All day install - no signal

[freak]

I spent my whole day today trying to get my new fta system working. I have a very solid and level pole with my dish mounted. I got all the correct angles and was fairly sure I aligned correctly. It was always 40% signal strength no matter what direction the dish was pointed. One thing I noticed was that I got 40% signal strength even with the lnb lying on the ground pointing into a hole. The signal quality was always 0%. Is my lnb ok?

[pmb1010]

most likely, yes. Everyone thinks their LNB is bad at first.
The aiming spot is very small and very difficult to hit.

You didnt say if motor or not but the quick answer is:
- set motor latitude to your location and leave it there.
- Align motor at center point (0)
- point the whole mess to compass adusted true south heading with a compass.
- use the receiver out at the dish with short cables & a tv to move the motor using USALS to your highest satellite on the arc.
- adjust your receiver settings to correct LNB type, power etc.
- adjust your reciever to KNOWN ACTIVE transponder at that satellite.

THEN - slowly move the dish side to side on the pole and the dish up & down from the calculated setting a minescule hair at a time waiting for a quality blip indication, while waiting a few secs while doing so. There is some lag. YOu might have to move the dish up 10 degrees from calculated value - sometimes these fortec dishs just do that.

Be patient. It is a challenge, but the sats ARE out there.

And yes the thing will give signal level pointing at the ground. THe value you need to focus on is the QUALITY level indicator. Thats the one that matters.

Good luck. report back your results.

[freak]

> The aiming spot is very small and very difficult to hit.

Very true.

> You didnt say if motor or not but the quick answer is:

Yes motor.

> set motor latitude to your location and leave it there.

Did that. 41.4.

> Align motor at center point (0)

Did that.

> point the whole mess to compass adusted true south heading with a compass.

Did that but I don't see how anyone could ever use the supplied compass. I didn't expect a $50 compass but to tell 6 degrees on that thing was almost impossible.

> use the receiver out at the dish with short cables & a tv to move the motor using USALS to your highest satellite on the arc.

Did that.

> adjust your receiver settings to correct LNB type, power etc.

Did that.

> adjust your reciever to KNOWN ACTIVE transponder at that satellite.

I used the transponders from the instructions but how do I know that the are active?

> THEN - slowly move the dish side to side on the pole and the dish up & down from the calculated setting a minescule hair at a time waiting for a quality blip indication, while waiting a few secs while doing so. There is some lag. YOu might have to move the dish up 10 degrees from calculated value - sometimes these fortec dishs just do that.

That's what I did all day. Still more to do I guess.

> Be patient. It is a challenge, but the sats ARE out there.

I'm beginning to wonder.

> And yes the thing will give signal level pointing at the ground. THe value you need to focus on is the QUALITY level indicator. Thats the one that matters.

That's what made me think the lnb was bad.

> Good luck. report back your results.

I will. Is it easier to get an inline signal meter?

[rainman]

Did that but I don't see how anyone could ever use the supplied compass. I didn't expect a $50 compass but to tell 6 degrees on that thing was almost impossible.

as long as you are in the vicinity you will be ok this is just a rough starting point. also mark your pole so you can have a reference point to go back to.


I used the transponders from the instructions but how do I know that the are active?

check LyngSat - Lyngemark Satellite.

[Jim-S]

How to install an HH Mount DiSEqC USALS Motor? Applies to DG280, DG280B, DG380, STAB HH100, HH120, Moteck SG2100

If you haven't seen this video watch it, I wish this was avalible when I set mine up. It's a tedious job but you will get it.

[freak]

I watched it numerous times.

[rainman]

ck out this page it will help you get the setup closer to your true south and give you a ideal where the sats are..
Satellite Look Angles Satellite Heading Calculator Azimuth Elevation Skew Tilt LNBF Latitude and Longitude values

[freak]

I used that. That's why I say it is hard to set 6 degrees off the compass. I'm going to mess with it again in a bit.

[freak]

I played for about 90 minutes today before giving up. I guess I'll order a cheap level meter unless you guys think that's a waste. I don't know why I'm having so much trouble. I have done two dishnetork installs without problems.

[rainman]

Originally Posted by freak

I played for about 90 minutes today before giving up. I guess I'll order a cheap level meter unless you guys think that's a waste. I don't know why I'm having so much trouble. I have done two dishnetork installs without problems.

the cheap meters is a waste in my opinion the receiver you have is a excellent tool to lock signal. don't give up when you think you are moving the dish slow enough just go slower it's not easy to hit the linear birds but patience will pay off in the end.

[Jim-S]

What system do you have. I don't see it in any post.
Dish
Receiver
LNB
Switch if have one
Motor
I wonder if you have the receiver setup correctly.
Antenna setup
LNB setup
Motorized setup
etc etc
When I set mine up, I almost gave up, but kept at it. If you have time read some of my posts. The help I got was great, I had the dish angle all wrong when I got that right I got my first signal.

Jim-s

[William Eng]

Try doing a blind scan. Copy down any transponders that it is receiving, compare it to lyngsat.com. Then you will know where you dish is aimed at.

[freak]

Well just as I was going to give up hope for the night... I push the dish over to start my manual elevation scanning and there is a signal. Maybe 1 degree past my mag south mark on the pole. It is downright scary how close to the prescribed angles the thing really is. Amazing that I missed it so many times but I did initially make one mistake. The dish elevation was supposed to be set at 29. The scale on the dish is very poor and I could see no mark to line it up with. So I figured the center of the bolt. That was wrong. I called Sodoun today and they claimed there is a red mark on the adjuster but there is none. I can tell now that the edge of the adjuster bracket is the mark. But anyway, thank you all for your help! I have other questions but I will start a new thread for them. Thanks again!

[Jim-S]

I know what the feeling is when you get the first signal.......now you just have to determine which sat. it is and go from there. From this point I used the meter to fine tune the signal.
Good luck....................................

[rainman]

congrats freak glad to here you got signal.

[blindowl1234]

Freak, I've done many 18" dish installs and they are a piece of cake! The Fta stuff well picture it like this...You are aiming at a golf ball at 75feet away. It's tough. I fought it for over a week trying to get 123W. I had a cousin who used to put in 10 foot cband stuff years ago and he helped me get the first sat. Now after 8 months I've got 3 smaller dishes and a 6 foot Cband dish. Once you hit that first sat it's a piece of cake. Make sure you are on a live transponder and aim the dish as best as you can towards the sat...even the cheap signal meters do help some. Then do a blind scan. I've not got a signal at all several times and I knew I was pretty close to my target...I did a blind scan and all of a sudden channels magically appeared. Keep trying you'll get it.
Blind