1. "Polar Axis" Straight up when at True South Sat
2. retract the arm, loosen the clamp, slide down "west" until you find you most western Sat, then slide down "west" just a little. Now drive East and find and save your Sats.
3. dunno
4. check the reed like you did before. No pulse can be a few things, reed broke, reed not connected, motor broke (not turning), motor has no power.
5. they make standalone Sat Meters, cheap and expensive. For Me, an FTA receiver is the best.