Problems with G10R & AMC 3 satellite

4x4jeep · #1 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 05:58 PM

I live in Seattle, I have Fortec star lifetime ultra receiver, 90cm dish with motor (SG2100). LNB - Standard. I can received AMC 4, IA5, AMC 1 (only Pentagon Channel), AMC 3 (PBS but not sound). Someone knows how to get sound?.
I selected -Antenna setup - satellite - G10R - but after search no channels found. Anyone know what is going wrong?
Thanks.

aar5ac · #2 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 09:09 PM

The PBS channels are AC3 audio only. That's dolby...the reciever will pass ac3 sound through but you would need to feed the audio from the reciever to the digital dolby input on your stereo system. A way around that problem is to use a PCI video card sold here and other places and watch the program through your home computer. The card takes care of it for you and you will here the audio on your desktop speakers.

4x4jeep · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 03:52 AM

Now is working. I can received around 20 channels from G10R satellite, but I have five channel where the signal freeze or pause. Anyone know how I can fix this problem?
Thanks.

pmb1010 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4jeep

Anyone know how I can fix this problem?
Thanks.

Suspect you need more signal. Press the "signal" button on the remote, what is the quality level, is it fluctuating alot? (Are there trees in the way, swaying in the path on occasion maybe blocking signal?)

You can:

- attempt to peak the dish for higher maximum signal.
- upgrade to larger dish.
- upgrade to LNB with lower number (ie a .3 value will get more signal than a .5 LNB)

wejones · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 09:36 AM

One option for the AC3 audio on the PBS channels is to use a Soundblaster Extigy, which is an external sound card that has digital input. It doesn't have to be connected to a computer.

Phonic · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 03:37 PM

Don't forget AMC1 has a slightly different skew than other sats.

4x4jeep · #7 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 04:13 AM

The quality level for the channels without problem is around 60% and 0% to 25% for the ones with the problem.
Do I need to change TP for this satellite?
I peak the dish for higher maximum signal with AMC 4 satellite (97% quality) & G3C (80% quality).
If I peak the dish for higher maximum signal using G10R satellite, what is going to happen with the signal from the other satellites?
Sounds like I need to upgrade my LNB (from .6 to .3 db)

Thanks.

wejones · #8 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4jeep

The quality level for the channels without problem is around 60% and 0% to 25% for the ones with the problem.
Do I need to change TP for this satellite?
I peak the dish for higher maximum signal with AMC 4 satellite (97% quality) & G3C (80% quality).
If I peak the dish for higher maximum signal using G10R satellite, what is going to happen with the signal from the other satellites?
Sounds like I need to upgrade my LNB (from .6 to .3 db)

Thanks.

A cooler lnb usually won't improve your signal strength. Your problem is alignment of the mount, not you lnb. And don't just start randomly moving the dish around trying to peak each sat. Follow the installation directions exactly, meaning starting with the sat due south of you, which would probably mean Echo-9 for you, even though nearly everything is scrambled on the KU side of that sat.
Also, you need to pay particular attention to magnetic deviation when orienting your mount to the south, if you use a compass. Perhaps even better than using a compass is to go to http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/AltAz.html and find the time of day when the sun is at 180 deg azim, ie true south, and use the shadows of the feed to orient the dish. Beware, that the above web page doesn't use daylight time.
Anyway, if you do the alignment properly, then all sats will come in pretty much the same, unless there are trees in the way.

pmb1010 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 09:37 AM

Of course it will not improve signal strength (amount of signal reception is determined by gain capacity of the dish used - essentially it's diameter), but a lower noise LNB will improve signal reception on a low strength signal.

wejones · #10 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmb1010

Of course it will not improve signal strength (amount of signal reception is determined by gain capacity of the dish used - essentially it's diameter), but a lower noise LNB will improve signal reception on a low strength signal.

I agree, but the benefits are marginal compared to what he'd gain by aiming the dish properly. If he can get PBS, then his LNBF is satisfactory. With a properly aimed dish, the lnb he has will be fine for 99% of the signals out there. I just hate to see someone spend money for hardware when it's just an aiming problem.