I am aiming a wrong satellite - Help

[gyyang]

Hello All,
I am a frustrated newbie. Please help!!!
After spending a lot time to install my new dish system and finally get some signals, I found I am aining a wrong satellite.
Here is my equipment: TRAXIS DBS-3500 receiver
DiSEqC H-H SG-2100 moter
BSC321S 0.4dB LNB
My location: Latitude 38.9 N, Longitude 77.4 W

From the "antenna setup" menu, I selected satellite "Galaxy 3C 95W", at first there was no signals. I moved the motor to west several steps and found good signals. Then the auto search found a lot of channels. But according to all these channels, I believe they are actually from satellite 97W. I know this probably because I am not pointing to the "true south" or my pole is not vertical, but it's very hard for me to straighten it out. Here are my questions:
1. Is it possible tell the receiver that it's aiming 97W instead of 95W , so save it as 97W and use it a a reference to find 95W? If possible then how?

2. What does "standard" or "universal" mean in the selection of LNB type?

3. Does the selection of TV System (PLA, NTSC, Auto) has anything to do with my channel search?

4. What do "TP Scan" and "Channel Setup" do, compared to "Auto Scan"?

5. What is the difference between USALS and "DiSEqC 1.2" in terms of Positioner selection?

Although I have an "Operating Manual" of the receiver, but it only tell me how to go to each submenu from the main menu, no explanation of each function at all.

Could you please help me out? You advice is very important to me and is highly appreciated.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by gyyang

Hello All,
I am a frustrated newbie. Please help!!!
After spending a lot time to install my new dish system and finally get some signals, I found I am aining a wrong satellite.
Here is my equipment: TRAXIS DBS-3500 receiver
DiSEqC H-H SG-2100 moter
BSC321S 0.4dB LNB
My location: Latitude 38.9 N, Longitude 77.4 W

From the "antenna setup" menu, I selected satellite "Galaxy 3C 95W", at first there was no signals.

It is usually better to start by finding your true south satellite.

Originally Posted by gyyang

I moved the motor to west several steps and found good signals. Then the auto search found a lot of channels. But according to all these channels, I believe they are actually from satellite 97W. I know this probably because I am not pointing to the "true south" or my pole is not vertical, but it's very hard for me to straighten it out. Here are my questions:
1. Is it possible tell the receiver that it's aiming 97W instead of 95W , so save it as 97W and use it a a reference to find 95W? If possible then how?
.....
5. What is the difference between USALS and "DiSEqC 1.2" in terms of Positioner selection?

The way I understand it, the USALS is just an improved DiseqC 1.2, which has one additional command, ie a "GOTO X" command. With "1.2", sat positions are located, then stored on the motor, and the receiver just sends a number telling it which stored position to go to. With USALS, you don't need to save positions on the motor, but instead the receiver can send the GOTO X command specific to each satellite. It wasn't clear from your description above whether you were using 1.2 or USALS to go to the 95 satellite, but I think you may have used USALS, then used the regular 1.2 commands to peak it or something. There is a re-sync command for 1.2, but I don't think it has any meaning if you use USALS.
Your best bet is to start over and find your true south satellite. Once you do that correctly, the other sats should be in line.

Originally Posted by gyyang

2. What does "standard" or "universal" mean in the selection of LNB type?

This refers to which type of LNBF you have, and yours will probably be labeled with the LO freqs. Standard LNBFs usually have 10750 LO freq, Universal usually have 9750 and 10600, but sometimes other pairs. Also there are DBS circular lnbfs that have 11250 LO freqs. Enter the proper type corresponding to what you have on your dish.

Originally Posted by gyyang

3. Does the selection of TV System (PLA, NTSC, Auto) has anything to do with my channel search?

No, that only affects what type TV you have. In the US most are NTSC. Other areas of the world often have PAL.

Originally Posted by gyyang

4. What do "TP Scan" and "Channel Setup" do, compared to "Auto Scan"?

I am not familiar with your receiver, so someone with it will be of more help, but usually receivers come with a pre-loaded list of transponders (which you can edit), which is often not up to date. Receivers can scan for channels in a number of ways. Most receivers can do a "satellite scan" where it scans all the transponders in it's memory for channels. THey can do a "Transponder scan", where it just scans one transponder that you select. Some receivers also have a blind search, which first does a scan and finds the transponders, rather than just using the pre-loaded list, and then after finding the transponders, does a channel scan on each transponder. Your "Auto Scan" may be a blind search. I'm not sure what the Channel Setup is, but it's probably a window where you can edit channel data after you've done a scan.... I don't know.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by gyyang

Hello ...
My location: Latitude 38.9 N, Longitude 77.4 W

From the "antenna setup" menu, I selected satellite "Galaxy 3C 95W", at first there was no signals. I moved the motor to west several steps and found good signals. Then the auto search found a lot of channels. But according to all these channels, I believe they are actually from satellite 97W. I know this probably because I am not pointing to the "true south" or my pole is not vertical, but it's very hard for me to straighten it out. Here are my questions:...

Could you please help me out? You advice is very important to me and is highly appreciated.

Bill covered your request well I only have a small amount to add. As he stated you need to start over from scratch. First verify your mounting mast is plumb. If not everything from there only becomes increasingly more difficult for you to accomlish.

Next align your assembly on the mast to where you believe true south is. Now with USALS tell the receiver to move to AMC5 (79). Providing you have entered the correct info as to location into the USALS menu your dish is now correctly pointed at 79 in relation to 0. If the sat is not there your dish needs adjustment. Start by slowly, very very slowly rotating the assembly on the mast to the east and west until you find something. If you find nothing try raising your dish elevation a degree and repeat.

Moving with the receiver at this point will only further amplify incorrect settings. Once you have this sat peaked for signal try another sat and see if it is there.

[gyyang]

Thank you so much for detailed answer!!! You guys are of great help. I will definitely take you advice.

Originally Posted by wejones

It wasn't clear from your description above whether you were using 1.2 or USALS to go to the 95 satellite, but I think you may have used USALS, then used the regular 1.2 commands to peak it or something.

I am not sure about myself either, but I probaaly used 1.2 to select the satellite because I selected satellite first then selected USALS as "Positioner Type".

Originally Posted by wejones

This refers to which type of LNBF you have, and yours will probably be labeled with the LO freqs. Standard LNBFs usually have 10750 LO freq, Universal usually have 9750 and 10600, but sometimes other pairs. Also there are DBS circular lnbfs that have 11250 LO freqs. Enter the proper type corresponding to what you have on your dish.

I don't know about my dish. I brought it from eBay as a new item, but there is no model number on the dish, no tech specifications or manual. Only from the seller's AD in eBay, it says:
Model DS2076
Frequensy Range 10.95 - 12.75 GHz

On the package of LNB, it reads LO: 10.75 GHz

[rainman]

don't know about the dish but you have got a standard lnb so set you lnb settings to standard 10750.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by gyyang

I don't know about my dish. I brought it from eBay as a new item, but there is no model number on the dish, no tech specifications or manual. Only from the seller's AD in eBay, it says:
Model DS2076
Frequensy Range 10.95 - 12.75 GHz

On the package of LNB, it reads LO: 10.75 GHz

Well that's interesting. The 10.75 LO freq is really what is important to you, as that would mean you set your receiver as a "standard" with that 10.75 GHz LO freq. The "interesting" part is the Frequency range. Not that it is unusual, as I think that is pretty typical, it's just that for a Standard LNBF, I thought that they usually advertised them as 11.7-12.2 GHz. We all know that they actually have a wider freq range, because we receive up thru 12.7, however the interesting part isn't the upper range, but the lower range. It generally is not possible for us to utilize the low end of this frequency range, because most receivers don't tune below 950 MHz, and to reach the 10.95 freq, the receiver would have to tune down to 200MHz! But besides being able to tune this low, the LNBF itself would have to basically have no output bandpass filters at all to have output that low.
I had always assumed that standard LNBFs gradually fell off in response on the upper end, but rapidly fell off on the lower end, but these specs would suggest that this wasn't the case. Anyway, I find these specs interesting.