BJ LINC Technical Support — Acquire the Signal
1. Prepare antenna for aiming.
With the antenna facing south and with an unobstructed view of the sky, place the provided compass on the ground approximately 10 feet behind the antenna to avoid magnetic interference. Turn the compass until the compass needle aligns exactly with magnetic north (colored end of needle points north to 0 degrees).
To determine azimuth and elevation for a specific location, refer to the Look Angle Charts. If your location is not listed in the Look Angle Charts, find the city closest to your particular location and estimate approximate angles. You may also call Technical Support at 1-800-876-5462 or e-mail them for a more precisely computed determination for your location.
With the compass needle aligned exactly with magnetic north, use a straight object such as a yard stick or rod between the compass and the antenna to match the Azimuth angle of your location obtained in the steps above. Move the antenna to face the same direction that the stick or rod points.
NOTE: The Elevation and Azimuth values should be used as references to BEGIN aiming your antenna dish. The exact Elevation and Azimuth angles vary according to your actual location and other terrestrial elements such as buildings, etc. Use these approximate values as a starting reference to position your antenna dish.
2. Set azimuth (left and right).
a. Find the azimuth on the Look Angle Charts. If your city is not listed, please call Technical Support at 1-800-876-5462.
b. Stand at least ten feet behind the dish holding the compass level in the palm of your hand. Do not stand within twenty feet of any large metal objects such as air conditioner units, metal buildings, automobiles, electric panels, or power lines. These objects will render the compass reading inaccurate.
c. Align the degree mark for your compass angle with the line at the front of the compass. Now, stand in a place so your correct compass degree points right at the pole on which the dish is mounted (the center of the dish).
d. Look through the slot in the compass case out into the distance beyond the dish and see what landmark lines up with the wire in the center of the slot. This will be your reference point for the correct compass angle.
e. Move directly behind the dish and align the center focal point of the dish (the LNB) with the reference point for the correct compass angle.
f. Don’t hesitate to double-check several times, referring to your compass, that your dish is pointed as closely as possible to this compass angle. This will diminish your need for adjustments later on. Do not try to acquire the highest possible signal strength at this point. Just be concerned that the dish is aligned with the compass.
g. Leave the dish pointing in this direction for now.
3. Find optimum elevation (up and down).
a. Alignment with the satellite is obtained by setting polarization, elevation and azimuth. “ΔL” is the difference between the earth station antenna site longitude and the satellite longitude. Use “ΔL” and your earth station latitude to obtain polarization, elevation or azimuth setting.
b. Polarization of feed: While facing the dish, loosen feed horn M6 clamp bolts (12) and turn feed clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on being west or east of the satellite. Align marks on the horn clamp and appropriate mark on the horn scale clamp. It is installed with the arrow pointed toward antenna as shown in Fig. 3.0. Keep cable groove on header in the down position when adjusting polarization. NOTE: Single polarity feed is factory assembled for vertical polarity.
c. Elevation: To obtain elevation value for your satellite, loosen bolts in curved slots of AZ/EL Housing a 1/8 to 1/4 turn. Turn elevation adjustment bolt clockwise to increase elevation and counterclockwise to increase elevation. Align the pointer with appropriate mark at the desired elevation reading. NOTE: Degree values shown on elevation scale are beam; that is when the antenna face is vertical, mechanical elevation is 0°, while beam elevation (signal) is 22.6°. This will be an approximate setting. Optimum setting is achieved when fine tuning. Temporarily tighten elevation bracket nuts.
d. Azimuth: Use the Look Angle Charts to determine your azimuth setting. Values in chart are adjusted for magnetic deviation for your location for correct compass reading. Rotate the antenna and mount, pointing it to the correct compass reading for your location and satellite. Slowly sweep the antenna in azimuth until a signal is found. If the desired signal is not found, increase or decrease elevation setting and repeat the azimuth sweep.
e. Fine Tuning: Use the signal meter on your IRD for final adjustments to obtain maximum antenna performance. Alternate between elevation and azimuth while fine tuning dish to reach maximum signal quality. Continue until no improvement can be detected. Tighten all hardware. Torque for M8 round head, square neck bolts is 11 ft.-lb (15 Nm).
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