How to find satellite with LinkStar modem

If you are in Africa, try one of these pages:
https://www.satsig.net/maps/satellite-dish-pointing-west-africa.htm
https://www.satsig.net/maps/satellite-tv-dish-pointing-south-africa.htm

Write down the details.

The LinkStar modem itself is perfectly good for finding the satellite and peaking up.  You can have as well a simple power meter or even a spectrum analyser but these are not essential. 

1. Set the polarisation to nominal (as you are told by the service provider - either horizontal or vertical.  Horizontal means the broad faces of the LNB waveguide are on either side)

2. Adjust the polarisation angle accurately, facing the satellite positive + angles are clockwise. Aim for 1 deg rotation accuracy, which is not easy.  An inclinometer sideways across the LNB or BUC surface is suggested as the feed throat scale is tiny and very crude (e.g. 15 deg step)

3. Set the beam elevation angle using the scale on the bracket behind the dish.

4. Pretune your LinkStar modem with the text string supplied by your service provider.

5. Swing the dish boldly sideways.  The modem rx light will go green (and start flashing) as you pass the satellite.  Centre the beam very, very accurately.  Spend at least 40 minutes peaking up.  Read out the raw BER at least 30 times while adjusting till you have four zeros after the decimal point, like this 0.0000x

6. Power off and connect the BUC.
wxw
Best regards, Eric.