Finding True South With Fortec FS-5900

[wolfnote]

Hi everyone I need help with installation of my Fortec FS-5900. I’ll begin with the info regarding my system: besides FS-5900 I use Satellite motor SM3D12 which is DISEQC 1.2 compatible with Fortec Star Dish 90 cm. I have installed my motor and dish on the solid galvanized 1 ¼ pipe that is 100% at 90 degrees angle. They are both pointing to my true south in the straight line which happens to be here in Van Nuys/Los Angeles area at 166.5 degrees on my compass dial. This calculation of course includes my magnetic deviation. I have also calculated my true south satellite to be Echostar 7 which is at 119 degrees west. Inclanation degree on my motor is 34.1 as it corresponds to my latitude and inclination degree on my dish was calculated to be 41 degrees. My dish inclination had to be adjusted due to LNB position on my dish which is not very centered, I did use my little satellite signal finder to fine tune the signal from Echostar 7.
After all of this I shouldn’t have any problems having my signal right? Wrong, my signal strength meter on my fortec shows 72% but my signal quality meter shows 0%. This means that I can not log into my true south bird. As I previously mentioned I have optimized my signal and everything should work fine. However I seem not to be able to get any signal quality at all on my Fortec-5900. I should also mentioned that FS-5900 manual does not go into great lengths explaining signal quality meter.
Does anyone have any advice on how to get the quality to come up?

[wejones]

You didn't say what kind of LNB you have, but assuming that you have a linear LNB, that isn't going to work very well on Echo 7, since that is a circular polarized sat. You won't get any "quality" reading until you lock the signal, and it will be difficult on that sat. If you want to continue trying on that sat, you might try the NASA-TV on the 12297 transponder, as I have sometimes been able to lock that signal with a linear lnb.
However, you are probably better off going to IA13/Echo9 at 121 deg, as that is a linear sat.
Someone else will have to help you with respect to your receiver/motor, as I use one of the big dishes, however whatever system you have, don't expect the quality reading to be a gradual thing. Until you get pretty close, it will be zero, then it will jump up, and you can fine tune it.
Good luck.

[DruzeTito]

motor aiming isn't a "plug and play" type thing.. you need to understand the philosophy behind it.

How off from center is your lnb and why is it off anyway?

Also, try not to use a sat meter but i recommend you use the receiver's signal/quality indicator.

For the meantime, try to turn your motor to 121 west to Echostar 9, and use 12074 V 20000 and find signal and quality. Remember you should have inputted your latitude and longitude in the USALS setting in the antenna setup menu. (im not completely sure if the FS5900's interface is different from Lifetime but i am referring to Lifetime's interface)

[luckybella]

Ihave a Fortec Lifetime Ultra, Fortecstar dish with Universal LNB and a HH90 motor. I've tried every thing (with lat. 45.5 and long. 73.6, etc.) but couldn't get a good signal (just about 52%) and no quality at all. Please advise on how to get the quality come up.

Thanks

[DruzeTito]

luckbella please don't hijack another person's post. I can give you some tips but make a new thread ok?

[luckybella]

I'm really sorry, won't happen next time.