help for installing Fortec motorized dish system

[cysat]

Hi,

I have a Fortec Lifetime Classic NA, an FSKU-V universal dual LNBF, a STAB 90HH motor and a Fortec 90cm dish.

I placed a supplied pole with 2 legs (from the shipment) on the south side of the house with a level. Then I mounted the motor and dish according to http://sadoun.com/Sat/Installation/H...stallation.htm
so as everything was pointing in a straight line to true South (according to the compass). I also used some techniques I learned from this site to identify the true south by looking my local sunrise and sunset time and get the local noon and use a stick to find the true south/north on the shadow.

I live in Menomonee Falls, WI (zip code 53051), my latitude is 43.1° N and longitude is 88.1, and thus I tilted the motor to the same angle as my latitude (43.1). Then I put the dish elevation to be 38.4 degree.

Then I connected the LNBF with an RG6 cableto the motor and another cable directly to the receiver. The LNBF was set vertical as is stated for motorized systems and not at an angle.

Then I turned on the receiver, went to the menu screen and then the antenna setup as said in the manual. I am using USALS and I did input my coordinates as I indicated above. I left the LNBF type as UNI and I tried all TP frequencies but signal level is only flashing between 0 and 6%. Then I went up and micro-adjusted the dish in all possible directions and still no signal. In the screen picked IA 5 Ku (at 97°W).

Later on, I learned my true south satellite is AMC 3, so I picked that one and still no much progress made.

Secondly, when I used the "scan" in the screen menu, in the scan mode section, I picked FULL POWER SCAN, Then with certain TP frequencies, I got signal strength to be 30%, but it is not stable and wont get locked. But if I manually scroll through the pre-defined TPs from the TP list, I don't get any signal over 6% and it flashes all the time. In the scan mode, if I pick FTA, I won't get any signal over 6% when doig a scan.

I have been struggling with this system for more than a month, and my wife is really mad about me as it have sucked much of my time and get other things left behind. I am at a point needing some help from your experts. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

[brentb636]

"I left the LNBF type as UNI" .
I think you simply need to specify the hi-range frequency, that is 10600 Mhz in the LNB position on the setup screen.
Your LNB can be used at either 9750 Mhz ( for European and some Atlantic region birds ) or 10600 Mhz for North American Ku birds.

Use USALS to move the dish back to reference position ( Zero) . The whole assembly should be pointed South at this point. Use the setup screen for AMC 3 , and either select or define transponder :
12164H
sr 4340
This is the new Montana PBS transponder, and its healthy. Now you are going through the micro east and west tiny manual moves ( whole assembly on the mast ) until you pick up some quality from this transponder. Lock down the motor mount once you optimize this signal.

Now go to the dish elevation bracket, and see if changing the elevation there, gives you any better results. Go slowly, giving the receiver lots of time to adjust to your movements. Tighten the dish elevation nuts up, once you've optimized the signal. You should be done with the initial setup and can move to a western bird and eastern bird to verify the alignment.

Hopefully, all you're missing is entering the actual LNBF frequency in the appropriate field.

Let's hear some good results .

Brent

[wejones]

Originally Posted by brentb636

"I left the LNBF type as UNI" .
.... Use the setup screen for AMC 3 , and either select or define transponder :
12164H
sr 4340
This is the new Montana PBS transponder, and its healthy.
..

I haven't checked this yet to verify, but I think the 12164 changed to 12145 .

http://montanapbs.org/AboutUs/News/A...?ARTICLE_ID=38

[brentb636]

" I haven't checked this yet to verify, but I think the 12164 changed to 12145 ."

Right now I'm getting Montana PBS on both transponders.

[ahoss2000]

My dish elevation was off by 6 degrees for the same system. I had selected Universal LNB in the antenna menu.

Work on your s. sat until you get a lock.

[radiobob]

Originally Posted by brentb636

" I haven't checked this yet to verify, but I think the 12164 changed to 12145 ."

Right now I'm getting Montana PBS on both transponders.

They're shutting down 12164 at 10 a.m. MST Wednesday (tomorrow as I type this). New TP is smokin' (in the good sense)!

[wejones]

Originally Posted by radiobob

They're shutting down 12164 at 10 a.m. MST Wednesday (tomorrow as I type this). New TP is smokin' (in the good sense)!

They have a slate up now. 12:18 edt

[cysat]

Originally Posted by ahoss2000

My dish elevation was off by 6 degrees for the same system. I had selected Universal LNB in the antenna menu.

Work on your s. sat until you get a lock.

Up or down 6 degrees more for your dish evelation? I have seen another post saying it was tilted up 5 degrees. What's your latitude and longitude? Does anyone give some explanations of the symptom? I will certain give it a try, but would like to know more about it as well.

[cysat]

Originally Posted by brentb636

"I left the LNBF type as UNI" .
I think you simply need to specify the hi-range frequency, that is 10600 Mhz in the LNB position on the setup screen.
Your LNB can be used at either 9750 Mhz ( for European and some Atlantic region birds ) or 10600 Mhz for North American Ku birds.

Use USALS to move the dish back to reference position ( Zero) . The whole assembly should be pointed South at this point. Use the setup screen for AMC 3 , and either select or define transponder :
12164H
sr 4340
This is the new Montana PBS transponder, and its healthy. Now you are going through the micro east and west tiny manual moves ( whole assembly on the mast ) until you pick up some quality from this transponder. Lock down the motor mount once you optimize this signal.

Now go to the dish elevation bracket, and see if changing the elevation there, gives you any better results. Go slowly, giving the receiver lots of time to adjust to your movements. Tighten the dish elevation nuts up, once you've optimized the signal. You should be done with the initial setup and can move to a western bird and eastern bird to verify the alignment.

Hopefully, all you're missing is entering the actual LNBF frequency in the appropriate field.

Let's hear some good results .

Brent

Thanks for the info, but I have one question.

I understand how to set the transponder for the first part - 12164H
what is sr 4340? and how to set it up if it is not on the list?

[boroda1]

It should be in "Scan Transponder" menu, or is it "Manual Scan".
So it's in menu for one particular transponder scan.
There are 3 entries: frequency, polarization, Simbol Rate.
Frequency is 12164, polarization Horizontal, simbol rate 4340 (enter 04340, as it's 5 digits format)

[wejones]

Originally Posted by cysat

Thanks for the info, but I have one question.

I understand how to set the transponder for the first part - 12164H
what is sr 4340? and how to set it up if it is not on the list?

I should leave this for someone with your exact receiver, as I have an Ultra not the Classic, but they are similar.
On my Ultra, there is an Edit TP/Satellite menu item, and if you go to that, it will allow you to first choose a satellite, then "Edit TP". Once you get there, there will be a "new" at the bottom, and if you select that, you can enter 12145 (not 12164) as the Downlink frequency, and 4340 as the symbol rate, and H as the polarity. Then hit the OK button. This will give you the 12145 transponder in the transponder list, and with that in the list, you can go to the TP Scan menu item that Boroda1 mentioned. Once there, you can select this transponder, and you will have tuning meters.
The above procedure may be slightly different for the Classic receiver, but it should be similar. On my Ultra, you also have to have set up that satellite in the Antenna Setup, but I assume that has already been done.

[cwee]

I was having the same symptoms at “cysat”.The level was showing 0-6% on the Fortec Lifetime Classic NA receiver (Similar setup). After reading this posting I pointed the dish at AMC 3 and set the TP 12145H and Symbol Rate 4340. I was still having the same issue. Then I tried changing the dish elevation (not the motor). I had to make an adjustment of about +7%. That did the trick. I got a lock signal with about 30% on the scale. Thanks.

[cysat]

Originally Posted by cwee

I was having the same symptoms at “cysat”.The level was showing 0-6% on the Fortec Lifetime Classic NA receiver (Similar setup). After reading this posting I pointed the dish at AMC 3 and set the TP 12145H and Symbol Rate 4340. I was still having the same issue. Then I tried changing the dish elevation (not the motor). I had to make an adjustment of about +7%. That did the trick. I got a lock signal with about 30% on the scale. Thanks.

You mean moved up the dish elevation angle up 7 degree? I tried the AMC3 with TP 12145H and SR 4340, still no luck.

[cysat]

Originally Posted by wejones

I should leave this for someone with your exact receiver, as I have an Ultra not the Classic, but they are similar.
On my Ultra, there is an Edit TP/Satellite menu item, and if you go to that, it will allow you to first choose a satellite, then "Edit TP". Once you get there, there will be a "new" at the bottom, and if you select that, you can enter 12145 (not 12164) as the Downlink frequency, and 4340 as the symbol rate, and H as the polarity. Then hit the OK button. This will give you the 12145 transponder in the transponder list, and with that in the list, you can go to the TP Scan menu item that Boroda1 mentioned. Once there, you can select this transponder, and you will have tuning meters.
The above procedure may be slightly different for the Classic receiver, but it should be similar. On my Ultra, you also have to have set up that satellite in the Antenna Setup, but I assume that has already been done.

I learned how to add TP now and I tried the TP 12145H and SR 4340 and moved dish up and down. Did not help. The level stays in the 0~6%.

I guess I am still dead in the water.

More interestingly, I unplug the LNB cable, the level from the receiver still shows me a 0 ~ 6%. What's going on about this? What does this tell me?

BTW, in the Positioner setup window, with the TP mentioned above, the level flashs very quickly. But in the main Antenna setup widnow, with the same TP, the level flashs very slowly. Is this normal?

[cysat]

As I mentioned a while ago, I am still dead in the water even after followed the great tips you guys offered (adding the TP and SR). I am not sure if my installation itself has some flaws and therefore, I am posting a few pictures to see if you guys can shed some light for me.

A few concerns in my mind are:

1) Did I install something wong?
2) Do the trees and house far away from my yard block my signal? I shot the pictures in parallel with my dish's elevation angle from the bottom of the dish.

As always, your time and help are really appreciated - I really mean it.

Just noticed that the file size limit is really tight and looked like I have some difficulty to upload those pictures

If someone can provide me an email addess, I can send them over.

[pmb1010]

yes it is normal for the signal level to jump around when it's not pointing at a sat.

yes it is normal for the signal to read when no LNB connected, or the dish is pointing at the ground.

Regarding your pictures, download IRFANVIEW software (free)
http://www.irfanview.com/
and retrieve your pictures into it.
Re-save them to the necessary resolution req'd by Sadon.
That should take care of that. Post them up so we can see what you've got going.

Also, did you add 3 degrees to your compass setting, when putting our setup due "south" with the motor at zero?
(should be at 183...)

- did you have a TV right next to the dish when making the adustments, looking at the quality indicator?

[elgemcdlf]

You most likely just need to slow way down when making adjustments. These things are very sensitive and slow to react to changes