Help Required Motor setup

[cwsat]

I have just bought a Dragonsat 3000 / Dark motor (one with LED window) to replace my monoblock as I want more satellites.

I have never used USALS before, always Diseqc 1.2 but this time round I am thinking of using USALS.

Is the motor and dish setup any different?

I always thought you aligned the motor assembly and dish elevation at reference / zero to 0.8west and then went from there.

I have seen someone say online send the motor to 0.8w on USALS and then do your alignment as USALS is different to Diseqc?

 

[Mickha]

USALS is easier than Diseqc 1.2.
Basically you input your Latitude, and Longitude, into your receiver, remembering negative Longitude readings = West, positive = East. You can get an accurate latitude, and Longitude, either online, or via an app, I personally use dishpointer, zoom in on the provided map, and find where the dish is located.
You then zero your dish, motor, and LNB, and connect it to your receiver.
Once you've input your coordinates, you send the dish/motor, to your desired satellite, I'd use one closest to your Longitude position, often 1W, in the UK, then physically align your dish, to get the strongest signal from 1W.
The 0, on your motor, should then be pointing at your longitudal position, so don't be shocked if when sending the dish to 1W, it moves slightly East.
You can then fine tune it by sending it to the furthest East/West positions, available, e.g. 52E - 30W, and check the signal quality readings, then send it back to 1W, and make fine adjustments, as needed.

 

[Terryl]

The dish and motor need to be aligned with due South first, if you use .8 W (or any other satellite) all of your other satellites will be off by .8 degrees, then you will have to fine tune them all.

 

[Terryl]

I would treat it as a new install, zero the dish first, then start fresh.

 

[cwsat]

The dish and motor need to be aligned with due South first, if you use .8 W (or any other satellite) all of your other satellites will be off by .8 degrees, then you will have to fine tune them all.

See this is what I thought.

But apparently not for USALS?

After reading about this Dragonsat, if it's anything like the Alsat Dark Supreme , they can be patchy on USALS.

I had a motorised system in the past and it always over shot on USALS. (TM-2600)

 

[jeallen01]

See this is what I thought.

But apparently not for USALS?

After reading about this Dragonsat, if it's anything like the Alsat Dark Supreme , they can be patchy on USALS.

I had a motorised system in the past and it always over shot on USALS. (TM-2600)

From my own experience, the "Supreme" Dark Motor can be "Patchy" on various other brands of receivers - not just Dragonsat!. If I were you, I'd swap it for something else before even starting the installation!

 

[cwsat]

From my own experience, the "Supreme" Dark Motor can be "Patchy" on various other brands of receivers - not just Dragonsat!. If I were you, I'd swap it for something else before even starting the installation!

It's not a supreme dark motor, it's a Dragonsat but i'm guessing they're related as they look identical.

 

[jeallen01]

It's not a supreme dark motor, it's a Dragonsat but i'm guessing they're related as they look identical.

"If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck"!

I don't think anyone really knows who manufactured Alsat, Dragon or any other similar "Supreme" motors, but probably they came from the same place - with just different labels on them and in differently labelled boxes (etc.)

 

[Magmax]

ISALS is more computer dpeak no manual labor. You type in your latitude longitude and position of the satellite and in just goes there.

 

[jeallen01]

ISALS is more computer dpeak no manual labor. You type in your latitude longitude and position of the satellite and in just goes there.

"USALS" - at least that is how it referred to in the English language - although I appreciate that that is not your primary language.

 

[Magmax]

Apologies my friend i maid a type o I use USALS and how to write it i but finger sliped.

 

[Mickha]

Your Longitude reading is your true South, thus why the dish/motor are set to 0, prior to your receiver moving it to your desired satellite, for setting up.
Hence if your Longitude is -2.5, which equates to 2.5W, then when you move your dish, to 1W, using your receiver, the dish will move 1.5 degrees East, and 0, on your motor, will point to 2.5 degrees West.
Even after setting up using USALS, you can still switch to Diseqc 1.2, and manually assign positions, to satellites, but first set it up using USALS, as provided you enter your correct Latitude, and Longitude, you should track the satellite arc, as the motor shouldn't have too much play, with it being new.
The only adjustments, you might need to make, are to your motor bracket, and dish bracket, to get it to follow the arc precisely.

 

[cwsat]

Your Longitude reading is your true South, thus why the dish/motor are set to 0, prior to your receiver moving it to your desired satellite, for setting up.
Hence if your Longitude is -2.5, which equates to 2.5W, then when you move your dish, to 1W, using your receiver, the dish will move 1.5 degrees East, and 0, on your motor, will point to 2.5 degrees West.
Even after setting up using USALS, you can still switch to Diseqc 1.2, and manually assign positions, to satellites, but first set it up using USALS, as provided you enter your correct Latitude, and Longitude, you should track the satellite arc, as the motor shouldn't have too much play, with it being new.
The only adjustments, you might need to make, are to your motor bracket, and dish bracket, to get it to follow the arc precisely.

You’re a fountain of knowledge @Mickha

 

[Channel Hopper]

It's not a supreme dark motor, it's a Dragonsat but i'm guessing they're related as they look identical.

Last review was some 4 years ago.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DRAGONSAT-DS-3000-DISEQC-USALS-MOTOR/dp/B019UBB2OW

 

[cwsat]

Last review was some 4 years ago.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DRAGONSAT-DS-3000-DISEQC-USALS-MOTOR/dp/B019UBB2OW

Makes sense, this looks like it has been on a shelf 10 years.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Makes sense, this looks like it has been on a shelf 10 years.

Stab QC then

 

[cwsat]

Stab QC then

What’s that mean?

Stab clone?

 

[cwsat]

Setting it up today.

So at reference / zero, I am aligning to Thor?

 

[Manikm909]

yes

bolt dish onto motor arm dead centre. clamp whole assembly (motor and dish) to pole - tighten enough so its secure, but also so you can still rotate it - move the motor 1 degree to the west (using the motor buttons).

clamp to pole, rotate whole assembly whilst searching for 1w TP / channel.

make sure your motor elevation is set correct (to follow arc) - then adjust dish up and down ` motor clamp left and right (not dish) to peak. tighten then check other sats

 

[Mickha]

No

Setting it up today.

So at reference / zero, I am aligning to Thor?

Not exactly, you connect everything, including the LNB, to your receiver, set Motor/Dish/LNB to 0. You then use your receiver, once you have entered your correct Latitude, and Logitude, and use your receiver to send the dish to 1W.
Once the motor has moved you then physically move the dish, using your hands, to align to 1W. You then adjust the brackets to maximise the signal quality, until you get the best quality possible. Tighten everything up, then use your receiver to send the dish to your furthest East satellite, that's available, like 52E, 42E, 39E, or just 28.5E, then to 30W, providing your dish has enough room to travel that far, without any obstructions, and post bac, with the signal quality levels.