My Penta 85 - again

Captain Jack

Captain Jack

Retired human
My Satellite Setup
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North Somerset
Here's my Penta 85 dish installed at ground level this time. It seems to get lower every time I install it - maybe next time it'll be underground? :confused:

Anyhow, here it is.... pointing at 9E in the picture. The arc range is 23.5E to 30W. Beyond 23.5E, there's a house in the way. In fact, the reception of 23.5E is already partly shadowed by the house as if I tilt the dish upwards, I get more signal... (Canal+ NL beam). Ironically, this is actually out of alignment, but by tilting the dish upwards, it comes out of the "shadow" and hence more signal. Nothing from 12525V - something I was getting a good signal from in Tunbridge Wells. 19.2E is at maximum reading.

The other iffy satellite is Sirius Nordic beam. Horizontals are quite weak - 34% quality vs 56% quality on DM800 (6dB vs 8.5dB, it says) in Tunbridge Wells, what a difference! However, verticals are pretty much the same as they were in Tunbridge Wells, very odd. Hopefully, a Black Ultra LNB will improve things a bit... especially as I think my Technomate LNB isn't working properly.

30W is spot on, getting maximum reading, but can't find much beyond that. I guess I need to go Vipersan way with C-Band to get anything west-way :cool:

The stand is bolted down to the wooden patio and is actually quite sturdy. I was afraid it would wobble at the top, but no such issues. Was a bit of a pain to get it perfectly vertical - quite fiddly. The dish isn't yet wired all the way into the house, as I am waiting for my WF100 cable to come through the post. 28.2E I will get via my Sky dish at the front of the house, coupled with a DiSEqC switch (hopefully no signal drops will occur!).
 

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Goog to see you found a solution to fixing the dish mount to the decking.
Sometimes you just gotta do with what you have - and this looks like about right!
Happy zapping. :)
 
Looks good.:)

The only thing I would comment on is that if by tilting the dish backwards you get a better signal on 23.5E, the arc is too low at that point.
 
rolfw said:
The only thing I would comment on is that if by tilting the dish backwards you get a better signal on 23.5E, the arc is too low at that point.
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I am not sure if that's the case. In Tunbridge Wells, with unobstructed view, I had a near maximum signal from this satellite. Here, I only get around 56% - on Astra 1, I get 100% on most. If the arc was low at 23.5% to affect the signal so dramatically, then I would surely see some signal degradation from 19.2E? I think it's just the roof of the house shadowing part of the signal. Besides, I have no problems at the other end - 30W is booming in with no adjustment making it better.
 
Can't see your logic, unless you physically lift the dish higher on the mast, you will not improve your line of sight, you are simply angling it backwards, effectively increasing the elevation, so if the signal improves, your arc is off.
 
Hmm, OK. Will have to check again tomorrow and see if anything is wonky there.
 
Well.....you can shoot me down in flames if you want, but in photo #2 your mast appears to be leaning backwards. I'd check it again, and I'd agree with Rolfw, if your having to alter dish elevation to peak a signal, the arc is off.
 
sonnetpete said:
Well.....you can shoot me down in flames if you want, but in photo #2 your mast appears to be leaning backwards. I'd check it again, and I'd agree with Rolfw, if your having to alter dish elevation to peak a signal, the arc is off.
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I did think the same when looking at those pictures, but images can always be deceiving.
 
I guess it's possible that it's distortion by using a wide angle setting on the camera, but I looked at the base of the stand where the pole is inserted. If you follow this upwards, surely the pole should be parallell with the joint of the decking? I'd suggest checking it again with a level (or better an angle finder).
 
Double checked the pole and it was plumb.

Also, while it was sunny, I have unbolted the stand and moved it as close towards the corner as I I could. The signal on 23.5E instantly improved (the pole was just as vertical) but still no hint of 28.2E. You can see the screenshot from DishPointer App where the satellites are in relation to the house.

The reason I can't leave the dish in that corner is because I then lose 30W as the fence is in the way....
 

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CJ, if the roof is partially blocking the dish from 23ºE any difference in height is going to improve things. A pole that is 12" longer would probably sort it out, or even just lifting the dish a few inches up the motor stub might make all the difference. For 28ºE I can't see any problem getting that from the Sky dish on the other side of the house as you suggested in the other thread.
 
Good idea re moving it up the motor stub! Not too bothered about 23.5E as I get enough signal to watch it with no interruptions.

May need to invest in a larger dish eventually to get 5E more reliably. There are no 1.2m Pentas, are there? :-mamster
 
Captain Jack said:
May need to invest in a larger dish eventually to get 5E more reliably. There are no 1.2m Pentas, are there?
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no but a gibertini 1.2m would be a good choice if you do upgrade as you have the fencing around to shelter the dish, not had one on a diseqc motor though.

you could change to a stab motor with the upwards facing motor which would raise the dish up further.
 
A Gibby 1.2 should be OK on a diseqc motor at that level.
 
I put one on a Stab 120 a few years back and it was very heavy, prone to severe backlash. It would also take up a lot of space in that corner.:)
 
If that dish is the back of the house and you have a dish in the front of the house cant you exchange the two? It would get the house out of the way of the motorized dish, or cant you due to some silly law or something?
 
A lot of peeps don't like having a largish dish on the front of the property, though up to 1m is usually allowed without planning permission.
 
Terryl said:
If that dish is the back of the house and you have a dish in the front of the house cant you exchange the two? It would get the house out of the way of the motorized dish, or cant you due to some silly law or something?
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The dish at the front is for 28ºE, which can't be seen from the back of the house. Have a look at the Dishpointer picture above.

On the Gibertini 1.2m, hanging that on a DiSEqC motor is crazy (it's like pulling an enormous caravan behind a Renault 5, see below). Although the dish clamp will tighten up on the motor stub, the clamp is designed for a pole up to 100mm diameter to keep the dish secure even in strong wind. Personally I'd use the polar mount made by Gibertini along with an 18 inch actuator. You'll end up with a setup that tracks the arc perfectly without any backlash or free play.

[tube]e_Xygo2054Q[/tube]
 
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