Sat Finder

The Linkstar modem itself will adequately detect the satellite and help you peak up.  The inconvenience is that you need the modem and PC next to the antenna and use command rep tcmp.  It will tell you the raw QPSK BER every few seconds. Get the value as low as possible, like 0.00005

To set up the modem you need a configuration string from your service provider which is a single line of text to type in.

You need to know your azimuth, elevation and polarisation angles. Use my lat long finder.

Set the feed polarisation.  Set the beam eleavtion. Swing the dish and as you pass the satellite the modem RX will start flashing green.  Set to the middle of the green LED drop out positions in az and el.  Peak up using tcmp and the BER readout.

Power off and connect the BUC cable.  Talk to the hub.

Here is a 700k bytes pdf linkstar installation manual https://www.satsig.net/linkstar/linkstar-vsat-rcst-installation-manual-2005.pdf

A satfinder is nice to have if you know it has been programmed correctly to match a known existing carrier your satellite, your polarisation and your LNB, but a satfinder is not essential. Otherwise a satfinder is a rather sensitive noise power meter.

Best regards, Eric.