Satellite dish not picking any signals !

G

guigb

Member
My Satellite Setup
60cm Folding Satellite Dish

Fortec Star 4000 v2
My Location
United Kingdom
Hi all,

Im trying to install a system to watch both Hotbird 13 and Astra 19. As Im currently renting and can't put holes in the wall but have a good size balcony facing south. So, I've decided to buy a portable 60cm Folding Satellite Dish at Maplins and install a dual LNBs to get the signal. The problem is that I can't pick up any !!!

I've attached a photo of the dishpointer app and of my satellite. As you can see I should have a pretty clear view to receive the satellites. I've install the satellite finder and despite getting it fed by the satellite receiver I can't receive any signal. I've already a Sky mini-dish receiving Sky signal but can't manage to find any satellite at all with my portable satellite dish. Any thoughts????

Many thanks !
 
Are you using a satellite meter? Even a cheap one, £5-£6, is very useful in aligning a satellite dish.
I can't tell much, from your pictures, can you please post some new ones, of the satellite dish, so that we can tell what angle you have it set at.
 
Thanks for the reply...will post new pictures tomorrow. However, I can confirm that I've been using a satellite meter and can't get any signal at all despite being trying all angulations and rotations.
 
Then I advise you check everything, the cable, connections, LNB and receiver, as something might be wrong.
The usual suspect are the connections:
[video=youtube_share;v2v7fLHZzzM]http://youtu.be/v2v7fLHZzzM[/video]
 
Indeed the very first mistake people often make is to have a short circuit between the central core and a fine strand of braid. The second mistake made is the angle of attack of the dish, it should be almost vertical leaning back a couple of degrees
 
Really not a lover of that video, nor the satcure method, best bet nowadays is to buy the tool-less compression connectors _http://www.satelliteandaerialsupplies.com/product/?s=cabelcon-metal-self-install-f-type-compression-connector-1mm

Forget about the Vaseline if you use those, but even if you don't, use some self amalgamating tape, take the stuff off after 10 years and the connection will look like brand new. http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...installation-downloadable-pdf.html#post694091
 
Thank you all for the replies.... checked cables and they are ok (bought them already assembled from Maplin) as well the LNB (checked in the Sky Dish).

I've attached some photos comparing the dish with my current sky dish and the neighbour's. Cant pick up any signal at all....
 
I see your taking pictures with either an Iphone or android mobile, just a suggestion it might be a good idea to alter these to the correct way up before uploading so other members can get a good idea of the dish setup
 
hope i can give a good overview now.
 
Why is the Inverto LNB rotated 90 degrees?
 
No idea how to setup the lnb as it is the first time im doing this. What should I suppose to do? Dishpointer says lnb skew -11 . Ive tried to rotate the lnb with no luck
 
Roatating the LNB, also known as skewing, is only required to peak the signal, judging by the pictures you have it rotated too much, for now try it with the cable pointing straight down.
Also turn the dial, on the satellite meter, until it is set to about 5, if the connections are correct, and the receiver is on, then you should get this without locking onto a satellite. As you adjust the dish look for it to go up to 10 then turn the knob until back to 5 again, gently adjust the dish, until it moves to 10 again, then turn the knob to get it to 5, keep doing this until you have a strong enough signal to scan some channels in, on your receiver.
 
No luck rotating the LNB, from the pictures do the angle/pointing look right?
 
As Mickha says the cable out of the LNB should be pointing down to the ground. By pointing it at 90 degrees you have effectively swapped polarities so all your settings in the receiver will be "wrong" (ie H becomes V and V becomes H). You only need to worry about the fine tuning of the LNB position once you've got the dish locked on the required satellite. You may find the LNB works better when it's slightly further into the holder, but again this is something to do at the end when you try and peak the signal.

The angles look OK but you only need to be out by a few mm to get no signal, so not really possible to say from the pictures. You just have to keep moving the dish slowly left/right/up/down while watching the meter for any changes.
 
Are you getting a signal, on the satellite meter?
 
I will try this afternoon once I get back home, thanks.
 
Manage to get signal, the satellite finder goes to 10 but in my receiver, signal intense is 45% and signal quality 5%, I cant figure out what Im missing.
 
When the satellite meter goes to 10 you need to adjust the knob, to get it back to 5 again, gently move the dish, to get it to 9-10, then again adjust the setting, you need to keep this up until you have as strong a signal as possible, then you scan in channels on your receiver.
 
Adjust it, take your time too. If you rush you'll get frustrated. Give the receiver a second or two to lock in as well.
 
hello,
your skew looks 90 degrees off. dish looks too low for 19 or 13 degrees.
the other dishes are at 28 degrees so you have set it up like the others.
standing in front of the dish and looking at the lnb rotate it counter clock until the lnb cable is pointing down.
then standing behind the dish angel the dish up and then to the right.
remember fron where you are pointing you will pass 26 then 23 then you should hit 19.
ralph
 
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