Can you please check my work and questions

[JDS]

My apologies now for the length of this message, I wanted to provide as much detail as possible. I appreciate any thoughts on any of the below. I'm hoping another set of eyes will see something I'm missing or messing up. Thank you for your consideration.

I probably should have written some time ago since I've been trying get my installation to work since the first week of June to no avail. I initially tried from my roof, but I believe I was too close to the nearest trees to get sufficient clearance. It is now in my yard and appears to have a good view of the sky. The tips of a few branches are partially in the path, but at quite a distance away and only in small portion of the field of view. They still may be interfering though.

I have the M-2 motorized kit, though I see it has changed since then. My invoice had the following DYNAMIC,DG280B,80P,QPH031,SM21H. So it looks like the only things that have changed are the dish and the receiver.

I have followed the directions on the site as closely as I can each time I've tried to test the setup. I've also re-watched the video many times. When I test I have hooked up a small tv directly to the receiver and made small, slow adjustments by hand. I have also checked Lyngsat to make sure the transponders I am trying for are indeed active. I have also tested with the switch and motor not connected as I have seen suggested in other threads. I still have never gotten above 41 and 1 which I understand is essentially noise.

Each time I have taken it apart and put it back together I have always checked to make sure it is level and plum.

Here is what I get from dispointer:
Motor Latitude: 39.1°
Declination Angle: 6.2°
Dish Elevation: 29°
Elevation: 44.7°
Azimuth (true): 180.0°
Azimuth (magn.): 183.8°


Here is where my settings are (my last test have been based on lining up the notch instead of the line, though the line didn't work either):





And the overall current setup (it may have tilted down a little since my last test), it is not currently hooped up.



Lastly, here is the current top down view from Dishpointer. I have included the obstruction finder to note that the main tree that may be causing me problems. It should be just enough to clear it, but so far no luck.



The red dot indicates where I am considering building a 20-30ft tower to mount the dish to for my next attempt. According to Dishpointer I should have a good view of the sky and I'm hoping the additional height will help me clear any potential problems with branches. Though I wonder if I'll then be aiming too high?

So based on any of the above, am I messing up somewhere? Anything jump out at you? What do you think of the tower idea?

I appreciate your consideration and any thoughts you can offer.

Thank you,

JD

[rainman]

some of these Fortec dishes are off by 5 degrees try 5 degrees higher and 5 degrees lower and see what happens.

[William Eng]

The LNB arm looks bent from the picture. Is this an optical illusion? It should be straight.

[pmb1010]

whats your zip code?

[JDS]

The LNB arm looks bent from the picture. Is this an optical illusion? It should be straight.

I will check when it's light again tomorrow. Though I agree, in the picture it does look bent. The arm is as it came in the original packaging. I don't believe there was any damage since the box looked fine, though the Styrofoam packaging was carved out in the center in what seemed to be an attempt by the packager to fit everything in the box.

JD

[JDS]

whats your zip code?

The zip code is 47401.

[JDS]

some of these Fortec dishes are off by 5 degrees try 5 degrees higher and 5 degrees lower and see what happens.

If I might ask for a slight clarification, are you meaning a difference of 4 on the dish angle? If so, try as low as 25 and as high as 34?

Thank you,

JD

[Jim-S]

Also it looks like a bolt is missing on the motor bracket?
If you have the switch in the circuit, remove it from the circuit until you have a signal. Just use the Linear side of the LNB direct to motor.
I would call Sadoun about the LNB arm............
Jim

[JDS]

All right, ran out to the dish this morning and the lnb arm is indeed bent. There are no marks on it and its contours match the rest of the arm, so it looks like it was manufactured that way. I can call Sadoun and see what they can do about that, though having had this since June they may not be willing to replace it without an expense. Though that would mark the second item they would need to send me since the receiver wasn't included in the original box. They were nice enough to send it without billing me for shipping again.

[JDS]

Also it looks like a bolt is missing on the motor bracket?
If you have the switch in the circuit, remove it from the circuit until you have a signal. Just use the Linear side of the LNB direct to motor.
I would call Sadoun about the LNB arm............
Jim

I have tried it by doing that on a few occasions to no avail. I started trying it that way since there sometimes seems to be a clicking sound coming from the switch. I have read in other threads that that can mean a short. I agree about worrying about getting a signal first. After that I can worry about whether or not the switch has been bad from day one

There is a bolt missing. I couldn't get the bolt all the way through when I was attaching the dish. It didn't seem to make the run through to the other side. I can try to locate the bolt again and see if I can get it to work this time.

Thank you all for the continued support with this, I appreciate it!

JD