Just checking some things before i buy.

[jozza800]

Hi, ive read a bit on this site and others and have found the information quite useful. But i just want to check a few things first before i jump straight in.

I recently bought a Fortec Star Passion HD reciever (mainly to watch the Euros in HD). I Just hooked it up to our current sky dish and was immensly pleased by the quality of not just the HD but the SD too, a million times better than our sky picture.

Being happy with the reciever i decided i would set up a new motorized dish to recieve more channels and have it set up in my room.

I have decided on a motorized set up, with a 90 - 95cm dish.

I think i have where i want to put my dish (Darllington NE England)


Now i just want to check that this is correct. I need to make sure that the dish is pointing exactly south and 100% plumb. And then to enter either my elevation or latitude on the MOTOR.

Latitude: 54.505°
Longitude: -1.594°Satellite: 0.8W Thor 2,3
Elevation: 27.8°
Azimuth (true): 179.0°
Azimuth (magn.): 182.3°
Skew: -0.6°


(using dishpointer.com)


The dish needs to line up centrally with the motor. The dish along with the motor need to driven to Thor/Intelsat707 at 1 degree West? for a bearing.

Should the reciever then know where the other sattelites are from this position assuming that the initial line up was correct?

I was having a look for some hardware and i came accross this http://www.dvb-shop24.net/product_in...TE-SYSTEM.html

Is this any good, will it do what i want it to do?

One final thing (thanks for taking the time to read and reply), i mainly want to watch Premiership football next season, and from what i can tell i need to be able to get DigitAlb on Eutelsat W2 at 16.0 E. This requires a subscription card and a Conax cam? Does my Fortec Star Passion support this, it has a cam slot.


Anyway i think i have covered everything, i just want to make sure that dish system ive selected will do the job along with my reciever. Any guidence would be muchly appreciated.


Michael

[robbo71]

Hi, and welcome to techwatch,

Looks like you have done you homework pretty well.


Yep, that system mentioned should be OK. 16E is a bit weaker than the others, so I'm not sure of the best dish size for your location, 90cm should do it although 1m would be better I think for better rain fade margin.

Also when mounting, use a pair of T&K brackets and a strong 2 inch diameter pole. From your intendedmounting point it looks like you should be Ok for the Eastern satellites, you mght want to check with an angle meter of some sort.


Yes, if you use USALS,you would just send the dish to THOR, adjust dish elevation and position of motor around the pole for max quality signal on say 11325H. Once you have done that the receiver will calculate the posiion of the other satellites using USALS. Or you an use Diseqc1.2 on its own and the EAST WEST controls on the receiver to store the satellite positions manually.

Your receiver does have a CAM slot I believe, so you would need to get a Conax CAM, but it would be worth checking with Fortec to see if the receiver could read the card directly.

Robbo

[satelliteman]

The kit you are looking at is very good. In fact it's the same hardware I have. You can't really go wrong with the motor. It's built to last

[southernsatellite]

Jozza800, I have sent you a PM

[jozza800]

Thanks for you help, i will do a little more investigation methinks. Just one other thing regarding obstructions, next doors house (you can see where the tip of the red arrow is) is about 4m from where the sattelite will go, and its roof is about 2m above the satellite will it be clear for the east satellites?

Thanks again

[robbo71]

That gives an elevation of 26.56 degrees, which is the elevation for Hotbird where you are approx.

But looking at the picture, it doesn't look like the roof will start getting in the way until you get to about 40 degrees east, and you will be looking at the far end of the roof. So I think it would be OK. Only a site check with a dish and meter will say for sure. Or a compass and an angle finder.

Or go onto www.dishpointer.com and follow the yellow line, see where it starts hitting the roof.

[wod]

looks fine to me, how far up the wall are you going to go with the dish as it might be best to take it above guttering height if you can as the next doors roof shouldn't be an issue but to be sure.

what is the pitch of the next doors roof like, is it high or low ?

[satelliteman]

Install it on the gable end on a strong TK bracket, should be fine but check dishpointer as already discussed

[jozza800]

Thanks again for the replys, Im going to put it at the apex of the wall, this way it clears everything and and i have a clear view at all angles.

Just a couple of final things.

Im pretty sure this is a dumb question but where do i get a mounting pole? I will get the T and K brackets, but cant for the life of me find a mounting pole!!

What angle should i be setting the dish initially? I assume the elevation is for the motor, but what about the dish.


Thanks again

[robbo71]

Hi, you need a 2 inch diameter steel pole,you can get them from here:-

http://www.jwhardy.co.uk/shop/pages/pl_ant_mast.html

or cheaper still from a local scaffolders. Just go to your yellow pages and ring them all up until you find one that will sell you a length. I paid £1 a metre for mine.


Don't worry about the angle for the dish,there are usually instructions in the motor manual to follow. The easiest way is just to set the elevation of the dish for maximum signal on your nearest due south satellite. Start with the dish face approx vertical.

Robbo