Multi LNB Set up on a Sky Dish

[Gladstones]

Post pictures as you go that will help others to learn

 

[Offtensive]

I managed to get the pole at 90, according to the spirit level.

I set the latitude on the motor bracket to my latitude from Google maps.

I’ve used the sat finder NG app to adjust the elevation on my dish, and I’ve aligned it to 0.8w.

Unfortunately I’m not picking up a signal. Have I missed a step or is it just trial and error with the elevation until I find it?

 

[Lazarus]

I managed to get the pole at 90, according to the spirit level.

I set the latitude on the motor bracket to my latitude from Google maps.

I’ve used the sat finder NG app to adjust the elevation on my dish, and I’ve aligned it to 0.8w.

Unfortunately I’m not picking up a signal. Have I missed a step or is it just trial and error with the elevation until I find it?

Please post a selection of pics - Often it is easier to remotely diagnose errors from images than it is by q&a.

 

[jeallen01]

I managed to get the pole at 90, according to the spirit level.

I set the latitude on the motor bracket to my latitude from Google maps.

I’ve used the sat finder NG app to adjust the elevation on my dish, and I’ve aligned it to 0.8w.

Unfortunately I’m not picking up a signal. Have I missed a step or is it just trial and error with the elevation until I find it?

Welcome to the "First Timers' Club" - we've all "been there", and with similar "results"

And thus, now comes the "really hard part" - and with a lot of sweat, "tears" and "expletives deleted" then hopefully (?) will come a "measure of success".

 

[Offtensive]

Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures as I set up the brackets, I’ll post some pictures of the brackets tomorrow.

I’ve attached some pictures of the back. My instinct is that I haven’t aligned maybe the motor to the pole or the dish to the motor (sorry, I didn’t take a picture of that either - the rain got the better of me). So tomorrow (rain dependent), I’m planning to take the dish and motor off and start that part from scratch.

Before I add the motor, I’m planning to mount the dish to the pole and try and find Thor first so that I get an idea of where it is. From my location Thor’s elevation is 29.8 degrees, do I subtract the offset angle from 29.8 and then set that as the elevation adjustment on the back of the dish?

I’ll take more pictures tomorrow as I go along.

 

[Offtensive]

I wasn’t able to upload this pic with the others.

 

[jeallen01]

View attachment 137440

I wasn’t able to upload this pic with the others.

From that pic, I'd guess that the "latitude" = elevation setting is a little too low - before you do anything else, trying increasing the elevation " a very little at a time".

Edited - each time you increase the elevation, swing the dish very slightly East & then West - the "beam" is very narrow!

 

[a33]

From my location Thor’s elevation is 29.8 degrees, do I subtract the offset angle from 29.8 and then set that as the elevation adjustment on the back of the dish?

No. that would be the elevation value for the FRONT of the dish.

For fun and understanding, mount your dish (i.e. the dish face) exactly vertical, and then look at the elevation scale. Can you guess what value that would be on?

Greetz,
A33

 

[Gladstones]

best for the first timer is to use a old tele and receiver place tele and receiver in front of you then find the signal dont think too much about readings and angles
this is the best way to learn

 

[Offtensive]

No. that would be the elevation value for the FRONT of the dish.

For fun and understanding, mount your dish (i.e. the dish face) exactly vertical, and then look at the elevation scale. Can you guess what value that would be on?

Greetz,
A33

Sorry, that’s gone over my head. I tried this, with just the dish mounted straight onto the pole and I can get it vertical-ish when the elevation adjustment on the back is zero - I’m not sure if that’s what you mean.

 

[Offtensive]

I tried doing some adjustments this morning but no luck.

Now I have mounted just the dish to the pole. I have been trying to tune it into hotbird (I picked that over 28.2e as I know I definitely have a clear view of that).

I’ve been using a Gt media satellite meter to align it. But no luck so far.

Should I just fix the azimuth, and then keep on making slight adjustments to the elevation until I get a lock?

 

[Mickha]

Rather than try reading through this entire thread, which is extremely long, I'll try asking a few basic questions, to try and catch up.

Have you ever had a signal, using your current dish setup?
Have you checked your cable, and connections?
Your connections need to ensure that the braid isn't touching the core, but has contact with your F connector, a short can cause problems, as can an improperly made connection, or a damaged cable:


Is your satellite meter producing any signal readings? Usually, even with cheap meters, you soon know if your cabling is working, especially with cheap meters, as it draws power, from the cabling, and lights up. Have you checked the guides, on how tyo use your meter?

You can also use sites, like dishpointer.com, to check if you can get a signal, from a satellite, and gives you a good idea where to point your dish.

 

[Offtensive]

Rather than try reading through this entire thread, which is extremely long, I'll try asking a few basic questions, to try and catch up.

Have you ever had a signal, using your current dish setup?
Have you checked your cable, and connections?
Your connections need to ensure that the braid isn't touching the core, but has contact with your F connector, a short can cause problems, as can an improperly made connection, or a damaged cable:
View attachment 137454

Is your satellite meter producing any signal readings? Usually, even with cheap meters, you soon know if your cabling is working, especially with cheap meters, as it draws power, from the cabling, and lights up. Have you checked the guides, on how tyo use your meter?

You can also use sites, like dishpointer.com, to check if you can get a signal, from a satellite, and gives you a good idea where to point your dish.

The cable I’m using works, I’ve used the same cable before. I’ve tried with a new cable that I made last night too

I’ve never set this dish up before, but last night I did manage to get a slight lock on Astra 1.

The sat meter shows a signal strength of 92% and Quality of zero.

I’ve even tried changing the lnb for another one that I’ve used before.

With my meter, I have one of the small green ones that connects to my phone via Bluetooth - I have used it before to set up a second lnb on my zone 1 dish.

 

[Mickha]

have you got the beeper option turned on, and the meter configured correctly?
It's the signal quality that counts.
Did you manage to get a picture, on Astra 1, 19.2E?

 

[Gladstones]

Before finding signal on any satellite you must be log onto working and strong tp of that satellite

 

[Offtensive]

I’ve got the beeping turned on. The meter doesn’t give me picture, just strength and quality.

I’m using the transponder 10949 V 27500 for hot bird from William1’s strongest transponders list.

 

[Mickha]

Hotbird is 13E, and that transponder isn't listed in William 1's list:

Just Sharing This - Strongest transponders

The Strongest transponders for January 4th 2021 All active Ku band satellites from 50° east to 45° west This list was compiled by William-1 $ = encrypted TM5402HD M3 +100cm Dish+Inverto Black Ultra Lnb-Signal Quality in dB Turksat 4B @ 50° east 11196 V 2222 TürkSat Tanitim==14.7 AzerSpace-1 @...

www.satellites.co.uk

Hotbird-13B @ 13°east 11681 H27500 ARTE HD==========86%
Hotbird-13C @ 13°east 11373 H 27500 NASA TV HD======81%
Hotbird-13E @ 13°east 10775 H 27500 Press TV========82%

If you check lyngsat, or other site, you will learn that 10949 V is 29900, not 27500

https://www.lyngsat.com/Hotbird-13B-13C-13E.html

 

[Offtensive]

Sorry, I used an older list. I’ve adjusted to 11681H but still nothing.

Should I fix my azimuth and just focus on the elevation or would I need to adjust/fine tune the azimuth too?

 

[Mickha]

If you would please post a few pictures, of the front of your dish, and the side, as requested, the problem might be obvious.
The bracket angles, are only a guide, to help with initial setup.
I use a very basic meter:

This meter is very simple to use, and only lights up if the cable, and connections, are working. By adjusting the sensitivity, using the knob, you can get it to beep even if the dish is facing the ground, you then adjust the sensitivity, until it reads about 5, adjust the dish, until it reaches 10, then once again decrease the sensitivity, until it reads 5, adjust the dish, until it reads 10, and keep doing this until you have the strongest signal. Once you have the East/West reading the strongest it can be, you adjust the elevation, using the same method.
Once done you scan in channels, on your receiver, to see which satellite you're aligned to.

 

[Offtensive]