Help aligning 1.2 channel master,polar mount,actuator.

[jpsr]

I have the dish set up on 1w with the strongest signal i can get, with 98% on mtv norway 90% on mtv czech.
The long bolt is set to my lat wich i got a pic from here with a ruler beside it, because my markings are gone.

I used the declination along with moving the dish by hand east to west till i got signal on 1w which i have great signal,
but when i move to 28e i get only signal of 60%. and when i set fine tune signal on 28e, tighten up and move to 1w the signal drops there. pole is 100% plumb all round.

I had all sats, 1w, 4.8e, 13e, 19.2e, 7e, 5w with strong % and 28.2 with low.

Am i expecting to much signal from each sat using my setup. I had them all ballanced out with fairly good signal, but not there full.

So should i just ballance out each sat with as much signal as i can get, even though its not its fullest.

 

[Topper]

Signal strength is not really meaningful, it is the quality that is important. What channels have you managed to scan in on each satellite?

 

[jpsr]

Sorry it was quality i was talking about in the above post.
I have everything scanned on each satellite on my technomate as it was used on a disecq motor before.

 

[jpsr]

I read elsewhere as well as adjusting the inclonation,declonation, i should be moving the whole mount east/west to track the arc.
When i set the dish up on 1w i had the dish on the mount lining through and tighned, didnt think it had to be moved again.

 

[Mickha]

When aligning a dish, and not using Usals, you need to align it to your nearest True South satellite, this will be your longitude reading, which will probably be around 8W, for Ireland, if you set it up on 0.8W, without compensating for the discrepancy, you will not track the arc correctly.
Find your exact logitude, to work out which satellite is closest to your true south position, negative values = West, positive = East.

 

[jpsr]

When aligning a dish, and not using Usals, you need to align it to your nearest True South satellite, this will be your longitude reading, which will probably be around 8W, for Ireland, if you set it up on 0.8W, without compensating for the discrepancy, you will not track the arc correctly.
Find your exact logitude, to work out which satellite is closest to your true south position, negative values = West, positive = East.

So because i was setting up on 1w which is not my true south satellite thats why it wont track the arc.
Thanks, will try tomorrow. I had to call it a day as i was cracking up.

 

[Mickha]

If you have any problems can you please upload some pictures.
Usually you align it on your nearest true south satellite, then move East, and West, to the furthest satellites receivable, and check for signal quality, if you find you need to adjust the elevation slightly you move it back to your true south satellite and make small adjustments using the small bolt, depending on your mount and motor.

 

[jpsr]

Ok, I alligned on 5w getting 98% quality, then moved to 28e,13e,1w,19.2e all strongest transponders 98%.
I then went on to 39e scanned 1 transponder got 60%, had to leave it so go back at it tomorrow.

Im affraid if i adjust to get the best quality from 39e it will effect the rest, but as mickha said above move back to true south satellite and adjust,
but will it be a case of just ballancing them out lower than say 98%.
Or should i move to 8w, i read that in dublin to use 5w and im not far from there.

 

[wod]

When you get to the edges of the satellite arc gently flex the dish up or down and if any changes are needed you will know to the dish elevation.

when I did my 1224 I aligned on 1west as nearest and then once around 39/42e and 30west check dish angle for any up/down adjustment and then tighten bolts up.

 

[jpsr]

When you get to the edges of the satellite arc gently flex the dish up or down and if any changes are needed you will know to the dish elevation.

when I did my 1224 I aligned on 1west as nearest and then once around 39/42e and 30west check dish angle for any up/down adjustment and then tighten bolts up.

Wod, When you were setting up your dish and got the best %quality on 1w and moved to say 39e, did you have to adjust to get better % on 39e,
And if so was there a drop in% on 1w to make 39e better.

 

[Mickha]

Don't use the strongest transponders, to adjust your dish, these figures will probably stay at 98%, due to the size of your dish, once you have located the satellite use a weaker transponder to get the best results.
As you can now get the full arc you only need to make some marginal adjustments, to peak the satellite arc.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Don't use the strongest transponders, to adjust your dish, these figures will probably stay at 98%, due to the size of your dish, once you have located the satellite use a weaker transponder to get the best results.

Or throw a wet towel over the dish when checking on the stronger satellites (as I do)

 

[jpsr]

Got it, tracking the arc from 42e-30w 100%.

It was a combination of adjusting the declination,lat bolt and twisting the whole dish and mount that little bit east or west.
I should of known to set up on 5w, as thats how i done my last disecq motor, anyway really happy with the results, booming quality % on all sats.

There is one thing.

I am using an oldish actuator motor as its a bit worn etc.
When i move from say 39e to 1w and back to 39e, the signal quality drops and i have to manually move it east/west to get say 98% again, and same with other sats, sometimes the actuator makes a slight clicking sound further east/west i go, has this actuator seen its day.

 

[Mickha]

Sounds like the reed sensor/switch might need replacing, it seems to be losing count, check your motor manual, and online, these are usually quite cheap and easy to replace.

 

[jpsr]

Sounds like the reed sensor/switch might need replacing, it seems to be losing count, check your motor manual, and online, these are usually quite cheap and easy to replace.

Thanks for your help, I will post pics soon.

 

[Captain Jack]

Before replacing the actuator, grease every moving part on it, especially the mounting ball and the one at the end of the actuator arm.

 

[jpsr]

Before replacing the actuator, grease every moving part on it, especially the mounting ball and the one at the end of the actuator arm.

Will do captain, Thanks.