Making sense of the manual...

I_Just_want_to_know

Hello everyone... Over the last couple of weeks some of you may be aware of the joys I was having, trying to install a motorised 90cm dish to a dream box..

Some of those issues are now resolved, I can now move my dish, however, pointing it at the right sat is still proving a little difficult..

After scanning on a couple of sats that I had been getting signals off (when I had the quattro LNB connected), I think I was pointing more at Atlantic bird 2 (8w) as when I scanned for channels, it took less than a second to lock on (where as others where taking longer, some 10+ seconds).. So, I assuming I was pointing at 8w.

Using satellite calculations dot com and the PDF compass from one of the other pages on this forum, I worked out where I was pointing and where I wanted to be, and now I'm fairly sure I'm pointing in the right direcction. (trying to point at Thor 1W).. However, when scanning for channels, I pick up nothing, so I want to make sure my dish angle is correct.
I realise if I didnt have the motor, it would me more or less a case of setting it to the right angle (which for my lat is 28.996 degrees)

However the way the manual tries to explain it to me (in taking the motors angle into consideration is confusing)

From the manual:

SETTING ELEVATION ANGLE
Adjust the motor elevation angle using an inclinometer or the lattitude scale on one side of the motor according to the lattitude of your position

SETTING DECLINATION ANGLE
-Find the declination angle on the attached angle table
_Set the declination angle by the scale on the antenna dish. The reading on the antenna scale should be 35deg -declination angle) - <there is a small diagram showing this 35degrees, but I dont know why it shows it, not sure if its to do with the fact the motor arm would be 35degs different becasue of the body or something)
I have included a scan from the manual anyway..

Anyway (from the second scan) the table shows that for my latitude (53degrees) I have dish ddeclination and dish bracket angles..
And from the satellite calculations site, I have an angle of 28.996, so along with the 7.6 and 27.4 figures from the scan, can anyone help me figure out what exactly it is I am supposed to be setting it too

I have used the meter, but as it appears the sats are quite close together, what I have picked up in the past, has proven to be something entirley different from what I was hoping for..


Thanks in advance...

Rob

satelliteman

Take a look here for a quick dish el/declination explanation for a DiSEqC motor installation ( that a long sentence ) > H-H DiSEqC Motor polar axis angle, declination offset and dish elevation

As your see many times mentioned regarding some dish elevation scales are not accurate enough. Start with the dish slightly up from vertical. Swing the motor & dish around the pole and raise or lower the dish el and start over again.

Follow the motor installation guides and you can't go wrong

satelliteman . ..... A Detailed DiSEqC Motor Installation Set Up Guide > HERE Quick Reference Guide also > HERE Satellites UK site Advertisers . An Installers Choice ...... Follow us on .

howc

After studying the likes of dishpointer I was 100% certain that I was pointing at 1W.................I wasn't!

Read the guides as Sateliteman suggests, I think I know all the words and I can certainly see all the photos.............Seriously though.

Take it slowly as the difference in having or not having a signal is a fraction of a turn or a shift in the elevation of the dish. Get a channel list installed on the dreambox, set it up for USALS, tune the receiver to BBC World (assuming your going for 1W that is) and get someone to watch the TV for you. When they see a picture or anything vaguely resembling a picture get them to squeal like a Mexican pig with a bad cold and fine tune from there. Dont get too hung up on the scales on the dish or motor and dont take too much notice of what your meter is showing, as in my experience, more often than not they dont seem to reflect what the receiver is actually showing.

If you need help installing a channel list or setting up USALS than just ask.

Good luck.