Advice Needed Astra 1 & Hotbird on Zone 2 dish Midlands Uk

[HuntyJ]

Good evening all,


Apologies if this has already been covered — I’ve searched through previous posts but haven’t quite found a clear answer to my situation.


I currently have a Zone 2 dish with a single LNB pointed at Astra 1, working perfectly. I’ve recently tried to add a second LNB to pick up Hotbird using this bracket and this LNB, but I suspect the LNBs were too wide, as I couldn’t get a signal at all.


I then tried using a monoblock linked here and managed to get a faint signal, but the only channel I could receive was an arabic channel. That made me think I might have locked onto the wrong satellite entirely.

On both these attempts I was still able to get Astra 1 no issues.

Realistically later down the line I'd quite like to add Astra 2 onto this setup as well.

I’m a complete beginner when it comes to multi-LNB setups, so I’d really appreciate any guidance or tips you might have for me as I'm at a complete loss

Thanks in advance,
JH

 

[ozumo]

It's possible to get Hotbird, Astra 1 and Astra2 on a zone 2 dish but you'll need to use LNBs that have smaller feedhorns so you can get them closer together, for example see the photo in this post:

Post in thread 'Multi sat on a sky dish'

Nov 14, 2021

I forgot about the mk4 screw, on a mk2 dish the LNB collar is a similar diameter to a 'normal' 40mm feed horn. Currently I have a mk2 Zone 2 pointed at 28.2°E with a standard 40mm LNB, 19.2° offset with an Inverto Eco, and between them I zip-tie in a 23mm Inverto Multiconnect LNB for 23.5°E. I've tried to add 13°E but couldn't lock anything, though it maybe partially blocked by foliage.

@a33 give me a couple of days and I'll dismantle a Zone 2 so it can be measured

Yeah that's it, even with it being one of the cheap 40mm adapter ones rather than the Sky LNB-sized ones...

• Adam792

• 

Astra 2 28.2°E + Astra 1 19.2°E should be possible with your current equipment.

 

[HuntyJ]

It's possible to get Hotbird, Astra 1 and Astra2 on a zone 2 dish but you'll need to use LNBs that have smaller feedhorns so you can get them closer together, for example see the photo in this post:

Post in thread 'Multi sat on a sky dish'

Nov 14, 2021

I forgot about the mk4 screw, on a mk2 dish the LNB collar is a similar diameter to a 'normal' 40mm feed horn. Currently I have a mk2 Zone 2 pointed at 28.2°E with a standard 40mm LNB, 19.2° offset with an Inverto Eco, and between them I zip-tie in a 23mm Inverto Multiconnect LNB for 23.5°E. I've tried to add 13°E but couldn't lock anything, though it maybe partially blocked by foliage.

@a33 give me a couple of days and I'll dismantle a Zone 2 so it can be measured

Yeah that's it, even with it being one of the cheap 40mm adapter ones rather than the Sky LNB-sized ones...

• Adam792

• 

Astra 2 28.2°E + Astra 1 19.2°E should be possible with your current equipment.

Will order some smaller feedhorn LNBs and feed back. Any recommendations on LNBs?

Thanks
JH

 

[Markjose]

Possible will dig out a photo for you.

 

[Markjose]

Only picture I have but do you see the zone 2 on the right, that had Astra 1 and 2 on it.

 

[a33]

I then tried using a monoblock linked here and managed to get a faint signal, but the only channel I could receive was an arabic channel. That made me think I might have locked onto the wrong satellite entirely.

As 13E is west of 19E, the 13E head of the monoblock should be east of the 19E head. Do you have that?
Otherwise: try to identify what arabic channel you received, and on what frequency. So we can check which sat that might be from.

With 19E central, at Burton oT, the monoblock and/or dish must have a multifeedskew of -14.5 degrees (so the 13E LNB lower than the 19E LNB ). Do you have that?

By the way, welcome to the forum, @HuntyJ !



Greetz,
A33

 

[ozumo]

Will order some smaller feedhorn LNBs and feed back. Any recommendations on LNBs?

Thanks
JH

I used Inverto Black Eco on my zone 2, it's a shame they are twice the price they used to be.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inverto-BLACK-Single-LNB__Inverto-Universal/dp/B005T15H2G/

 

[HuntyJ]

I used Inverto Black Eco on my zone 2, it's a shame they are twice the price they used to be.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inverto-BLACK-Single-LNB__Inverto-Universal/dp/B005T15H2G/

Ordered 2 of these, will update when they arrive next week and I get chance to attempt to fit them

Thanks
JH

 

[HuntyJ]

Okay unfortunately no dice, I've managed to narrow down the satellite I was hitting to Eutelsat 7C as the channels i managed to pick up were Iran e Farda & Now!

Unfortunately I don't appear to be able to get any signal at all on anything closer that 7C and i'm not sure why, there's nothing blocking the signal and it should be close enough. I did order another LNB bracket that was slimmer as well. Any ideas?

 

[HuntyJ]

With a mild amount more fiddling the closest i've now got is picture above at S 72% and Q 11%




I get the feeling they're probably still too far apart, but open to any ideas at this point.



Thanks
JH

 

[statalite]

Yes the lnbs need to be much closer the bracket you have is too thick.

 

[Adam792]

Slightly strange perspective (from above) but this is mine, using a thinner multi LNB mount on the zone 2 dish. Left is 13°E, centre 19.2°E and right 28.2°E. As you can see, the 13 and 19.2 ones are basically touching.

I might have a spare one of those multi mounts, I'll let you know if I find it @HuntyJ . I'm not going to have any other use for it now! Might be a little rusty

 

[HuntyJ]

Slightly strange perspective (from above) but this is mine, using a thinner multi LNB mount on the zone 2 dish. Left is 13°E, centre 19.2°E and right 28.2°E. As you can see, the 13 and 19.2 ones are basically touching.

I might have a spare one of those multi mounts, I'll let you know if I find it @HuntyJ . I'm not going to have any other use for it now! Might be a little rusty

If you do have a spare that would be perfect. I notice on your photo the bracket doesn't seem to be curved either, does that make a difference at all?
Also if you can't find a spare can you send me a link to the bracket you're using?


Thanks
JH

 

[hexah]

A 78cm or 80cm or 85cm dish would be easier or perhaps a second Zone 2.

You can spray them red or red primer so they are not so visible. Don't spray the LNB cap, you can spray everything else including the mount.

 

[Adam792]

If you do have a spare that would be perfect. I notice on your photo the bracket doesn't seem to be curved either, does that make a difference at all?
Also if you can't find a spare can you send me a link to the bracket you're using?


Thanks
JH

Sorry, I completely forgot about this! It's one like this (although these seem to have gone up in price crazily!) - Pardon our interruption...

It not being curved doesn't seem to have much effect on a small dish like a Sky zone 2.

I will have a look in the garage tomorrow and see if I still have that spare.

 

[rayo77]

I have a trip to London if I can help you if you want.