VAST Satellite finder

[Colcam42]

Hi all, been travelling around for a few years now, used to have the old Aurora system on a Humax box with Optus Smartcard in our caravan. Now using VAST satisfactory. Had to buy a new Humax with 500G HDD when the original VAST box died. Happy with the Humax as we use it. However, when setting up the dish at a new location, having a spot of bother. I have been using a First Strike FS1 finder set to the old C1 and can still find the bird but I cannot get the signal to "Lock-On" only get about 60%, but the Vast box receives ok at this and actually shows a better signal. Johnny at Katherine, (the caravanners Satellite guru) says that the FS1 is not sensitive enough since the changeover to VAST and the shift to D3, (?). Now however, the speaker in the FS1 is going stupid and I am considering a new finder. Many caravanners have trouble with the finders they have, some set to only locate C1. One popular model needs to be in series with the LNB, the operator then disconnecting it after finding C1 withouth powering down first. Not a good idea? I would prefer a battery operated device like the FS1, suggestions anyone?
ps, I am not rich.......
Col

[Tiny]

I use the Prof Sf-500, bloody brilliant.


PDF of English manual here.

Thread about it here,


Edit: It can be used with external power supply/battery pack or powered by Decoder in line.
Also has audible beep when sat found as well as the signal strength & quality meters.
Last time I looked they were ~$60

[Rodnic]

I too use a Prof Sf-500 , brilliant. It is in-line and powered by the decoder. When 'tuned in' I just disconnect it and connect the coax together without powering down. I have been doing this ever since VAST first started without a problem.

[mtv]

+1 for SF-500

[gulliver]

Same here.I found it the best,sensitive meter.I'm selling my Trimax,lol.

[apsattv]

Have you seen the sathero 600 and sathero 800 ?

[apsattv]

Sathero 600


Sathero 800

[Farmsky]

Just out of interest, what TP Freq do folk use to lock onto Optus C1/D3, using the SF 500/ 600 or any other DVB S2 finder.

VAST is vertical (only) and according to LyngSat uses the following encoded TP freqs:

D3 - 11,804, 11886 & 11928

C1 - 12369, 12567, 12487 & 12647

Edit: included all the VAST TP's.

[Tiny]

I set up my neighbors Prof 500 on;


LNB Lo Freq: 10700
Transponder/Down freq: 12567
Symbol Rate: 30000
Polarity - V, yes all vertical ATM.

Worked just fine when I tested it out.

You can also use D3, the TP's are a little stronger so easier to pick up but not by much.
Vast only seems to run SBS from D3 ATM.

LNB Lo Freq: 10700
Transponder/Down freq: 11886 or 11804
Symbol Rate: 30000
Polarity - V

Hope that helps.

good to see you here again.

[Farmsky]

Tks Tiny,

I hadn't realised that these style of finders can be tuned to any active TP + Symbol rate.

Most excellent.

Cheers

[Tiny]

Tks Tiny,

I hadn't realised that these style of finders can be tuned to any active TP + Symbol rate.

Most excellent.

Cheers

Yeah, pretty good little gadget, if you scroll back up to Post #2 there is a link to a PDF of the Manual in English, courtesy of beer4life RIP.

It comes in handy as the supplied one in the box is in Russian.

Although it's a pretty easy gadget to work out.