Quick alignment query!

[Miklos]

Here goes. I have my motor 'zero'd' on 13.0E (Hotbird) and when I scan the eastern skies I can't pick up anything further east of Astra 28.2, because my dish dips too much when moving across the arc.
The same goes for the western skies, I can pick up Eurobird 9 and that's it.

When I first set up my dish, I could comfortably pick up Thor (1.0W), Atlantic Star (5.0W) and Sirius (5.0E). But with that set up I couldn't pick up Astra 28.2E because of the dish elevation as it turned. So, I compromised and moved the dish to centre on Hotbird, as I use mostly Hotbird, Astra's 19.2 & 28.2E.

But, I want to be able to pick up 1W, 5W & 4E again.

I have a clear view of the skies from 5W to about 60E with no obstacles.

Any suggestions before I manually adjust my dish again?

It just means if I manually move the dish then I would have to reset all the Disqec saved settings :~(

My dish by the way is a Triax 88cm on a Motek motor.

[robbo71]

The dish is supposed to tilt down as it turns away from the top of the arc (near 1W for you).

If it is tilting down too far it means you have got it setup all wrong.

Firstly your pole must be plumb and your motor elevation correct.

Then you need to send the dish to 1W (0.8W) using USALS,
and tilt the dish (adjust declination) and swivel the motor round the pole for max signal on 11325H.

It should then roughly follow the arc.

Have you read the motor setup stickies inthe FAQS section, it is all explained in there.


Robbo

[Miklos]

Originally Posted by robbo71

The dish is supposed to tilt down as it turns away from the top of the arc (near 1W for you).

If it is tilting down too far it means you have got it setup all wrong.

Firstly your pole must be plumb and your motor elevation correct.

Then you need to send the dish to 1W (0.8W) using USALS,
and tilt the dish (adjust declination) and swivel the motor round the pole for max signal on 11325H.

It should then roughly follow the arc.

Have you read the motor setup stickies inthe FAQS section, it is all explained in there.


Robbo

Thanks Robbo!

I know the motor is supposed to tilt the dish, but it does lean a bit far when pushed to it's limits!

Sounds too complex when it's explained like that. I'm pretty sure I followed everything to the rule.
As I am getting perfect signals from my chosen satellites (100% on some transponders from 28.2E and 80%+ from Hotbird), I'll leave it be until I buy myself a new pole & brackets.
I think the pole could be the bad egg in the set-up.
Still using the poxy 'L' shaped bracket which came with my motor & dish pack!
It's not even straight when you look at it close up :~ the plate which bolts to the wall is way off whack with the actual 'L' section. Whoever welded it needs thicker glasses

Mike

[robbo71]

Yes, it can look pretty damn stupid at the horizon, basically because its vertially pointing at the ground.

MMM yes, if the pole is not plumb, it will only track a small section of the arc. A spirit level should tell you whats going on.

If its out, apparently T&K brackets and a short length of pole is the easiest way to do it, the L-Shaped brackets are only really any cop for a fixed dish, as they are difficult to get vertical.

[Miklos]

Originally Posted by robbo71

Yes, it can look pretty damn stupid at the horizon, basically because its vertially pointing at the ground.

MMM yes, if the pole is not plumb, it will only track a small section of the arc. A spirit level should tell you whats going on.

If its out, apparently T&K brackets and a short length of pole is the easiest way to do it, the L-Shaped brackets are only really any cop for a fixed dish, as they are difficult to get vertical.

T & K's and a new length of pole will be on my shopping list pretty soon.

I also gathered if I can extend the pole up above the eaves of my garage then I will get an even better arc. The dish crashes into the side wall of my garage if I send it too far west hence being only able to get as far as 5W

Seriously though, the bracket currently holding it altogether is pants!!!
It would be more plumb if I'd attached the whole dish & motor to the aerial of my car

I THINK I'VE DONE A GOOD JOB (under the circumstances).... lol

[robbo71]

You can also get longer T&Ks that make the dish stick out further, so that it doesn't hit the wall, altough you might stll have a problem with the dish not having line of site to the satellite.

[Miklos]

Originally Posted by robbo71

You can also get longer T&Ks that make the dish stick out further, so that it doesn't hit the wall, altough you might stll have a problem with the dish not having line of site to the satellite.

Gotcha! Cheers.

(Thanked again)

[Yorks]

My longitude is 1.4w so not too far from you.

The bottom photo shows the dish on 58W. Looking at the angle of dish (especially in the flesh, so to speak) you wouldn't think there was a cat in hells chance of receiving anything, considering that it's not situated that high up. It will actually pick up as far as 61w when there's a strong enough signal being broadcast.

NEW Pictures of members dish/receiver setups please!

[Miklos]

Originally Posted by Yorks

My longitude is 1.4w so not too far from you.

The bottom photo shows the dish on 58W. Looking at the angle of dish (especially in the flesh, so to speak) you wouldn't think there was a cat in hells chance of receiving anything, considering that it's not situated that high up. It will actually pick up as far as 61w when there's a strong enough signal being broadcast.

NEW Pictures of members dish/receiver setups please!

Cheers mate, that's pretty much how mine looks when sent to look for Turksat 1C for example....

[kerrywez]

Hi Miklos,
You have still not said that you have set your dish up on Thor 1W, if you do not then you have little chance of it following the arc, you must have it set up on the sat nearest due South from your location, which in your case is Thor 1W. Good luck and I am sure you will get there in the end.

Very best regards Wez