Installation Help

[clubfoot]

Hi.

Just set up my motorised satellite system, ive followed all the guides but when it comes to getting a quality reading it just stays at 20-22 and stays red.

My Level is ok at 85.

Ive positioned my dish due south and then sent it to 5w, closest sat to my long. 4.1w. I have then turned the whole rig around the pole and tweaked the dish elevation, still no change is quality.

Ive just ran a meter through the lnb, no change. I even tried a different lnb, still nothing.

I have no obstructions in the southern sky, as you can see here:



Does anyone have any suggestions, getting worried now

Thanks

[robbo71]

Hi,

This is a very common problem, it is surprisingly difficult to get a signal without a bit of practice.

I was trying to set up a 110cm yesterday, and had trouble finding my true south satellite for some reason( I usually find it very easily).

When I get this problem, I always resort to trying to find a channel on 28.2E instead, it is usually easier to find.

Just send the motor to 28E and try and find that instead. Once ypu have found it, tweak it all up the best you can.
Then send the dish to 5W, and repeat, it will be easier to find when you are already very close.

Robbo

[clubfoot]

Hi Robbo

Thanks for your reply.

Ive tried sending the motor to 28.2e and astra but I cant get any improvement in quality. No matter how much tweaking I do.

Even If I point the whole rig at a wall it still stays the same!!

Looks like I will have to get someone in to help

[robbo71]

Try the following:-

Take the motor off. Put the dish on the pole and set the elevation correct for 28E for you location. Then really gradually step the dish round 1 degree at a time until you get a signal.
If you cant find anything, adjust the dish elevation a degree at a time down, and repeat, then do it with adjusting the dish elevation up instead.
You will find the satellite, if you have clear line of site.

Remember 1 degree around the pole is only about half a millimeter.

When you do find the satelite, you would have had a bit of practise, and be more prepared to set it up with the motor.


Another thing worth checking, now that you have the dish up, is that those houses in the distance are not in the way. As I said before, I don't think so, but worth checking anyway.

[clubfoot]

Hi Robbo

Ive got my dish as high as i can get it on a south facing wall, roughly 8 foot up.

I spent about 6-7 hours yesterday tweaking and tuning the dish/rig and i didnt get a budge out of the signal quality on different sats/tp, even the stronger ones.

Dont know where im going wrong, geting desperate now

Thanks for your reply

[robbo71]

In order to check that your cable and receiver are OK, try connecting them up to your Sky dish.

You can also check the LNB is OK as well by temporarily 'bodging' it onto the Sky dish. Least this way we we know all your hardware is OK. You can even hold it in the right place. Try 11642V 27500 2/3 on 28.5E, This looks to be nice and strong.

Have you tried pointing the dish the same way the Sky one is pointing. I always find this is a good starting point if stuck.

[clubfoot]

Hi Robbo

Ive just hooked up my tm to the sky cable and i can pick up 28.5, it also shows a signal on 19.2e, 23.5e and oddly 7w and 58e. Mostly sky channels though. Some of the tp's on these dont have a signal though.

By this can i assume that i should be able to pick up these sats with ease with a 1m, altlhogh the dish is a few feet lower down, but with no difference in obstructions.

Ive pointed it the same way as a sky dish that is on a house just to the west of mine and still nothing, quality 20-22. no picture on a any tp.

As for the lnb, a mate came round with a meter last night and a new lnb he had and there was no change in quality, bat was very low on meter though, could that have affected the readings?

Getting so frustrated with the quality bar not moving, nearly had a fit of rage with a hammer and the dish!!!

Thanks again Robbo

[robbo71]

Yes, you will easily pick up 28E with a 1m

Forget the other satellites on the sky dish as its pointed at the moment, you are being fooled. It is simply that the selected transponder also exists on the other satellites, so it is getting a signal, but not from the correct satellite.

You still have not got a positive result with YOUR lnb and YOUR cable though. It would be best to confirm their operation before proceeding. Proving that something else doesn't work, doesn't prove yours does.

Adjusting a 1m dish is more difficult than a sky dish, as the beamwidth is only about 1.6 degrees, so you have to be very accurate.

If your Sky dish can get a signal, then your !m dish will be able to, if it is in the same position.

Can you post a piccie of the two dishes side by side?

Originally Posted by clubfoot

Getting so frustrated with the quality bar not moving, nearly had a fit of rage with a hammer and the dish!!!

LOL!. I think there was a video on You Tube, of someone doing that. It was not pretty.

[clubfoot]

Ok will try and get a pic.

Chucking it down at the moment.

Not too keen on taking the lnb off the sky dish, still very new to all this and not confident enough to mess with it. Missus would kill me if i buggered something up. I will try a new section of cable from the lnb to dish and motor, see if that changes anything.
But then again that would not prove if either lnb or cable is to blame if there is no change.

Think it would be best to get an installer/engineer in, does anyone know of one in north wales?

Thanks robbo

[robbo71]

The Sky lnb just pulls out the arm after extracting the plastic pin, but I know what you mean, you don't want to bugger it up if that is all you have working at the moment.

I always have at least two dishes on 28.2E, so I can always mess one up, without worrying.

Installers for a motorised system can be quite expensive, probably 150-200 quid.

I have one more suggestion, but you may think it is stupid, but here goes anyway. Go get another minidish, have a practice with that, to gain confidence.