The less experienced you are in satellite dish installation, the more likely you will encounter some of the problems listed here. Many professional satellite installers can also encounter problems/issues during dish/antenna installation. However, this may be due to little attention to small details, nonchalance, negligence, or absentmindedness on the installer’s part. Be that as it may, in this post, I will share some tips on how to troubleshoot satellite tv signal problems during satellite tv dish installation.
Troubleshoot Satellite Tv Signal Problems
I will use the DStv position at 36ºE as my case study. The frequency to “12245 h 27500“. Let’s assume you are trying to track DStv for a client, and you are new to the system, and you are trying to use a sat-finder or a receiver like Strong, and you now encounter all or some of the following problems. This post only summarises the problems satellite tv installers could encounter during installation. If you want an easy-to-understand guide on satellite dish installation, read our article here.
1. No Signal No Quality On the Tracking Device
Noteworthy; by a tracking device, I mean the decoder you use to track the satellite channels or a sat tracker/finder. And on the device, you have got no quality(quality is usually on the left pane, and the signal strength is on the right usually)
Causes of No Signal and No Quality on the Tracking Device
If you do not have signal quality, it means you have missed something right from the outset, and there is no way you can get any signal strength if you have 0% signal quality. If you prepare well, your signal quality should be up to 90% by connecting the coaxial cable. Your lack of signal quality is a result of some or all of the following:
- You have not connected your LNB cable to your tracking device and the LNBf on the dish outside. Maybe you have fastened your coaxial cable to the corresponding LNB IN port of your decoder/ tracker, but you fail to do the same to the LNBf of the mounted dish outside.
- Another cause is when the coaxial cable falls off the f-connector, or maybe you wrongly secure your LNB cable to your F-connector.
- Furthermore, it could be that the distance between your dish outside is too far from where you place your decoder or sat finder. The ideal distance between your LNBf and your decoder should not be more than 30-meters
- Another cause is that your LNB cable may be severed, broken, or too worn. In this case, the quality may fail to come, or it may fluctuate.
- Also, the quality and signal may be nonexistent if your decoder or sat finder has frozen due to a minor bug with the decoder.
- Faulty or malfunctioning LNBf
- Finally, and in the most extreme case, thunder or high voltage has damaged your decoder’s tuner. Or maybe your inbuilt decoder’s tuner is spoilt.
Solutions to No Signal Quality and No Strenght during Installation:
- For the wrong coaxial cable connection, please redo your connection and get it right this time. If the LNB cable is bad, replace it.
- For a faulty LNBF, first, borrow another LNBf to test; if it works, replace the faulty one you are using. I will advise every professional satellite installer to use at least 2 LNBfs for their installations.
- Please take this to a skilled computer engineer for repair, or if your situation is that of a branded decoder, take it to the dealer from whom you bought it.
- The solution to the frozen decoder/sat finder bug is to restart your tracking device. If this doesn’t work, reload the decoder’s software.
2. Troubleshoot Satellite Signal Problems. When you’ve gotten the Signal Quality but no Signal Strength
When you have the “signal quality” but you have very poor signal strength, no signal strength, or fluctuating signal strength, then look into the following causes:
- The first cause is that you may not have even attempted to track the satellite. Solution: Please insert the tracking frequency and track the satellite accordingly.
- By contrast, maybe you already tracked the satellite and got a good signal quality. However, when you later returned to your satellite settings, your signal strength is zero or on a low percentage. This happens when you use a special frequency to track a satellite instead of the major one. The Solution is to use the auto scan or blindscan your device, and you will get all the channels available on the frequencies used.
- Also, if you select the wrong frequency for tracking, you will get no Signal strength. Solution; crosscheck your frequency and use the correct one.
- Another cause could be mistakenly shaking the dislodged dish after getting your desired signal strength. This can result in a loss of signal. Solution: Do the satellite tracking all over and be more careful while fastening the bolts this time.
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3. Troubleshoot satellite Dish signal problems Arising from Poor Signal Strength After the Dish/Antenna Installation
In most cases, even if you have the best tracking equipment and are a skilled satellite installer, you may have poor signal strength. The following might be some of the causes.
- The dish you are trying to use is too small. You will not compare the signal quality of tracking canal 22w or DStv 36e on 60cm with that of a 90cm dish. Solution: if your case of a poor signal has resulted in a very poor viewing experience, get a giant dish.
- Malfunctioning LNBf: your LNBf may cause your signal strength to drop drastically and increase automatically. Solution: get another LNBf to test before buying another one for your dish
- Low satellite beam or footprint in that location: If the satellite service provider has a low beam in your location, you will get extreme or no signal strength. Some beam does not extend to some location at all. For example, we do not get canal reunion 16e in Nigeria. Regarding beams and footprints, you may be unable to help the situation, as it depends on the satellite provider. Those living in MENA may not get DStv multichoice signals. Solution: if you are 100% that the signal is in your location, you may use a bigger dish. Otherwise, track a trackable satellite in your area.
- Good quality in the afternoon but poor quality at night and vice versa: This can be caused by combinations of two factors;1. below par lnbf(in the case of c-band lnbf), faulty lnbf, or ii. Small dish
Reasons Why You Get A Poor Signal During Satellite Tv Tracking
This happens mainly to new entrants into satellite dish installations. The following could be the causes:
- The dish you are using is warped/dented/damaged/rusted. Solution: it depends on how strong the beam is; if you use a dish that is out of its normal shape, you may not hit green.
- You will also not get the signal if the satellite beam you are trying to nail does not extend to your location. Solution: track another satellite entirely.
- Your dish is smaller than the required size for the satellite you are trying to track: Solution: please meet the dish size requirements.
- The weather is unfavorable when trying to track the channels: Solution; try it again later when the temperature is more favorable.
- The wrong frequency inserted into your scanning device might cause no signal or wrong channels.
- A Wrong polarisation of your LNBF(this might cause either no signal or you getting the wrong channels). Set your lnbf accordingly. Your H should be H, and V should be V.
- You are using your dish and lnbf to face the wrong direction. For example, your E should be E. Mytv Africa is on 16E. You should not attempt tracking mytv on 16W. Solution: You may need a compass. At this point, use your phone’s compass or get a Sat finder with a built-in compass. A compass will allow you to isolate bad weather, so you can return to complete the installation later.
Hi recently I had reset the my resiver media star me 1800 Lenova very think is good I had search the all channels and save them but I couldn’t. have tow ferquency 11221. 10803. Whay the signal strenth is good and quality of that is 0. Why this happened. Please help me thank you so much.
@CJ; read this please FTA Decoders Channels Scanning/Searching Modes & Methods fully Explained
My decoder loses signal when I remove the finder and connect it direct to the dish. Why?
@Mumba: you need to scan your channels on the appropriate frequencies on your decoder before the signal is restored. Other than that, it simply means your signal strenght is too low for your decoder to pickup or in the worst case scenario, your decoder’s tuner is bad. read this FTA Decoders Channels Scanning/Searching Modes & Methods fully Explained
Can’t access the satview channels
My decoder tiger sky model TS 9999 is not showing arewa while others channel under arewa are showing perfectly no crack, with normal frequency. What is the problem?
Hi sir, I have a problem of a client receiver not responding to signal strength, the signal strength is too low while is still on good signal quality of 84% in other receivers. What’s the problem Sir. The problem started when i deleted the whole channels to refresh new ones.
@Demain: are you sure you have selected the right frequency
I have been using my decoder for about two years now, about three days ago the strength and quality became weak , that is 0 percent all my channels are not working what do I do?
@kingsley: are you referring to your DStv decoder? it that is the case, you may need to call your installer to help you check your dish outside.
Good day sir, please I mistakenly deleted all the satellite list on my decoder, please how can I re-install them back, the decoder is saying NO- SAT.
THANKS
SOLOMON
@SOLOMON: Please read this FTA Decoders Channels Scanning/Searching Modes & Methods fully Explained
My recorder keeps showing red colour instead of green colour and keeps showing black colour on a screen without pictures even though I keep changing channels.whats the problem and what should I do.waiting for the reply.thanks
@Hansa: what type of decoder, which satellite position are you on?
pls my digisat decoder is not receiving signal pls can you kindly send me the correct settings for the setup for the digisat decoder as I have tried everything in my power to make it work out well but to no avail. Thanks
@chibuzor: How to Manually Track a Satellite Dish Network & Frequencies
Hi Mr lemmy,I have an Srt 4940 and out of 534 channels none are showing, it keeps showing no or bad signal why?maybe we can chat on Facebook
@joshua: call a professional installer to help you track some working TV channels
Hi Lemmy, Please can you assist me. my problem is I can not do a software upgrade at all.
My signal strength is 100%, signal quality is 100%. If I take my 4U model to the agent they can do the soft ware up grade and say it is my installation.
Good Mr. Lemmy
I have an SRT4663x strong decoder which I stopped using when I relocated to another part of Nigeria , for more than four years now.
Recently I tried installing it.
I was unable to get signal on Intelsat 7,10/k band. When I tried some satellite I got signal.
Can I use my strong decoder to track signal from other satellites in Nigeria?
Thank you.
@Eric: most channels have now upgraded to mpeg-4 at least. Using an mpeg-2(4663x)to track is not ideal anymore. Please get a satfinder or an mpeg4/hd decoder to track.
Ok.
But can I upgrade the decider’s software. If yes, how?
Thank you for your response.
@Eric: Links to Free Download Upgrade/support/patch Software for Most FTA Decoders
Good morning sir.
Please, Have been tracking loveworld sat since and the signal strength keeps blinking and stands at just 10% infact without touching it it runs to 50 and 60% and later returned to 10%
@francis: either your lnb or lnb cable is faulty. You may also try changing the decoder you are using to track.
I am Mayowa, How do i know that LNB is bad or faulty?
@Mayowa: please read this very carefully https://www.lemmymorgan.com/troubleshoot-satellite-signal-problems/
Comment *can I track 16• and 28• with 60cm dish
i have be tracking Cband satellite dish, with 55% strength , the picture display on my tracking machine, from the LNB, and inside the apartment showing on my machine with the cable that come through, but in tv set after Blind search, not display on the tv, what can be the possible problem and the solution. advance pls.
@chozie: 55% is too low a quality to be able to establish a stable connection
recent 1 month since mine tv no signal telling. each item & part the properly plugged. still continuing no signal.
@Faith: Please be clearer with your explaination
Sir please provide 2.8 nds powervu for following firmware.
https://app.box.com/s/ieob5owyg7myaeuap87wzrzzeax3xjui
Thanks for the information.
Dear sir,
Need help for solid 6150 powervu 2.8 fixed firmware for sony intelsat 20.
My Dstv shows one minute and the next it’s not showing and 0 signal strength. Please what’s the problem?
@Victore: lnb cable connection. Check it yourself or call your local installer.
good morning sir I have skysat980 and I want software auto roll
qsat auto roll software now available for 11, 13 and 15.
New Auto Roll Software for Qsat 11G, 13G and 15G November 28, 2016 pakogistAt last, after much pressure, the greedy Qsat engineers have released auto roll softwares for Qsat 11g, 13g and 15G. The softwares so far have been tested and working great on all powervu channels. It auto rolls sp 24 as well and sony entertainment.I have uploaded the software the all you need as usual is to download to a virus free USB flash drive, extract and upload.Download Q15 here =>https://www.dropbox.com/s/bhghr1hfxw4bgsf/1512_SDB3_Q15G_MA_V8.11.28_2016112813.zip?dl=0Download Q13 here =>https://www.dropbox.com/s/umj4yi7a9r9t402/1512%20Q13G_SDB3_MA_V8.11.28_20161128.zip?dl=0Download Q11 here =>https://www.dropbox.com/s/z56dtxa891ogd0q/1512_SDB3_Q11G_MA_V8.11.28_20161128.zip?dl=0
I got it from pakogist site,good luck
Abuja residents can contact 08064662957 for all kinds of satellite installations.
Pls I have q sat 11g and strong hd 4922A does spy cam code still work for qsat pls give me d best advice on which to use
hello my colleagues,
can someone confirm to me that mtn worldwide sports24hd west is not working since morning
Hi oga lemmy please I have a 1.2m dish and a c band lnb what free to air channel can I get frequency and ssymbol rate please am using Q-23G
Hello good morning sir how work?
I just got one receiver called icone i980 HD, but didn’t know how to view it patch so that I can see the powervu keys?
What some of the other functions did it has iptv? Thanks. Glad to hear from you.
Pls oga Lemmy do Sony package show other sport apart from football and pls do they show interesting America movies and Chinese movie
@victor: yes
Good Morning , I have a 1.8 m dish, viewsat decoder and qsat 11 decoder. Please what sat can I enjoy with the items to watch epl, laliga, champion league.
good day oga lemmy my super esat only work on sport24Hew. but not auto roll on sony pakegeE what can i do? to auto roll on sonyE