Old problem that won't go away

O

Old Twit

Member
My Satellite Setup
Fortec Star FS-4200 with 60cm dish (ex Mapplin UK)
My Location
Le Mans, France
Hi Guys

I am just north of Le Mans in France and have installed a Fortec Star FS-4200 with 60cm dish bought in the UK. Like many others (judging from the threads on this website) I had the problem of picking up many channels but not the BBC or ITV channels. According to the compass I am just about right and have tried swinging 9 degrees east and down a bit (to come away from 19.1E) and I am getting a strong signal on the satellite finder and the Fortec box. However I still cannot get BBC etc. The TV screen sometimes shows "No Signal" and sometimes is just completely blank.
At the moment the LNB Frequency is set to Universal (9750-10600) and I am getting a steady 90% signal/74% quality. If I set the frequency to 10750 and the transponder to 10773 I get a signal tat flickers between 90%/74% and 45%/8%. As soon as I hit the back button the transponder is automatically changed to 12226 with no signal (45%)
According to the Astra 2d website a 60cm dish should be man enough.
I have just spent the afternoon up and down the ladder and cannot find any stronger signal.
I am a novice at this lark. What am I doing wrong?
Many thanks
 
Are you getting any channels to watch at all?

You may need to do a scan.
 
Le Mans should be fine with a 60cm, my sister living on the Le Mans side of Chartres gets a great signal with her 60cm, have tried a Sky minidish there which also produces good results.

If you are using a Fortecstar LNB, read the sticky thread at the top of this section.
 
Hi Old Twit,

I'm just about 100K north of you (borders of Manche and Mayenne) and as a reference receive all Astra 28E services on a Zone2 60cm minidish.

I'd agree, more than likely you are on the wrong sat.

By the way, I'm an old twit too (lol, I sound like an owl now)

Pete
 
Thanks folks
I am getting loads of European channels, including BBC World, Sky News, France 24, etc but no national UK programs.
I have tried the LNB at all skews. and after each re-alignment I have done a preset scan.
Looks as if I need to keep "swinging the dish".
Is the Universal LNB Frequency setting OK?
 
Hi,

If you are receiving BBC World News as opposed to BBC News (used to be News 24) you are definitely on the wrong sat. If you are also getting a lot of German language channels I'm guessing you are on Astra at 19°E.

Looking at the dish from the front it needs to be swung to the right slightly and pointed a little further down. If you rescan and pick up some Dutch channels you haven't gone far enough, they are on 23.5°. It's not easy and requires a bit of time and patience. But I'm sure you will get there.

Good Luck,

Pete
 
Thanks again for all the comments folks.
I'll give the dish a twist and let you know how I get on.
This up-and-down the ladder lark certainly keeps you fit. Mrs T says that swinging the dish certainly beats swinging the lead. Can't understand what she means.
cheers
 
BINGO !!!!
It took an hour, or so, of up down and re-scan but I finally got there.
A tip for any first-timers reading this. The last few times I have used a compass to try to align the dish but today I found that laying a piece of straight wood on the ground under the dish at the right angle (see _www.dishpointer.com and then standing back and comparing really did help. It's surprising how far out I was before.

Many thanks to Sonnetpete, Robbo, RolfW and Analoguesat you all gave me the confidence to keep on going.

Anyone know a good anti-glue to get Mrs.T off of the setee now??? I need the TV so that I can watch the rugby this weekend.

Cheers all
 
Hi O.T.,

Well done!!

You must have a good aerial photo from Dishpointer to be able to work out which way to point a piece of wood!!

Unfortunately can't advise on solvent for settee. (though hiding the remote is a good ruse) I usually have to suffer the same when Eastenders/Holby/Casualty is on. My other half is off petsitting currently, so I have all the choice I like. Sadly, not a rugby fan but good luck to whoever you support.

Pete
 
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