dish alignment - constant 56% level? can't be right

[DNH]

i have just installed (should say RE-installed) my satellite dish following a house move. it's the first time i have done the whole thing myself but i think everything is ok so far EXCEPT that i can't seem to tune in to anything! admittedly, i don't have a signal meter or even a compass to help with alignment but i was hoping that a bit of dead reckoning and blind luck would do it (it did last time). or am i being too naive here?

furthermore, the signal level indicator on the receiver screen shows about 57% (absolute max 60%) NO MATTER WHERE I POINT IT! surely that can't be right? that was going to be my yardstick. this is of course without being tuned in to anything.

i now have a sneaking suspicion that my LNB may have suffered water damage during the move, or rather in the time between moving and getting it installed again. what are the symptoms of LNB water damage? is it this kind of thing where there is apparently no signal whatsoever no matter where you point the dish?

any advice and suggestions gratefully received.
cheers

[Mship]

Hi DNH

:welc1: to the forum mate.

It's pretty hard to pin this down as their are quite a few things it could be :?

It could be, as you say, a faulty LNB. Is their anyway you can check your's out on another dish?

Or it could be a dodgy cable. I would try and get hold of a multimeter and check this out first.

I've never tried aligning a dish without a meter or compass :? As your trying to align it 'blind' I would think it might need quite a bit of patience Some of the other guy's on here are often re-aligning their kit so they might have more of an idea of your chances of success using this method

I would test the cable, then try either another LNB on your dish or your LNB on another dish. At least this way you can eliminate two of the possible problems

Good luck

Kev

[BGonaSTICK]

Good advice from Kev.

Dish alignment can be a bit hit and miss without 'tools'. Sometimes just throwing it up gives instant results, whilst other times you'll just get nothing. That's when you should bite the bullet and follow the text book.

When you've realigned the same dish in the same location several times, you naturally find existing 'features' - a fence post, washing line, TV aerial, chimney stack etc. - to align with roughly before fine-tuning.

A new install (or a change of location like you've experienced) will just mean that you need to re-establish that familiarity.

It's your choice really. Continue waving it about in the hope you'll drop on something (and you surely will if you stick at it for long enough) or take the more scientific approach and get a meter and/or a compass.

If you don't have 100% confidence in your LNB, then eliminate those things indicated by mship, and then replace your LNB.

From that point on, it's just azimuth and elevation. That doesn't mean to say it'll be quick and easy though

Welcome to the forum. Patience will get you there

[nanochickin]

You can use the signal meter that is part of the receiver. Thats how i have set up all my dishes in the past. Use your receiver and a portable tv where you can see it.

Just put in the frequency, Polorization (H or V) SR and FEC in the receiver and then move the dish slowley until the signal meter moves. I would try setting up for Astra 1 or 2 as they seem to have the strongest signals within the UK atm

You can then use it as a point of reference for tunning into other birds.



nano