Lost satellites

M

morphy

Member
My Satellite Setup
Fortec star passion and diseqc 1.2 motorized H-H motor 90cm dish also an inverto black ultra lnb. An F/S Omega and FSKU-v lnb as spare.
My Location
Basildon
First I set my dish to south (my position 51.56 n 0.48 e) Then moved the dish to Thor 3/5 and set it up for the best signal, then I moved it to Astra 2a and readjusted till I got the best signal. Then back to Thor no signal. I can get signals from Turksat to Hotbird 6/8/9. But all the west side satellites no signal. If go for the west side satellites I loose or get bad signal on the east side ones. At one stage I had signals right up to Hispasat 1c/1d. Please note that I have Fortec Star passion and a FSKU-V lmb. So can somebody point me in the right direction, Thank-you M
 
1. Check pole/mount is absolutely plumb all round

2. Check skew for FSKU LNBs ............ certain ones need the F connector at 4 o'clock for zero skew.

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...vn-icecrypt-0-1db-single-lnb.html?pagenumber=

3. Check Dish is mounted dead front on the motor stub, with motor set to zero.

4. Check dish has not gone "off-centre" when tightening the clamps holding it to the stub.

5. Post up some pics.

7. Do not adjust the dish other than when you have 1W selected (are you using USALS?): If all the issues mentioned here are correct, that's the only adjustment needed.



I suggest the key issue may be the funny LNB skew. Put that right first.
 
hmmm, why were you adjusting for best signal on Astra 2 ?, that is not what any of the guides say to do. Check your motor inclination also.
 
Tivù said:
1. Check pole/mount is absolutely plumb all round

2. Check skew for FSKU LNBs ............ certain ones need the F connector at 4 o'clock for zero skew.

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...vn-icecrypt-0-1db-single-lnb.html?pagenumber=

3. Check Dish is mounted dead front on the motor stub, with motor set to zero.

4. Check dish has not gone "off-centre" when tightening the clamps holding it to the stub.

5. Post up some pics.

7. Do not adjust the dish other than when you have 1W selected (are you using USALS?): If all the issues mentioned here are correct, that's the only adjustment needed.



I suggest the key issue may be the funny LNB skew. Put that right first.
Click to expand...

Thanks I will check the above and let you know. I am using USALS. M
 
I have tried moving the Lnb as suggested I loose signal my zero is the f connector is at 6 o'clock the signal is perfect. I will go though the whole setup again this weekend weather permitting. M
 
Ok.

Maybe they've finally decided to conform to commonplace LNB design instead of trying to confuse folk!
 
The lnb is 2 years old. Also here are some photos
 

Attachments

  • satellite 004f.webp
    satellite 004f.webp
    8.9 KB · Views: 36
  • satellite 005a.webp
    satellite 005a.webp
    7.3 KB · Views: 24
Can you take a few more?

Pic 1 appears to show the dish is by no means correctly fitted in line with the faint datum on the front of the motor stub.

But it could be a trick of perspective.
 
Is this one better the dish is pointing towards Astra 2a. M
 

Attachments

  • motor.webp
    motor.webp
    17.3 KB · Views: 28
Well the casting line on the back of the stub appears, at a stretch of my eyeballs, to be in line with the centre of the rear clamp ............. which would be correct.

But you must check for yourself.
 
I took the dish and motor off the pole and used a post level made sure that the pole was plumb put everthing back and tried again still no good, so I took the dish off to check the motor position and it is not sitting at zero. I also removed the lug on the dish clamp see photos. I will have to want till tomorrow to reset the drive and try again. How do you reset the drive to zero? Thanks for your help so far M
 

Attachments

  • SPM_A0068.webp
    SPM_A0068.webp
    41.1 KB · Views: 23
  • SPM_A0078.webp
    SPM_A0078.webp
    158.5 KB · Views: 23
The clamps on fortec star dishes are pants, and that lug is just a PITA. Looks like a bit more needs to come of it, as there is a gap, maybe forcing the dish off centre slightly. The effect of that would be a wonky arc.



To align the dish on Thor, all you need to do is to send the dish to 0.8W using USALS, should be pretty close to zero (0.3 degrees westward) from your location.
 
Don't rely on the motor azimuth scale to give you an accurate reading, or at least mine doesn't. Just send the motor to 1W and then rotate the motor around the pole and adjust the dish declination until you get the strongest signal, fine tuning by tightening the bolts up on the motor, but be careful not to over tighten them.
If you have set the motor elevation and your usals setting in the reciever correctly, you should be quite close to tracking the arc fairly accurately. Strong satellites to the west are 5w, 12.5W and 30W, if your line of sight allows them.
 
I have reset my dish and also pushed my lnb forward that has improved the reception, but on the topend channels Astra 2a I got a bad signal so I moved the dish angle up a bit to get a better signal. When I went back Thor I have lost the poker channel which was 80/80. Basically I think the fortec drive unit is C**p. I will have to save up my pennies and buy tm-2600 and also a better reciever. So at this moment in time I will leave it alone. Thanks for all you input M
 
I would persevere with the motor you have first, it would be a shame to waste it without proving it was duff. The scales stamped on the side of the motor are not that accurate either, although they are normally "there" or "there abouts" I would set the motor and dish up set to the scale first, then fine tune the arc using your box and tv to check satellites at either end of your arc and learn how to adjust to correct. It can take some time and a lot of patience, but at the very least you will get a better idea how to set it all up or re-adjust if it ever moves. There are some very experienced members here to advise you.
 
Back
Top