Please help: Replace my HH90 with Digipower SG-2100

[newtoFTA]

Hi all,

I hate to do it again, but it i because my HH90 does not function correctly any more so i decided to replace it with my spare SG-2100. I have had this SG-2100 for more than a year now but have never touched it.

My lon is 76.5W , and lat is 38.9 N. I chose AMC5 (79 W) is my TRUE SOUTH SATELLITE. Here is my system setting:

motor elevation = lat = 38.9
dish elevation = 30 - 6.14 = 23.86

After having my motor and my dish mounted on the pole, I turn the whole system to aim the TRUE SOUTH (which is 180 + 13 = 193 for my location). Then what is next?

Tighten the system and connect the motor with receiver and put in information of the TRUE SOUTH SATELLITE (AMC5) and let the motor turns the dish to point to that satellite?And then adjusting the dish elevation and the motor elevation to get the strongest signal and tighten it up?

If it is not like that, so what should I do after my whole system already pointed at the TRUE SOUTH? Can some one please help me. Thank you in advance.

newtoFTA

[boroda1]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

...And then adjusting the dish elevation and the motor elevation to get the strongest signal and tighten it up?
newtoFTA

No, don't touch the motor elevation: it should be set to your latitude.
Change only dish elevation and turn the whole assembly (very minor movement should it be) left-right when searching for the signal from your south-most sat. Did you read Sadoun's tutorial?
Yes, you need first to get signal from your most south satellite, when it's achieved, move the motor to another one, such as 97W. If you are getting good signal from both, then you are done!

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by boroda1

No, don't touch the motor elevation: it should be set to your latitude.
Change only dish elevation and turn the whole assembly (very minor movement should it be) left-right when searching for the signal from your south-most sat. Did you read Sadoun's tutorial?
Yes, you need first to get signal from your most south satellite, when it's achieved, move the motor to another one, such as 97W. If you are getting good signal from both, then you are done!

Hi boroda1

Thank you for you reply. Yes, I did read Sadoun's tutorial but I was confused about the step after pointing the system at the TRUE SOUTH. Regarding to the dish elevation, I know it should be set to my latitude. But, I have found that in my Digipower motor's manual, it stated that the motor elevation is 51 for the latitude of 39??? So, what value should I choose?Thank you.

newtoFTA

[wejones]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

Hi boroda1

Thank you for you reply. Yes, I did read Sadoun's tutorial but I was confused about the step after pointing the system at the TRUE SOUTH. Regarding to the dish elevation, I know it should be set to my latitude. But, I have found that in my Digipower motor's manual, it stated that the motor elevation is 51 for the latitude of 39??? So, what value should I choose?Thank you.

newtoFTA

The 2100 has both a latitude and elevation scale. You should set your latitude scale to about 0.6 degrees more than your latitude, ie in your case 38.9+0.6= 39.5 . The Elevation scale is 90 deg minus this value, ie 90-39.5=50.5 . There is much confusion when people refer to "motor elevation" then say to use your latitude. Elevation gets less as your latitude gets higher.

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

Hi boroda1

Thank you for you reply. Yes, I did read Sadoun's tutorial but I was confused about the step after pointing the system at the TRUE SOUTH. Regarding to the dish elevation, I know it should be set to my latitude. But, I have found that in my Digipower motor's manual, it stated that the motor elevation is 51 for the latitude of 39??? So, what value should I choose?Thank you.

newtoFTA

Sorry, I meant motor elevation, NOT dish elevation.

newtoFTA

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by wejones

The 2100 has both a latitude and elevation scale. You should set your latitude scale to about 0.6 degrees more than your latitude, ie in your case 38.9+0.6= 39.5 . The Elevation scale is 90 deg minus this value, ie 90-39.5=50.5 . There is much confusion when people refer to "motor elevation" then say to use your latitude. Elevation gets less as your latitude gets higher.

Hi wejones,

Thank you for your reply. From what you said, if I set my latitude to 39.5 on my motor's latitude scale, then I will find the elevation value is 50.5 on the other side (on the elevation scale)? Thank you.

newtoFTA

[wejones]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

....

My lon is 76.5W , and lat is 38.9 N. I chose AMC5 (79 W) is my TRUE SOUTH SATELLITE. Here is my system setting:

motor elevation = lat = 38.9
dish elevation = 30 - 6.14 = 23.86

...

In addition to what I said above (about using 39.5 as a latitude setting), your dish elevation setting should theoretically be 30-5.5= 24.5 .

Nearly all of the calculators and charts out there are simply wrong, and this includes Sadoun's. They are good enough for government work, and with most dishes, you can't tell the difference, but they are wrong. Look at my declination calculator at:

http://eskerridge.com/bj/motorscaleind.jpg

Type in your latitude (you can put 38.9 in degrees and 0 in minutes if you like), and it shows that the declination you're using above is the declination of a sat to your south. However if you use this declination, you will be off by about 0.6 deg when aimed to your east or west, because the declination on sats to your east or west are less, by about 0.6 to 0.7 degrees. You can correct for this by using 5.5 as your declination, and taking the difference (6.14-5.5=0.64), and either adding it to the latitude setting or subtracting from the elevation setting. Doing this, you will be accurate on sats across the arc, not just on your south sat. Some people use the approximations in the on line calculators, then spend hours tweaking their system, and if all works right, you'll end up with what you could have started with in the first place.

EDIT: And yes re your question about if you set the motor using the latitude scale, that you will then find the elevation setting is already set. Be sure to set either scale using the little tabs as per the line in the picture below:

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by wejones

In addition to what I said above (about using 39.5 as a latitude setting), your dish elevation setting should theoretically be 30-5.5= 24.5 .

Nearly all of the calculators and charts out there are simply wrong, and this includes Sadoun's. They are good enough for government work, and with most dishes, you can't tell the difference, but they are wrong. Look at my declination calculator at:

http://eskerridge.com/bj/motorscaleind.jpg

Type in your latitude (you can put 38.9 in degrees and 0 in minutes if you like), and it shows that the declination you're using above is the declination of a sat to your south. However if you use this declination, you will be off by about 0.6 deg when aimed to your east or west, because the declination on sats to your east or west are less, by about 0.6 to 0.7 degrees. You can correct for this by using 5.5 as your declination, and taking the difference (6.14-5.5=0.64), and either adding it to the latitude setting or subtracting from the elevation setting. Doing this, you will be accurate on sats across the arc, not just on your south sat. Some people use the approximations in the on line calculators, then spend hours tweaking their system, and if all works right, you'll end up with what you could have started with in the first place.

EDIT: And yes re your question about if you set the motor using the latitude scale, that you will then find the elevation setting is already set. Be sure to set either scale using the little tabs as per the line in the picture below:

Hi wejones,

Thank you very much for a very informative guide. About the picture, what is the indicator for reading the value on the scale? Is that the little angles on both side of the washer? Thank you.

newtoFTA

[wejones]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

Hi wejones,

Thank you very much for a very informative guide. About the picture, what is the indicator for reading the value on the scale? Is that the little angles on both side of the washer? Thank you.

newtoFTA

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say. Ie the correct place to read the scale *SEEMS* to be just on the up side of those little triangle nubs on the washer. Like in my picture, I think it's set about 45.5 or so. Unfortunate that the washer kind of covers up the scale just where you need it.

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by wejones

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say. Ie the correct place to read the scale *SEEMS* to be just on the up side of those little triangle nubs on the washer. Like in my picture, I think it's set about 45.5 or so. Unfortunate that the washer kind of covers up the scale just where you need it.

Yes, I agree with you about this. And, I dont understand why they use a moveable peace to be an indicator. It will give inaccurate reading for sure.

Ok, I've got it now. I will do it this afternoon after I get home form work. Thank you. Have a nice day.

newtoFTA

[wejones]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

Yes, I agree with you about this. And, I dont understand why they use a moveable peace to be an indicator. It will give inaccurate reading for sure.
....

Well the washer really doesn't move very much. The washer has a part that protrudes down into the slot, so it can't rotate. This setting is really fairly accurate. I set mine (a couple tenths from what was indicated in picture) and then never touched it again. I verified where the indication was, by putting an inclinometer on the motor parallel to it's axis of rotation.

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by wejones

Well the washer really doesn't move very much. The washer has a part that protrudes down into the slot, so it can't rotate. This setting is really fairly accurate. I set mine (a couple tenths from what was indicated in picture) and then never touched it again. I verified where the indication was, by putting an inclinometer on the motor parallel to it's axis of rotation.

Hi wejones,

I saw you still online so I have another question. As I aimed my dish at the TRUE SOUTH ( 180 + 13 = 193) and standing in front of my dish facing it. The East is on my right and the West is on my left. Then when I activate the motor to turn to a satellite, let say 79w or 97w, the motor will turn to the East instead of the West!!! Is it suppose to turn to the West (my left), isn't it? I just don't understand it. Thank you.

newtoFTA

[wejones]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

Hi wejones,

I saw you still online so I have another question. As I aimed my dish at the TRUE SOUTH ( 180 + 13 = 193) and standing in front of my dish facing it. The East is on my right and the West is on my left. Then when I activate the motor to turn to a satellite, let say 79w or 97w, the motor will turn to the East instead of the West!!! Is it suppose to turn to the West (my left), isn't it? I just don't understand it. Thank you.

newtoFTA

Check to see that you might have your latitude entered as South instead of North, and/or to see if you don't have all the longitudes set up as East instead of West in the USALS setup. Ie if the receiver thinks that you are south of the equator it will move the dish in the opposite direction. Same thing if you enter east longitudes instead of west.

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by wejones

Check to see that you might have your latitude entered as South instead of North, and/or to see if you don't have all the longitudes set up as East instead of West in the USALS setup. Ie if the receiver thinks that you are south of the equator it will move the dish in the opposite direction. Same thing if you enter east longitudes instead of west.

Hi wejones,

But what I don't understand is how can the receiver still pick up the satellite when the dish is not pointing
at it?

I mean before I took off my HH90 and replace it with my SG-2100. That was the way my system working. Unless, I am missing something here. I just don't understand it.

newtoFTA

[wejones]

Originally Posted by newtoFTA

Hi wejones,

But what I don't understand is how can the receiver still pick up the satellite when the dish is not pointing
at it?

I mean before I took off my HH90 and replace it with my SG-2100. That was the way my system working. Unless, I am missing something here. I just don't understand it.

newtoFTA

Were you using USALS before, or DiseqC1.2? If USALS, then yeah, that seems strange that it's going backward if you haven't changed settings. If DiseqC1.2, then your sat settings are all stored in your old motor.

Also, what receiver are you using? You started out saying that the HH90 stopped working. Perhaps your problem was with the receiver all the while? I'd really suspect that if by chance you have a Fortec Ultra. Nothing surprises me with Ultras.

[newtoFTA]

Originally Posted by wejones

Were you using USALS before, or DiseqC1.2? If USALS, then yeah, that seems strange that it's going backward if you haven't changed settings. If DiseqC1.2, then your sat settings are all stored in your old motor.

Also, what receiver are you using? You started out saying that the