Cband Satellite Frequently Asked Questions

Skyvision's Most Frequently Asked Questions

1.	Will snow degrade the signal on my C-band dish?
2.	Will my receiver work with my new Dolby® surround sound system?
3.	I can't find my C-band dish manual. How can I determine its focal length?
4.	How fast will I receive my order?
5.	My old dish mover is an 18", but you want to sell me a 24" dish mover. Why?
6.	I hear that C-band satellite systems are becoming obsolete. Is that true?
7.	I would like to receive Ku-band with my system, but my receiver only has one input for C-band. Am I out of luck?
8.	I have spent many dollars to have my dish aligned. Can I do this myself?
9.	What do I need to do when returning an item to you?
10.	I need to send my receiver back to the manufacturer for warranty repair and they tell me I need a copy of my invoice. I can't find it; can you make a copy for me?
11.	Why do I have to program G1 into my 4Dtv receiver first?
12.	If I buy a DBS system, can I subscribe to Skyvision programming?
13.	I want to watch my satellite receiver or VCR in another room. How can I do this?
14.	What is the difference between 20, 17 and 15 degree LNBs?
15.	What is the difference between a standard LNB and Highly Stable LNBs?
16.	Some of the mesh panels on my dish are missing/bent/have holes. Does this affect my picture and can I get replacements?
17.	How do I program in the KU satellites with my older receiver? The names are different and it won't take the new names.
18.	How do I tell what kind of sensor I need for my actuator?
19.	My dish moves very slowly across the arc. What can I do to make it move faster?
20.	I am going to install my own actuator. Do you have any tips for me before I get started?
21.	Does it matter which way the servo motor is installed?
22.	Why does my new LNB have a different number of holes than the one I am replacing?
23.	How often do I need to replace my feedhorn?
24.	How do I install my new LNB?
25.	How do I erase the memory in my satellite receiver?
26.	How do I program my satellite receiver?
27.	I have two of the same receivers in my house and the remote I have changes both at the same time. Can I fix it so only one receiver changes instead of both?
28.	How do I wire my receiver?

Will snow degrade the signal on my C-band dish?

No, snow on your dish will not degrade your signal. However, the weight of the snow on your dish may pull your dish out of alignment. Periodically, use a broom to keep your dish clean of snow during the winter months.

Will my receiver work with my new Dolby® surround sound system?

Yes, any receiver with a decoder module will output a digital stereo signal when viewing a subscription program. Your surround sound system will process the audio and steer it to the proper speakers.

I can't find my C-band dish manual. How can I determine its focal length?

Measure the diameter of your dish and convert this value to inches. Measure the depth of your dish in the middle by placing a flat board across the center of the dish and measuring from the board to the dish. Multiply the diameter of the dish by itself. Multiply the depth of your dish by 16. Divide the depth value into the diamter of your dish (the squared value that you calculated). This is your focal length.

How fast will I receive my order?

Normally, packages are shipped UPS ground. Depending upon your location in the Continental United States, it can take 5 - 7 working days. We do offer quicker shipping methods as an option also.

My old dish mover is an 18", but you want to sell me a 24" dish mover. Why?

The weight of your dish and your location are a couple of factors that determine dish mover size. Solid dishes, or mesh dishes over 10' in diameter need a longer dish mover. Also, if you are located in the southern half of the U.S., the angular difference between the east and west satellites is greater than in the northern half of the U.S., therefore a longer dish mover is recommended. Lastly, 24" dish movers are stronger and give longevity to the system and are easier to install.

I hear that C-band satellite systems are becoming obsolete. Is that true?

They said the same thing about AM radio when FM hit the market. Without C-band satellites, there would be no cable companies or small dishes. Some of the programming is going digital so you may want to upgrade your receiver to get the full spectrum of what is available. As Tracker Bob from Satellite TV Week says, "C-band will be around for MANY years to come."

I would like to receive Ku-band with my system, but my receiver only has one input for C-band. Am I out of luck?

No, you need a C/Ku-band switch. This switch operates by voltage from the receiver that switches the voltage between the C and Ku-band LNBs. We do not list these i nour catalog but do have them available. Call our Tech department for the one that will work with your receiver.

I have spent many dollars to have my dish aligned. Can I do this myself?

Of course you can! Dish alignment is not as difficult as you may think. Thousands of our customers are doing it themselves and saving big bucks. Contact our Sales Dept. and ask about our Tune-Up Kits, which include our 5 Easy Steps to Alignment. You'll do it like the pros do it.

What do I need to do when returning an item to you?

Call Skyvision Customer Service within 30 days of the purchase and get an RA number. When shipping the product back to us, include a copy of your invoice and note the reason for the return. Merchandise should be well-packed inside another shipping box (double boxed) and sent prepaid. You may ship the product back by any method convenient to you, such as UPS or US Postal Service.

10.

I need to send my receiver back to the manufacturer for warranty repair and they tell me I need a copy of my invoice. I can't find it; can you make a copy for me?

We can provide you with a copy of the original invoice. It can either be faxed or mailed directly to you.

11.

Why do I have to program G1 into my 4DTV receiver first?

The 4Dtv receiver is unique because all of its information needs to be downloaded from the G1 satellite before any programming of the receiver is done. Information like the Interactive Programming Guide, satellite formats and software upgrades are just a few things that need to be initially downloaded. After this, your 4DTV receiver will automatically move your dish to G0 for other updates of the receiver.

12.

If I buy a DBS system, can I subscribe to Skyvision programming?

The little dishes have their own programming packages, i.e. DirecTV for DSS and DISH Network for DISH Network programming. Skyvision programming packages are for the big C/Ku-band systems.

13.

I want to watch my satellite receiver or VCR in another room. How I do this?

There are many options available to you, all of which make viewing your favorite programs in different rooms a pleasure because the solutions are simple. Browse our catalog under the heading of Multi-Room TV to look at the options, some of which are totally wireless.

14.

What is the difference between 20, 17 and 15 degree LNBs?

The noise measurement of an LNB is in degrees Kelvin. The lower the temperature, the less noise and therefore the better the picture.

15.

What is the difference between a standard LNB and Highly Stable LNBs?

Inside the LNB is an oscillator. High Stability LNBs have an oscillator that is more stable and has less drift so it can lock onto frequencies better and give you a better picture.

16.

Some of the mesh panels on my dish are missing/bent/have holes. Does this affect my picture and can I get replacements?

Missing or bad panels can affect your picture. A few hail dents are OK but large dents or missing panels will require replacing. We sell replacement sheets of C/KU mesh so you can cut the size you need.

17.

How do I program in the KU satellites with my older receiver? The names are different and it won't take the new names.

Go to the satellite location and attempt to program in a KU satellite using the parameters in your system that are closest to those of the actual satellite. All but a few KU satellites are part of a C/KU combo bird. Find the C-Band side first, then attempt to program in the KU side. Use whatever naming sequence you can remember since your system likely won't let you name satellites such as X4 or L5. It is tedious work since some of the new KU birds have 24 transponders that don't match what is preprogrammed in your receiver. The 4Dtv receivers automatically update these names as they occur.

18.

How do I tell what kind of sensor I need for my actuator?

You will need to know the make of your actuator arm. If you do not know, take one of our catalogs with you out to your actuator. Take the motor housing off and look for a sensor inside that looks like one we have pictured.

19.

My dish moves very slowly across the arc. What can I do to make it move faster?

Your actuator could be rusty or worn down. It could also be that the receiver or the cable is not allowing enough voltage to pass to the actuator. Check for 24 or 36 volts at the actuator with a voltmeter. Call Skyvision for a faster arm if everything checks out OK.

20.

I am going to install my own actuator. Do you have any tips for me before I start?

1) Make sure that you attach the ball swivel before you attach the clamp. 2) Have the clamp 2-3" from the front end of the arm housing. 3) Use washers between the ball swivel and spacer so that it levels the arm out. 4) Place the motor so that the drain holes are facing down. 5) The actuator is normally retracted when we ship them so you may have to move the dish all the way to the east or west depending on which side your actuator is on. 6) Be ready to reset you limits and reprogram your satellites before you use your receiver.

21.

Does it matter which way the servo motor is installed?

Servos have 180 degrees of rotation so it must be centered halfway between the directions of horizontal and vertical polarities. When properly installed the servo should have freedom to move the 90 degrees to change polarity yet also have extra room to move past either of these points in case you need to fine tune the skew. On a Precision feedhorn a servo will be facing straight up and down when you are facing straight south. On a Chaparral feedhorn the LNB will be facing the 10 o' clock position and the servo will be facing the 4 o' clock position. If you just replaced your servo and it is still giving you only odd or even channels, you may want to check your receiver for the LNB configuration or rf configuration. When checking, make sure your receiver is set to LNB and not LNBF if you have a C-Band LNB.

22.

Why does my new LNB have a different number of holes than the one I am replacing?

Most manufacturers have their own molds for the LNB case. They will have anywhere from 4 to 8 holes. It is not necessary to have a bolt in each hole. As long as you can get one bolt to secure on opposite sides, your LNB should work fine, although putting a bolt in each hole that lines up will give you some insurance against moisture.

23.

How often do I need to replace my feedhorn?

Feedhorns usually do not go bad. The most common feedhorn problem is that the connecting rod from the servo to the feedhorn probe could break and allow you to receive only odd or even channels. Normally, feedhorns are only replaced when customers upgrade from a C-Band system to a C/KU Band system.

24.

How do I install my new LNB?

Typically, LNBs are bolted to the feedhorn. You would need to unbolt the old LNB and connect the new one using your old bolts or ones that are provided. It is a good idea to use coax cable seal after you install the new LNB. On an older system the new LNB may not fit on your feedhorn. Older LNBs were larger and to fit them under the feedhorn cover a 90 degree elbow was installed to lay the LNB flat. If you remove this 90 degree elbow your new LNB will bolt directly to the feedhorn.

25.

How do I erase the memory in my satellite receiver?

Uniden Ultra, 4600, 4900, SQ530, SQ590, Supra: Go to the installation menu and select the master reset option. Use 3573 as the password and press enter. Press enter again to erase the memory.
General Instruments 450i, 550i, 640i: Press the menu button and choose the 'installation' option. Select the 'realign and erase' option. Pick the 'erase functions' option. Choose 'erase all' and press enter.
General Instruments 350i: Press the menu button and choose the installation option. Select 'erase all' and press enter.

26.

How do I program my satellite receiver?

A) Look on the remote for a Menu, Function or Program button. Press that button to see what your options are. You want to get to the installation menu. If your remote does not have these buttons, check the back of the receiver for a Run or Program button. Most IRDs ask for a password. This can usually be found in the owner's manual. If you do not have the manual, call Skyvision sales with the model of your receiver for a replacement manual. If you are not able to program your receiver with this information, call Skyvision Tech.
B) Find the feedhorn configuration and select the correct type (LNB, LNBF, etc).
C) Program in dish limits, east and west
D) Use our catalog or a satellite guide to find the names, locations and free channels for each satellite. Program in the satellites starting with whatever side of the arc the dish is already pointing to. Go to program satellites, find the satellite name or substitute for the satellite name. Call it up, go to a free channel, move the dish to find that satellite if you are not on it already, fine-tune the skew if needed, press enter to store when you have the best picture and go on to the next satellite.
E) This is a very basic programming procedure that is similar regardless which receiver you have. If you are not able to program your receiver with this information call Skyvision Tech.

27.

I have two of the same receivers in my house and the the remote I have changes both at the same time. Can I fix it so only receiver changes instead of both?

Some remotes can be 'addressed' to work with just one receiver even though you may have similar models of the same receiver in your home. Most remotes are made to just put the batteries in and they work. Check your manual for programming your remote; if it is addressable it should be covered there.
Sometimes this can be done by pushing the right combination of buttons on the remote and sometimes it is done by changing 'dip' switches inside the remote. If it can be programmed for other TVs or VCRs, those codes are listed in the manual also.

28.

How do I wire my receiver?

A) First take the group of 4-5 wires. Two wires are usually heavier than the rest. They connect to M1 or M2 for the actuator motor or will say Class 2 wiring 24 to 36 VDC. If the dish moves the wrong way, switch these two wires. If the motor requires 36 VDC and your IRD only puts out 24 VDC then that motor and IRD may not be compatible. Note: Some IRDs are not compatible with some horizon-to-horizon (HH) mounts because they do not put out enough voltage to move the dish. Next, take the 2 or 3 smaller wires from this group. If there are just 2 wires, they connect to Sensor and Ground or Pulse and Ground depending on the IRD. If there are 3 wires, one will go to a voltage connection that will normally say 24 VDC or 36 VDC.
B) Next take the cable that has 3 small wires. This is for your servo motor. Colors are normally red, white and black. Red goes to 5 or 6 VDC, white goes to pulse and black goes to ground.
C) Connect the coax cables from the dish to C/H, IF input or 18 VDC for your LNB. If you have a C and KU system, you will have two coax cables to connect.
D) Out to TV will go to your TV or sometimes VCR, depending on your set-up.
E) A manual for your system is your best tool. Refer to it frequently since it will give the specifics for your particular model. If you do not have a manual, call Skyvision to purchase a replacement.