How to Adjust an LNB Skew

By Timothy Burns

A satellite TV dish LNB must be perfectly aligned to receive signal.
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The LNB is the part on a satellite television dish that is installed at the end of the small, straight arm. "LNB" stands for "low noise block-down" converter, and is often referred to as the "eyes" on the dish. This electronic device receives the digital signal from satellites and begins the process of converting the digital signal into television broadcasting that your TV recognizes. The LNB and dish must be perfectly focused on the satellites, and are adjusted by setting the skew, elevation and azimuth of the dish.

Connect the satellite TV receiver to the television using the RCA style or coaxial cable. Power both devices on, and using the receiver's remote, navigate to the setup menu. One of the options is entitled "dish alignment" or something similar (actual wording changes by manufacturer).

Select the "dish alignment" option, and then using the number pad on the remote, insert your ZIP code in the appropriate field on the TV screen. The receiver will read back to you the skew, elevation and azimuth settings for your geographic location. These settings are different for every city in the country.

Go back outside to the satellite dish. The elevation and skew can be preset on the dish before mounting the dish to the home. This will make the process of aligning the dish with the satellite much easier.

On the back of the dish, where the dish mounting bracket connects to the dish's pole bracket, you will find three bolts. On the back of the dish mounting bracket, you will also see a set of angle measurements that resemble the protractor you used in high school geometry class.

Loosen the three bolts that connect the pivoting parts with either the 7/16- or the 1/2-inch wrench. Rotate the dish and set the pointer on the bracket to the recommended skew angle. Retighten the three bolts to hold the dish in the proper alignment.

When anchoring the dish's mounting pole, make sure the pole is 100 percent vertical, or perfectly plumb, not tilted in any direction. The mounting pole must be vertically aligned so that the skew is accurate. A tilted mounting pole will affect the dish and LNB skew angle and make it more difficult to finish aligning the dish.

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