Yes Ryan you make perfect sense, and you bring back (fond?) memories... :?
After changing or adjusting the
actuator arm, as you have done, you must reprogram the receiver to memorize the satellite positions. First erase all sats in the receiver's memory. Next, pick up a copy of ORBIT magazine (if they still publish it) and in the front cover there will be a channel guide showing each channel on each of the 24 transponders (C-band) for most of the major satellites covering North America.
Its been awhile since I worked on a General Instrument but I recall them having an AUTOPEAK feature. This is neat. You have to know what channel on what satellite you are looking for (don't pick a scrambled channel), then manually move the actuator and look for that channel. Set your east and west limits first - usually 50 or so points past the easternmost and westernmost satellites. Be careful not to go too far east or you will overextend the actuator and throw the dish over - major PIA to get it back !!! :shock:
When you find the channel you are looking for, hit AUTOPEAK and the receiver automatically peaks the dish for maximum signal strength and skew. Then name that satellite (G5, C3, etc.) Once that channel, and hence that satellite, are stored in memory, go on to the next satellite. Repeat the procedure until you have stored all the satellites you want to receive.
kat