It is NOT a Tripod and can be set up with a small foot print.

Most of the stands being used are a post on top of a tripod. The stands have no gauges. All the adjustments are being made to the gauges on the dish not on the stand. Not counting the electronic stands mounted on the roof or the ones with a single LNB, most of the current stands do not have accurate gauges. Some may have a built-in level and that is usually on the base not the mast.

With the “PDQ Signal” stand, the first time it is used, it must be calibrated with the dish. However, after the initial setup, no tools are required when setting the stand and aligning the dish for the "Standard Model" and only a 1/2 inch socket is needed to align the "HD Model".

After the first time, when the calibration is required, the average setup & obtaining a strong signal should be about 10 to 15 minutes.

In setting up the “PDQ Signal” stand you enter the local zip code in the setup menu of the satellite's control unit and the alignment settings for the satellites are displayed.

Azimuth is one of the settings and is the starting point in locating the satellites signal. With the “PDQ Signal”the stand is a compass with large and easy to read azimuth points. The result is the base, with large azimuth reading, eliminates any question as to the direction to point the dish.

With other stands, because the signals from the satellite is reflected to the LNB at an angle, and the stand and the dish are not keyed to a azimuth gauge, there is always a question as to setting the azimuth starting point.

Two steps have been taken to assure accurate azimuth readings with these stands:
1. By using non-magnetic material for the stand, the interference to the built-in compass is reduced to only surrounding objects. Placing the stand away from large metal object such as a car or a motor home will help orientate the stand to a magnetic north.
2. This stand has 3/4 inch threaded rods for the 4 legs. Each leg can be adjusted up to 11 inches. This allows the stand to be placed on uneven ground. Using the compass that is in the base, the stand can be set to a magnetic north regardless of the terrain.
The other settings in the setup menu are Elevation and Skew/Tilt.

For these settings to be accurate it requires that the mast be plumed. This is important! Multi satellites are used by the dish. Both “PDQ Signal” stand's masts have built-in levels that are at right angles to each other allowing the mast, not the base, to be plumb. By using the threaded legs on the base, the levels on the mast can be adjusted to assure that the mast is plumed.

Some stands have the levels on the base itself and not on the mast. This may lead you to thinking that the mast is plumb. Most likely the mast has some play in it and is not true 90 degrees to the base.

With the Standard Model the stand has built-in elevation and skew gauges on the mast to help set the elevation and skew. This can be done before or after the dish is put in place.

With the 2 inch OD model the dish base has a screw adjusted elevation with an easy to read tilt gauge that can also be set prior to placing the dish on the stand.