Multi LNB Set up on a Sky Dish

[Mickha]

You dish seems to be pointing down, a bit much, for 13E, and looks more like it's set for 1W, but it's difficult to tell, from the pictures, also the LNB appears to be pointing high, so it might be an optical illusion.

 

[ozumo]

A photo from side on so we can see the pole and side of the dish would help. When looking at the front of the dish, rotate the LNB a little clockwise so the cables are coming out between 6 & 7 o'clock. If there is any hint of a signal, for example the signal strength slightly increasing, stop and do a blind scan.

 

[Offtensive]

I’ve just elevated it a bit more, attached are some pictures of the side.

If there is any hint of a signal, for example the signal strength slightly increasing, stop and do a blind scan.

I’m just trying this now.

 

[Offtensive]

I managed to finally get hotbird

I tried again with Thor before I had to call it a day, but no luck.

I’m using my phone to align the azimuth, by placing it on the lnb arm. When I was pushing the dish up to adjust the elevation, the azimuth was changing.

I’m not sure at the moment if either my phone is off; or if I have not attached it to the pole correct; or if the bracket is bent.

 

[ozumo]

Forget using the phone, now you know where 13E is you can target the next strong satellite using the meter or receiver, for example 9E. Then 7E, 4.8E and then 1W. Each will require a little extra elevation.

Is the dish-to-pole bracket on upside down? It doesn't look like there's much scope for lowering the elevation.

 

[sonnetpete]

Is the dish-to-pole bracket on upside down? It doesn't look like there's much scope for lowering the elevation.

I was actually thinking the same. The dish looks to be pointing down as far as it can go. However, can the OP confirm that 13E was received in this elevation position? If so either the pole is seriously out of plumb or there's a dish assembly malfunction. Was the dish pre owned, as I noticed some rust on one of the photographs.

 

[Offtensive]

The dish was pre-owned, I got it as a freebie. When I managed to get hotbird, the dish was slightly elevated back.

I received the dish-to-pole bracket the way it is now. I will try removing it and turning it upside down. I’ve attached images of the dish at either ends of the elevation adjustment.

I’ve rechecked the pole using two digital levels, that still shows as 90. Fortunately, I have one thing right so far.

 

[ozumo]

I think it's upside down. For use on a motor it may be fine where it is but if it's going to be a fixed dish you won't be able to get low enough elevation for the less central satellites. Generally for 28.2E in the UK an offset dish would be close to vertical (depending on location and dish offset angle), which appears to be as low as the dish can go in its current set up. For example you couldn't get low enough for 42E. The same will apply for satellites to the west end of the arc.

 

[sonnetpete]

On reflection, the bracket may not be inverted, as the elevation marking on the top of the dish face mount would become useless. However, it may have been supplied with an incorrect mount and needs one where the top and bottom bolts slide along a curved elevation scale. I find the marking on the mount and the markings on the dish not to be lining up in an ergonomically correct manner.

 

[ozumo]

Perhaps one way up for higher elevations & the other way for lower

 

[jeallen01]

The dish was pre-owned, I got it as a freebie. When I managed to get hotbird, the dish was slightly elevated back.....

Totally FWIW: if you got a channel on 13E (if it really was 13E, as many channels on that there are also on other sats), then I'd be "inclined" (pun!) to go back to that, swing the dish to the West (i.e. to the Right) to where you believe Thor (0.8W) should be - and then increase the elevation "bit by bit" and see if you can get a sniff of the channels on Thor (the FTA Chinese channels are ones to look for as they are pretty strong, as are the various religious ones, e.g. Vision Norge, etc.).

 

[Lazarus]

see if you can get a sniff

Right on.

 

[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.

OK. So normally, when the dish face is vertical, the elevation scale will show the offset angle of the dish.
So that the elevation setting can be done on the elevation scale value, that is already including the offset angle.

I did not read carefully all the recent posts above about your bracket.
It looks like the vertical position is also the most forward possible leaning angle that your bracket+dish can do?
And that the scale setting would then be about 15 degrees?
(But the photos are not conclusive about that.)

I'd be curious to the exact width and height of the dish. For a flatfaced dish, the offset angle would be: arccos(width / height).
And then to the length of the topstring (top of dish to mid-front of LNB ) and bottomstring (bottom of dish to mid-front of LNB ); to check if the LNB is in the right offset angle.

greetz,
A33

 

[Offtensive]

I never thought aligning the dish would turn into the equivalent of a test match at Lords.

I had another small attempt with the dish. But as I was not having any luck and there does seem to be an issue with dish-to-pole bracket on this, I removed it and will just look for an alternative dish that is easier for a rookie to set up.

I then thought I would just practice aligning my zone 1 dish instead. (I chose my zone 1 ahead of the small triax as the triax has a screw missing and I did not want to open up another can of worms.

That went surprisingly well, I was able to pick up Astra 1, Hotbird, Thor 5 (not all transponders I think and the signal quality was 66% on the strongest).

For the time being, until I do get a new dish, I had a crack at motoring the zone 1 dish. There are a few parts that confuse me. Am I correct in saying that I move the motor to zero, mount the dish on the motor, and then drive the motor to 0.8W and align the dish? (I am not certain if that is correct or if I align to Thor whilst the motor is still at 0).

I did try it both ways, I managed to align it to Thor; but I was having issues when I moved the dish as it was not tracking the arc correct. I assume I haven't mounted the dish on the motor correct.

(The first is a picture of the motor when it is at 30W. It’s not sitting at the marker - so I think there could be an issue with the motor too).

 

[Offtensive]

OK. So normally, when the dish face is vertical, the elevation scale will show the offset angle of the dish.
So that the elevation setting can be done on the elevation scale value, that is already including the offset angle.

I did not read carefully all the recent posts above about your bracket.
It looks like the vertical position is also the most forward possible leaning angle that your bracket+dish can do?
And that the scale setting would then be about 15 degrees?
(But the photos are not conclusive about that.)

I'd be curious to the exact width and height of the dish. For a flatfaced dish, the offset angle would be: arccos(width / height).
And then to the length of the topstring (top of dish to mid-front of LNB ) and bottomstring (bottom of dish to mid-front of LNB ); to check if the LNB is in the right offset angle.

greetz,
A33

The width of the dish (of just the reflecting area) is 103cm, and the height is 113cm. That gives an offset angle of 24.3 degrees.

The topstring is 118cm and the bottomstring is 64cm - I'm not too sure on how to do that calculation.

And that the scale setting would then be about 15 degrees?

Yes, when the dish is fully vertical the scale does show at 15 degrees. I assume this confirms the faults with this dish.

 

[ozumo]

The dish needs to be mounted inline with the motor stub and pole, so when it is at 0° the dish points forwards. Then send it to any satellite, and then rotate the motor on the pole until you get a signal from the desired satellite.

 

[Offtensive]

A better quality picture of the motor

 

[Offtensive]

The dish needs to be mounted inline with the motor stub and pole, so when it is at 0° the dish points forwards. Then send it to any satellite, and then rotate the motor on the pole until you get a signal from the desired satellite.

Does that mean I just need to have the U bolt that in the centre. Or do I need to move the zone 1 dish so that it sets on top of the motor stop rather than the end of the mounting bar?

 

[ozumo]

No, as long as it points in the same direction it can be on the bar.

 

[ozumo]

Here is some fine ascii art showing what I mean:

      |
 \____|____/_________   dish & bar
                  | o |
                  |___| motor at 0°
                   | |
                    O   pole