Reply With QuoteUse either the supplied PSU or Decoder or Battery
Prof SF-500 Satellite Finder Switching Power Adaptor
Hi Everybody,
I have just received the Prof SF-500 via the post.
I am just wondering if the switching power adaptor has to be used for a home decoder - satellite set-up? I presume the power off the decoder is adequate - is this correct? Do you have to power the satellite meter up before use?
Thanks everybody.
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Use either the supplied PSU or Decoder or Battery
David071 (09-01-13)
Yes, the power from the decoder is adequate. Turn your decoder off at the power point before disconnecting & connecting "f" connectors.
You can also use a 13 v or 18 v dc power supply/battery..
There is a power supply that comes with it in the box that has a European plug on it, you could change this to an AU plug or get an adapter.
You will need to power it up before use, as the SF-500 comes with a few satellites of no use to OZ, so you can delete them & you need to add the relevant OZ sats.
Eg: Optus C1
LNB Lo Freq: 10700
Transponder/Down freq: 12567
Symbol Rate: 30000
Polarity - V
Info regarding more sats at
When you add a satellite, you need to also enter the transponder details in the Add transponder menu.
Read the instruction manual (thanks to Beer4life) for more details.
These You tubes are for the SF3239 & SF500, they work the same.
& more
Last edited by Tiny; 09-01-13 at 09:32 AM.
Cheers, Tiny
"You can lead a person to knowledge, but you can't make them think? If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
The information is out there; you just have to let it in."
David071 (09-01-13)
Originally Posted by David071
Hello David,
I've got SF-500 as well and I have question to you or for other members.
I want to use it with battery pack which is more convenient if you on the roof.
So I put together in series two 9v batteries to get 18v.
SF-500 powers up and I can work with satellites.
But as soon I connect it to LNB, the screen shows the following message:
"Input signal short circuit! Please power off!"
Works just fine with 18v from receiver.
I cannot figure out the problem, please suggest.
Thanks.
Most decoders have in installation menu " LNB Power......ON/OFF ".
Use that if you want to use the external battery. I doubt that the 2x9 V batteries will last very long though.
Huh????
I think he is using the 2x9volt batteries as a solo option, not in conjunction with the decoder?
At least i hope he is!
A little misleading I grant, however I was answering TWO posts, 'David071,#1' and 'bpus,#4'.
Methinks the one reply would suffice.
Apparently the 9V batteries cannot handle the LNB current needed. Notorious for that.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".
Hi bpus, are you connecting the battery pack to the DC input or the receiver "f" connector of the SF-500?
I personally have tried only using the later & it worked just fine using a sealed 13v UPS battery connected to receiver fcon on the SF-500 by a fly lead I made up, then when connecting to the LNB I connect the power last so as not to shock the LNB with a fully powered up sat finder.
Cheers, Tiny
"You can lead a person to knowledge, but you can't make them think? If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
The information is out there; you just have to let it in."
This is where i find other types of meter more handy, having leads and make shift batteries and so forth, is just a pain in the ass, especially when climbing ladders.
Normally you are strugglingly for a free hand, without juggling crap everywhere.
Using the SF-500, i found it just as easy to drag up a lead, while the SF-500 was safely stashed away in a pocket.
Yeah oceanboy, I agree, I only used a battery to test out the Prof before connecting to a satellite decoder.
The fact is the SF-500 will work off the power supply from the receiver anyway, so why not use that?
Cheers, Tiny
"You can lead a person to knowledge, but you can't make them think? If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
The information is out there; you just have to let it in."
Generally because i turn the all the boxes off completely, incase they suffer some kind of tuner damage (it happens)
And sometimes there is no STB on-site at all
Tiny (21-02-13)
Hi David071 I have a Satplus sat finder which is virtually the same as yours. I have a supplied battery pack which holds 10 1.5 AA batteries and what i do is connect everything up to the finder and the Dish except for one of the 1.5 batteries, then I insert the last battery and you wont get a short circuit. Forget the Decoder at this stage until you have found your satellite, once you have found your satellite disconnect in the same manner (EG) remove your battery supply source and then connect up your Decoder
Last edited by toyboy11; 21-02-13 at 10:47 PM.
ol' boy (22-02-13)
Hi toyboy 11.
Great thanks for that information on the Satplus. I have actually found my old "hummer" the Humax 5410 decoder actually catches the weaker satellites here in Perth like Intelsat 20 and Intelsat 17 easier than the Prof SF 500. I actually located the satellites easier and quicker with the Humax tuning. I was quite amazed! Occasionally strong winds blow the dish slightly off tune.
Thanks David.
A little misleading I grant, however I was answering TWO posts, 'David071,#1' and 'bpus,#4'.
Methinks the one reply would suffice.
Apparently the 9V batteries cannot handle the LNB current needed. Notorious for that.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".
Hi everyone, really appreciate your answers, thanks.
So, I was trying to use two 9v batteries as solo option of cause.
First connecting to SF-500 "receiver" F connector, then to DC 13-18V input which is next to "satellite" F connector. The output is the same - "short circuit" message when connecting to LNB.
DC input according to the manual IS for the battery pack.
What kind of battery or battery pack can be used for SF-500?
I was trying to contact Proftuners without success.
Thanks.
See post #12 above. 10 x AA, preferably rechargeable and 3000 AH. You'll find them on ebay at ~1/2 price and twice the capacity of the local supermarket.
I'm sure there are cheap chargers as well and most are free post.
bpus (24-02-13)
I think the problem is: The batteryholder uses 10X 1.5 volt batteries= 15 Volt.You use 2x9Volt batteries =18 Volt so if the satfinder wants to go to 13 Volts/its overloading=short circuit.
Do it the proper way,lol15 Volts will handle 13Volts and 18Volts .
Hope this helps.
Incorrect, Current handling is the probem.
With 'Buck / Boost' circuity, which I'm sure the SF500 uses, that is immaterial.
There are circuits around to convert 1.5 V to 9V, even a kit from Jaycar et al.
These are not suitable for this application due to current needed for the LNB.
Buck = Lower V.
Boost = Higher V.
Therefore Buck/Boost gives a median Selected Voltage regardless of higher or lower input V. (within limits).
gulliver (26-02-13)
A small SLA battery works well with these meters.
They work fine with 12VDC and the LNB voltage is controlled by which LNB polarity is selected via the stored transponder/frequency info.
There is a small catch when using these meters though.... a little OT, but handy to know.
If you align your dish/LNB with vertical polarisation, eg: for VAST and you leave the meter in line, when powered by, or afterwards, connected to a decoder requiring horizontal polarisation, eg: Foxtel, the meter will not pass the horizontal voltage, so you don't get signal to your decoder.
The same works in reverse.... eg: use a horizontal transponder in the meter..... it will block vertical signals to the decoder.
Obviously, once you remove the meter from the line, there is no issue, as the LNB is being powered/controlled directly by the decoder.
So if you are using one of these meters, don't leave it connected in-line after dish/LNB alignment is complete.
I would like to thanks all of you guys for very useful posts and for desire to help.
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