top left

Read Feedback

Read the Blog

Cookies!


notice

menu2

 

Checkout
Can't Find It?

Shop Index

All Aerials
Aerial Amplifiers
Aerial Attenuators
Aerial - Best
Aerial Boosters
Aerial Diplexers
Aerial Filters
Aerial - FM/DAB
Aerial Hardware
Aerial Meters
Aerial Splitters
Alarm - Garage
Amplifier - aerial
Amplifier - earphone
Amplifier - LNB
Amplifier - UHF
Attenuators
Attic Box
Audio Index

Bargains
Batteries
Battery Tester
Blu-Tack
Bolts - wall
Bolts
Books to download
Boosters, Amps
Boots - Rubber
Box - plastic
Brackets - aerial
Brackets - satellite
Brackets - TV
Bypass Amplifiers
Cabinet Fan
CABLE+PLUGS
Cable - CAT5/6
Cable - Coax Extens
Cable - Coax Reels
Cable - computer
Cable Decouplers
Cable - HDMI
Cable - hole covers
Cable Joint
Cable - loudspeaker
Cable - mains+plug
Cable - modem
Cable - telephone
Cable Tester
Cable - thin coax
Cable Threader
Cable - toslink
Cable - twin flex
Camping Light
Capacitors
Capacitors Low ESR
Caravan/motorhome
Car Radio Adapters
CAT5-HDMI
Children Games
Chimney Brackets
Compass
Components
Computer Batteries
Computer Leads
Craft Knife
Cutters - wire
Decoupler
DC Blocker
DC power inserter
DC Power Plug
DC Power Socket
Denso Tape
Digibox spares
Digital Aerial
Digital Link eye
Diodes
DiSEqC Switches
Dishes
Dish - alignment
Dish - caravan
Dish Hardware
Dish Motors
Dish - Omnisat
Dish - upgrade
Dish - zone 1
Dish - zone 2
Dish Paint
DTA adapter
Duct Tape
DVD Players

Earphones
Earphone Clip
Earth rod
Electrical - mains
Electrolytic low ESR
Electronic components
Electronic Kits
Electronic Kits 2
Epoxy Adhesive
Ethernet RJ45 CAT5
Extension - Coax
Extension - mains
Faceplates
Filters electrical
F Plugs
Fly Leads
Freesat Digiboxes
Freesat Magic Eye
Freeview cable
FTA Digiboxes
Freeview receivers
Fuses
Gadgets
Gaming Accessories
German Sat TV
Glue
Grease
H-H Motors
Hardware
HDMI / Audio
HDMI Splitters
HDMI Wallplate
Headphone Amp
Heat Gun
Heatsink gook
Heatshrink tube
Home Cinema
HomePlug PLA
IC Sockets
InfraRed LED
Installation kits
Invacom LNB
iPhone Accessories
Jack Plugs
Krone Tool

Leads + Plugs
LEDs
LED Torches
LED Torch Probe
Lightning Protect
Litz Wire
LNB amplifiers
LNB Boots
LNB cable
LNBs for Sky
LNBs 40mm
LNBs C120
LNB Holders
LNB Splitter
LNB switches
LNB Upgrade
Loft Aerials
Loft Boxes
Log-Periodics
Magic Eyes
Magic Eye Kit
Magnifier loupe
Magnifier stand
Mains Electrical
Mast Caps
Meters
Microphone clip
Mobile Accessories
Modulators - RF
Motorhome
Motorised dishbits
Multimeter
Multiroom Kit
Multiswitches
Notch Filter
Omnisat Dish
Orbital Dish
Oscilloscope
Phone Surge
Phono Adapters
Phono Plugs
Piping Freesat
Plugs - 'F' type
Plugs - Phono
Plugs - RJ45
Plugs - TV
Pliers
Poles

Power Inserter
PowerLine Adapt
PowerMid XL
Power supplies
Raspberry Pi
Relays
Remote Controls
Remote extenders
Resistors
RF Cable
RF Modulators
RF to Scart DTA
RJ45 CAT5 Ethernet

Satellite Cable
Satellite Meters
Scart Leads
Screen Cleaning
Screwdrivers
Self Amalg tape
Signal Combiner
Silicone Grease
Sky Digiboxes
Sky Eye Kit
SkyLink Amplifiers
SkyLink Bypass
SLxLink "eye"
Slingbox Fan
SPC4 Combiner
Solder
Solder Sucker
Solder Wick
Soldering Iron
Spade connects
Spanners
SPC4 combiner
Splitters
Stripboard PCB
Surge Protection
Switches
Tape
Telephone cable
Terminal Posts
Thomson PSU
Tools Grease Glue
Toys Educational
Transistors
TV cable
TV Eyes
TV Plugs
TV Wall Brackets
U Bolts
Videosenders
Video/Leads
VisonLink "eye"
Wall Bolts
Wall plates 1
Wall plates 2
Washers
Wire Cutters
Wire - coaxial
Wire - Kynar PTFE
Wire - Litz
Wire - Loudspeakr
Wireless Eye
Wireless Phone ad
Wireless Remote
Zone 1 minidish
Zone 2 minidish

Technical Index

Product Instructions

4G problem
ADSL problem
Aerial Advice
Aerial+LNB 1 Cable
Aerial amplifier
Aerial Amps
Aerial Booster
Aerial - DAB
Aerial Filters
Aerial Groups
Aerial Points
Aerial - Which?
Amp Adder
Amp Choice
Analogue Switch-Off
A18QR aerial
Arcon Dish
Atticbox
Audio Adapter USB
AV equipment
BBC/ITV outside UK
Bedroom sound
Best aerial
Brick Burst cover
Cable Info.
Cable Kinked
Cable specs
Cable-Thin Coax
Cable - Which?
CAMs etc.
Capacitor Kits
Channels
Chimney Brackets
Chimney Strap
Coaxial Cable
Cooling fan
Combiners
Compass use
Cupboard Control
DAT45 aerial
DC inserter
Decouple cable
Denso Tape
Digibox Problem
Digibox Internals
Digibox in loft
DigiEye (obs)
Digilink (obs)
Digisender
Digital Ariel
Digital Link
Diplexers
DirecTV
Disconnect safely
Disguise a dish
Dish indoors
Dish - Orbital
Dish Painting
Dish Sharing
Dish Size
Dish Upside Down
E-books
Electric shocks
Electronic Kits
Electronic Parts
Epoxy resin glue
Expats
Extend cable
Extender Plate
Extenders
Fan - cooling
Fan - cabinet
F1 for Free
Filter-notch
Fire Hazard
Firmware D-load
Fit F Connectors
Fit TV plugs
Foxsat HDR
Foxsat unicable
Free channels
Freesat Install DIY
Freesat Sky Dish
Freeview/Freesat
Freeview Problem
French sat TV
German sat TV
Glossary
Greek sat TV
HDCP Support
Heatshrink Sleeving
Hole Cover
Humax PSU
Inside Sky Digibox
Instructions
Interference
Invacom LNB
Irish sat TV
Italian sat TV
IR sensor-locate
Large Dishes
Lightning Protect
Liquid Spilt
LNBs - about
LNBs - add more
LNB amplifier
LNB Boots
LNB - extra
LNB Fitting
LNB no signal in sun
LNB - Quad-output
LNB-Replace Sky
LNB Reset
LNB skew
LNBs-Switching two
LNBs 2 in 1 cable
LNB-waterproof your
Loft Boxes
Macrovision
Magic eyes
Make Fly-Lead
Multiroom phone
Multiswitches
No Satellite Signal
Notch Filter
Omnisat Semitronic
Orbital dish
Phone Connection?
Phone Socket Wires
Phone surge protect
Phono Leads DIY
Plate-Twin-F
Plugs-which?
Plug-Top PSUs
Plus Combiner
Powermid+cable TV
Powermid XL
Raspberry Pi
Reboot Digibox
Reed Switches
Relay Timer
Remote Codes
Remote Doubler
Remote Eyes
Remote extenders
Remote versions
RJ11 phone wiring
RJ45 plugs
Satellite Advice
Satellites-where
SatMeter
Scart leads
Self-Amalg Tape
SelfSat Antenna
Signal Boosters
Signal Combiners
Signal Meter
Silicone Grease
Sky x2 same room
Sky+ batteries
Sky Digital
Sky fire hazard
Sky HD
Sky in Europe
Sky Install DIY
Sky LNB
Sky LNB-extra
Sky Multiroom
Sky Remote Probs
Sky room wiring
Sky Plus
SlxLink
Slingbox Fan
Solder - How to
Split Digibox RF
Split Dish cable
Split satellite signal
SPS1 switch (obs)
Stacker-Destacker
Stuck in standby
Terminology
Thin Cable
Thomson Problems
Tree blocks signal
Triax minidish
TV Interference
TV Interference 2
TV/VCR faults
TV Links
tvLINKplus
TV set Fix
TV set New
TV eyes
USALS
USB Audio adapter
UXF4
Videosenders
VisionLink
Wall Plates 1
Wall Plates 2
Wall Plate twin F
WF125 Plugs
What Channels
What is TouView?
Which plugs
Wire my house
X-Ray Remote
304114 wall plate

FAQs

BLOG

Contact Us

0


 

SatCure LNB fitting instructions

We have been selling LNBs since 1995 and always thought that how to fit them was obvious!

But recently I've had a few people complaining that we didn't provide fitting instructions.

Well, that's fair comment and we specialise in making technical things easy to understand so here goes.

Firstly, if you need an LNB specifically for a Sky (wide, oval) dish, we supply ONLY the MK4 Sky LNB now (see below).

Secondly, if you are replacing an existing LNB, it's good idea to touch the dish as little as possible. If the dish is already aligned correctly, you don't want to move it even a fraction of a degree because the alignment is critical!

So, make a careful note of the position of the LNB. There are often two possible adjustments.

1. Focus - the LNB can be slid back and forth to set its exact distance from the dish.

2. Skew - the LNB can be rotated. Often numbered 1 to 5.

Carefully remove the LNB from the dish arm. For a conventional fitting, the LNB will be held by a "saddle clamp" and two screws. Remove the screws and lift out the LNB.

For a Sky minidish the LNB has a plastic spigot or "finger" which is pushed into the dish arm (except latest MK4 type which fits OVER the arm). To remove the LNB, remove plastic pin and place a piece of wood or thick card against the cap that faces the dish and strike it smartly with a piece of wood or mallet. The LNB spigot should spring out of the hollow dish arm.

Now the old LNB is free from the dish arm, cut off any self-amalgamating tape with a sharp blade or remove the rubber cap that keeps rainwater out of the screw "F" connector. Unscrew the "F" connector. If it is tight you will need an 11 mm spanner.

Check the cable for signs of corrosion. If water has entered it, the cable will be ruined and may cause some channels to give a "blocky" picture (or none at all). The typical life of unprotected cable outdoors is 5 years. You can protect the cable by giving it a good, thick coating of oil-based paint or by routing it through conduit or trunking.

Screw the cable to the new LNB. The modern quad-output LNB has an integral pulldown rain cover, but condensation can still get into the connections, so apply a liberal coating of silicone grease inside each 'F' plug, before tightening, then pull the cover down. If there is no such cover on your new LNB, use a rubber boot or self-amalgamating tape to waterproof the connection so that rainwater can not enter the connection. This is most important since water can quickly run down the inside of the cable and straight into your satellite receiver! If you don't have any self-amalgamating tape or boots, use Blu-Tack temporarily. DO NOT use any other tape such as PVC electrical tape, Sellotape or Duct tape, because it's impossible to make a waterproof seal and such tape will simply trap water inside, making a bad job even worse.

Unused LNB outputs can be protected with a little "Blu-Tack" to keep out moisture. If the LNB comes with plastic caps fitted to the output threads, put a little silicone grease into each cap and push onto unused output connectors.

See "How to fit an 'F' connector" and "Using silicone Grease".

Aligning the dish

If your dish needs realigning then, provided that it is only slightly misaligned and still receiving a signal, you can achieve perfect alignment by using your Sky Digibox.

Connect a portable TV to your Digibox with a cable long enough to reach. Position the portable TV in a window close to the dish or tie it to the ladder (care!) where you can see it. Don't bother to try the "wife looks and shouts instructions" method. It doesn't work!)

Select the Digibox signal menu by pressing [services] 4 6.

Set the dish to give maximum signal.

Set the LNB focal position (if adjustable) to give maximum signal.

Now rotate the LNB clockwise from vertical ("skew") to give maximum "signal quality". For more information about skew, click HERE.

If you are getting no signal at all, then you may need to use a meter to locate the satellite position first.

Please DO inspect the dish assembly on delivery. If there is a problem please REJECT the whole delivery so you don't have to pay for return postage. Cosmetic faults, such as scratched paint, are deemed acceptable because we advise you to paint all parts (except the LNB cap that faces the dish) to protect them from the effects of sun and rain. Matt paint is recommended.

Dents and distortion to the face of the dish (no matter how slight) are not acceptable and you should reject any delivery where there is such damage. Slight rim damage is usually permissible if it does not affect the dish face.

If any parts are missing, please contact our SALES department using the email form and state which parts are missing.

 

LNB Pictures

Sky minidish LNBs are different from standard LNBs.

1. They have a "spigot" or "finger" which slides into the dish arm.
2. They are designed to focus on an oval area. This prevents them from picking up excessive background noise, which an ordinary LNB will do when used with an oval dish.

How can I tell if I have a minidish LNB?

By inspection of the feed horn shape.

The SX1019 on the left has circular scalar rings inside the feed horn

The SX1019 on the left has circular scalar rings inside the feed horn. It is designed to be used with a nearly circular dish. (A dish which is truly circular when viewed from the focal point at which the LNB is fixed.)

The SX1019/S on the right is designed specifically for an oval* Sky minidish which is wider than its height. This type of LNB can also be used with a Raven dish of a similar shape to the Sky minidish.

Both LNBs are made by Philips. The one on the right, however, is branded "Skyware".

circular dish

*Whenever we refer to an "oval" dish or a "circular" dish, this is the approximate dish shape as seen by the LNB.

The dish on the left is circular as seen by the LNB, although it is taller than its width.

oval Sky dish

This dish is oval as seen by the LNB, as it is wider than its height.


"Pot Luck" Sky minidish LNBs.

We never know what type of LNB we are going to receive when we order a "Sky Minidish" LNB so we (and you) are left guessing till they arrive. Listed below are some that we've had in the past.

If you have a Channel Master dish (see photo) then the only LNB we could offer that would fit was the MTI QUAD-S819010705 (below). Supplies now have dried up but we think a MK4 LNB should fit, with a bit of bodging (drill a hole and fit a self-tapping screw).

Sky minidish LNBs

Sky LNB with pull-down cover

If you need to replace a Sky Minidish LNB, the first thing to do is measure the arm to which it fits.


Mk4 Sky LNB

Mk4 Sky LNB

The very latest Sky LNB was introduced in May 2009.

It has a pulldown cover to protect the connections from direct rain. All they need is a little silicone grease to keep moisture out.

LNB adapter

You are UNLIKELY to have this type unless your dish was fitted after May 2009. However, it is the only type we can now obtain and it can not be fitted to an earlier dish without a different mount.

< This optional old-style 28 mm converter mount is available (order separately) for the MK4 Sky Quad LNB shown above.

Only the new-style mount has the spirit level which cannot (normally) be transferred to the older style mount - unless you fancy a bit of hacking and glueing.

Note that the green fluorescene in the spirit level will fade in sunlight so it should be covered when not in use.

MK4 LNB mount

The MK4 mount has a "saddle" fitting that goes over the arm which is a 27 mm wide channel (not tube).
MK4 spirit level


Q. What is a "Zinwell Low Power LNB? Does this mean my signal will be weak?

A. No, it means that it uses less power than an early type LNB so your Digibox will run cooler.


Obsolete Types, below

Mk2-3 MTI QUAD-S819010705 LNB

MTI QUAD S819010705 LNB

 

Comes with plastic adapters to fit on various makes of Sky minidish and Sky zone 2 dishes. For the Triax dish with a hole in its arm, use the adapter with the hole and plastic pin. For other dishes choose the adapter that gives the best signal indication.

It has a pulldown cover to protect the connections from direct rain. All they need is a little silicone grease to keep moisture out.

Spigot dimensions 20 x 5 mm approx. (Mk2)
Spigot adapter dimensions: 28 x 18.5 mm (Mk3)

Red arrow points at the scalar steps on the LNB

Apply plenty of silicone grease to the spigot and adapter for ease of removal in the future.

Inside the MTI plastic cover is the actual metal casting. Red arrow points at the scalar steps, which are oval in shape to give optimum performance with an oval dish.


Mk3 The MTI QUAD S906009976

The MTI QUAD S906009976

 

Has a spigot measuring 28 x 18.5 mm and NO adapter mouldings. Fits most Sky minidishes but notably NOT the Channel Master minidish.

Has a pulldown cover for the 'F' connectors. 38.5 mm neck. Plastic pin supplied.


Mk2-3 Zinwell ZKF-BJ44 QUAD LNB

The red arrow indicates the 1 2 3 4 5 markings for setting the

The red arrow indicates the 1 2 3 4 5 markings for setting the LNB "skew". Start at 3 and adjust for optimum "signal quality" indication.

This LNB also has a pulldown cover to protect the connections from direct rain. All they need is a little silicone grease to keep moisture out.

Apply plenty of silicone grease to the spigot and adapter for ease of removal in the future.

Inside the Zinwell LNB plastic cover

Inside the Zinwell plastic cover is the actual metal casting. Red arrows point at the scalar steps, which are designed to give optimum performance with an oval dish.


Mk2 Wistron FF8 (13671)

Mk2 Wistron FF8 LNB

 

Sky minidish LNB with very small spigot that fits the old Channel Master dish. (No longer manufactured.)

Apply plenty of silicone grease to the spigot and adapter for ease of removal in the future.


Grundig Sky LNB

Here is a very early type of "Universal" LNB used with a Sky "minidish" (no longer manufactured).

Inside Grundig Sky LNB casing

Inside that plastic rain cover is the actual LNB. Note the difference in scalar ring height (red arrows). The side projections allow the LNB to focus on a wide area in the horizontal plane, while the top and bottom projections are longer and focus the LNB on a narrower area in the vertical plane. This LNB is designed specifically for an oval dish and will give very poor results with a dish that is roughly circular or a dish that is taller than it is wide.

The skew setting on the early type LNB

The skew setting on the early type LNB.


Philips SC519QS/S Quad output LNB

Here is an obsolete Philips SC519QS/S Quad output LNB, which used to be supplied with the SKY-plus system with adapters for the "minidish". The red arrow points to the special oval shaped "scalar" steps in the feed horn. These cause the LNB to focus exactly on the oval shape of the "minidish", using the full dish area but without picking up reflections from the wall behind. This type of LNB would not give good results with a circular dish.

Some dealers are offering a standard Twin-output or Quad output LNB with an adapter to fit the "minidish". The adapter fits a treat. Unfortunately, the LNB will not give optimum performance - and could result in "rain dropout" during bad weather.

(We can supply an adapter to fit a 40 mm LNB to a Sky minidish but you use it at your own risk).

However, you may prefer to buy a standard dish of, say, 60 cm diameter and use a standard 40 mm neck twin-output or quad-output LNB with this. The match and fitting will be perfect and the "rain dropout" will be very rare.

If you are fitting a Quad-output or OCTO LNB to your dish, read this page.

How to align a minidish, read this page.

For LNB "skew", read this page.

Understanding Sky Digital and Freesat

Installing Sky Digital and Freesat

Installing Freeview television

 

Return to SatCure index page

Copyright ©1997-2012 Martin Pickering
Version 1.5 updated on March 24, 2012
This file may be downloaded for private and personal use but NO part of it may be published in any form without the prior permission of the author.

Send this page address - CLICK HERE - to a friend !