Best receiver for aligning dish

Hokksund · 14-10-2009

Hi,

What is the best receiver for aligning a fringe dish?

I have a Pace 2600C1 and it gets the signals, but it is a pain changing all details to see signal strengths

I would like to be able to change channel only and see the Strength Quality outputs.

Is there a receiver which has this capability?

**satelliteman** · 14-10-2009

Pace 2600 receivers work well on weak signals but using a meter is always better for dish alignment.
Most receivers have an option to check signal on any stored transponder.

Hokksund · 14-10-2009

ok. What make is a reasonably priced meter?

Hokksund · 14-10-2009

Sorry for the quick lazy response just now.

Do the 5 dollar meters with analogue display work?

**satelliteman** · 14-10-2009

Squawker meters are not good for precise setting up of large dishes in fringe areas as they have no way of band or frequency selection. They can though be used for peaking the dish in general.

***deepbluesky*** · 14-10-2009

Maybe an Openbox 810 is an option for you: _http://www.openbox.ua/receivers/x810/test.php

That's what many DXers use here in Germany for aligning and measuring. It's cheap, precise and very sensitive for weak signals. The disadvantage: It's not DVB-S2 capable.

Further information including lots of screenshots you'll be able to find at _http://forum.dxtv.de/wbb/board.php?boardid=79

Hokksund · 14-10-2009

ok. thanks for the info :-)

***deepbluesky*** · 14-10-2009

You're welcome

Hokksund · 1 Week Ago

Found out that if you change the default transponder in the installers menu and then pull the power, it stores the setting you have given it. This means you can just go in on the std menu and signal strength test for aligning to 2D

**pipino** · 1 Week Ago

Humax Foxsat Freesat ...you cant beat that

**doktorofsat** · 1 Week Ago

KAON 570 with SUNNY on it

park_gate · 1 Week Ago

Originally Posted by Hokksund

Found out that if you change the default transponder in the installers menu and then pull the power, it stores the setting you have given it. This means you can just go in on the std menu and signal strength test for aligning to 2D

Won't work as the box will revert back to the default transponder at some random time and you will have no way of knowing it happened.

For initial dish alignment use the default transponder set to a strong signal. For the next stage use the manual tune in the installers menu.

For the final stage adjust the dish just as the picture is starting to break up for best reception. You can't take too long on this stage as you probable only have a half hour window to do this.

You have to do the last stage with the picture as the meter is too coarse as it jumps in 10% steps.

The best meter in the world won't beat this final stage as you are align the dish with the equipment and difficult reception conditions that you will be using to watch TV.

Here is how I set up a disk for north Costa Blanca.

Signal Strength / Quality

Press, in succession but without pausing, 4, 0, 1 and Select
Press 5 (Manual Tuning)
Enter frequency for required channel
Select Find Channels
Adjust azimuth, elevation, and then skew to get max. possible signal quality bar

Align Dish

Use frequencies in following order:

Start with 12207V 27.5, 2/3 (2B south)
Then change to 12480V, 27.5, 2/3 (2A north).
Do azimuth and elevation, and then skew.
Then change to Astra 2D BBC2 (10773H, 22, 5/6)
Do fine adjust for min pixilation.

Warnings

The Sky box meter can crash and just stop working. If the signal suddenly drops the box might need unplugging from the mains for 10 second.
The manual tune option will timeout quickly if there is no signal so use the default transponder / signal test for the initial dish alignment.

Terry

Hokksund · 1 Week Ago

Thanks Terry. I'll give that a go in the next few days. Like i said getting a 80/90% with single Invacom & 70/90% with a Twin MTI on the default transponder, but no 2D at all. I had 30/50% before with a smaller dish, so i'll keep trying

**satelliteman** · 1 Week Ago

You could of course buy an entry level professional alignment meter and sure to get use out of it more than once. Everything done at the dish and no need for trailing extension leads with portable TV's

park_gate · 1 Week Ago

Originally Posted by Hokksund

Thanks Terry. I'll give that a go in the next few days. Like i said getting a 80/90% with single Invacom & 70/90% with a Twin MTI on the default transponder, but no 2D at all. I had 30/50% before with a smaller dish, so i'll keep trying

I'm not familiar with reception in your location but if possible try aligning to a weak south beam transponder before going to Astra 2D.

Also if you get no 2D signal try the strongest transponder and best time of the day for your location.

If you are getting 80/90% on the default transponder I would say you are close and you only need to do small adjustments. You don't say if this is quality or signal strength so I would like to add go for signal quality and don't worry about the signal strength.

Have you got the right feed-horn to match your new dish?

You might also find the following site helpful:

_http://www.geo-orbit.org/sizepgs/tuningp4.html

Terry

Hokksund · 5 Days Ago

HI, And thanks for all the tips Start with 12207V 27.5, 2/3 (2B south) Signal 60% Quality 90%
Then change to 12480V, 27.5, 2/3 (2A north). Signal 90% Quality 90%
Do azimuth and elevation, and then skew.
Then change to Astra 2D BBC2 (10773H, 22, 5/6) No signal Tried 10818 as well no signal

The feed horn is correct.

What model Entry level professional meter do people recommend?

***Vipersan*** · 5 Days Ago

I personally like the Digisat Pro ..
LCD display ..
2v LNB inputs ...
Diseqc control ..
an adequate range of menu functions..
and around £50
damned good value..
rgds
VS

Ebay

item

270484505462
if you want to check it out

park_gate · 4 Days Ago

Originally Posted by Hokksund

HI, And thanks for all the tips Start with 12207V 27.5, 2/3 (2B south) Signal 60% Quality 90%
Then change to 12480V, 27.5, 2/3 (2A north). Signal 90% Quality 90%
Do azimuth and elevation, and then skew.
Then change to Astra 2D BBC2 (10773H, 22, 5/6) No signal Tried 10818 as well no signal

The feed horn is correct.

What model Entry level professional meter do people recommend?

What time of the day are you trying Astra 2D? The signal will vary. I believe the best time for 2D your area is in the daytime so do the alignment then and in good weather.

Also I believe your horizontals are the strongest so try 10832H or 10891H and make sure FEC and symbol rate are correct (22 and 5/6).

Another trick is to adjust the skew on the default transponder so the quality is 30% then do the azimuth and elevation. The bad skew makes the other adjustments more critical and more likely to get the best setting. Also adjust the distance between the LNB and the dish for best signal quality. Then fix the skew before looking for 2D.

Terry

***Huevos*** · 4 Days Ago

Originally Posted by Hokksund

go in on the std menu

Is that something to do with prostitution?

Re: the budget meter, I would recommend either from my signature, or if that's out of your budget just use a good budget receiver like the Manhattan Plaza (which even has a digital squawker built in).

Hokksund · 2 Days Ago

OK. I tried setting the skew off and aligning the dish and that help me get 90%Signal and 90% Quality on both 12207V 27.5, 2/3 (2B south) and
12480V, 27.5, 2/3 (2A north).

BUT STILL no 2D ...aaaaggh! Also tried 10832 H , but no signal. Is this possible?

I spoke with a guy earlier today who is 1 hour west from here and he gets BBC1 on a 1.2m dish, so my 1.6m should be fine...the signal weakens here around 20:00

i think i'll call an installer with a meter to come out and check for 2D

Hokksund · 2 Days Ago

by the way, i am using a single invacom, as the Dual MTI fills up with water, bloody stupid design

**Telia** · 2 Days Ago

Single output Invacom is a lousy LNB, try some other LNB like Smart Titanium or Inverto Black Ultra.

***Huevos*** · 2 Days Ago

Originally Posted by park_gate

The best meter in the world won't beat this final stage as you are align the dish with the equipment and difficult reception conditions that you will be using to watch TV.

Are you serious? What meters have you used?

park_gate · 1 Day Ago

Originally Posted by Hokksund

OK. I tried setting the skew off and aligning the dish and that help me get 90%Signal and 90% Quality on both 12207V 27.5, 2/3 (2B south) and
12480V, 27.5, 2/3 (2A north).

BUT STILL no 2D ...aaaaggh! Also tried 10832 H , but no signal. Is this possible?

I spoke with a guy earlier today who is 1 hour west from here and he gets BBC1 on a 1.2m dish, so my 1.6m should be fine...the signal weakens here around 20:00

i think i'll call an installer with a meter to come out and check for 2D

The amount of time you have spent adjusting this dish and not getting any sign of 2D makes me think you have a fault LNB or box?

Astra 2D is in the low band and the LNB might not be switching to low band?

Try a signal strength test for 10890V 27.5 2/3. This doesn’t exist but if the LNB Local oscillator is not switching it should receive 11740V.

Also try and get a dual Invacom they are so much better than the single and also much better than other makes (for Spain anyway).

Terry

park_gate · 1 Day Ago

Originally Posted by Huevos

Are you serious? What meters have you used?

Yes I’m very serious.

My reasoning is based on the theory that you can’t beat adjusting for minimum pixilation on the very equipment you are going to use to view with and at the worst time of the day for reception.

It is also based on experience where I have got 45 min extended viewing time over a professional aligned dish with a meter.

The OP is getting absolutely no 2D signal could you explain how a meter is going to improve things.

Terry

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