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Dear AV Forum Users
Like many, I am sure, I have been through a very frustrating experience in getting an Explora 2A and Explora DV3 installed with XtraView and multiple TVs, plus the installation of the Smart LNB.
I wish to share the solutions which worked for me:
Your Explora 2A will come with a Smart LNB, generally with three or four UniCable and one or two Universal Connectors. Note that the one of the UniCable Connectors is not terminated ? all unused UniCable must be terminated.
The UniCable Connectors are for your Explora DSTv Decoders ? as the name infers you need just one cable per Explora ? this will give you excellent HD.
The Universal Connector(s) are for your non-Explora Decoders.
Note that the connectors for the UniCable and Universal are F-Type Connectors.
Remove the old LNB from your satellite dish, noting the angle of the cables coming out of the old LNB, for a typical installation in Johannesburg this angle, looking at the front of the dish, will be between 16h00 and 17h00 ? or ~ 57? below the horizontal. This is called the Skew Angle.
Connect the cable(s) to the Smart LNB making sure that you get the Explora Decoder cable(s) into the UniCable port(s) and the non-Explora cable(s) into the Universal port(s).
Insert the LNB into the Dish LNB cradle at a ~16h30 angle and attach the mounting bracket, tighten the securing screws lightly, ensuring that you can rotate the LNB on the cradle.
Connect the Coaxial cables from the LNB to your Exploras, no particular order, to the UniCable/ Satellite-In ports.
Now connect The RF-Out port on the Primary Decoder with the RF-In port on the Secondary Decoder ? this provides the XtraView heartbeat.
Grab a helper to sit in front of your TV, tuned into the Primary (Explora 2A) decoder and set-up a WhatsApp or FaceTime call, get your helper to press the ?Help? button on the remote, ?General Information?, ?Tuner Status? ? this screen will show ?Signal Strength? and ?Signal Quality? ? anything above 70% should be good enough, but aim for the highest you can get, now rotate the LNB a couple of degrees and see if the Signal Strength and Quality has improved. Do this iteratively until you obtain the best result.
Once done tune into the Secondary decoder (Explora DV3) ? Signal Strength and Quality should be good.
Now tighten the LNB cradle securing screws.
Tune into the Secondary (Explora DV3) decoder and navigate to settings:
Blue DSTv Button;
5 x right arrow;
Settings;
Satellite Settings;
Home Network
OK
Makes the following changes:
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 2040
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 1006
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 1057
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 3
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 4
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 5
You should now have clear pictures on both your Primary and Secondary Decoders (make sure that the Decoders are tuned into different channels (so as to ensure that indeed both decoders are functioning correctly).
CONNECTING A SECOND OR MORE TVs
Prepare a T-Piece and connect F-Connectors with coaxial cable.
One goes to your Second TV, one goes to the Secondary Decoder RF-Out, remove the heartbeat cable from both Decoders and insert the last connection from the T-Piece into the Primary Decoder RF-Out port, the heartbeat will connect via the T-Piece assembly.
The default RF-Out frequency on both decoders is Ch 63, 807.25 MHz, clearly the two RF-Out signals will interfere with each other.
Tune into your Secondary Decoder and navigate to settings:
Blue DSTv Button;
5 x right arrow;
Settings;
System Settings;
UHF
OK
Change UHF Tuning to Ch 40, 623.25 MHz
Now re-tune your TVs
Should you have multiple TVs you will need to insert a Splitter or Switch, connecting the TV connector (above) to the In port on the Splitter and feed out to your other TVs via the Out ports.
You have just saved yourself a few thousand of Rands!
Like many, I am sure, I have been through a very frustrating experience in getting an Explora 2A and Explora DV3 installed with XtraView and multiple TVs, plus the installation of the Smart LNB.
I wish to share the solutions which worked for me:
Your Explora 2A will come with a Smart LNB, generally with three or four UniCable and one or two Universal Connectors. Note that the one of the UniCable Connectors is not terminated ? all unused UniCable must be terminated.
The UniCable Connectors are for your Explora DSTv Decoders ? as the name infers you need just one cable per Explora ? this will give you excellent HD.
The Universal Connector(s) are for your non-Explora Decoders.
Note that the connectors for the UniCable and Universal are F-Type Connectors.
Remove the old LNB from your satellite dish, noting the angle of the cables coming out of the old LNB, for a typical installation in Johannesburg this angle, looking at the front of the dish, will be between 16h00 and 17h00 ? or ~ 57? below the horizontal. This is called the Skew Angle.
Connect the cable(s) to the Smart LNB making sure that you get the Explora Decoder cable(s) into the UniCable port(s) and the non-Explora cable(s) into the Universal port(s).
Insert the LNB into the Dish LNB cradle at a ~16h30 angle and attach the mounting bracket, tighten the securing screws lightly, ensuring that you can rotate the LNB on the cradle.
Connect the Coaxial cables from the LNB to your Exploras, no particular order, to the UniCable/ Satellite-In ports.
Now connect The RF-Out port on the Primary Decoder with the RF-In port on the Secondary Decoder ? this provides the XtraView heartbeat.
Grab a helper to sit in front of your TV, tuned into the Primary (Explora 2A) decoder and set-up a WhatsApp or FaceTime call, get your helper to press the ?Help? button on the remote, ?General Information?, ?Tuner Status? ? this screen will show ?Signal Strength? and ?Signal Quality? ? anything above 70% should be good enough, but aim for the highest you can get, now rotate the LNB a couple of degrees and see if the Signal Strength and Quality has improved. Do this iteratively until you obtain the best result.
Once done tune into the Secondary decoder (Explora DV3) ? Signal Strength and Quality should be good.
Now tighten the LNB cradle securing screws.
Tune into the Secondary (Explora DV3) decoder and navigate to settings:
Blue DSTv Button;
5 x right arrow;
Settings;
Satellite Settings;
Home Network
OK
Makes the following changes:
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 2040
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 1006
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 1057
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 3
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 4
User Band Tuner 1 Frequency 5
You should now have clear pictures on both your Primary and Secondary Decoders (make sure that the Decoders are tuned into different channels (so as to ensure that indeed both decoders are functioning correctly).
CONNECTING A SECOND OR MORE TVs
Prepare a T-Piece and connect F-Connectors with coaxial cable.
One goes to your Second TV, one goes to the Secondary Decoder RF-Out, remove the heartbeat cable from both Decoders and insert the last connection from the T-Piece into the Primary Decoder RF-Out port, the heartbeat will connect via the T-Piece assembly.
The default RF-Out frequency on both decoders is Ch 63, 807.25 MHz, clearly the two RF-Out signals will interfere with each other.
Tune into your Secondary Decoder and navigate to settings:
Blue DSTv Button;
5 x right arrow;
Settings;
System Settings;
UHF
OK
Change UHF Tuning to Ch 40, 623.25 MHz
Now re-tune your TVs
Should you have multiple TVs you will need to insert a Splitter or Switch, connecting the TV connector (above) to the In port on the Splitter and feed out to your other TVs via the Out ports.
You have just saved yourself a few thousand of Rands!
