I only used to clear the sat matri run with out the satellite connected) if I was switching arcs from western to eastern or if I was adding a side sat. I also did this with the older 211k or 722k Vip receivers. The newer receivers like the Hopper or Wally don't even have a good signal to read the strengths of the transponders till you have the check switch run. That is why I keep an older 211k in the closet to read the strengths when I am trying to aim and peak my sat dish, like I did this week when I installed the Wally. I had accidentally loosened the skew bolt when I was changing out the pan on my sat dish for the new one I had picked up. The 211k was easy to read the strengths for both sats on eastern arc.