Need help (see pic)

M

ma701ss

Member
My Satellite Setup
Raven dish
Motosat receiver
My Location
London
Hello!

I am new to satellite. I have a dish set up using a compass and meter, and it appears to be pointing towards Astra 1. I do not have Astra 1 satellites set up on my receiver so I have added a transponder manually, which is 12480 V 27500, so I should be able to receive SAT1, DSF, etc. When I enter these settings, I receive 57% quality but when I scan for free TV channels it says "No program found". This is under "NIT Search". I also tried searching under "PID Search" and entered in the correct PIDs but still nothing. Any idea what I might be doing wrong please? Could I still be pointing at the wrong satellite even if I receive 57% quality on the correct transponder settings for the channel I'm trying to pick up?

Thanks
 
Sorry forgot pic - see attached.
 

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Yes, your hypothesis is correct.

Good signal but nowt to see almost always means "wrong Satellite" in the circumstances you describe.

Using a compass is a bit of a waste of time owing to inherent inaccuracy and the fact that they are affected by the presence of the dish anyway.

Have a look at Dishpointer - that'll give you a much better idea based upon the topography of your own plot and its surroundings.

Of course, out of interest, you could determine what Satellite you are actually on either by carrying out a Blind/Auto or Network scan (if the Receiver allows) or by trying a listed TP from other strong Satellites close to Astra 1 eg 13E, 23.5E (Dutch Channels) or even 28E
 
Hi, thanks. Doing a search on Astra 2A I receive loads of channels, like all the UK FTA channels. If I turn my dish about 10 degrees to the right though I get no signal on the meter. I spike to the satellite receiver manufacturer today and they said that the receiver does not support Astra 1, even though I seem to be able to enter transponders manually. They said I need a software update.
 
You need to raise the dish elevation as you swing back Westerly. From Astra2 you'll find Astra3 @ 23.5e then Astra1.
 
Aye ...... oop a bit
 
Thanks for the replies. I still can't pick up the 19.2 satellites, so perhaps the manufacturer of my receiver is right that it needs a software update. The trouble is I need an RS-232 lead and the software from the manufacturer in Syria, so don't think it's going to happen. It would be good to get an old receiver that has the Astra 1 satellites programmed in already. Can anyone recommend a good receiver for about £10 - £20 on ebay. I looked at a cheap Pace 2200 and it seemed OK but will it have Astra 1 satellites already programmed?
 
You don't need a different receiver. As long as the transponder details you need are 'enterable' it will work, you just need to point the dish in the right direction as already mentioned.

You found 28E, knock it round and up a bit for 23.5, use 12168V 27500 3/4 for example, once you got that, move it the same again for 19E
 
Robbo thanks but I have tried moving it in all directions whenever I get a signal on the meter. On the transponder settings, for example:
 
sorry I hit enter by mistake. I meant to say:

Robbo thanks but I have tried moving it in all directions whenever I get a signal on the meter. On the transponder settings, for example: 11954 H 3/4 27500, what is "3/4"? I have nowhere to enter this on my receiver's settings. Is it important? As I mentioned and as you can see from my pic I get signal quality 57%, so is it correct that I could be receiving a good signal from the same transponder on the wrong satellite, e.g. 28.2 instead of 19.2? Why would the quality be so good if no channels are transmitting on this frequency?
 
Also, I had the transponder shown in my pic in view as I moved the satellite dish and I only got a signal at what appears to be aiming generally towards 28.2. I do not get any signal quality on that transponder at any other position.
 
The figure 3/4 would be FEC correction rate. Some receivers don't require the info the be entered.

Search/scan transponders when you have a lock to see where you are.
 
If I scan on any of the satellites that are already programmed in at where it's currently pointing, they all pick up the same channels more or less, i.e. UK FTA channels. I still don't understand though why I don't get signal quality for a transponder that should be picking up German channels on any other satellite dish alignment other than what I'm on (which looking at the channels appears to be Astra 28.2).
 
Are you moving the dish round enough from the Astra2 slot?
 
I think so but it "could" slightly be obscured by the side of my house at 157 degrees, however I have held it out further but still no luck with Astra 1 (I managed to pick up the Astra 2 satellites easily so it's not because I'm holding it).
 
Ahh, right, I was just about to question whether you were sure that you had line of sight, but that has been answered. If you are not sure you have a clear line of sight, forget it, you don't stand a chance in that situation.

Move the dish to somewhere you are sure of a clear line of sight.
 
I can't move it elsewhere easily unfortunately. I've thought about hiring a digital meter to identify the satellites that I am picking up.
 
Unless you want to part with the best bit of £500, you are not going to get a meter that identifies individual satellites.
 
Can you upload an image of the dish positioning so we can see?
 
ma701ss said:
I can't move it elsewhere easily unfortunately. I've thought about hiring a digital meter to identify the satellites that I am picking up.
Click to expand...

The best meter in the world wouldn't make a great deal of difference, for DIY jobs a sat receiver and a small TV works just as well. Have you checked dishpointer? That would at least give you an idea hopefully, if you're onto a loser from the start.
 
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