How to check the satellite head for functionality. How to find out if the head (convector) is faulty and replace it on a satellite dish? How to check your satellite dish receiver

Useful tips

As you probably know, on the dish (satellite dish) there is a satellite converter or converters for different purposes.

No, it’s me, there’s only one goal!

Catch a signal from a satellite and process this signal beautifully. In order for a beautiful picture to appear on the TV.

The LNB or satellite head is installed on the receiving satellite antenna. If you want to watch movies from many satellites, then there will be not one but several satellite converters.

And so we have clarity that converters are designed to convert received signals, namely, to lower the frequency spectrum, linearly transfer it to a lower frequency region.

Why such transformations?

The need for such a conversion arises because the frequencies at which satellites operate are too high to transmit via cable.

The decoding of the abbreviation LNB ambiguously hints at the main characteristic of the converters and this is the noise level, you probably guessed, the lower the noise, the better.

The noise level of modern converters does not play a big role, since it usually ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 decibels and has virtually no effect on the signal quality.

This LNB device or satellite converter is mounted on a special holder called a remote bracket (included in the satellite dish kit) so that the head is in the focus of the antenna mirror.

Satellite converters can be divided into groups according to several criteria.

For broadcasting TV programs from satellite, 2 bands are used. C-band is a frequency band from 3.4 to 4.2 GHz. Ku-band is a frequency band from 10.7 to 12.75 GHz. The Ku-band is too wide, so it is divided into 2 sub-bands: lower (10.7-11.7 GHz) and upper (11.7-12.75 GHz).

The Ku-band converter includes two local oscillators to work with both sub-bands. As a rule, a local oscillator with a frequency of 10.6 GHz is used for the upper subband, and 9.75 GHz for the lower subband.

LNBs come in circular (Circle) and linear (Universal) polarization. Polarization satellite signal There are two types: left-right (circular) and vertical-horizontal (linear).

Various operators satellite television work with different polarizations. The most common ones are presented below:

Tricolor TV -CIRCULAR
NTV Plus -CIRCULAR
Telecard - UNIVERSAL
Continent TV -UNIVERSAL
Rainbow TV -UNIVERSAL

LNBs differ in the number of independent outputs. There are converters with one (SINGLE), two (TWIN), four (QUAD) and eight (OCTO) outputs. If you buy a converter to watch satellite TV on only one TV, then you need a converter with one output.

If you intend to install the kit on 2 TVs, then the converter, accordingly, should have two outputs. Sometimes, in order not to run a lot of wires into the apartment, instead of installing, for example, a converter with four outputs, they use a satellite signal divider.

Outwardly, this really looks more aesthetically pleasing and in some cases much more convenient, but we should not forget that when using a divider you get about 5 decibels of noise into the load, which will negatively affect the quality of the signal.

But in some cases, you can’t do without a divider when the house has already been finished and wired for terrestrial television. IN in this case It’s just that you can’t do without a divider.

Remember!

The average converter can last from one to five years depending on factors environment, mainly from the abundance of precipitation and humidity.

There are also cases when, due to a manufacturing defect, the converter fails within a couple of weeks from the moment of installation.

But even in this case, there is no point in searching for the truth, since it is unrealistic to prove that the cause of the breakdown is the quality of the converter’s assembly, and the warranty, as a rule, does not apply to them.

There is an opinion that it is easier to buy a new one than to repair it. But this is also not a panacea for everyone. Since we are already talking about a new converter, we would like to bring to your attention a new product for reliable 4K reception.

Universal converter with linear polarization (2 outputs).

The Inverto Essential converter is the ideal solution for satellite reception broadcasting throughout Europe, allowing you to get the most out of your antenna.

The developers of Inverto Essential took care of the 4G/LTE signal filter, so mobile networks new generation, do not interfere with the excellent reception of this converter!

What is relevant, low noise figure, low level phase noise, DVB-S2 (HDTV) and 4K Ultra HD compatible, low power consumption, high Cross-Pole performance.

Main characteristics:

Low phase noise, DVB-S2 (HDTV) compatible
Ultra Low Noise technology ULN+
Low power consumption
High cross-polarization characteristics
High frequency stability
Noise figure: 0.3 dB (ULN+) Typ. (0.7dB Max.)
Input Low range: 10.70-11.70 GHz
Input High range: 11.7-12.75 GHz
Output Low range: 950-1950 MHz
Output High range: 1100-2150 MHz
Low local oscillator frequency: 9.75 GHz
High local oscillator frequency: 10.60 GHz
Waterproof housing
Number of outputs: 2

How to determine if the converter is faulty?

There are not many disease syndromes of satellite converters.

And so, with manual search The receiver shows that the signal strength is more than 50 percent, but the quality is 0 percent. But often the same indicators occur when you mistakenly tuned in to another satellite.

Or even like this... sometimes converters “lose polarization”, or only some of the frequencies. However, some channels are not shown. The receiver displays the message “No signal” on them.

As a rule, the effective treatment under any circumstances is to replace the faulty converter with a new one.
It must be remembered that the new converter must be of the same polarization as the previously failed one.

At self-installation satellite converter Be careful, try not to change the antenna direction angle, this will save you from having to re-align the antenna to the satellite.

Let's sum it up

Converter functions

Converter for converting microwave to more low frequency, called intermediate (900–2150 MHz). The signal at this frequency is transmitted through the cable to the receiver and fed to its antenna input.

To reduce the received frequency spectrum, one or two local oscillators are built into the converter - stabilized sources high frequency. The input frequency is reduced by subtracting the local oscillator frequency from it.

Converter for gain received signal. After all, the signal from the satellite is received with very low power, which is completely unacceptable in the paths of receiving equipment. Therefore, the second, no less important, function of the converter is amplification.

The 13/18 V signal is used in modern universal converters only to switch polarization.

Universal converters differ from other full-range Ku-band converters in the versatility of the signals that control band switching and polarization, and also in the fact that these signals are transmitted over a single cable with an intermediate frequency.

If there is a need to receive broadcasts in both bands (C- and Ku-), you can go in three ways:

Firstly, install two converters on the antenna, each with its own feed and polarizer. But in this case, the feed of at least one converter will not be entirely in the focus of the antenna, which will somewhat reduce the directivity of the antenna;

Secondly, purchase a design called a C/Ku rotor, which includes irradiators for the C and Ku bands, dividing the received flow into two parts. C/Ku rotors are produced combined with electromechanical polarizers.

But at the same time, there are significant losses in the power of Ku-band signals and frequent failure of the moving parts of the electromechanical polarizer, especially at low temperatures;

Thirdly, install a combined converter for receiving C- and Ku-bands, which is still inferior to separate converters in terms of technical characteristics.

Converters must be sealed. Otherwise, due to daily temperature fluctuations, condensation forms inside the converter, which leads to a deterioration in its parameters and, ultimately, to failure.

In addition to insufficient tightness, there are other types of structural defects, for example, high damage due to exposure to sunlight or temperature changes.

We got to the place about with an offset satellite dish, read it.

Breakdowns do happen, and it is quite difficult to insure against such pitfalls when purchasing. Here's a video that can help when repairing the head:

In addition, let's look specifically at LNB setup, what and why and most importantly, what I do before the onset of cold weather and also recommend the same in the spring.

Good luck, Friends!

Today we will look at:

A satellite converter is a special device necessary to lower the frequency electromagnetic waves, which are transmitted satellite broadcast in two bands: Ku band (107 – 1275 GHz) and C band (35 – 42 GHz). Converter for satellite dish, in turn, lowers the spectrum of these frequencies to 900 - 2100 MHz, which is enough not to be dissipated in the cable. Today in this article we will talk about what you need to pay attention to when you choose a converter for satellite TV, as well as how to choose the right one and how to check this device for its further correct operation.

Converter selection

Choosing a device for converting signals into low frequencies is one of the most important things when installing a satellite dish. There are many factors to consider, many of which are not entirely obvious and may not be understood. However, in order to make the choice of a converter for a satellite dish more correct, we have prepared several sections for you, each of which discussed one or another aspect that should be paid attention to.

Range support

When choosing a device, you always need to pay attention to several factors, the main one being the frequency range used. As we said earlier, there are two types of bands that can be used for broadcasting - these are the Ku and C bands.

European-made satellites typically transmit Ku waves. Russian satellites, in turn, can broadcast both in the Ku-band and in the C-band. Based on this, you should decide before purchasing what type of satellite converter you want to purchase. As observations show, there are plenty of devices on the market capable of working with the Ku-band and they are the most popular, although there are devices of mixed types. If you need an example of this, go to any online store and see for yourself.

Signal polarization

If we take converters that work with the Ku band, then we also need to take into account the type of LNB (it can be linear or circular). LNB is special device, which is mounted in front of the satellite dish and amplifies incoming signals. If we don’t go into detail about the differences between linear and circular amplifiers, we’ll tell you right away that by purchasing a universal converter for a satellite dish, you will receive a linear LNB, which can be made circular at any time.

For the curious, let’s say that a circular satellite converter differs from a linear converter in that they work with different polarizations, of which there are two types:

circular;
linear.

Different operators use different polarization, therefore, which converter to choose (satellite circular or linear) is up to you to decide, adapting to the operator. However, as we said earlier, universal converters can easily solve this problem. Also, such devices are perfect for those who are connected to several operators at the same time, which use different polarization.

Noise figure and noise temperature

If you have your eye on a satellite converter that works with Ku-type waves, then you need to pay attention to the noise figure, which reflects the minimum value of the satellite signal reception level. Accordingly, the higher this value, the better.

For converters that work with C-waves, an indicator such as noise temperature is taken into account. Here everything is a little opposite: the lower the noise temperature value, the better the satellite TV converter’s ability to receive incoming signals. The optimal noise temperature for today is considered to be 15 K.

In addition to the above, you should pay attention to the number of outputs of the converter, because you can easily purchase a satellite converter with 2 outputs in case you need more outputs. There are devices with 1, 2, 4 and 8 independent outputs. In principle, you can always buy a device with eight outputs, but you may not use all of them, which will only lead to waste Money. Main principle choosing the number of outputs - their number should be equal to the number of TVs in the house.

Device setup

Setting up the converter always starts with correct installation the plate itself. Understanding how to do this is not difficult. Another thing is to do all this in practice:

When you achieve an acceptable antenna angle, you can proceed to adjusting the satellite TV converter itself to strengthen the incoming signal:

if you rotate the satellite converter in one direction or another, you can strengthen the incoming signal;
It is not recommended to move the device to the mirror, since changing the angle of adjustment will have to be done first.

When you receive the highest quality satellite signal, secure the dish and satellite antenna converter more firmly and begin checking the quality of television broadcasting. Next step - software setup, which will be discussed below.

How to check a satellite converter

You can check the correct installation of the satellite TV converter by trying to find a channel:

Using the instructions described in the article, you can set up the converter for both NTV and MTS yourself. However, do not forget that, despite the fact that in words everything may look very simple, in reality everything can turn out to be much more complicated. And to make it easier for you in your endeavors, we are ready to answer all your questions on this topic in the comments below.

If you are not confident in your actions and think that your actions can somehow harm the final state of the entire structure, then we strongly recommend that you still seek help from specialists who will help you solve this problem.

If you are convinced that your satellite dish is configured correctly, and some of them do not work TV channels, then this is one of the signs that your head (convector) has burned out, or the disk (switch) has failed satellite dish.

How to find out that your satellite dish is configured correctly - read the article " ?", or look video clips.
Find out which television channels do not work on your satellite dish using the section " Frequencies and keys"find out whether they should work in this moment. Also, using this page you will find out which satellite broadcasts these television channels. The article " will help you find out which head (converter) works on a given satellite." " And video clips. Also, the above symptoms are also characteristic of a faulty drive (switch). Therefore, before replacing the head (convector), remove the disc from the circuit. That is, the antenna cable that connects the disik (commutator) and the tuner (receiver) must be disconnected from the disik and connected to the head (commutator) that is supposedly out of order. If after this action previously non-working channels begin to work, then your disk is faulty and you need to replace it with a working one. It will help you replace the disk our channel in Youtybe and our article below “How to identify a faulty drive (switch) and replace it?” Before replacing the head (convector), make sure that the disk ports in your tuner (receiver) are set correctly; this can be done using the article on this page " How to set the disk ports ", or our YouTube channel
If you have done all of the above, then you can start replacing the head (convector). To do this, you need to have: access to a satellite dish, two 10mm open-end wrenches, a cross-shaped screwdriver and pliers. Using pliers, we disconnect the antenna cable from the faulty head, using 10mm open-end wrenches. unscrew the nut and pull out the bolt closest to the head. We remove the head together with the (mount) cartoon. Using a cross-shaped screwdriver, remove the izmult head. We install the new head in the reverse order. In this case, all work must be done this way. so that the new head is in the same place as the old one relative to the satellite dish.
If you have any difficulties, our specialists in Poltava will always be happy to give you advice, tel. 0500566818, 0980049051. (Our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSr59O512uDka0Oj0Sc5GGg. We also recommend that you visit the website -

For transmission equipment. And, depending on what device is used and a certain number and quality of channels are received. Now, in most cases, satellite dishes are used. They are equipped with a certain set of equipment: dish, cable, converter, receiver, and so on.

How to check performance and technical potential TV antenna?

But, like any other equipment, this device can fail not only when mechanical damage, but also with incorrect connection. In such situations, you need to know how to check a television antenna without resorting to the services of specialists.

There are a number of reasons why a satellite dish on a TV does not work:

Absence of a power circuit in the receiver-converter flow (both scales are zero, which means there is no contact).
The antenna is not tuned (there is a signal strength scale, but no quality scale).
The converter is faulty (the signal strength may be present, but there is no quality scale).
The memory in the receiver settings has disappeared (during a long “rest”).

First of all, you should pay attention to the TV cable. It should be intact and without any crimps.

If this is a multi-story building, then you will only have to check the functionality of one end of the cable (with a plug). For this, a multimeter (tester) is used to measure the resistance between the braid and the central core of the wire. A value of several tens of ohms is considered a normal value. If it is greater than or close to “0”, a break or short circuit has occurred. In this case, it is better to find out whether the neighbors have a signal and, if so, then the problem is in the junction box or in the area from it to the plug.
If this a private house, then you can check the resistance of both ends of the TV cable. First you need to unplug all equipment from the outlet. Then disconnect the wire from the antenna and from the TV. And in the same way, use a tester to check the braiding and the central core for short circuits. Here, the serviceability of the cable is indicated by an infinite resistance value. But, if you short-circuit the central core and braid, the multimeter should show a value close to “0”.

When the device detects a malfunction, you must first find vulnerable spot cable. This usually occurs in places where there are sharp bends, connected sections, or where the wind sways. If everything is fine with the TV cable, the cause of the problem should be looked for elsewhere.

How to check the head (converter) of a satellite dish

The most common problem with satellite devices is the failure of the antenna head (LNB) or DISEQC (switch). This is usually understandable if some TV channels suddenly stop showing. The converter can fail due to precipitation, short circuit and sudden voltage surges.

To check whether this problem is actually due to a converter or disk failure, you must:

Turn on a channel that has stopped working.
Unscrew the LNB head from the cable.
Disconnect the center wire from the receiver and connect to the LNB.
If in this situation the channel begins to show, then the disk (switch) is faulty. Otherwise the converter is broken.

But, if there is no connection even when replacing the LNB head, then you should look for the reason in the equipment settings.

How to check the TV antenna signal

This is very common mistake satellite systems. The equipment seemed to be working normally, but at one point, when you turn on the TV, a window appears on the screen with the words “No signal”.

To check the satellite signal level, go to the receiver settings:

IMPORTANT. When installing new equipment, you can visually inspect the neighboring TV antennas, that is, find out the provider and in which direction they are turned. So you don't have to find out the location settlement, name and coordinates of the satellite in orbit and make calculations.

How to check your satellite dish receiver

Before you begin your next attempt to test the antenna, it is best to try the previous steps again. Perhaps there was a mistake made somewhere. If nothing helps, you can check the receiver for serviceability.

In any case, you shouldn’t rush out and buy it right away. faulty element or call a specialist. It is better to try to go through each point of checking the television antenna 2-3 times. And only then can we draw any conclusions.

Hello, dear readers of the blog Man in the House.Ru. In today's article, as you probably already understood, we will look at the most common causes of malfunctions in the operation of a satellite dish and how to eliminate them.

It's no secret that you can repair satellite dishes yourself. Calling a specialist for tincture can cost you unreasonably expensive. In order to economize family budget, let's figure out how to repair satellite system with his own hand.

Often, after repairs, problems arise with the cable. Antenna cable, through which the “head” of the satellite dish is connected to the receiver, can simply be interrupted or short-circuited after the next repair. It is also possible that the coaxial cable breaks along the central core. To accurately determine the cause of satellite television reception failure, first, check the condition of the cable. Often visual inspection it turns out to be enough to determine obvious violations of the braid insulation, fractures and cable pinches.

You can more accurately determine the condition of the cable using a special device - a digital multimeter. If you don’t have such a device at home, then a low-voltage incandescent light bulb from a flashlight and battery will suffice mobile phone. Such a simple folk device for checking electrical circuits is popularly nicknamed “arkashka”. To check with the help of a “hook”, you need to connect the core being tested into a gap of the simplest electrical circuit with battery and light bulb. If the light comes on, the conductor is intact, but if not, there is a break. Checking a coaxial cable, both using a digital device and using a folk idea like the “arcashka”, is simple: we check the central copper core and the braid one by one.

A working cable should communicate normally between the beginnings and ends of like-named conductors, but not between unlike ones. Simply put, the central core at the beginning and end of the wire should ring normally with the device (the “arc light” will light up), as well as the beginnings and ends of the braids. It is important to take into account that between the braid and the core the device should not ring (the light will not light up). The resistance between these elements should be high - several mOhms. Low resistance between the aluminum braid and the copper core of the coaxial cable indicates a short circuit.

There are also situations where it is not possible to check the integrity of the cable conductors in this way due to the remote location of the dish and receiver. It is for this case that we can recommend using the following diagnostic technique: firstly, we check whether there is a short circuit between the central core and the screen, and secondly, we deliberately short-circuit the core with the shielding braid on one side, and check it with a device on the other. If the device beeps or the “arc” lights up, this means that both the braid line and the core line are completely intact.

Why does a short circuit occur?

The most common scenario for a short circuit in a cable is incorrect cable termination and incorrect connection of f-connectors. It's no secret that novice satellite dish installers strive to install this same dish as quickly as possible, not caring about reliability and quality. Their main goal is to quickly get the coveted 500 rubles.

To prevent short circuit, which can cause failure of both the receiver and the LNB, it is necessary to carefully check the correctness of the cable termination. There is no special trick in this process: you need to carefully strip the top insulation by 1.5-2 cm, remove the silver screen back, strip the central gold vein and screw on the f-connector. Then all that remains is to trim the central copper core so that it protrudes no more than 2-3 mm from the f-connector.

The main mistake that beginners make is that they do not pull the hairs of the aluminum braided screen back well enough. These same hairs can eventually come into contact with the central copper core and damage expensive equipment. Essentially, there will be a short circuit, which in the worst case scenario will “kill” the receiver. It is also a mistake to cut off the aluminum foil. It’s better to simply move it back so that the f-connector connects better and stays on coaxial cable. In any case, it is necessary to carefully check whether there is a short circuit between the central core and the “ground” of the shielding braid. Once voltage is applied to the receiver, it will be simply impossible to fix anything.

Failure of LNB “heads”

Failures of LNB “heads” are also very common. Precipitation, short circuit, and overvoltage are the main causes of failure of satellite dish converters. To check the failure of a specific LNB, simply disconnect the drive (if you have several converters, of course) and connect the heads directly to the receiver one by one. So in a simple way you will be able to accurately determine the faulty converter.