Looking to install a dish

[shamone]

Hi all I am new to the sat world and have been reading through lots of forums and posts to get the general idea of what is required.
I am looking at setting a motorised system up for 1w - anything on east I can get.
I have attached a picture of my location on dishpointer for 1w.
I am looking at locating the dish on my out house as shown in the picture as my house is on a stupid angle it looks like the best place for the dish.
My question is would this be a suitable location and would I be able to pick up Thor, as it is high on the arc?
If not would I still be able to set up a dish and use a different satellite to set the motor up correctly?

[Robbo]

Whether you can see 1W over the roof would depend on the elevation angle from the dish to the top of the roof. If its more than 27 you won't.

Can you put it further down your garden on a pole, then maybe you would get some western sats too.

The best position for the dish looks to be the southern gable end looking over the roof. It will be very high up though.

Yes, you can set it up without 1W, but you want to try and get as much of the arc as possible.

[shamone]

Thanks for the quick reply Robbo.

The trees/bushes further down the garden are much bigger now and would probably get in the way of the dish.

The angle from that location to the other house roof is probably more than 27 so I could be out of luck for 1W.

I was looking to get a Dreambox 500 and a technomate motor with a 1M dish as a starting setup. What is the maximum cable run in order to control a motor with the Dreambox?

[Robbo]

I don't know about the Dreambox 500, but with a standard receiver 30 to 40m is OK. Though I have tested up 50m and it worked OK too.


There's a simple solution for trees that are in the way, you have to get your priorities right LOL

[I_Just_want_to_know]

Just to add my 2p worth..

Dream box and motors have difficulties working (as i have found out)... many tales of not getting the motor to move from the dream box.

However, I have managed to solve this for myself.. I have a dark motor, and a single LNB that draws low power. (the quattro LNB I had mistakenly put on drew 160ma.. the new single one I have draws 110, and the motor will now move the dish..

If you are unsure if this is a probleem for you.. when the motor is connected, if it wont move the dish, disconnect the lnb, and then try to move the dish.. if it does move, you have the same issue as I had..

Rob

[Huevos]

27 should be well over that roof. When I want to know if I have line of sight over an obstacle I just look along my digital level while pointing it at the top of the obstacle.

[shamone]

Thanks for the other replys guys.

I have been working in the garden of late and will be triming the bushes back this week. I have looked at placing a dish at this new location which should be fine for 15W - 63E.

Where is the best place for getting hold of a scaffold pole from bar `borrowing` one

Has anybody used the coax from screwfix before? I have had a look at this one _http://www.screwfix.com/prods/81428/Electrical-Supplies/Cable/Coaxial-Cable/Labgear-PF100-Satellite-Brown-Coaxial-Cable _http://www.screwfix.com/prods/81428/Electrical-Supplies/Cable/Coaxial-Cable/Labgear-PF100-Satellite-Brown-Coaxial-Cable but it is not double screened and it will be run outside for most of the install.

[Topper]

Has anybody used the coax from screwfix before? I have had a look at this one _http://www.screwfix.com/prods/81428/Electrical-Supplies/Cable/Coaxial-Cable/Labgear-PF100-Satellite-Brown-Coaxial-Cable _http://www.screwfix.com/prods/81428/Electrical-Supplies/Cable/Coaxial-Cable/Labgear-PF100-Satellite-Brown-Coaxial-Cable but it is not double screened and it will be run outside for most of the install.

That is not satellite cable, if it is not double screened then it is indoor shite mate. Get CT 100 or if running a long run then CT 125
See here for attenuation details

[Robbo]

T

Where is the best place for getting hold of a scaffold pole from bar `borrowing` one

Look for a scaffold merchant. Or if you have trouble finding one, these guys will sort you out and you will be able to pick up from a local depot:-

_http://www.scaffoldingsupplies.co.uk/

They charge about £10 for an 8 foot length inc VAT.


The cable you mention from screwfix is fine, it is benchmarked and equivalent to CT100/wf100 performance wise.
_http://www.screwfix.com/prods/81428/Electrical-Supplies/Cable/Coaxial-Cable/Labgear-PF100-Satellite-Brown-Coaxial-Cable

Ok for up to 40m or so with a motorised dish.

[Topper]

if it is not double screened then it is indoor shite mate

I still stand by what I said in my previous post, but in this case, yes Robbo is correct Shamone it is OK as it is double screened so should be fine, what made you think it wasn't?

[shamone]

Thanks for the replys guys.

I have contacted the guys at scaffolding supplies and awaiting a reply.

I will be getting the cable from scewfix as there is a local depot just around the corner from me.

I will keep you updated with my progress over the next few weeks.

[shamone]

Ok guys I have an update on my install.

I have trimmed the tree and bushes down and I am going to install the dish on a pole at the very bottom of the garden.

I have changed location as looking at the height the dish is going to be off the ground my two young kids may be 'interested' in it, also the other half wants it at the bottom of the garden so that is where it is going

I have purchased

Technomate TM-500
Gibertini 1m dish
Inverto Silver Tech 0.2dB Single LNB
Technomate TM-2300 Super

which should be with me tomorrow, also picked up 50 meters cable along with some f connectors and cable clips from screwfix.

I am still to source a scaffolding pole as the site Robbo mentioned replied back that they could only supply me with a 21ft pole from my local depot .

I am off work for the next few days so I am going to try the local scrap dealers to see if I can pick one up and get it set in the garden ready to mount the motor and dish on (when it decides to stop raining).

[Robbo]

You could always take a hacksaw and chop some off. Scaffolds are very easy to cut with a new blade in.

( I am often having to chop pieces off them)

Actually, if it going in the ground, two poles bolted together will be more rigid than one anyway, you can clamp them together with swivels.

[howc]

Have a look on Google or Yell.com for "scaffold supplies" or maybe plant hire companies in your area. Companies like SGB who hire or sell scaffold are probably your best bet but you might have some luck with a local scaffold erector. I got my 8ft pole from my local Deborah Services depot, they were more than happy to sell me one and offered to cut a new tube if I wanted. Good luck.

[shamone]

Ok chaps thanks for the replys I will look into this tomorrow and see what I can get.

[shamone]

Well progress has been made today,

Phoned a local SGB this morning and then went to pick up a 10ft pole for £8.05.
Thanks for the heads up howc.

Got the pole cemented in and ran the cable along the garden and around the house using an existing hole from the previous owners freeview feed to bring it in through the wall.
Just waiting for the sat equipment to arrive now

[Robbo]

I got my 8ft pole from my local Deborah Services depot, they were more than happy to sell me one and offered to cut a new tube if I wanted. Good luck.

Yep, I've had a few from them too.

[shamone]

Well after a while of waiting for the equipment to arrive it arrived on Friday and I installed it on Saturday.

The TM 500 is one of the pre release versions with the single scart output. I updated the frimware to the latest UR image which went on fine. I setup USALS and started to try and align the dish.

I followed all the guides on here but could not manage to lock onto a signal on Thor 1W on any of the transponders. I quickly tried a few eastern sats with similar luck, the signal flickers around the 20% mark.

Just for the hell of I tried 30W. 300+ channels came flying in with a signal of 82%. I went back to 1W and tried again but still the signal would not move, I tried some quick steps east and west with no joy.

Have I missed something in the setup or config?

I will try and get some pictures up tomorrow to show you the setup.

[satelliteman]

You need to find your due South satellite first. Assuming all is plumb and motor inclination is correct, you should be able to align onto and sweep the arc.

Input Longitude & Latitude into USALS software. Send the dish to a satellite closest to your longitude and then align dish/motor around the pole and dish elevation only for maximum signal.

[Tivù]

When you physically aligned to 30W, did you make sure the Dish and Motor were moved "as one", with the Dish remaining dead in line with the front of the Stub (there is often a faintly visible ridge or score mark to highlight this datum)?

A common error is to move the Dish around the stub, which might help you get one single Satellite, but is no use for tracking the arc!

The South Satellite method isn't necessary for a USALS based installation provided the same basic elements are followed (such as getting the pole totally plumb and fitting the Dish correctly to the Stub) and fixing any point on the arc is quite adequate for an initial stab at it.

Of course, you may later wish to select a weak Satellite and fine tune the mechanical alignment.

The bottom line is, as you know where 30W is, it is perfectly ok to use that as the fixed point - subject to the earlier caveat!

This "Quick Method" achieve the same as the South Satellite method and differs only in that the traditional method requires you to find your South Satellite and to physically clamp off the motor/Dish assembly using that as a reference point, whereas the other way simply means that when you've finished aligning to your chosen point on the arc, lo and behold the Motor body is magically pointing South without you having to worry about it - It's a bit like "Proof By Induction" if you remember any Pure Maths

The "Quick Method" is described towards the end of most DiSEqC Motor Instruction leaflets and I personally believe it is less confusing than the South Satellite method for a first timer. However, despite personal preference, the choice is there - whatever works for you

Edit: Credit to Satelliteman as I've just spotted the Quick Guide is also attached to his Sig.

[shamone]

Thanks for the replys guys,

When I got 30W i just used the reciever and sent it to that sat and scanned. I will be having another 'play' tomorrow and will be taking the kids portable tv out along with the reciever so it wil be easier to check the signal.

I will also get some pictures up of the setup.

[shamone]

Well the weather has not been kind to me and have still not managed to get out and sort the setup out.

I have been looking at some photos of other members setups and have a question to ask.

When setting the angle on the motor do I align this to the small triangle type mark or the line that is after it? I hope this makes sense to someone.

[satelliteman]

Set the motor inclination to the triangle mark on the motor. The back bracket may move a fraction as you tighten the 4 bolts but won't matter too much

[Tivù]

Quite.

Any small error will be evened out when you come to fine tune the actual Dish elevation during alignment

[shamone]

Good news folks, I am in business

The pole was slightly off straight on one side. I used some stone slabs and pushed them between the pole and the ground and I locked onto Thor at 82%.

Scanned all of Thor in and as you guys said all the other sats just fell into place.
I am getting 53e - 30w fine with good signals. I will put some pics up once I get round to tidying the cables up around the pole/dish.

I would like to thank everyone above who has helped me with getting this installed and setup.