Help with dish alignment Viasat

[Hometech]

Hi, appologies if this is in the wrong section.

I have spent hours today trying to align a dish to work with a Viasat HD PVR. I have been told a few different things about the alignment although all the research I have done would suggest I need to be on Astra 4A 4.8E. I have locked onto this satellite very quickly but the box just will not accept there is a signal. Another installer told me it's actually Sirius 5E but this sat is not on my Horizon HD-S2 meter.

What am I doing wrong? One thing I was not sure about is the default transponder which we had set to 11.747. I did try a few others from Lyngsat but the box would only recognise a signal quality of 6%!

There are some tall trees opposite so maybe if I do have the correct satellite theres just not enough signal coming through?

Many thanks

 

[Lazarus]

Unless the dish is over 1m or so, the difference between 4.8E and 5E shouldn't be the root of the trouble.


But you are right to be looking for Astra 4A at 4.8E.


Can you either look at Dishpointer and/or post up some pics?

Almost sure to be occluded line of sight.

 

[farads]

Hi Hometech

what size dish you have ?

Admin note - formatting removed, please dont use grey lettering - on the default blue background its very difficult to read!

 

[Hometech]

Hi thanks for the reply. I don't have a pic but I was on the correct satellite then as i thought. The only thing it can be as you say is the line of sight. My meter was only picking up around 50db on the MER but when I have done other installs for Thor etc it's coming in at least in the 80's.

 

[Analoguesat]

Try finding the Ukrainian channels on 11766H 27500 3/4. They put out a huge signal.

 

[farads]

Hi Hometech

you don't answer what size of dish you have !

Bigger 1 meter ?


Cheers

 

[Hometech]

Looking at it, it's looks like a 1 meter / 80cm. I didn't install it, just got the call to see if I could align it cause the original installer couldn't get it to work.

 

[Lazarus]

So two competent persons can't get a signal .................. Trees looking yet more likely.

 

[satelliteman]

Another installer told me it's actually Sirius 5E but this sat is not on my Horizon HD-S2 meter.

There's your problem. The meter doesn't have NIT readout and unless your familiar with the satellite fingerprint, it's guess work.

In addition, your need a decent 110/120cm.

 

[Hometech]

There's your problem. The meter doesn't have NIT readout and unless your familiar with the satellite fingerprint, it's guess work.

In addition, your need a decent 110/120cm.

But my meter locks onto 4.8E (not very strong signal though), is this not the correct satellite?

 

[Analoguesat]

Astra 4A & Sirius 4 are the same satellite - Astra 4A is the new name - it was changed when SES Astra took over NSAB who ran the bird as Sirius 4.

A4A operates at 4.8E, although most of us call it 5E

 

[Hometech]

It might be worth mentioning that the other installer had a Promax spec analyser and he couldn't get it to work. Like I said I had a lock on Astra 4A 4.8E.

 

[satelliteman]

It's the correct satellite, Astra 4A. As long as you can confirm you have hit this bird then the problem isn't alignment; can be an issue when using meters without NIT. Don't think the Promax has NIT readout either [depending on which model].

If you have aligned the dish correctly, then it'll probably be either dish size or LOS trouble.

 

[Hometech]

Astra 4A & Sirius 4 are the same satellite - Astra 4A is the new name - it was changed when SES Astra took over NSAB who ran the bird as Sirius 4.

A4A operates at 4.8E, although most of us call it 5E

Thanks mate. Is it possible then that my meter would get a lock, but the signal to be not strong enough for the box to work?

 

[satelliteman]

Is it possible then that my meter would get a lock, but the signal to be not strong enough for the box to work?

Have you tried [as suggested above] 11.766h Euro beam?

Satellites share the same frequencies so it's not uncommon to lock onto the wrong satellite especially when using a meter without a readout.

 

[Analoguesat]

Find 11766H and the Ukrainian channels - then you can at least confirm you are looking at the right satellite

 

[Hometech]

Have you tried [as suggested above] 11.766h Euro beam?

Satellites share the same frequencies so it's not uncommon to lock onto the wrong satellite especially when using a meter without a readout.

No I didn't try that one I don't think, I have left now so can't try it either. I'll go back and give it a go next week.

Whe I was trying some other frequencies from Lyngsat, the box did come up with 50% strength only only 6% quality. This would come and go.

 

[Hometech]

Also when I did get 100% quality on some frequencies, the Viasat box would not let me proceed onto the next screen of set up. Would this indicate I was on the wrong satellite?

 

[satelliteman]

Could well be...

 

[Hometech]

Could well be...

So even though my meter says I'm locked to 4.8E, it's not certain that's the correct satellite or, I'm on the correct satellite but the wrong frequency with the box?

Sorry for all the questions but it's really bugging me and I really appreciate everyone's help.

Ps, this was to get the premiere league football.