Just got a Philips Gregorian 90cm Dish - help needed

bigup · 10-09-2009

hi guys

ive just picked up a Philips 90cm Gregorian dish, looks like its in pretty good condition and came with the wall mount and original motor/lnb.

Seller's Picture:

(has been cleaned since this photo!)

now the motor is a fibo slip i think, and has 3 wires coming out of it.

i understand that i will need a Vbox if i am to use a Dreambox 500s.

now i need to know which of the 3 wires go where? do i need a +5V (vbox 2)

any help much appreciated.

**Robbo** · 10-09-2009

Please don't use live links, and upload your photos instead.

LOL, saw that one on Ebay

.

Yep, you will need a Vbox with a 5v output.

There should be 5 wires, 2 for the motor, 2 for the sensor and 1 for the 5v supply.

If you take the cover off the bottom of the motor you will see which ones are which.

bigup · 10-09-2009

hehe thanks mate

i wonder what the seller has done then cos the cable coming from the motor is definitely a 3 core cable. Wonder where the other 2 are?

so all 5 of these wires will go to the vbox yeh?

il get the motor cover opened tomorrow.

you think im better off using it as it is instead of getting a new diseqc motor

***johnsattuk*** · 10-09-2009

Motor connections

bigup · 10-09-2009

thanks for that

i opened the motor flap (the 2 screws are rusted in so had to just lift one side up to see what was inside)

looks like there's 4 wires and 1 foil (earth) which looks right according to the above diagram.

another thing that has puzzled me, you know the light blue box next to the LNB, that has 3 wires coming from it too. Where the hell do they go then!

sorry for the n00b questions, your help is much appreciated!

***Turok*** · 10-09-2009

Hello!
be carefull moving your dish,with vbox in automatic mode,your dish could crash with the wall,when it not installed on the roof,use only manual mode!
i have a new vbox for sale when you need one,send pm!

**Robbo** · 10-09-2009

Originally Posted by bigup

another thing that has puzzled me, you know the light blue box next to the LNB, that has 3 wires coming from it too. Where the hell do they go then!

I think that might be for the polariser or something. The one I had didn't come with a blue box on it, but came with something else with wires hanging out of it.

I just ditched the LNB and put a Unversal one on, I found the Invacom quad C120 to be most suitable. The Inverto C120 White tech is a pain, as the LNB arm gets in the way and you can't set the skew to zero.

bigup · 10-09-2009

thanks so the blue box wires are not needed then?

i think im going to just try what's on there to start with then upgrade at a later time.

**Robbo** · 10-09-2009

I don't know what the blue box is for, hopefully one of the Fibo specialists will know, and what you might have to do with the wires coming out of it.

***Turok*** · 10-09-2009

Hello!
in the fibo manual of the 1,20 meter dish,i see also this polarizer but i also dont have it,there was also a rain protection provided by fibostop,for the cable that comes from the lnb!
i also use the inverto flansch white tech on the fibo,the results are better then with the incacom!
you need a sticky tape to fix it,but then you cannot use a polarizer!

bigup · 11-09-2009

thanks guys, i wont use it for now!

right so what 5core wire do you guys recommend for the motor then?

also what bolts/screws would you recommend i use to fix the bracket to a wall?

sorry for the questions!

Turok, i cant PM as it wont let me, could you let me know your email address or could you let me know the price of a vbox that will work for me? (+5v)

Thanks!

**Robbo** · 11-09-2009

I found the QDF-031 performed better that the Inverto on the 90cm Fibo, Turok. But I did only try it on Nilesat.

Some decent shield anchors should do it bigup, depends on what size holes the bracket has. As you know already, the dish and motor together are none too light. Somewhere like screwfix or toolstation do them, I tend to use the M10x70

bigup · 11-09-2009

thanks Robbo mate.

ive just emailed the seller and he said the dish was used with a Monterey box and the blue box used to power the LNB and these 3 wires used to run to the Monterey box. on further inspection the blue box has got "chaparral" printed on it.

i think i may end up getting a new LNB., so a C120 Invacom 0.3db Universal LNB would work yeh? i only need single feed. would it be a straight swap without any modification? and onced swapped i take it wont need the chaparral blue box on it anymore?

found one here: _http://hisat.com/proddetail.php?prod=LNBU03S120INV

i knew i should of gone for a bog standard diseq system - one feed is all it needs!

Please advice and thanks again for your help!

bigup · 11-09-2009

also how about this LNB from Southern Satellite, Ebay

item 350182436938

***Turok*** · 11-09-2009

Hello!
i cant post my mail here in the public,the admin will enable pm for you i hope when he read it,and then i will reply to you!

**Robbo** · 11-09-2009

Turok, you know that we have a an area on the forum for selling stuff. Might be a good idea to post something in there.

I can't check Ebay

right now bigup.

But yes a C120 flange LNB should fit straight on, the photo shows the needed adapter between feedhorn and LNB by the looks of it.

Supposedly the Invacom quad performs better than the singles, I can't confirm as I only tried the quad because of it's reputed better performance. You will find many references to this on the forum.

But of course, a Disecq motor coupled to a run of the mill dish is far easier, but for their size the Gregorian design used on the Fibos makes them perform better than standard designs of equal size.

The Fibo I had, perfomed very very marginally worse than my Triax TD110, but much better than other 1m/90cm dishes I had at the time. Also being 36v it should move faster than a diseqc motor.

bigup · 11-09-2009

well, ive just ordered a Invacom QDF-031 quad lnb, ive read on various forums that its very good so thought id go for it to save hassle in the long run. I want to get it done first time

Robbo, sorry to ask this question again, but will the QDF-031 quad lnb be a straight swap on my dish?

right, so next is vbox2 and some cabling/bolts

***Turok*** · 11-09-2009

Hello!
i already put the vbox 2 for sale,here on board last january!
but no one wants it,so the box is still avalible!
you can have it now for 50 pounds+postage!

Motech Vbox 2 new ,with optical 5 Volt output for sale!+antenna adaptor for smr1224

sure the quad lnb,is okay for your dish!
chapparal is out of bisness in europe,you must contact the usa hq,i think the are still in bisness!

bigup · 11-09-2009

Originally Posted by Turok

Hello!
i already put the vbox 2 for sale,here on board last january!
but no one wants it,so the box is still avalible!
you can have it now for 50 pounds+postage!

_http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/satellite-systems-accessories-no-trade/143439-motech-vbox-2-new-optical-5-volt-output-sale-antenna-adaptor-smr1224.html

sure the quad lnb,is okay for your dish!
chapparal is out of bisness in europe,you must contact the usa hq,i think the are still in bisness!

sorry my friend, i have already ordered one. i got one a bit cheaper plus from UK so quicker delivery. Thanks.

***Turok*** · 11-09-2009

okay,no problem,my version is with 5+ volt modification,
for optical motor sensors!
this the reason why the price is a little bit higher,then the normal vbox,with out modify!

bigup · 11-09-2009

Originally Posted by Turok

okay,no problem,my version is with 5+ volt modification,
for optical motor sensors!
this the reason why the price is a little bit higher,then the normal vbox,with out modify!

yes, the one i got was the Techomate Vbox2 which also has the +5V

**Robbo** · 11-09-2009

Originally Posted by bigup

well, ive just ordered a Invacom QDF-031 quad lnb, ive read on various forums that its very good so thought id go for it to save hassle in the long run. I want to get it done first time

Robbo, sorry to ask this question again, but will the QDF-031 quad lnb be a straight swap on my dish?

right, so next is vbox2 and some cabling/bolts

I think so, post a close up photo of the back of the feedhorn without the lnb on, and we can say for definite.

bigup · 11-09-2009

Originally Posted by Robbo

I think so, post a close up photo of the back of the feedhorn without the lnb on, and we can say for definite.

will do mate

tomorrow probably though.

bigup · 13-09-2009

hi guys

i have just noticed the feedhorn on the dish doesn't have the cover/cap on it.

is this needed? i have ordered a Invacom QDF-031 quad lnb, so would i need to use a cap/cover?

***Turok*** · 13-09-2009

Hello!
i dont know is this cap avalible here in europe,call invacom on the hotline,to ask them,normaly the lnb is protectet enough against rain,and waterproof,when the protection ring is installed right!

the technomade vbox i dont know,this the first modell that have the +5 modfy on board,the older ones,in the past never have this,and you have this install separatly,good that is now included,but maybe sillt not on all modells!

search the circular incacom lnb on google,then you see the weather cap what i mean!
what polarizer you want to use?
with this,you can get espasaly on nilesat more signal!

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