Applied Instruments Dual Buddy User manual

ECHOSTAR DISHPRO™, DP TWIN LNB (110° and 119°):
•Dual Cable Input: Follow DISH ALIGNMENT instructions on Page 4. With no
switching commands, the cable from the 119º side will carry the 119º signal and the
cable from the 110º side will carry the 110º signal.
•Single Cable Input: Connect a cable from input [1] to either side of the LNB head.
Press and hold the 22 kHz button for 3 seconds to enable DiSEqC™ switching. Now,
select the LNB according to the table on Page 4.
ECHOSTAR SUPERDISH™, three LNBs (DBS 110°/119°, and FSS 105° or 121°):
The Dual Buddy ™ can power two LNBs and the switch, but not all three LNBs at the
same time. Therefore, it is necessary to work with only two LNBs at the same time.
Connect the two outermost LNBs to the Dual Buddy; connect the DBS LNB to input port
[1] and the FSS LNB to input port [2]. Perform the following to align the dish:
•Follow DISH ALIGNMENT instructions on Page 4. See steps 2 and 3 under the
Dual Satellite section to align both outer LNBs. Do not use the FINE STENGTH
MODE (Step 4) when aligning this dish.
•Disconnect both the DBS and FSS LNBs from the Dual Buddy™. Connect the
middle (DBS) LNB to the Dual Buddy’s™ input port [1]. Verify that adequate
signal strength is being received.
ECHOSTAR DISHPRO™2 DISH SYSTEM:
The Dual Buddy™ cannot power all three LNBs and the multi-switch at the same time.
Connect the Dual Buddy™ between the multi-switch and LNB and align one dish at a
time. You may test the switch operation by connecting the Dual Buddy™ to a switch
receiver port and connecting one dish at a time to the switch. The cables to the dish may
be connected to any of the “to dish” ports on the switch.
ECHOSTAR LEGACY (DISH 500 TWIN LNB, 110° and 119°):
Connect both cables from the LNB head and follow DISH ALIGNMENT instructions on
Page 4. The Dual Buddy™ does not control the switch inside the LNB head so the cable
from the 119º side will carry the 119º signal and the cable from the 110º side will carry the
110º signal.
Connectors: The F-81 double F female barrels should be replaced when worn. When
changing the F-81 barrels, use a7/16” wrench. Be careful to protect and align the base
connector’s stinger when changing connectors.
Battery Charging: While the unit is off, charge it overnight to obtain a full charge. Do
not use a wall transformer other than the one provided. Improper voltage or current input
may damage the battery charge circuit and require non-warranted service work.
5
Dual Buddy ™ spare parts and associated labor:
Description
Material
Labor
Battery charger wall-transformer $5.85 ----
Battery charger auto-cigarette charger $8.00 ----
Protective rubber boot with clip $15.00 ----
F-81 double female barrel $2.00 ----
Battery pack $27.69 $5.00
Lexan face adhered to metal front panel $15.00 $5.00
Top metal end panel $3.00 $5.00
Bottom metal end panel(without charge jack) $3.00 $5.00
Base connector & cable that receives F-81 $7.00 $5.00
Shipping, handling and evaluation fees are extra.
Prices subject to change without notice.
The Applied Instruments Dual Buddy™ has a limited warranty against defects in
materials and workmanship for a period of twelve months. Applied Instruments agrees to
repair or replace any assembly or component (except F-connectors, battery, and neoprene
carrying case) found to be defective under normal use during this period. Applied
Instruments’ obligation under this warranty is limited solely to repairing the instrument
proved to be defective within the scope of the warranty when returned to the factory.
Transportation to the factory is to be arranged and prepaid by the customer.
Authorization by Applied Instruments is required prior to shipment.
Applied Instruments assumes no liability for secondary charges or consequential damages
and, in any event, Applied Instruments’ liability for breach of warranty under any
contract shall not exceed the purchase price of the instrument shipped, and against which
a claim is made.
Any application recommendations made by Applied Instruments for the use of its
products are based upon tests believed to be reliable, but Applied Instruments makes no
warranty of the results to be obtained. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties,
expressed or implied, and no representative or person is authorized to represent or assume
for Applied Instruments, any liability in connection with the sale of Applied Instruments
products other than that set forth herein.
Please keep your receipt of purchase to verify purchase date.
If it becomes necessary to have your Dual Buddy™ serviced, contact:
Applied Instruments, Inc.
5230 Elmwood Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46203 USA
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.appliedin.com
Revised10/2006
6
LNB: Low Noise Block amplifier. The portion of the antenna-dish that receives the
high-frequency signal reflected from the dish and then down-converts it to the L-
band (950-2150 MHz).
IRD: Integrated Receiver Decoder. Also referred to as the set-top box or satellite
receiver. The IRD processes the digital data carried by the RF signal and then
provides the baseband picture signal to the television.
RF: Radio Frequency signals
Cable: 75 Ohm coaxial cable
Dish: Oval shaped antenna hardware mounted on the exterior of the customer’s
premises.
The Dual Buddy™satellite meter measures relative RF signal strength when connected to
a dish antenna. It is designed for installing and maintaining typical DBS residential
satellite systems. In the balancing modes, the Dual Buddy™measures two satellite feeds
and displays their relative signal strength. The Dual Buddy™also measures LNB current
and the voltage being supplied to the LNBs. It can power LNBs and multi-switches using
its internal battery or allow IRD power to run through it.
Each Dual Buddy™package contains:
•Dual Buddy™meter
•Protective rubber boot with belt clip
•Wall plug transformer for charging battery
•Cigarette-lighter adapter for charging battery in automobile
•Instruction page
1
“Dual Buddy”™
Satellite Signal Meter
User Instructions
INTRODUCTION
MAINTENANCE
WARRANTY
APPLICATION NOTES
Con’t
DEFINITIONS
MAINTENANCE Con’t

Frequency Range........................950 to 2150 MHz
Impedance..................................75 Ohm
Measurable Input Level .............-48 to –8 dBm total power
-60 to –20 dBm per transponder
Insertion Loss.............................14 dB (950 to 1450 MHz)
22 dB (1450 to 2150 MHz)
Size (HxWxD)/Weight...............6.5” x 2.7” x 1.1”, 1.0 lbs.
(16.5 cm x 6.9 cm x2.8 cm, 455g)
Operating Temperature..............0º to 125º F (-17º to 50º C)
Connectors.................................F81 Double F female barrel (field replaceable)
Power.........................................Uses IRD power when connected, otherwise uses internal
battery. IRD voltage loss is 1.3 V.
LNB Power................................Current limited at 475 mA.
Internal Battery Pack..................Rechargeable 12 cell NiMH, 350 mAh, 12-16 volts nominal,
10 minute automatic shut off, 1.3 hours typical use per
charge.
Battery Charge Time..................12 hours from wall charger
Wall Charger Output..................12 VDC, 200 mA
Signal Measure Mode
•Signal Level Display..........Bar graph LEDs
•Audible Tone......................Dual beep rate with solid tone at peak and when balanced
Current/Voltage Mode
•LNB current draw ..............0 to 500 mA (each LED segment is 50 mA)
•LNB supply voltage ...........10 to 20 volts (each LED segment is 1V, above 9V)
Specifications subject to change without notice.
2
MODES
•SIGNAL STRENGTH: Measures and displays the signal strength on input
connector [1]. Each segment of the left LED bar graph is equal to 10 segments of the
right LED bar graph. To align the dish for maximum signal strength, obtain the
highest possible measurement on the left LED bar graph and use the right side LED
bar graph for fine alignment. The measurement displayed is relative signal strength;
more is stronger. The numeric value displayed is NOT tied to the IRD’s signal quality
value. However, after a few installs, you may learn to correlate the value on the Dual
Buddy™ to an approximate IRD value.
•COARSE BALANCE: Measures and displays the signal strength on input
connectors [1] & [2]. The measurement sensitivity is fairly coarse (4 dB per bar). The
left LED bar graph corresponds to input [1] and the right with input [2]. You should
achieve a peaked and balanced alignment in the COARSE BALANCE mode before
going to the FINE BALANCE mode.
•FINE BALANCE: Measures and displays the signal strength on inputs [1] & [2].
Because the FINE BALANCE mode is so sensitive (0.8 dB per bar), if you have not
previously peaked and balanced the alignment in the COARSE mode, the
measurement may be off scale and displayed as a flashing bar (top bar flashing for
above scale, bottom bar flashing for below scale). If this occurs, go to the COARSE
BALANCE mode to peak and balance the coarse alignment again.
•CURRENT/VOLT: Current drawn by the LNB(s) is displayed on the left LED bar
graph. Voltage being supplied is displayed on the right LED bar graph.
If the Dual Buddy™detects an over-current situation, it will switch to
CURRENT/VOLT mode and flash the highest LED segment on the CURRENT side.
LNB power will be shut off except for retesting every 4 seconds.
If the Dual Buddy™detects a voltage from the IRD greater than 20V or less than 10V
while in the CURRENT/VOLT mode, it will flash either the highest or lowest LED
segment on the VOLT side, respectively.
AUDIBLE TONE
•Press the audible tone button to turn the tone on or off. There are three tones: slow
beep, fastbeep and solid. The function depends on the measurement mode:
•In SIGNAL STRENGTH mode: The Dual Buddytracks the lowest and highest
signal strength found and uses a relative strength method to control the tone. In this
way, it adapts to provide the best feedback for the situation, but it needs to see both a
weak and a strong signal to work best. If you start from a weak signal position and
slowly sweep the dish up to and beyond the strongest position, the tone will change
from slow, to fast, solid and then fast again. The meter has now learned what the
highest peak is and when you move the dish back to the solid tone you will be at the
best position. If you start from a strong signal position, it will provide a slow beep
until it learns what the true minimum is.
•COARSE and FINE BALANCE: The audible tone beeps faster as the signal
strength of inputs [1] and [2] get closer to being equal. The audible tone will be solid
when the inputs are closely balanced.
3
SWITCH CONTROL
•Normal 22 kHz: A quick push of the 22 kHz button provides a 22 kHz tone to
the input [1] connector for controlling 22 kHz switches or universal LNBs.
Another quick push of the button turns off the 22 kHz tone.
•DiSEqC™: To control Eutelsat DiSEqC™ standard compatible switches, push
and hold the 22 kHz button for 3 seconds. The Dual Buddy™ beeps and the
adjacent LED flashes. With each new press of the button, a new DiSEqC™
command will be sent and the LED flash rate will change to indicate the LNB or
switch selection made. The commands are sent on input connector [1] only.
Flashes DiSEqCswitch DishProtwin DP 34/44switch
1A110°Dish 1
2B119°Dish 2
3C110°Dish 3
4D119°Dish 3
Mount the dish and adjust the azimuth, elevation, and skew per the instructions of the
service provider and hardware manufacturer.
•Singlesatellite:
1) Connect the Dual Buddy’s input [1] to the LNB.
2) Adjust the dish azimuth until signal strength is maximized on the display
or audible tone.
3) Adjust the dish elevation until signal strength is maximized.
•Dual Satellite:
1) Connect two cables from the LNB to input connectors [1] and [2].
2) In SIGNAL STRENGTH mode, adjust the dish until signal strength
on input [1] is maximized on the display or audible tone.
3) Select COARSE BALANCE mode and make small adjustments to
balance the left (input [1]) and right (input [2]) LED bar graphs or
until a solid audible tone is obtained.
4) Select FINE BALANCE mode and make small adjustments to
balance the left and right LED bar graphs or until a solid audible tone
is obtained.
DIRECTV™SINGLE SATELLITE:
•Follow DISH ALIGNMENT instructions above.
DIRECTV™MULTI-SATELLITE:
•Dual Cable Input: Follow DISH ALIGNMENT instructions above.
•Single Cable Input: Signal received without the 22 kHz tone activated is from the
101º satellite. Signal received with the 22kHz tone activated is from the 119º/110º
satellite signal.
Note: For North American DIRECTV™ multi-satellite antenna installations, do not try to
obtain a perfectly balanced measurement on the Dual Buddy’s ™ LED displays. At the
time of printing these instructions, there were 16 transponders measured by the Dual
Buddy™ from 101º and only 13 transponders from the 119º/110º satellites. We
recommend peaking the 101º feed and then bringing the 119º/110º feed to a level no more
than one bar less in the COARSE BALANCE mode and about 3 bars less in the FINE
BALANCE mode.
4
OPERATION
DISH ALIGNMENT
OPERATION
Con’t
SPECIFICATIONS
To IRD (unless using internal battery)
Battery Charger
Input
Audible Tone
ON/OFF
Measurement
Bar Graph
LEDs
Field Replaceable
F-81 Double F
Female Barrels
To LNBs
Mode Status LEDs
Mode Selection
LNB/Switch
Control
APPLICATION NOTES