Tweaking signal strength on motorized setup

[ka5lug]

I have a motorized system, HH-90 with an 80cm Fortec dish, .4db standard lnb from sadoun, and Mercury II receiver. The system tracks the arc well. Signals are consistent on both sides from 127 to 58. I am located in south central Louisiana. I think the signals could be peaked a little higher. Right now the quality ranges from low 40s to 60. If I know I am tracking the arc and only want to tweak, at what location on the motor or dish do I make adjustments?

Thanks for the Info.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by ka5lug

I have a motorized system, HH-90 with an 80cm Fortec dish, .4db standard lnb from sadoun, and Mercury II receiver. The system tracks the arc well. Signals are consistent on both sides from 127 to 58. I am located in south central Louisiana. I think the signals could be peaked a little higher. Right now the quality ranges from low 40s to 60. If I know I am tracking the arc and only want to tweak, at what location on the motor or dish do I make adjustments?

Thanks for the Info.

What is keeping you from getting 129? What about the sats east of 58? Is it physical blockage or you are not tracking the whole arc? Run all the way out to your farthest west sat you can get a lock on and gently push up on the dish. Now pull down. Did signal increase in either direction? If so note it. Now do the same in the east. Did you get opposite readings? Example: Up in the west increased signal and down in the east increased signal? If so you are not perfectly centered on true south to start. Move the assembly on the mast a tiny bit in the direction of up increased signal. Go to your true south sat and peak signal with dish elevation. Now repeat the process and keep repeating the process until up and down decrease signal. Now you are properly aligned on true south.

From there we look at your arc. Picture this: motor elevation sets the position in the sky. Dish elevation shapes the arc you travel. You have a decent arc going now so any adjustments you make are going to be minor ones. So let's say after centering you still have no 129 (White Springs). Either your arc is not correct or you are to high or low in the sky. You can easily determine which is which by writing down readings from each sat as you move through the arc. Are they all about even? If not and they drop off slighlty as they move farther away from center play with dish elevation. For every degree you raise the dish you also need to lower the motor. Same for reverse moves. If the 2 are not perfectly mated it will not be an even degree for degree as you currently may be compensating for a dish elevation problem with the motor or reverse of that.

Clear as mud? Hope so

[ka5lug]

My apologies....I do get 129 with signals comparable to that of the others. 58 is as far east as I go due to obstructions.

[elgemcdlf]

Ok well the process is the same. Once you have peak signal for everything on your arc the only other thing you can do is get a bigger dish.

[William Eng]

You can try skewing your LNB, it may add a few % to your signal.

[trublwithnorml]

I am also setting up a new motorized system. I realize I probably have a long way to go, alignment wise, but here's my question. On the satellites and channel's I've been able to find so far, my Mercury II receiver says the signal level is usually around 75-80%, and signal quality is typically 45-55%. Are these typical quality values for the levels I'm getting? Are these typical signal levels for my dish size (80cm) and location (72.5w, 43.1n)? Obviously if my alignment isn't optimal, I can get more signal level by tweaking that, but if the level is as good as I can expect given my dish size, ie the aim is optimal, what can be done, if anything, to improve signal quality? I've already though of skew, I think I have that set at zero, which is what the instructions seem to say your supposed to do. Nothing on this LNBF (Sadoun ULN1) is particularly explicit about where zero skew is, I'm assuming it's when the type F connector is pointed straight down when the dish is pointed due south. If that's not right, let me know that, too. Thanks.

[William Eng]

Originally Posted by trublwithnorml

I am also setting up a new motorized system. I realize I probably have a long way to go, alignment wise, but here's my question. On the satellites and channel's I've been able to find so far, my Mercury II receiver says the signal level is usually around 75-80%, and signal quality is typically 45-55%. Are these typical quality values for the levels I'm getting? Are these typical signal levels for my dish size (80cm) and location (72.5w, 43.1n)? Obviously if my alignment isn't optimal, I can get more signal level by tweaking that, but if the level is as good as I can expect given my dish size, ie the aim is optimal, what can be done, if anything, to improve signal quality? I've already though of skew, I think I have that set at zero, which is what the instructions seem to say your supposed to do. Nothing on this LNBF (Sadoun ULN1) is particularly explicit about where zero skew is, I'm assuming it's when the type F connector is pointed straight down when the dish is pointed due south. If that's not right, let me know that, too. Thanks.

Rules are meant to be bent, but not broken. Do you have a viewable picture right now?? If you do, then don't worry about it. Putting this another way, you will NOT get a better picture quality by increasing your signal strength. Increased signal strength will allow you more cushion before your picture breaks up during adverse weather conditions. This usually happens when signal strength falls below 25. I changed out my LNB from 0.4 to 0.3, but saw no difference. I would say that a large part of the picture quality is directly related to the broadcaster. Some channels show a very crisp picture while others are more grainy which is related to the camera equipment they use. You might consider getting the latest high def TV if you have not already done so. I'm amazed even having the image blown up to 46 inches on my Sharp Aquos that alot of detail is still seen (like seeing every sweat duct on the up close shots). It's a digital picture, it doesn't get any better than this

[rainman]

I have found the quality meter on the Mercury don't read as high as some of the other receivers I own I get 60 to70% on a 90 cm with the Mercury and on the same dish I get 80 to90% on the Ultra receiver as long as the picture is clear and stable your readings are probably normal.

[elgemcdlf]

Have never hooked up the Mercury II to the 76cm dish so I can not comment on the pair you have. I am roughly 5% higher in readings on 123 with the Mercury and the big dish. Was the same with the 36" dish maybe a little higher. That compared to the Platinum and 76cm.