Not finding channels

docpop · 16-03-2008

Please excuse any ignorance I may display - I'm new to the satellite game and this is the first system I've had. I have recently acquired a Lemon 030P FTA satellite receiver and have connected it up to a small, portable dish, outside, to get the system ready for the camping season. The alignment of the dish aerial appears to be OK as far as I can tell, on Astra 1. The satellite locator noise is at its highest and all the angles are, as far as I can ascertain, about right. But when I select the channel search, via the on-screen menu, the feedback is that no TV or radio channels have been found. What is going wrong ? Or what am I doing wrong ? Am I just expecting things to be too easy ? Moving the aerial dish about horizontally and vertically does not have any effect.

**rolfw** · 16-03-2008

Alignment has to be pretty precise, you could be aligned to one of several satellites, does the signal strength and quality readings in the satellite search menu show good readings?

**Robbo71** · 16-03-2008

Originally Posted by docpop

Please excuse any ignorance I may display - I'm new to the satellite game and this is the first system I've had. I have recently acquired a Lemon 030P FTA satellite receiver and have connected it up to a small, portable dish, outside, to get the system ready for the camping season. The alignment of the dish aerial appears to be OK as far as I can tell, on Astra 1. The satellite locator noise is at its highest and all the angles are, as far as I can ascertain, about right. But when I select the channel search, via the on-screen menu, the feedback is that no TV or radio channels have been found. What is going wrong ? Or what am I doing wrong ? Am I just expecting things to be too easy ? Moving the aerial dish about horizontally and vertically does not have any effect.

Yes, first check that you have good signal quality on one of the transponders listed in the receiver. I suspect that you haven't otherwise it would have found something.

If you leave the signal meter/quality meter on the screen and slowly sweep the dish left to right, hopfully you will find something ( you may have to adjust the elevation also). When you do get a good quality reading, do an individual transponder scan, and let us know what channels you get and on what frequency. We can then ( or you can) look up what satellite you are on by consulting _www.lyngsat.com or _www.en.kingofsat.net.

Robbo

docpop · 16-03-2008

Thanks for the quick response. On the screen display a yellow bar appears to show about 50% signal strength but zero signal quality but I get the impression that this is simply a 'default' reading and the system is really picking up nothing at all. Movements of the dish aerial horizontally and vertically make no difference. Is it possible that the LNB is faulty and not working ?

**Topper** · 16-03-2008

It could be many things but certainly if signal quality is zero you will not receive anything. If you are sure your connections are correct then although it could be a faulty lnb, more than likely it is alignment.
First you need to set your frequency to a known high power transponder on that satellite like 11597V 22000 5/6 BBC World, then you need to slowly flex the dish top bottom left right. Digital takes a few seconds to lock and process so you need to have patience, your dish which I assume is offset should be pointing like this below

**Robbo71** · 16-03-2008

Yes I agree,its more that likely not a faulty LNB. Newbies to satellite often think the LNB is faulty when they can't get a signal. You are also getting a signal strength reading, which is probably the LNB picking up noise.

If the the dish has an elevation scale on the back, set it to what _www.dishpointer says for the satellite you want, as a starting point.

docpop · 17-03-2008

Many thanks for the replies. I'll try the things suggested. I have noticed that though I configure the LNB to Astra 1, when I consult the 'System Information' section of the menu it always shows Hotbird and there doesn't seem to be an obvious way of changing this.

**rolfw** · 17-03-2008

You can normally change the satellite in the search menu by either pressing the OK button on the highlighted satellite, or using the right/left buttons.

**Robbo71** · 17-03-2008

Originally Posted by docpop

Many thanks for the replies. I'll try the things suggested. I have noticed that though I configure the LNB to Astra 1, when I consult the 'System Information' section of the menu it always shows Hotbird and there doesn't seem to be an obvious way of changing this.

The 'System Information' section is giving you

detailed technical information relating to the programme currently being viewed

So you need to change to a channel that is on Astra 1.

_http://www.ftacom.com/UploadImages/English030-070-Print.pdf

Robbo

docpop · 18-03-2008

At last ! I've managed to get the receiver to find something ! I decided to rewire the coaxial cable as I began to suspect that the centre core at one end was a bit short. After a bit of jiggling vertically and horizontally, the channel search revealed 295 TV channels on Astra 1. However, the bulk of these appear to be German language and, though I speak a little German, this would not be my first choice for entertainment. Which other satellite(s) would give me more choice of English language channels ? Thanks to everyone for their help with my little problem.

**Robbo71** · 18-03-2008

28E would be a better choice, plenty of FTA channels on there.
Astra 2/Eurobird 1 28.2E/28.5E

You need to turn the dish eastward by 10 degrees approx and down a bit.

http://www.lyngsat.com/28east.html

Robbo

docpop · 18-03-2008

Thanks. I'll try that 2morrow.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)