New to FTA

[lewisc7]

I just recently purchased a Fortec Lifetime system with a 36" dish and a Powertech DG 240 motor. When I first purchased the system it was without the motor and it took just minutes to find any satellite. I put the motor on and at first had trouble, but then dialed in 5 satellites, but my favorite satellite (Galaxy 10R 123W) I can't get. I took the motor back off and hit it within minutes. With the motor I hit 87W, 93W, 95W, 99W and 127W. My location is Lat: 39.9 Long: -82.0 Motor angle 40, Azimuth 187.7 (using compass) declination is 6.3 and dish elevation should be 29. Any helpful tips?

[pmb1010]

if you get everything else in and can't seem to figure it out, well maybe time to "cheat"... usually this signifies a minor tweak (move whole motor on pole a bit) but it appears you are receiving past 123 ok.

so - get everything dialed in best you think it should be.

Change the satellite's position in the setup from 123.0 to 122.5, or 123.5 or something like that -- keep fiddling with the position till you get it in.

[lewisc7]

When you say change the position in the setup do you mean when I change the position on the pole or actually the reading the receiver has?

[pmb1010]

well, both

The situation you describe is typically a non-plumb mounting pole.
(you get the left side and center sats OK, but the extreme right side is not so good).

But you say you get 127 OK.

So that means you can tweak a lot more (eventually it'll come thru) or you can try to fudge the system and get the satellite (maybe!) by hunting a bit before and after it's supposed location...

[elgemcdlf]

I would start with you are not on true south. I see you are only getting sats west of your location. This to me would indicate you are severly out of alignment. Start with checking your mast. It is best if it is perfectly plumb. I then would attempt to line my system up as best I can on true south with a compass. Looking at lyngsat I see 79 is probably your best bet so with USALS tell the motor to go to 79. You want to hunt for 11900H2170. It is Telemundo (Spanish channel) but understanding the language is not important. The signal is strong and easy to find. Once you locate this channel start working out from there in both directions until you find the eastern most and western most sats you can see.

Now with the system pointed at the western most sat gently push up and pull down on the dish looking for signal change. If signal increases in either direction make a note of it. Now do the same for the eastern most sat. If you have opposite readings for signal increase you are not completely centered on the arc and need to rotate the assembly on the mast in the direction of push up increased signal. Just a little bit. Now repeat. Keep doing this until push up and pull down decrease signal. You now are perfectly centered on the arc.

At this point you can tighten the assembly on the mast and will no longer move that adjustment. Motor elevation sets the location in the sky of your arc. Dish elevation sets the shape of the arc. There were probably instructs with the motor that described this and how to adjust for desired effect. As you get your arc shaped more correctly you will see more and more sats.

You should (barring obstacles) be able to see 30 in the east and 129 or so in the west.