Changing the Satellite Format

This document references the [Menu 9] section of your Chaparral Monterey 100 owner's manual.

In your receiver, each satellite's format setting tells the receiver how many channels are present, and the frequency and polarity for each channel. This is pretty standardized on C-band satellites, but on Ku-band each satellite can be different.

To find the format of the satellite you're currently viewing, open in [Menu 9] and look at the line [Format]. For all C-band satellites the format is "4 GHZ". For Ku satellites it can be many things, including cryptic names like "Anik Split" and "Gstar 16". Unfortunately, these names don't really mean much except to Chaparral engineers. You can find a rudimentary explanation of them on (or about) page 31 of your owner's manual. The number of channels on Ku-satellites varies from 6 to 32.

Generally speaking, Ku-band satellites in the same name series have the same format. For instance, all Telstar, Anik, GE and Spacenet Ku-band satellites share a format. (Unfortunately, this is not not always true - SBS 2, 4 and 5 are different from SBS-6, and Galaxy 4 is different from Galaxy 7. Go figure.)

If you cannot receive a program on Ku-band satellite and the dish is aimed correctly, the two most likely problems are the frequency and the polarity. The frequency and polarity your receiver uses for each channel depend on the format it has been told to use for that satellite. The first thing to do in troubleshooting is to manually enter the correct frequency and adjust the polarity. (Use the link provided for instructions.)

The next thing to do is to make sure the format is correct. To check the format, switch to another satellite in that series and check its format. To do this:

Go to your [Satellite] menu and look at another satellite in the series.
Go to [Menu 9] and note its format.
Exit by hitting the [View] key to get back to a blank screen.
Open the [Satellite] menu and change satellites to the one giving you the problem.
Go to [Menu 9] and confirm that the satellite's format is the same as its series relative. If not, press the left and right [Arrow-Cursor] keys. You will see that the format name changes with each press. Your picture should change as well, since the receiver will be looking at the satellite differently with each format change.
After you have confirmed the format is correct or you've corrected it, go to [Menu 7]. Confirm that the frequency shown on the channel you're viewing is correct.
If the frequency is correct, move the cursor to [Polarity] and press [Autotune]. The receiver will adjust its polarity and the picture should come in.
If the frequency or polarity still are not correct, consult the document Changing the Channel Frequency or Polarity and make corrections as needed, then autotune the polarity again.

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Copyright 1997, Dr. Albert E. Powell, Jr.
Please request permission to re-use or reproduce this document.