Installation Help- No Quality signal - Page 2

cdj1942 · #31 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 12:06 PM

After sighting, I now realize the hill is blocking signals.
I did a Google Earth and found the hill to be 20 feet higher than my location. I am in a low area and the hill is south.
So, I must raise the whole mess up at least 6 feet as the hill is probably 100 feet away and it covers why whole view of the south.
That would probably expain why I get a good signal, but weak or no quality no matter what I do.

pmb1010 · #32 (**permalink**) 01-26-2008, 10:12 PM

can you take a digital picture and post it for us to see?

You're in Atlanta area based on the numbers from before, you're highest south sats should be reasonable to get unless you're really in a hole.

Do others in your area/close to you have Directv or Dish network dishes? Those are pointing at approx 101 degrees, and is lower on the arc than your south.
If those can be seen, I'd strongly suspect you could get a view too.
But it's hard to know - it would help if we could see what you see. Host the picture on another site and post a link back to it here.

The point where the dish gets the quality indication is VERY sensitive. Moving the dish 1/8" will lose the signal. It is a very small point that gets aimed at. It can be very frustrating to get one set up the 1st time.

elgemcdlf · #33 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdj1942

After sighting, I now realize the hill is blocking signals.
I did a Google Earth and found the hill to be 20 feet higher than my location. I am in a low area and the hill is south.
So, I must raise the whole mess up at least 6 feet as the hill is probably 100 feet away and it covers why whole view of the south.
That would probably expain why I get a good signal, but weak or no quality no matter what I do.

If the hill is 20' high and 100' away it has no affect on your dish. That is an 11.30993 degree angle if your dish was laying on the ground. You are probably just moving way to fast and way to much when adjusting. Basics. Take a small tv and the receiver out to where the dish is and connect everything up. Now move very very slowly. Did I mention move very slowly? If not you need to move very very slowly and in very small increments.

cdj1942 · #34 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 01:28 PM

Ok, the lastest update. I moved the dish on top of my car port where I know I have a very clear view of the south. I set everything up again and I'm still getting good signal on AMC 3, but no quality. Just for yuks, I move the dish by hand to Echostar 8 and got a signal of 75 and quality of 100.
I'm really lost. I checked other satellites and still no quality. So, it appears the motorized unit is not better than a stationary or something is out of alignment.
Thanks guys for all your help I would have pulled my hair by now on my own.
Charles Johnson

rainman · #35 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 01:39 PM

it sounds like your elevation is off if you can get echo 8 as it is a lot lower on the arc.

cdj1942 · #36 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 02:19 PM

I have taken pictures of my location. They can be found at: Doug and Marilyn Photos password dmphoto in Dish folder.

elgemcdlf · #37 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 02:24 PM

Ok first thing is you can see through a tree. Next is Rainman's comment but you really have not provided us with any info about what you did to get the Echo bird. Third disconnect the C port and work with only the L port of the lnbf. Tell me what your settings are in the receiver for the lnbf

pmb1010 · #38 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 02:58 PM

you have plenty of viewable sky.

As stated, your cable is on the "C" port if you are getting 100 level on Dish satelllite with it.

Use L for linear port.

From LNBFs linear port, to motor, to receiver.

Do not worry about signal "level". It's only Quality indicator that means anything. YOu can point at the moon and get good level indications.

cdj1942 · #39 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 05:40 PM

I got Echostar 8 while running though the TP on AMC 3 to check levels. It hit a high quality level and was identified as Echostar 8. So, I went to Echostar 8 on the receiver and sure enough it had quality near 100. I did a scan and locked over 300 channels.
I will now remove the cable from the LNBF C port and check again.
Thanks,
Charles

pmb1010 · #40 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 09:41 PM

The correct procedure is to

- put the motor at zero (center)
- Aim the thing at magnetically corrected south heading determined with a compass
- Use USALS to drive the motor to your most south sat (dish won't move too much)
- tune box to strongest transponder on that sat.
- adjust dish elevation, and motor on pole side to side *very* slowly (like 1/8") to find quality signal.
- tighten things down.
- try to use USALS to move to other sats, see if you are "on the arc"

elgemcdlf · #41 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdj1942

I got Echostar 8 while running though the TP on AMC 3 to check levels. It hit a high quality level and was identified as Echostar 8. So, I went to Echostar 8 on the receiver and sure enough it had quality near 100. I did a scan and locked over 300 channels.
I will now remove the cable from the LNBF C port and check again.
Thanks,
Charles

300 viewable channels?

cdj1942 · #42 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 01:29 PM

No, I did not get 300 viewable channels on Echostar 8. I had excellent quality on most all the TPs.
I ran a cable directly from the L port on the LNBF to the receiver and still can not get quality signal.
I have to wait a couple of days to do any more. I have messed with the motor mounting bracket bolts so much, I have messed up the threads. I had to order a new mounting bracket with U bolts and nuts.
Thanks,
Charles