) temperature. For this, the nodes of the satellite were raised on a balloon filled with helium. This summer, the final "run" is planned - raising the entire satellite assembly to a height of about 40 kilometers, practically into near space - there is already very rarefied air. This ascent is also possible with a helium balloon.
- A balloon capable of lifting 4 kg must be rather big ... Are such experiments safe for aviation?
- Not even 4, but 6 kilograms - in addition to the satellite on the ball, the equipment for monitoring its parameters will take off. The ball is really huge - on the ground it has a diameter of 4 meters, and at height, due to the difference in pressure, it swells up to 20 meters in diameter! Such launches are really dangerous for aviation, but in our team there is one enthusiast who is the only one in Russia who is engaged in lifting balloons into the stratosphere on an official basis - he has permits from the military, aviation services, etc. Each launch requires separate approval and is strictly supervised. This person has sufficient experience in lifting high-altitude balloons.
- How is the project funded?
- We used crowdfunding - collecting voluntary donations on an Internet site where techies and IT specialists gather. We managed to collect about 250 thousand rubles, for which we purchase materials for the construction of the satellite. Everything is very open with us and the "Tom Sawyer principle" is used - remember how he accepted money and toys from his friends in exchange for permission to paint the fence a little? I mean, a donation allows anyone to join the student team.
- After the satellite is made, the task will arise to put it into orbit, which you cannot carry out on your own. How do you plan to do it and how much does it cost?
- Today many companies in the world offer "transport services" - they put any satellites into orbit, including private ones. A satellite made in Russia can easily be launched by an American rocket and vice versa - no adaptation to the rocket is required. Now about the prices. The launch of a small satellite is quite affordable - to deliver 1 kilogram of payload into orbit will cost about 2 million rubles in terms of rubles. Our satellite weighs 4 kilograms - that is, its launch costs 7-8 million rubles.
- Where should this considerable money for students come from?
- This, of course, is the most sore point of any student or amateur project. We are looking for sponsors ... There is a prospect.
- A couple of years ago, leading scientific and technical universities signed an agreement with Roscosmos on the creation of a kind of "Space Scientific and Educational Consortium." Opportunities for a free launch without reference to the scientific value of a satellite still exist?
- To be honest, I do not know anything about the activities of that consortium. But on the other hand, there are cases when universities were told: yes, we will launch your satellite for free, but you must prove that it is safe for the rocket itself and for other satellites that it puts into orbit. To do this, you need to go through a series of examinations ... for several tens of millions of rubles! One way or another, today another person is already running Roskosmos. Today we are cooperating with the new head of Roscosmos and the United Rocket and Space Corporation and hope for his help in our project. “Space of small forms” is on the rise all over the world today, it needs to be popularized and promoted, and it should be made easier with accessible projects in which everyone can take part, not just “adult scientists”!
Satellite television has long and firmly entered our lives. Thanks to this technology, people were able to receive a high-quality television signal even in the most remote places where there is no possibility to install repeater towers.
As a rule, in order to receive a signal from a satellite, it is necessary to have a set of special equipment, one of the important parts of which is a satellite dish. Usually, this part is a round sheet of metal, which is stamped in the form of a concave parabola with certain dimensions. Due to the curvature of the surface, the signal is reflected from it and focused on a special receiver, which then transmits it to the satellite tuner.
If you do not have a factory plate at your disposal, then you can make it yourself. With careful manufacturing, such a plate will be quite workable, and its cost will be a very attractive figure.
Consider the most common options for making a plate:
Plexiglass or plexiglass parabola
One of the distinctive properties of this material is that plexiglass, with moderate heating, becomes plastic and can take the shape of the object (blank) on which it is placed. Therefore, you can take a plexiglass blank with a thickness of 3 ... 5 mm and a circle diameter with a size slightly larger than the diameter of the original factory-made plate. After the plexiglass has softened under the influence of heat, it is carefully leveled on a disc, trying to give the most similar shape. After the plexiglass has cooled, its concave surface is evenly pasted over with thin foil, which will act as a reflector. The disadvantages of this method of manufacturing a satellite dish include the high cost of plexiglass and the need for a heating chamber with a large internal volume.
Satellite dish made of thin metal sheet
For the manufacture of this option, we need a sheet of thin galvanized metal with a thickness of 1 ... 1.5 mm with dimensions of about 100x100 mm. It can be used to make a plate with a diameter of about 80 mm. In order to correctly mark and cut the metal, first we take a cardboard of a suitable size and draw it into 16 identical circular sectors (each sector is displaced from the previous by about 22.5). Then we draw 4 circles with radii, respectively 75, 254, 400 and 538 mm. The last circle will go beyond the cardboard square, so we just cut off those pieces that will be outside. We will then bend the template along these circles. At the next stage of making the template, we make cuts along all 16 beams, keeping the distance C1 ... C4. Dimensions C1 = 0 mm, C2 = 11 mm, C3 = 29 mm and C4 = 50 mm.
After the cutouts on the template are ready, they are transferred to a sheet of metal using a metal ruler and a sharpened scribe. Using metal scissors, carefully cut out the blank (cutting) of the future plate. At the last stage, the metal petals are connected to each other and a finished antenna mirror is obtained.
Wire parabolic antenna
To make such an antenna, you need a large inflatable ball. This will serve as a template for the antenna wire frame. On the ball, using a pencil, mark the maximum radius of our future plate. The smaller part of the ball, which will be separated by the drawn circle, will be a curved surface. Then we take a coil of copper wire with a diameter of 2 ... 3 mm (for example, wound from an old electrical transformer) and make a circle No. 1 out of it, which is laid on the ball. We make the next wire circle (No. 2) a little larger so that the distance between it and the previous one is about 20 ... 30 mm. Thus, we gradually reach the maximum diameter that we need. We connect the finished circles with radial rays, and the intersections are either twisted with a thinner wire or soldered with tin solder. We leave the place inside the smallest circle empty - then the plate rack will be fixed there. We carefully cover the finished frame with fine-mesh aluminum mesh or foil in such a way that the given curvilinearity of the reflecting surface is observed.
If the house is located far from large cities, and it is not possible to buy a satellite parabolic dish, you can build a simple antenna to amplify the signal. In this case, the TV tower should be removed 30-50 km from the house, and the signal must have sufficient strength. If there is a water tower or any other tall structure next to the dwelling, then the task is greatly simplified.
To make such an antenna, you need an old umbrella, a roll of foil, a copper antenna cable, a beer can and an amplifier with a power supply.
