Need help finding Hotbird 13E!

[matt20]

Hi everyone

I thought I'd take advantage of the day off and surprisingly mild hangover and try installing my first satellite system today. I am trying to find Hotbird at 13E to get the Italian TV channels.

Using a compass, I estimated the azimuth of 160 deg (SatLex Digital :: Technology :: Calculators :: AZ/EL Calculator) and roughly set an elevation of 29 deg.

Using the satellite setup menu on my Technomate 5200 D USB, I had a signal signal level and quality of 93% for 19.2E Astra, 26E Badr 3/4 and 56E Bonum 1, but nothing for Hotbird. I then moved the dish slightly to the south and picked up 9E Eurobird 9, but nothing else.

I know it may seem like a silly question, but any idea what am I doing wrong? How precise to I have to be with the azimuth/elevation? I am using a 60(H) x 80 (w) cm (approx) dish.

Do you think that getting a satellite meter is worth it? I am concerned that it may pick up a signal that I don't need.

Also, my LNB has a 1-5 scale on it - what does this do?

Thank you in advance for your help.

[bigtee]

Happy new year matt

Try a process of elimination:

1. Go back to Astra 19e (or any of the other satellites you "located"); once you've got strong signal and quality, actually scan the satellite and make a note of about 10-15 stations that you can actually watch on the telly; then come back and post it here and folk here will be able to confirm which sat you are definitely/actually on.

The reason for the above is that some of the sats use same frequency figures and though e.g. you say you "located" Bonum 56e, it could have been any other satellite; it could even have been Hotbird for all you know.

2. If you definitely locate Astra 1 19e, then locating Hotbird will be a piece of cake; it will be a case of simply moving dish (azimuth) about 1 inch to the right (looking from the back of the dish).

Hope that helps a bit.

[robbo71]

Hi, if you can get 9E, you are not far off at all.( Check that the channels actually match what's listed on Lyngsat, at the correct freqs)

All you need to do is swivel the dish east by 4 degrees and down a fraction and you will have it.

The beamwidth of your dish is about 3 degrees so as long as you a within a degree or so, you should pick somthing up.

Have you got a sky dish or a normal one?
That 1-5 is normally the skew adjustment for a sky LNB. I don't know which way the numbers go, but you want to wack it clockwise (from behind dish, looking at the sky) as far as it will go for 13E.

By the way, You wouldn't have picked up 56E on your dish, that footprint is over east Russia.

A meter does make things a llittle easier, but lately I've been using the receiver meter via a portable TV, as long as you can see it whilst adjusting, either will do.

Also, have a look at this:-
The satellite arc

a bit out of date, but you get the jist.

[matt20]

Thank you for your replies Bigtee and Robbo71 and a happy new year to you.

I will be getting back up the ladder on Saturday (weather permitting!) and scan the channels and post back. My only concern is that the front of my house faces approx 115 deg and the dish is almost against the wall (turning clockwise) already, so I may not be able to turn any further. I guess I will have to cross that bridge if and when I come to it.

Robbo71 - as far as I know, it's not a Sky dish, but I could be wrong. I'll change the skew settings anyway as you suggested.

Can I just say again many thanks for the informed and fast replies.

[robbo71]

Yes, if your wall is facing that way, you may need to get a bracket with a larger offset on it. Or a couple of 12inch T&K brackets and a short scaffold pole.

The reason I thought it might be a Sky dish is because of the shape, and the numbers on the LNB. Can you take a photo of it, and the LNB.

Happy New Year to you too.

[Jimdefruit]

Matt, when you are searching for a satellite using your receiver, you must first set the receiver to a strong fta channel for that satellite.

The reason for this is that the first transponder on a satellite list may not be transmitting so you wont see a signal even if you are pointing right at the satellite.

For Hotbird 13e, set your receiver to BBC World 12597 V 27500.

[matt20]

Managed to find Hotbird, excellent picture quality.

Thanks for all of your help!

[BIRCH]

Originally Posted by bigtee

Happy new year matt

Try a process of elimination:

1. Go back to Astra 19e (or any of the other satellites you "located"); once you've got strong signal and quality, actually scan the satellite and make a note of about 10-15 stations that you can actually watch on the telly; then come back and post it here and folk here will be able to confirm which sat you are definitely/actually on.

The reason for the above is that some of the sats use same frequency figures and though e.g. you say you "located" Bonum 56e, it could have been any other satellite; it could even have been Hotbird for all you know.

2. If you definitely locate Astra 1 19e, then locating Hotbird will be a piece of cake; it will be a case of simply moving dish (azimuth) about 1 inch to the right (looking from the back of the dish).

Hope that helps a bit.

Hi all,
I definitely can watch channels listed on lyngsat for the number 7 of Hotbird 13*E. However, the channel I am interested on is on 6A on lyngsat website.
How can I get these? Do I have to move the dish or add a new transponder or ???.
Thanks in advance for any help.

[Mickha]

Hi BIRCH,
welcome to the forum.
Can you please provide us with more information, your receiver, make/model, dish size, fixed or motorized, your general location and which channel you are intersted in viewing.
It might be a good idea to include your general set up in your profile as it would make it easier.