Practice Test Geeks(SBCA) Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association Certification Practice Test
← All SBCA Flashcard Decks

Equipment Setup Flashcards

7 cards from real SBCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Equipment Setup flashcards as text

  1. What is the purpose of a 'bird dog' or satellite finder device during a dish installation?

    Answer: Provides an audible or visual signal strength indication to assist with peaking dish alignment

    A satellite finder (bird dog) provides real-time signal strength feedback — often via tone or LED — enabling the installer to peak dish alignment without needing a second person at the receiver.

  2. Which coaxial connector type is the industry standard for residential satellite and cable TV installations in the US?

    Answer: F-type

    The F-type connector is the standard threaded coaxial connector used throughout US residential satellite and cable TV wiring.

  3. When using a compression-type F-connector on RG-6 quad-shield cable, what is the correct order of preparation steps?

    Answer: Cut cable square, strip outer jacket, fold back braid/foil, trim dielectric, install and compress connector

    Proper compression connector installation requires a square cut, staged stripping to expose shield and dielectric, then inserting and compressing the connector with a compression tool.

  4. A satellite receiver requires an IF frequency range of 950–2150 MHz from the LNB. What band and standard does this represent?

    Answer: Ku-band standard universal LNB IF output

    950–2150 MHz is the standard IF output range of a Ku-band universal LNB, which down-converts both low and high local oscillator bands to this range.

  5. What effect does increasing the dish elevation angle beyond the correct setting have on the received signal?

    Answer: Decreases signal by pointing the dish above the satellite's actual position

    Setting elevation too high points the dish above the satellite, reducing signal just as effectively as pointing below it — both misalign the dish from the satellite.

  6. What is the maximum recommended coaxial cable run length for a standard Ku-band satellite installation before a line amplifier is typically needed?

    Answer: 150 feet

    RG-6 coax typically exhibits enough loss beyond 150 feet at Ku-band IF frequencies that a line amplifier may be needed to maintain adequate signal levels at the receiver.

  7. During a commercial VSAT installation, a technician must verify EIRP compliance. What does EIRP measure?

    Answer: The transmit power of the dish antenna in a given direction, combining transmitter power and antenna gain

    EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) is the product of transmitter output power and antenna gain, representing the effective power directed toward the satellite.