Simple Question #1: Elevation Adjustment

LoungeLizard

I'm trying to set the elevation on my Satellite Dish to 22.8 Degrees.

Problem is that the scale on the adjustment arc goes from 20 to 90.

20 makes the dish point slightly downwards.
22.8 also makes the dish point slightly downwards.
40 makes the dish point straight ahead.
90 makes the dish point over half-way to vertical.

Please could someone explain how the recommended elevation of 22.8 relates to the Satellite Dish's elevation scale reading?

rolfw

I would not rely on setting the dish elevation by the scale on the dish, better to set it approximately and use either a meter or your TV screen to slowly pan the dish until you see a signal.

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LoungeLizard

Thank you, Rolf; I shall try this tomorrow.

I've got a signal strength meter, a MODEL:4640 SAT Finder. The 'REC' and 'LNB' ends are clearly labelled, it's got a series of LEDs to indicate strength, and a -/+ screw adjuster.

To use this, I'm guessing that I:-

(1) Switch on Television, Receiver and 5V supply to Dish.
(2) Connect Meter at any convenient point between the Dish and the Receiver with Sat. co-ax (in practice, this will be close to Dish!).
(3) Line up the Dish to approximately the right direction.
(4) Waggle the Dish's Elevation, Azimoth and Skew in turn; and fix at each maximum.
(5) If I get no LEDs then turn up adjuster, if I get all LEDs then turn down adjuster.
(6) Remove meter, reconnect, job done.

Is that right / any further tips?

Park Royal

Ref "Waggle the Dish's Elevation, Azimot"
No! You move the dish a little at at time and leave for approx 10 seconds to see if the receiver/sat meter gets a lock. If not, then another small movement and wait agai, etc etc.
Waggle a dish about! You are trying to catch a signal that is generated approx 40000kms away in space. It is similar to trying to see a spotlight from a distance of 25000 miles.
Parky

rolfw

Yes, all dish movements should be slow, although the little inline meters do respond immediately. You will still then need to go back to the receiver and scan a transponder to ensure that you have found the correct satellite.

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LoungeLizard

Thank you Park & rolf.

Well I've had a good go at this with some success, got a good response on meter to adjusting Azimut & Elevation, though the Skew position didn't seem to affect the meter reading much! The Skew appears to have just 5 ganged positions.

Unfortunately there's still no picture on the Television, though the Televison screen displays information about the Astra 2A B 28.2E Satellite. There is also a flashing 'No Signal!' message. If I disconnect the aerial completely from the Television then this flashing 'No Signal!' message becomes a constant 'No Signal!' message.

Anything else to try?

mhku

Is the dish pointing at 28.2E? Have you tried adjusting it's position (left or right)?

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rolfw

No signal messages can often be a television generated message, meaning that the aerial is disconnected, or there is nothing connected to the scart socket, so make sure that you can see the menu from the satellite receiver on screen.

I'm a little confused as to what you are seeing, can you take some photos and attach them?

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LoungeLizard

I tried to upload the piccies direct but I got a 'security tag missing' or something message.

There are 3 piccies, 1 is of the whole Television screen, 1 is of the Dish installation, 1 is of the view from the Dish (in case there are obstacles).

Actually, looking at the photo of the Dish installation, it looks to me like it's pointing in a slightly different direction to the other 2 dishes in the upper flats (which are professionally installed). Will go out and have another go.

Attached Images

	3146266430233_0_ALB1.jpg (40.6 KB, 14 views)
	6265266430233_0_ALB2.jpg (56.6 KB, 16 views)
	3146266430233_0_ALB.jpg (35.3 KB, 15 views)

Topper

Looks like you are pointing at Astra 1 at 19 East or Hotbird at 13 East, not Astra 2 at 28.2 East, which explains why there is no signal on BBC1,
Don't worry you are not the first and you will not be the last to make that mistake

I have uploaded the pictures for you and deleted the live link

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LoungeLizard

Success!

I adjusted the Satellite Dish to something closer to the other 2 on the building; and, after fine-tuning, found an even stronger signal on the meter.

And, Hay Presto, I straight away got a good picture on the Television.

I am very grateful for the comments on this thread, Thank you.

Only slight disappointment is that there is no (UK) Channel 4 or Channel 5; though there is Film 4. Is this correct?

Now I'm getting the hang of it, is there another Satellite I can receive that does have Channel 4 and 5?

bigtee

You can get channel 4 now by scanning 10729 V 22000 (edited: the channel will be labelled 8350); channel 5 should be available later in the year hopefully.

LoungeLizard

How do I do that, bigtee? (or anyone)

Topper

simply scan the frequency 10729 Vertical 22000 5/6 and you should find it but its name will be 8350

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bigtee

To scan go into receiver menu and try to find out how it is structured; remember that the satellite to scan is Astra 2 at 28e --- using the parameters previously given. Sorry, cant be more help immediately which is because I don't know the menu structure of the particular receiver.

LoungeLizard

Well thanks guys for the last few posts.

I managed to find a menu screen with the following options / information:

Satellite: Astra 2A, B, 28.2E
TP Index: 1/77
TP Frequency: 10729 MHz
Symbol Rate: 22000 Ks/s
Polarity: V
Scan Mode: All
Network Search: Off
Signal Intensity: 57%
Signal Quality: 74%

Obviously, some of the above only got those values after I'd input them from the advice on this thread.

After fiddling about some more, some new channels appeared (at least I never noticed them before):
0326 - EfiAd
0327 - E4+ 1
0328 - E4

Questions:
(1) Is E4 the same as Channel 4?
(2) What is the TP Index? I couldn't seem to adjust this in a useful way from 1/77.

I am happy to say Channel 0328 (E4) is working and it does look like Channel 4.


Edit:
To answer my own question, E4 is not the same as Channel 4, it is a film version. However, I have got Channel 4 on another Channel number 0331 (or something). Weirdly, it wasn't named 'Channel 4' is was given some strange number like '8437' (or something). However, I tried it and it was, in deed, Channel 4 so I have renamed it...errr...Channel 4. Why wasn't it called that in the first place?

tomthebomb1968

i think the tp index is the number of transponders stored on your box for the satellite. I think there are over 100 transponders for 28.2e now. When the box is scanning the 1/77 should go upto sequentially to 77/77 when scanning has finished.