Monoblock fitting problem.

[jontydog]

The altdvb I am using says my hardware driver does not support diseqc 1.0 so I changed the driver settings which came up with 1.2

[BGonaSTICK]

Originally Posted by jontydog

...says my hardware driver does not support diseqc 1.0...

Sounds like a load of crap. What driver are you using? If it doesn't support 1.0, it blimmin' well should!

This sounds like a really good candidate for the source of your problem to me.

[jontydog]

I have just found the proper diseqc settings in the settings for each satellite so I have set Hotbird on Simple LNB1 and Astra on Simple LNB 2. I didn't realise they were there I just saw diseqc console in the tools section and assumed that was it. Gonna have a fine tune with the astra side of the lnb now to see what happens

[jontydog]

Given up for now. Beginning to think nanochicken is right and the disecq switch is buggered. The other lnb that should be picking up astra (and was picking it up the other night) is doing nothing at all.

[jontydog]

been browsing fleabay just now and found a 4 way disecq switch for 9 quid brand new with free postage. Would this work if its just the disecq switch in the monoblock or would it just pick up the one lnb? Still gonna get it because i am setting up another dish on astra 2 but was wondering if it would fix the diseqc prob aswell.

[BGonaSTICK]

I assume that the switch in the monoblock will continue to default as it does now to LNB1, as will the new switch - so it won't give you anything extra.

It might even refuse to work at all as you can't chain ordinary switches like that and expect them to switch normally.

[jontydog]

Cheers for the info stick it may just be that its not picking astra up because its not aligned as I have had to go back to the old tape and lnb holder so the actual lnb is not properly secure but I might just go the whole hog and get a new monoblock one of the lemon 0.2 ones and get a new lnb holder if possible. This is starting to turn into a proper saga and getting a bit fed up of it to be honest. >

[diapason]

Thought to come in on your problem as I have also just spent a frustrating week, not with a monobloc or a computer but with 2 separate LNBS but it's sorted now.

The one stupid thing I did was to have the LNB picking up 13E higher than the one picking up 19.2E which was the wrong way round. 19.2E (Astra) is lower in the sky so the LNB must be higher and to the left as you face the dish. STICK was very helpful as were others so have a look at my thread entitled "Problems with two LNBs" and see if any of that is helpful.

The other problem was keeping everything steady enough so that individual LNBs didn't move around but I managed using a wooden wedge to raise one LNB up 5 mm and two blue plastic Rawlplugs to raise the whole arm on which my 2 LNBs are mounted.

I'm still changing one down wire around between two LNBs but I got the angles right and now have both LNBs picking up what they should. I thought I should do that before even considering including the switch box into the equations, so now I've got that sorted, the switch box will be my next adventure at the weekend. It might be fun wiring the DisEq switch box and that might give me another set of problems, but a week ago I thought I'd NEVER be able to pick up 2 satellites on the one dish, so don't get disheartened!!

I never assume anything, but is it the case that when YOU have the LNBs picking up what they should, the end receiver is a computer rather than a satellite box?

[jontydog]

hi diapason. Yes m8 at the end of my cabling is a PCI satellite receiver in my PC. Tried wedging stuff underneath the lnb yesterday and I have to admit it worked for a bit, so I might even give that a go tomorrow I have some wood and a jigsaw and about 3 miles of tape to codge it all up. The other night when I had it all set up I was getting one satellite from lnb 1 and the other from lnb 2 so I assume it works ok once set up. Will be a bit more patient this week as I am back at work on nights so when I get to it at 4 in the morning there will not be as many distractions.

[diapason]

Hi again jontydog,

I have both LNBs mounted on a curved metal strip with a slot in it, but when mounted, the LNBs were looking along the line of the arm and were too low to be anywhere near the focus of the dish, so that's why I sawed a wooden wedge, in the shape on a miniature slice of cheese. It was the shape taken from a piece of tongued and grooved floorboard and just the right shape!!

I then used longer bolts to secure this curved metal strip to the arm of the dish, slackened them off and put the wooden wedge underneath, at the front end facing the dish, which raised the angle so that the LNBs were pointing more upwards and nearer the centre of the dish. On tightening up all this, the metal strip then settled down at the right angle, pointing upwards. You have to experiment with the thickness of the wedge, and then I also rotated the LNBs in their holders to try to get an increase in the signal strength. I found that for 13E you rotate the LNB a little clockwise (as you face the dish from the front) and the one receiving 19.2 is about level - that's for Paisley in Scotland, but it might give another hint.