How to Program a Satellite Meter
A satellite meter is designed for the singular purpose of registering the signal strength of a transmission from an overhead satellite. The satellite signal is received by the meter through the coaxial cable being used by the satellite dish--the meter has absolutely no control over which satellite is being targeted, but can indicate when the dish is aimed so as to receive the strongest signal possible. You can program the meter by zeroing out the needle to avoid getting a false reading.
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Things You'll Need
- Fresh battery/AC power socket
- Coaxial cable, 6 feet
- Flat-edged jeweler's screwdriver
Instructions
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1
Remove the battery compartment lid on the back of the meter. Insert a fresh battery so that the positive and negative-labeled ends match up with the same-named text inside of the compartment. Close the lid. If the meter uses a power cord instead, plug the AC cord of the power supply into an AC socket for power and the other end into the power port on the meter.
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2
Disconnect the coaxial cable connected to one of the LNB modules (low noise block amplifier) that are attached to the front of the satellite dish. Connect the coaxial cable to the "Receiver" or "To Rec" (depending upon the meter's manufacturer) coax connection on one side of the meter. Screw an end of a coaxial cable into the "Sat" or "To LNB" (depending upon the meter's manufacturer) coax connection on the other side of the meter.
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3
Adjust the "Level Control" or "Gain" knob (depending upon the meter's manufacturer) so that the needle on the scale in the panel is hovering around the No. 5 on the scale.
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4
Unscrew the coaxial cable from the "Sat" or "To LNB" coax connector. Watch for the needle to fall all the way to the left of the scale. Note the position of the needle that is beneath the "Off" labeled text on the scale; the needle could be beneath the "F" at the end of the word; the needle could be beneath the "F" between the two other letters of the word; the needle could be beneath the "O" at the beginning of the word.
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5
Connect the coaxial cable back onto the "Sat" or "To LNB" coax connector. Turn the "Level Control" or "Gain" knob all the way counterclockwise.
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6
Insert the tip of the flat-edged jeweler's screwdriver into the "SA" labeled slot on the back of the meter. Rotate the tip of the screwdriver a quarter turn counter counter clockwise if the needle was under the "O" or a half turn counterclockwise if under the "F" next to the "O," or a three-quarters turn counterclockwise if under the "F" at the end of the word. Remove the tip of the screwdriver from the "SA" labeled slot.
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7
Turn the meter over. Unscrew the coaxial cable from the "Sat" or "To LNB" coax connector. Watch for the needle to fall all the way to the left of the scale to indicate it has been programmed to properly reflect the signal strength of the satellite dish.
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8
Adjust the "Level Control" or "Gain" knob so that the needle on the scale in the panel is again hovering around the No. 5 on the scale. The meter can now be used to read the satellite signal strength as the dish's position is changed.
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