I am struggling to lock on sats.....please help!

denno69 · 28-07-2009

Hi Guys

I installed my dish at the weekend but cant get a lock onto sats. I have managed to get a fix on 28.2e - see pic below.

However when I use the goto xx function to say 1w, I can't get a lock and the SNR seems to be very low.

I assumed that onces I got a decent fix on one sat the rest would fall into place?

My lon is 1.92w so I initially tried to get 1w as my due south sat without any joy so tried 28.2e and it seemed to lock on ok.

I am using DM600 with gemini image.

Any thoughts?

**Topper** · 28-07-2009

Well judging by the information posted whilst you have a good signal, I suspect you are not looking at 28.2 East, The reason for that is that the SR shown 21999 I do not recognise. What makes you convinced you are on 28.2, what channels are you viewing?

**Analoguesat** · 28-07-2009

Where are you located in the UK & what size dish are you using?

**Analoguesat** · 28-07-2009

21999 is just 22000 my db wanders off by a few digits as well - I often get 27502 or summat odd like that!

**Topper** · 28-07-2009

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

21999 is just 22000 my db wanders off by a few digits as well - I often get 27502 or summat odd like that!

With a c a b l e box?

My System: DM500C with Neutrino image

denno69 · 28-07-2009

Thanks for the responses guys.

I am using a 1m dish and in the midlands (staffs) - postcode area is ws15 1

I just ran a scan to make sure I am looking at 28.2e and I picked up quite a few (see pic). I can view the FTA channels and the sky channels (sky sports 1 see pic etc) have been located but I cannot view these as I am not c/s at the moment. So can we confirm that I am indeed looking at 28.2e?

Would it be anything to do with the transponders? The SNR is vrtually at 63% for the sats (apart from 28.2e) but I seem to get a decent acg.

I am presuming that the dish alignment is correct as I have picked up 28.2e - could it still not be correct even if I got such good readings?

Cheers

BTW ignore My System spec - that is an old one lol! I am on DM600s with Gemini Image.

**Analoguesat** · 28-07-2009

1m is overkill for 28E - you might actually be putting too much signal into the tuner!

denno69 · 28-07-2009

Not sure what that means Analogue means.

If I am getting sky channels surely I am pointing at that dish? And the rest would fall into place?

I think I am in over my head lol

**Analoguesat** · 28-07-2009

The 28E satellites are already putting out a high signals power. If you then stick a 1m dish on them theres a danger of swamping the tuner with too much signal which desensitises it and make trhe apparent signal worse not better!

Depending on where you are in the UK a 45cm dish may well be fine for 28E!

**Topper** · 28-07-2009

Originally Posted by denno69

Not sure what that means Analogue means.

If I am getting sky channels surely I am pointing at that dish? And the rest would fall into place?

I think I am in over my head lol

It is just as with your Hi Fi or car stereo system, you turn up the volume and you reach a maximum and anything after that just distorts the sound that you already have and does not get louder. Having such a big dish can have that effect on your stb which I see has now become an 'S' version in your profile

**satelliteman** · 28-07-2009

Sounds like it's not set up on the arc. Assume you have followed the installation guides.
Is the dish moving when you select satellites?

denno69 · 02-08-2009

Thanks for the responses guys.

Been very busy past week so not had any proper time to look at this again until this morning.

Originally I couldn't get a lock on my due south sat (0.8e thor) so I swung round to 28.2e and managed to get a lock. From there I managed to find 13e and 19.2e with strong signal and can lock on them. I Scaned for channels sucessfully and all have strong signals.

The motor turns when selecting any of these three sats no problem.

So now I am trying to locate 0.8w Thor3/5 (as this is the main sat I want fore footy) without any joy.

When selecting the sat 1.0W Thor 2/3 in the selection box - do I need to change anything here?

Could it still be that I am not following the arc correctly even thou 3 sats are locked on? If so what could be the problem (lat setting on mototr etc?)

Do I need to change any of the transponder settings?

Any other suggestions?

Cheers guys

**satelliteman** · 02-08-2009

These guides should help.

http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellit...pictorial.html

QUICK REFERENCE MOTOR INSTALLATION SETUP GUIDE - Pdf

denno69 · 02-08-2009

These are what I used Satman. They make sense so something must be wrong somewhere.

It must be that the dish is not set up on the arc properly. I am planning to start from scratch again.

**nanochickin** · 02-08-2009

1m on 28.2e at your location is OK, i don't have any problems on mine and i'm only down the road from you

You need to make sure the pole is dead vertical, set the elevation on the motor to 38 degrees and then try to find your due south sat (1w where you are) I find if you move the motor to 1 degree west first and then line up on 1w it seems to follow the arc better

wait until 12pm (GMT, 13:00 BST) point your dish in the rough direction of where the sun is and you should find it.

I can get some of the transponders on 1w with my 60cm Channel Master so you shouldn't have any problems with a 1m

Nano

denno69 · 03-08-2009

Thanks for the response nano.

I looked at the transponder settings yesterday and changed them a bit and I seemed the signal increased for 1.0w and I think I now have a lock on it.

I scanned yesterday and found around 400 idd services. I can watch the FTA channels of Canal Digital (CCTV9 etc) so I think I must be locked on.

What is the best way to check that I am locked on to the right sat?

**Mickha** · 03-08-2009

try tuning in to BBC world, 11325 H 24500, also check for other FTA channels in the link below:
_http://www.lyngsat.com/1west.html

denno69 · 05-08-2009

Just want to say a big thanks to everyone for helping. Got it up and running.

Thanks again.

No doubt I will be back again and again and again before too long

**satelliteman** · 05-08-2009

Nice result

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I am struggling to lock on sats.....please help! Information exchange on LNBs, Single satellite, motorised and multi-satellite systems. DiSEqC switches, positioners, motors, actuators, dish-alignment etc.