Best angles website for multi LNB dishes.

[bmike1]

I was thinking of using dishpointer.com but have decided that would not be best. For a dish500 it says the elevation should be 49.9 but when I look at my parents working dish500, the elevation is set to 55. That isn't to mention the elevations are different. the dish is set to about 101 degrees while the website says it should be 93.6. So let's get a consensus of which web page is best.

hey, I just noticed that sadoun has an angles calculator but the angles on it are wrong as well

[bmike1]

---correction---
I was thinking of using dishpointer.com but have decided that would not be best. For a dish500 it says the elevation should be 49.9 but when I look at my parents working dish500, the elevation is set to 55. That isn't to mention that the skews are different as well. the dish is set to about 101 degrees while the website says it should be 93.6. So let's get a consensus of which web page is best.

hey, I just noticed that sadoun has an angles calculator but the angles on it are wrong as well.

[snatale42]

Always go by the angles listed for the dish you use and the zip code your in, they are ALWAYS correct. Your parents dish is mounted on a mast/pole that is not level. ie: The pole is 3 degrees off from being plumb. SO now the dish setting is off by 3 degrees to compensate. but it is still aimed at the correct elevation. They don't work any other way.

PS: Make sure your using install angles for a Dish 500, Not 110 or 119 individually they would be wrong I'm pretty sure you can get them on Dish's website. If not give me your zip code and I'll give them to you.

[bmike1]

but I checked the level of their dish and it appears to be level on both axis... well, I suppose 3 degrees taint much. I can find the bird I need. See if I have the correct angles. I got:
az-about 180
el-50
sk-94

I don't understand why you are saying it is only three degrees off. Elevation is off by 5 degrees while skew is off by 7 degrees. Unless you are figuring half the average of the two numbers. But why are you doing that?

By the way.... which bird should I locate:110, 119, or 118. Another question.... why would I locate this bird? I would think the 118 because it is in the middle; But I don't know.

[snatale42]

I'm not saying it's off at all, it's a reference point. But if you have 118 you have a 500Plus, That dish can be a pain. generally you start out by lining up the lowest satellite which in your case would be 119, BUT with that dish you use 118. Do you have a meter? or are you using the receiver? Without a meter that dish is VERY hard to line up. The meter we (installers) use specifically look at individual satellites, 118 is tricky even with a meter. as far as the mast being plumb keep in mind 1 degree on earth is approx 375 miles in space. Normally not a big deal if it's off a little bit but with a 500+ it can be. You would connect to the 1F port of the LNBF. for lining up or the 2D for 119

[bmike1]

I do have a meter. I got a birdog 3.0 when I was working for a contractor of directv. But I moved out of state before I learned about siting multi bird dishes. My question is.... hmmmm.... I just looked at a lat/long map and see what you mean. The Longitude of where I'm going to put the dish is 111.6 which means the 110 is a little to the east while the other birds are a little to the west.... hmmm... all I know is that my parents dish is pointed at about 275 degrees and they got what their paying for.

[bmike1]

do you still think to site 119 or 110?

[snatale42]

With a birdog you would check all 3, start with 118, since thats going to be your picky one, when you have it in the 90's (or as high as you can get it) check 110/119 they should be pinned at that point. again the 118 will be on the 1F port of the LNB.

[bmike1]

why are you telling me that the 118 if on port 1F? I mean doesn't the signal enter the horns and combine so that it can be sent down both cables?

is 1F the designation for the center horn and since 118 is the satellite in the middle we pin that satellite? why is that the more difficult bird to site?