Installing a motor to a 1.80m Fortec dish ??

champi78 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 12:41 AM

Hi, does anyone know how can I install a H180 motor on a Fortec 180CM 6ft C Ku band Prime Focus Satellite Dish that is sold on the Sadoun site. I am asking you this because I'll be receiving soon one of this dish but I noticed this dish comes with a ground base.

thanks!!

Bibbler · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 05:21 AM

I'll let you know this weekend.

We (some friends and I ) have been looking at it and have a few ideas we are going to try this weekend. Doesn't look that difficult, but will probably involve adding 2 pieces of channel to the "ring" area on the rear to mount the HH...

Now this is what we think from just looking a pics. We'll know better when it arrive..s

rainman · #3 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibbler

I'll let you know this weekend.

We (some friends and I ) have been looking at it and have a few ideas we are going to try this weekend. Doesn't look that difficult, but will probably involve adding 2 pieces of channel to the "ring" area on the rear to mount the HH...

Now this is what we think from just looking a pics. We'll know better when it arrive..s

post some pictures Bibbler we all would appreciate it.

champi78 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 09:32 PM

Yes, please post the pictures and some instructions of what you do. I hope you can make it, so all the members from this forum can get informed.
thaks.

Bibbler · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2007, 04:37 AM

New batteries are in the camera and the fun starts today! (Thanks for the great fast shipping Sadoun, as usual

)....

I'll do my best to document this well for everyone!

Al

Satbum · #6 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 04:48 PM

What happened to the pics?
I thought that I saw them a while back.
Now that I'm looking for some info, I don't see it.

rainman · #7 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satbum

What happened to the pics?
I thought that I saw them a while back.
Now that I'm looking for some info, I don't see it.

I think this is the thread you are looking for.
http://www.sadoun.net/forums/breakro...-promised.html

pmb1010 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 08:11 AM

I recommend you do NOT cut up the stand square tubing to mount motor to dish.

Bibbler did that, and so did I. In doing so, I found that the motor is too close to the dish and bracket parts hit the back of the dish which requires bending some metal of the dish out of the way.

The right way is to get some 2 x 2 inch by 2 foot or so L shaped aluminum or steel angle stock. That is what's shown in the instruction sheet for the dish anyway. That ensures there is clearance. I didn't like the fact that I had to bend stuff to get the motor mounted, and did in fact worry that the face of the dish might be warped, just a little bit because of it.

In light of trying to squeeze all the reception of satellite particles with a dish size at below the recommended minimum, having a true surface and meticulously installed setup is required here.

Bibbler · #9 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 11:43 AM

Here's the problem...

The 6' dish works ok and I have found the signals to be good for the most part. The big problem is that it is horrible when it comes to rejecting nearby sats. I can set this thing where I get 2 sats at the same time almost all the way across the arc.

What I plan on doing is getting a 10 footer in the spring and leaving the 6' dish stationary on G16 to catch the networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, CW, and FOX).. I leave my 31" dish set on G25 in the same manner.

As I mentioned, the 6' dish works well but it simply cannot reject adjacent sats that are 2 degrees away. It makes a good fixed dish though for C band.

pmb1010 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 12:47 PM

what channels give you the most trouble?

I know exactly what you're talking about, but I get by.
Would like to compare.
I'm using a 920 for digital and analog on C & Ku, and the Ultra on Ku for G10R once in a while.
Wondering if the trouble is more on analog or to DVB...

rainman · #11 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibbler

Here's the problem...

The 6' dish works ok and I have found the signals to be good for the most part. The big problem is that it is horrible when it comes to rejecting nearby sats. I can set this thing where I get 2 sats at the same time almost all the way across the arc.

What I plan on doing is getting a 10 footer in the spring and leaving the 6' dish stationary on G16 to catch the networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, CW, and FOX).. I leave my 31" dish set on G25 in the same manner.

As I mentioned, the 6' dish works well but it simply cannot reject adjacent sats that are 2 degrees away. It makes a good fixed dish though for C band.

Hey Bibbler long time no hear how have you been.

Satbum · #12 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 01:20 PM

Thanks for the link rainman.

pmb1010 and Bibbler are you guys having trouble getting the dish setup to follow th arc correctly?

I can get a great signal on any bird that I point at, but I am having a heck of a time trying to get this thing to line up with the Clark Belt.

I have 3 other off-set dishes with motors on my home, plus I have installed several others and have never had the trouble like I have had with this dish and motor setup. I too am using the 6' kit that Sadoun sells.

pmb1010 · #13 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 02:22 PM

it wasn't too bad.

I used analog C band signals to locate known channels.

I first set the declination first on the top of the motor (for me 5 degrees).
Then pointed the motor to magnetically adjusted South.
Set the motor scale to the value from the documentation.

Then tried to locate Doc Scott's channel on AMC3 Ch20.
That is near the top of the arc for me.

Once found I tweaked side to side and elevation so slightly.
Went back & forth on that and the shopping channels on Galaxy15.
That put me on the arc.

Bibbler · #14 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 02:40 PM

It was pretty easy. Just like the C Band dishes of old (except it has a HH rather than the old 24" "Jack"...

Bibbler · #15 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainman

Hey Bibbler long time no hear how have you been.

I'm doing fine. I stop and lurk once in awhile here, but refrain from posting since VJ9999 (the "Expert" Moderator here who thinks that the term "BIN" ie. "Binary File" is a "Obvious Buzz Word" for hacking) will probably censor whatever I have to say anyway.....

Have a Merry Christmas Rain...

rainman · #16 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibbler

Have a Merry Christmas Rain...

You also have a Merry Christmas Al an it's good to have you back.

Satbum · #17 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 08:52 AM

I didn't have any luck using the C/Ku LNB that I got from Sadoun.
I used my QPH-031 to catch 82W to find the highest point in the arc for me. I too adjusted adjusted for declination which is 5 degrees for me as well. From there I tried to fine tune my furthest east and west circular signaled sats which are 61.5W and 148W. I just could not get it to run the arc correctly no matter how little I adjusted the settings. I do have my support pole plumb and the top cap level.

I can get the birds no prob by manually fine tuning the positions. I use a Birdog to get the sat location and that saves a lot of time.

I am just a little frustrated to say the least. I would not recommend this dish setup for anybody that is lacking FTA dish setup experience.