Where have I gone wrong? (Dish alignment)

[RachelM]

Hi there,

A year ago I had a motorised dish professionally installed, I was happy with it but I decided a few weeks ago I wanted a bigger dish. Today my new dish arrived, I swapped them over and as I didn't really have a clue what I was doing I drew a load of sharpy lines on everything to re-line up. Unfortunately I've screwed up somehow as I can only view 28.2e by driving the motor to 16e and I can't pick anything else up :/

Does anyone have any idea?

 

[Lazarus]

Can you please post up some photos of the installation?

 

[sonnetpete]

Hi Rachel, and welcome to the forum. It sounds like your new dish has slipped round the motor stub. Try moving the motor to dead centre (0 degrees ) and check that the dish is square on to the motor.

 

[satelliteman]

We do have a couple of simple motorised set up guides in this section. Might be worth a look. In my view, the dish would need to be set up from scratch.

 

[william-1]

Setting up a Motorised system
Set up with my own guide for maximum signals >>
Part-1
1/ Pole must be dead vertical in 360 degrees ( use a spirit level ),
2/ Dish mounted dead central on the motor spigot,
3/ Motor set at the correct Elevation for your location for maximum signal at your reference satellite,
4/ Motor at zero on the scale when aimed at your reference satellite,
5/ Dish Declination set for maximum signal at your reference satellite,
6/ Lnb set in the correct position for max signal(Move Lnb fully forward & Back while viewing a meter for max signals)
7/ Site dish so that you have an unobstructed view of the Satellite Arc,
8/ Tighten all bolts when you have achieved maximum signal on all Satellites in your Satellite Arc.

 

[RachelM]

Can you please post up some photos of the installation?

These are the best I can do at the moment I'm afraid. Got a load of stag beetles flying around next to the dish and they scare me I will post some better ones tomorrow.

In my view, the dish would need to be set up from scratch.

Balls. Look like I'll be calling someone out :/

 

[Lazarus]

Not bad pics, all things considered!

But I think @sonnetpete might be right about the dish not being correctly fitted to the motor stub. There should be a faint ridge or score mark on the stub which is the datum for mounting. It's crucial that is right or the motion of the dish will not track the arc.

Sadly, I suspect that might not be the only issue and your Plan B is a good one, unless you are prepared to start from scratch using the Forum Guides, @william-1 s personalised regime or even follow the instructions in the Motor leaflet (If you have it!)

 

[satelliteman]

Check out the stickies in this section. I did a quick reference guide with images as a pdf.

 

[RachelM]

I'll have a go tomorrow but I'm not expecting much :/

Can I please confirm that based on my location (Latitude:52.05 Longitude:1.23) the settings are 22.5 dish bracket angle & 38 elevation?

 

[Vipersan]

Looking at your photo ...appears to be an all metal gear dark motor ..
So this is the page that is relevant from the manual ..
hope it helps..
rgds
VS

 

[RachelM]

Finally getting somewhere - got it working 30W - 28E. Was previously able to get up to 52E on my old dish :/

Kinda too scared to adjust it any more in case I lose everything again :/

This has really been a learning curve, didn't have a bloody clue about this before now (hence why I originally got it professionally installed)

This is not the work for a girl LOL

 

[Lazarus]

You do girls a disservice!

Very impressed you've made such progress

 

[RachelM]

The worst part about this is I have to run indoors every two minutes to check progress (I must have gone up and down the ladder 200 times) and I've managed to pull a muscle in my arm from holding the dish up yesterday before I got it screwed on properly

 

[Captain Jack]

If only I could teach my SWMBO to install motorised satellite dishes....

 

[Ghostleader]

If only I could teach my SWMBO to install motorised satellite dishes....

You would do the dishes more???? lol

Sent from my thl 2015A using Tapatalk

 

[Ghostleader]

The worst part about this is I have to run indoors every two minutes to check progress (I must have gone up and down the ladder 200 times) and I've managed to pull a muscle in my arm from holding the dish up yesterday before I got it screwed on properly

That's a pain in the arse, you need a friend/family member with a loud voice & an open window to shout out your progress, that was my & dad's styles back in the 90's lol.

Sent from my thl 2015A using Tapatalk

 

[Captain Jack]

I do all kinds of dishes already...

 

[Ghostleader]

I meant dirty dishes Jack! lol

Sent from my thl 2015A using Tapatalk

 

[Captain Jack]

Yes, me too...

 

[Ghostleader]

Me too, the missus thinks she works in a school kitchen when she's cleaning them (I.e. runs the hot water without the plug in), Scottish Power get enough of my money!!

Sent from my thl 2015A using Tapatalk