Satellite dish cannot find anything!

S

seesaw

Member
My Satellite Setup
Triax 88cm dish with Technomate TM-5400 CI+
My Location
London
Hi there,

Dish: Triax 88cm
Box: Technomate TM-5400CI+
Motor: Technomate 2600
Latitude is 51.58°
Longitude: -0.432°

I am very new to the world of satellites so come here seeking the advice of you, the experienced experts! Please excuse my lack of technical jargon.

I am in the process of trying to align my satellite dish in the correct position before proceeding to make use of the motor. As it stands, I have done the following:

1. I ensured the pole bracket was vertical using a spirit level and the result was positive.
2. I assigned my motor with the correct latitude of 52°, or as close to 51.58° as I could get i.e. 52°. The motor itself had a central setting of 0°. The motor is not connected using any wires at this sage.
3. As per the instructions based on a the 30°-7.5° declination of the motor, I set the dish elevation to 22.5°.
4. I used a compass to ensure that the dish was facing South. Here, I admit that that I'm not sure about "true South", but it is certainly facing magnetic South.
5. I am not sure what LNB skew is. I have played around with it twisting and turning but in all honestly I am not sure how to interpret the numbers on the top of the LNB. I have a 2 face monobloc LNB although in these early stages I am trying to find whatever I can on atleast one of the LNB faces.
6. I am trying to find 1°W.
7. In the Technomate software screen, under Satellite setup I am getting:
Level ~79%
Quality ~ 20% (for all satellites)

Please help as no doubt the positioning must be wrong, but everything else seems to be mathematically sound.

Thank you in advance.
 
Well as regards skew, for a motorised dish the skew should be zero: ie with the dish pointing south (equivalent to maximum elevation attained), ensure the LNB skew is set to the centre of the scale such that the F connector is vertically down.

Shouldn't need any further adjustment as this takes place automatically as the dish describes the arc, owing to the locus described by the motor.

Next, connect the motor into the circuit.

Apply your Lat and Long to the relevant USALS fields in the Receiver.

Select Thor.

Then go and tweak the dish/motor as a whole around the pole for azimuth and tweak the dish elevation bracket (not the motor bracket) for elevation.

Use the strong BBC World TP (11325 H 24500 7/8) on Thor initially and once you've got it, find a weaker Channel from Thor and fine tune.

Edit: As you've got a Monoblock attached, for zero skew an imaginary lion drawn between the heads will be horizontal.
 
Spirit levels are useless.

If you have a protractor, get a piece of string with a nut or similar tied on, and hold it at the origin. Use that to assess how vertical the pole is.

Get the pole vertical, the rest is easy.

Then use the elevation marks on the motor and dish as starting points.
 
For 1°W try 12418 V 28000 which is a strong signal. Transmits The Poker Channel, Musiq 1, etc.
 
hexah said:
For 1°W try 12418 V 28000 which is a strong signal. Transmits The Poker Channel, Musiq 1, etc.
Click to expand...


Not a fan of BBC World, then? :cool:
 
It is not that bad! It is better than BBC News 24.

It is just not as strong a signal here. Perhaps in London it makes no difference. :)
 
satelliteman said:
I use a spirit level.
Click to expand...

Is it a digital spirit level?

I find that if you check with a protractor or plumb line, you can easily be 2-3 degrees out with a liquid spirit level. That is enough to throw you well out except in the center of the arc, even with a small dish with a wide beamwidth of 2.5-3 degrees.
 
Tivù said:
an imaginary lion drawn between the heads will be horizontal.
Click to expand...

Blimey, you must think his artistic skills are good. Although if he is horizontal, I'm assuming he'll be asleep and therefore easier to draw
 
I thought my phraseology would give paws for thought.
 
I fear the OP may end up with sore paws if he cannot get used to the gawd awful elevation bracket on the Triax.
 
Thanks for everyone who has responded.

Unfortunately, even after connecting the motor into the circuit and setting it to find 1W, I am at the same stage as before - I cannot find any satellites.

Does anyone have any further ideas as to what I may be doing wrong? I have followed every instruction accurately as per the setup guides.
Is there a way to modify the elevation without having to run to the TV screen to check if it has had any effect on the signal strength?

I'm becoming increasingly frustrated; on the verge of tears.
 
I run a coax cable from the recever to a portable TV I position outside, this way I can move the dish until I get a picture.
 
What make of monoblock LNB do you have? One side will be the default. It should say on the label or the box. It should be the face facing the center of the dish. If you have the default side offset you will not be pointing at the right satellite. (It would be easier to use a single LNB.)

If you take the TV out and have it beside you, you could try to find the satellite first without the motor so you are sure you are looking in the right direction. Mark the pole with a pen so you can find the right position again.
 
If I were you, I'd make sure you don't have to go back inside!

You need an indication right at the dish, so either use a portable TV or get yourself a simple satellite Finder. They are very cheap and will save any tears.

The accuracy required is such that it is vital you can monitor progress "live" so to speak.

I do recommend you give it a rest, pause for a beer or six and reflect on the matter.

Then go back to it tomorrow and be patient and logical and it will spring to life.

We've all started somewhere and, apart from those with the golden touch, all found it apparently all too difficult: But the buzz when you get it right is tremendous and you'll wonder why it ever seemed such an insurmountable task.

Believe me.

"Look into my eyes ............."
 
hexah said:
What make of monoblock LNB do you have? One side will be the default. It should say on the label or the box. It should be the face facing the center of the dish. If you have the default side offset you will not be pointing at the right satellite. (It would be easier to use a single LNB.)

If you take the TV out and have it beside you, you could try to find the satellite first without the motor so you are sure you are looking in the right direction. Mark the pole with a pen so you can find the right position again.
Click to expand...

Good point, well made.

Default is possibly faintly marked "A".

If it isn't, then it will be the one on the left if looking from dish towards LNB, or the one on the right as seen looking from LNB towards dish.

I agree a single LNB would remove any ambiguity.
 
I also make sure there is some form of shelter for the TV when it is outside, even if it is just an umbrella. In this country rain can strike at any time!
 
Really?

We tend to have a permanent Boycott on unwanted precipitation here in the Repooblic.
 
Including the snow?

:-rofl2
 
Shhh ...........


Don't allow the facts to get in the way of a bit of light entertainment :p
 
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