astra 2 ,120 cm dish in carcassonne south france,probs pointing the dish

[rodscha]

Hello to all

I have at last got down to setting up a 120cm dish from 2Galli with inverto black ultra pointing at astra 2

and...sad to say I get nothing ,only the same depressing 4%,no move in reception whatsoever

Of course I did the routine checks,,setting up of receiver to a second dish, ....cable (changed it),lnb(same,used one from the otherdish),connection to the receiver

I aligned it ,copying the alignment of my old 80cm no-name dish,that manages to get me the SD channels,and when the pressure s high & the sky is clear,some HD too.

So,here s my question,is aligning a 120cm dish MUCH more difficult,or any easier,than pointing an 80cm one?

My trouble is,after lenghthy twiddling up down east west,never got out of the 4%

When the old 80cms still gets me the basic BBC 1,2,3,4 channnels!!

rod in carcassonne

 

[Lazarus]

It's a little more difficult, yes: The bigger the dish, the narrower the beamwidth, so alignment needs to be more precise. But it shouldn't be unduly difficult.

One thing to remember, as you're using your 80cm as a guide, is that the offset angle may differ, so that means you may have to elevate (or depress) the 1.2m dish by more than you think.

Also, as Satellite positions are generally 3 degrees apart (or less!), then it's very easy indeed to hit the wrong Satellite after aligning Azimuth in comparison with another nearby dish.

You just have to persevere, I'm afraid.

 

[Lazarus]

PS: My answer above assumes the new dish is an Offset one.

If it is Prime Focus, then the dish face will need elevating a fair bit!

 

[PaulR]

It probably is an offset type but if it isn't then the Black Ultra LNB will be the wrong type as well. This will lose a lot of signal.

 

[sonnetpete]

I think we're quite safe in assuming it's offset, 2Galli don't stock any prime focus dishes that size. Other than that I can only second Tivu's post...

 

[rodscha]

Thank you all
I discovered the cable was guilty of not working,will replace it
and do the twiddling with friends tonight
Good to know that the offset angle may vary,too
Plus a very nice guy lent me a bleeping sat finder!
More news,soon
rod in carcassonne

 

[PaulR]

Good to hear that you've forund the problem. Be sure to let us know just how difficult you think it is to align compared to the previous dish.

... do the twiddling with friends tonight...

Behind closed doors please...

 

[rodscha]

Good to hear that you've forund the problem. Be sure to let us know just how difficult you think it is to align compared to the previous dish.

Behind closed doors please...

the ensuing conversation indeed demanded we closed the doors
and good news is,it WORKS!!

 

[rodscha]

Good to hear that you've forund the problem. Be sure to let us know just how difficult you think it is to align compared to the previous dish.

Behind closed doors please...

I now get UK on one dish and astra1/hotbird on another with a monoblock,
no more garden outings in all seasons to move around the dish at night!!!

 

[rodscha]

I now get UK on one dish and astra1/hotbird on another with a monoblock,
no more garden outings in all seasons to move around the dish at night!!!

What helped me the most was a sat finder of the bleeping kind,very efficient indeed!

 

[Lazarus]

Good result - well done!