Help No Sat Signal Tried Everything

[snyper1982]

It might be worth using a circular LNB to help you get on the arc. Like they have said earlier, the DSS signals are much stronger, so once you get a lock on one of those sat's and peak the signal strength, you should be VERY close to being on the arc, if not on the arc. Then it is just a matter of switching to the linear LNB and using the method PMB1010 posted to get the sats you want.

[putz123]

Ok this is the information for my true south
satellite for my location according
to dishpointer:
Dish Setup Data
Latitude: 44.848°
Longitude: -91.482°
Latitude: 44.848°
Name: 91.0W Galaxy 11
Distance: 37913km Elevation:38.3°
Azimuth (true): 179.3°
Azimuth (magn.): 180.2°
LNB skew: -0.5°
Dish skew: 90.0°
Here is what I am thinking of doing next:
1.Move the motor to 0. Using my compass move the motor on the pole
to my true south bird at 179.3 deg. I should have to move it
exactly 2 deg west as currently at 0 I was able to get the 89
bird.
Q: How far of a movement is 2 degrees?
Q: What should I use to aim the dish with the compass, the LNB tip?
2. So I should use USals instead of DiSEqC 1.2 to move the motor
3. Set my long -91.482 and Lat 44.848 into it. How do I enter
Q: the negative symbol -91.482 into it?
4. Have USALS drive the motor to my south bird at 91 deg galaxy 11
5. Then follow your other 2 suggestions in 6 and 7:

6) NOW hunt for the signal. Put marks on the dish and pole at these points as a reference. On an active transponder, you should be able to get some signal by ajusting dish elevation up & down, and the whole thing on the pole just a litte bit.
7) if you do find a satellite, and scan it and see its the rightone, you are close to being on the arc. DRive to another satellite, watch for quality indication. If you get some, and its not a lot, gently pull up or down on the dish (just bend it a bit) to see if signal goes up or down. Kinda tells you where things need to be tweaked.
8. If I still have problems than I think I may but a Circular LNB (somehow attach it to the end) and
look for Nimiq sat at 91 (after I change the receiver to the satellite and a standard LNB
setup). It should have a much stronger signal. Once that is tweaked then but the
Linear LNB back on and I should get galaxy 11.
Does this sound like a good plan? Any other suggestions. It is about 15 degrees out today with
a strong wind so this should be fun.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by putz123

....
Here is what I am thinking of doing next:
1.Move the motor to 0. Using my compass move the motor on the pole
to my true south bird at 179.3 deg. I should have to move it
exactly 2 deg west as currently at 0 I was able to get the 89
bird.
Q: How far of a movement is 2 degrees?
Q: What should I use to aim the dish with the compass, the LNB tip?

Question... when you tell the motor to goto zero, then go out to the dish, what does the little indicator on the motor say? Is it at zero? {At least I assume that that motor has an indicator above the tube that shows degrees... most do.} If this is not at zero, you might manually turn it to zero using buttons, then do a hard reset before starting.

Re what to use to aim the dish, since you are pretty close I wouldn't worry about that in this step, just search for the south sat later, after you've run the motor to it.

Originally Posted by putz123

2. So I should use USals instead of DiSEqC 1.2 to move the motor

Unless your motor is out of sync ( which should be corrected by the hard reset recommended above), then USALS is probably much easier, especially the first time through on the initial alignment. Finding the arc via diseqc 1.2 isn't easy, because you won't have the positions of any of the sats saved in the motor. After you get on the arc, then you may find diseqc 1.2 more accurate, but when aligning, usals is much easier.

Originally Posted by putz123

3. Set my long -91.482 and Lat 44.848 into it. How do I enter
Q: the negative symbol -91.482 into it?

Don't use a negative symbol, use the volume control to select E or W.

Originally Posted by putz123

4. Have USALS drive the motor to my south bird at 91 deg galaxy 11
5. Then follow your other 2 suggestions in 6 and 7:

I think you're on the right track, and should work if you've set the motor latitude/elevation properly (wasn't sure if it was ever verified exactly what angles you set here on what scale).

[elgemcdlf]

There are 360 degrees in a circle. So the tube (mast) is your circle. Divide it into 360 pieces going around the circumference and that should be about right or maybe just 1/16" or 1/8" will be good You are also low. 89 is lower in the sky that 91 for you so once you move a bit west on the mast you will need to raise the dish a bit. I would guess 1 or 2 degrees may find signal. You peak after finding signal.

[putz123]

**Update**

On friday we were able to finally lock in 91 (signal/quality in the 70's)
from there we were able to pick up other nearby birds, not sure about
the fringe ones yet, but the main satellite my neighbor wanted was
the 93 bird and we have it. A couple of things I noticed that tripped
me up,
1. We were on 91 but the scan of channels didn't match Lyngsat
for 91 on thursday. But on Friday the scan did get a few
channels to help verify that we were on 91. It appears that
some of the channels aren't always uplinking or something.
I am pretty sure we did a powerscan both days.
2. Using Usals for moving the motor made a huge difference and
we were able to lock on the other birds easier.
Thanks again to all who offered their help and advice on this forum.
Guys like you are what make this hobby fun and rewarding.

[elgemcdlf]

It is good to hear you made it to signal. Once you figure out what you do and do not have let us know. Adjusting the arc can become fun especially when you lose the signal you have I am sure that by now you have found the signal far more touchy that DN or DTV signals