Setting up a Motorised system to pull in weak signals for Feed Hunting

a33

Specialised Contributor
Joined
Sep 24, 2009
Messages
1,237
Reaction score
710
Points
113
Age
63
My Satellite Setup
XSAT410
Rebox RE-9000
My Location
NL
Plenty of manuals here, I would say. Which one gives problems?

i get to tune in the W or E but not both at the same time.
This is rather cryptic. Could you elaborate, what you are doing/trying?

Edit: If you mean you can have good tracking of the arc while west from south, and have to adjust mount and dish settings to have good tracking of east from south, then your due south setting is off (and maybe more...!).
Best way of checking mount settings I believe is check every step of the setup:
- pole exactly plumb east/west-wise?
- rotation axis elevation set at correct (modified) angle?
- dish declination set at correct (modified) angle?
- setup outlined to due south exactly (while mount and dish aligned perfectly)?


greetz,
A33
 
Last edited:

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
Yes i explain better, i want to adjust my 1.9m mothorized dish.
i think i have to follow the same procedure like in offset.
I should Point to my reference sat 0.8w and when is adjusted then fix in that point.
BUt my question is which degrees i shoul set in the motor? Put the dish in the middle or more or less 1 degree to the west and adjust the 0.8w?
I will try but AT the moment i didnt GET the point because i should move inclination to have success west and oest.

thanks for the help
 

Mickha

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Dec 10, 2004
Messages
5,974
Reaction score
884
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
1.2M Channel Master, 1224 motor, VU+ Duo 2
My Location
North West
You usually try to align your dish to a satellite nearest to your True South, which is your Longitude reading, for your location, Spain is listed around -3.75 Longitude, which equates to 3.75 degrees West, negative Longitude = West, positive = East.
USAL driven motors allow you to compensate, by having your receiver calculate your position, from your Latitude, and Longitude, then move the motor/dish to a satellite you wish to manually align to. With other motors, used for larger dishes, you tend to have to guestimate, and aligning to a satellite, as close as possible, to your true south, can help.
Try using an app, or an internet site, like dishpointer.com, to get more accurate Latitude, and Longitude, readings.
 

a33

Specialised Contributor
Joined
Sep 24, 2009
Messages
1,237
Reaction score
710
Points
113
Age
63
My Satellite Setup
XSAT410
Rebox RE-9000
My Location
NL
So, do you mean that your 'reference sat' is not (exactly) at due south?

I know that in many manuals they write to aim the dish setup at the 'reference sat', while mount and dish are perfectly aligned (so while the setup aims at the highest point).
But the highest point should be at exactly due south, regardless of the 'reference sat'.

I think there are two 'best' ways of setting due south; see my post here: Aiming at true south
One method is setting south using the sun; and then don't touch the south setting again.
The other method is calculating your dish (forward/backward) movement from due south, to a (any!) reference satellite. Then move the dish with your motor from zero-position to that position. Then find the aimed satellite, by rotating whole setup around the pole; and the due-south position will be set in an 'indirect' way.

Does this answer your question?

Greetz,
A33
 
Last edited:

moonbase

Small Dish Man
Joined
Mar 29, 2004
Messages
4,370
Reaction score
4,470
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
.
My Location
UK
As stated by "Mickha", the first step is to find out the longitude for the location of the dish and then check which satellite is closest to that longitude. This is the satellite that you will use as the satellite closest to the zenith of your arc.
 

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
Messages
35,533
Reaction score
8,554
Points
113
Age
59
Website
www.sat-elite.uk
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
Yes i explain better, i want to adjust my 1.9m mothorized dish.
i think i have to follow the same procedure like in offset.
I should Point to my reference sat 0.8w and when is adjusted then fix in that point.
BUt my question is which degrees i shoul set in the motor? Put the dish in the middle or more or less 1 degree to the west and adjust the 0.8w?
I will try but AT the moment i didnt GET the point because i should move inclination to have success west and oest.

thanks for the help


If there is any movement in the pole, or polarmount bearings, the weight of a 1.9m dish could be altering the arc as it passes true south and you will never get the system to track correctly.
 

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
You usually try to align your dish to a satellite nearest to your True South, which is your Longitude reading, for your location, Spain is listed around -3.75 Longitude, which equates to 3.75 degrees West, negative Longitude = West, positive = East.
USAL driven motors allow you to compensate, by having your receiver calculate your position, from your Latitude, and Longitude, then move the motor/dish to a satellite you wish to manually align to. With other motors, used for larger dishes, you tend to have to guestimate, and aligning to a satellite, as close as possible, to your true south, can help.
Try using an app, or an internet site, like dishpointer.com, to get more accurate Latitude, and Longitude, readings.

According to my location is the 0.8W my latitude 37.22 N / 4.5 O. Im trying to adjunst with dmyco satfinder then i will connect to my dreambox.
The main doubt that i have is if adjusting to the 0.8W with the motor position 1º W is ok.
I think is that way like i adjust offset and motsat3.
 

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
So, do you mean that your 'reference sat' is not (exactly) at due south?

I know that in many manuals they write to aim the dish setup at the 'reference sat', while mount and dish are perfectly aligned (so while the setup aims at the highest point).
But the highest point should be at exactly due south, regardless of the 'reference sat'.

I think there are two 'best' ways of setting due south; see my post here: Aiming at true south
One method is setting south using the sun; and then don't touch the south setting again.
The other method is calculating your dish (forward/backward) movement from due south, to a (any!) reference satellite. Then move the dish with your motor from zero-position to that position. Then find the aimed satellite, by rotating whole setup around the pole; and the due-south position will be set in an 'indirect' way.

Does this answer your question?

Greetz,
A33


I should use the elevation and latitud position according to my location of the dispointer web for example?
 

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
If there is any movement in the pole, or polarmount bearings, the weight of a 1.9m dish could be altering the arc as it passes true south and you will never get the system to track correctly.

Yes i have a little movement im thinking how avoid the gap in the upper joint of the dish with polar mount.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0858 (2).PNG
    IMG_0858 (2).PNG
    332 KB · Views: 64

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
Messages
35,533
Reaction score
8,554
Points
113
Age
59
Website
www.sat-elite.uk
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
You need to send a better picture. The only guaranteed fix is to drill out to a larger diameter and make sure the new bolt is a secure/interference fit.
 
Last edited:

a33

Specialised Contributor
Joined
Sep 24, 2009
Messages
1,237
Reaction score
710
Points
113
Age
63
My Satellite Setup
XSAT410
Rebox RE-9000
My Location
NL
I should use the elevation and latitud position according to my location of the dispointer web for example?

As these two have nothing to do with setting true south, I don't understand your answer to my questions. Sorry!

A33
 

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
I know the south sat I have to point is the 0,8w but my question is? The elevation and azimuth with motor 1degree W has to be for example

Latitude: 37.3606°
Longitude: -4.8478°
Satellite: 0.8W INTELSAT 10-02 | THOR 5 | THOR 6 | THOR 7
Elevation: 46.5°
Azimuth (true): 173.3°
Azimuth (magn.): 174.3°
 

a33

Specialised Contributor
Joined
Sep 24, 2009
Messages
1,237
Reaction score
710
Points
113
Age
63
My Satellite Setup
XSAT410
Rebox RE-9000
My Location
NL

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
According to the manual of motsat3 my location 37,22 N - 4,5 O the elevation for the motor is 24,10 but on prime focus which should be the inclination that is my question
 

moonbase

Small Dish Man
Joined
Mar 29, 2004
Messages
4,370
Reaction score
4,470
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
.
My Location
UK
I know the south sat I have to point is the 0,8w but my question is? The elevation and azimuth with motor 1degree W has to be for example

Latitude: 37.3606°
Longitude: -4.8478°
Satellite: 0.8W INTELSAT 10-02 | THOR 5 | THOR 6 | THOR 7
Elevation: 46.5°
Azimuth (true): 173.3°
Azimuth (magn.): 174.3°


Your longitude is 4.8478 West, the nearest satellite to South at your location is Eutelsat 5 WA at 5.05 degrees West. This is the satellite you can use to set the arc.

Use the values in the picture below for your location

.Antrabe.jpg
 

moonbase

Small Dish Man
Joined
Mar 29, 2004
Messages
4,370
Reaction score
4,470
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
.
My Location
UK
@antrabe

Have you a digital inclinometer that you can use? These are useful for setting up a motorised dish.
The Digi Pas model in the picture below has a magnetic strip on the base that can be use to attach it to the mount for measurement

Digital Spirit Levels.jpg
 

moonbase

Small Dish Man
Joined
Mar 29, 2004
Messages
4,370
Reaction score
4,470
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
.
My Location
UK
@antrabe

Assuming your pole is vertical in the East/West plane and that the mount sits on the pole without any sideways tilt, try this procedure for a prime focus dish:

1. Set your polar mount or H-H motor so that it is centred, ie, the mid point of its East/West rotational axis.

2. If you can measure the angle of the dish face by using a reference point on the back side of the dish, set it at 43.3 degrees. It you have a 2.0m long straight piece of wood you can hold it upright on the dish face and use a digital inclinometer on that, again 43.3 degrees.

3. Loosen the bolts that clamp the mount to the pole and rotate the entire mount around the pole until you get a signal from 5.0W. Peak the signal on 5.0W using small adjustments rotating the dish round the pole. Tighten the clamp bolts.

4. Adjust the main elevation bolt on the mount to peak the 5W signal some more. When it is at its maximum, measure the dish face elevation and take a note of the angle, you will need this in point 6 below.

5. Use the declination offset adjustment bolt to tilt the dish downward by 5.25 degrees by setting the dish face elevation to 48.55 degrees. You will lose the 5W signal.

6. Adjust the elevation bolt to raise the dish upward back to the angle that was set in point 4 above. Your 5W picture should be back at it maximum level.


Yoy should now be able to track an arc.
 

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
Thank you very much to all for your support in this way is easy to adjust. As soon as i have time i begin to follow the procedure. I havent inclinometer but i think that when i set up my 2,4m i use the movile phone with an app that works great, i rememeber that was accurancy more or less.

Later i will send a photo of the attachment in the upper clamp im thinkg to add a cilinder bush to avoid movemets.

i think i could set up fine, the other day i was checking the feeds on 10ºE and 7ºE and works superb increase the signal very well for example on 7ºE azadi channels or manoto which ones with my 1.10 m only 4db or not received and with the 1.9m 80/70 signal.
 

antrabe

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
188
Reaction score
31
Points
28
My Satellite Setup
dreambox7080 dm900 viark droi
My Location
spain
it works, today i tested and more or less i can get all sats on west with the procedure described.

the doubt is point 5 i understood move the dish from the clamp i attached with the final position, 48º maybe i have to fix the antena better because i have it over woden palet.

Also attached the screw where maybe there is play and movement but today with the position was more tightening. im thinking to change the screw.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0873.jpg
    IMG_0873.jpg
    54.8 KB · Views: 46
  • IMG_0866.jpg
    IMG_0866.jpg
    62.2 KB · Views: 42
  • IMG_0864.jpg
    IMG_0864.jpg
    65.9 KB · Views: 40

moonbase

Small Dish Man
Joined
Mar 29, 2004
Messages
4,370
Reaction score
4,470
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
.
My Location
UK
it works, today i tested and more or less i can get all sats on west with the procedure described.

the doubt is point 5 i understood move the dish from the clamp i attached with the final position, 48º maybe i have to fix the antena better because i have it over woden palet.

Also attached the screw where maybe there is play and movement but today with the position was more tightening. im thinking to change the screw.


Good news, well done.

Yes, it looks like the part marked "clamp" in the first 2 of the 3 pictures in your post above is the part where you can adjust the dish downward to 48.55 degrees. If there was play/movement in the part shown in the 3rd picture it would have impacted the arc. If you can change the bolt to remove the play/movement it might improve things?
 
Top