Motorised? Easy when you know how!

[bigtee]

Got a SG2100A off Southern Satellite a week ago; put it through its paces today (though dismantled now for future permanent setting up). Easy Peasy, piece of cake!

All techniques learned from here; thanks to all who's passed on tips especially for the motorised set up guides.

Ground mounted (not even perfectly vertical!); set latitude on motor; set dish to correct 'declination'; point roughly due south (did not even try to locate Thor); using USALS sent dish to Astra 2 (28e); make small alignment adjustment (aka wiggle it a bit); got about 80% quality. Tracked 7e, 10e, 13e, 16e, 19e, 28e, 42e (with obstructed view); western satellites impossible because of various obstructions including 2 trees.

All with Lidl 80cm (70cm really) dish and Fortec 5400 receiver. Incidentally, the Lidl dish held well for 16e.

Now, I have to get a ladder sometime and do it for real/permanent on the wall. Good thing is that T&K wall mount is already in place done by a Pro.

Meanwhile, just out of plain curosity, can anyone identify the LNB below: from an old Sky dish being thrown away?

[nanochickin]

Looks like an old Bluecap from the days of Astra 1a & 1b

I don't think it can reach the frequencies that are used by satellites now

Stick it on ebay as if i remember rightly they can be used for amature radio



Nano

[bigtee]

Ah, thanks for that Nano; I was going to chuck it!

[Robbo]

Yes, you're right bigtee, it is one of those things that seems really difficult as a beginner, but once you have done it, it is easy peasy. The trickier bit though is getting it exactly on the arc, but for all but the really weak sats it is relatively easy as well.