Installation help

jl · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2004, 09:31 PM

Hello to everybody, and thank you in advance for your help. This is my problem: My receiver only goes to 76% on most sats. Quality is always O %. I Have replaced coax cable, exchanged or bought 2 LNB and had another receiver< I have a Pansat 2500 now. No change. I have moved dish to 3 different locations, moved LNB to different pos (skew) I have tried different azimuths and elevations. Dish does not seem bent or warped. No trees interfering. Any ideas???? I have been working on this for over 8 weeks. I have installed TV antennas, hanging fans, changed oil in my car ETC. So I think I am little mechanically inclined> THANK YOU!!!!

bobkat · #2 (**permalink**) 08-05-2004, 10:16 PM

What kind of LNB do you have? You must set the L.O. frequency accordingly; 10,600 MHz if it is a UNIVERSAL LNB or 10,750 MHz if it is a STANDARD LNB.

What satellite are you trying to bring in?

Are you tuned to an active transponder when searching for satellite signal?

What kind of dish are you using?

kat

jl · #3 (**permalink**) 08-06-2004, 10:35 PM

. I am trying or aiming for T5 and Sat Mex 5. I am using Sodoun'sLNB: Fortec Star F SKU V , aiming for an active transponder (s), my dish is 1 meter. I live in So Calif. Thanks for your help

bobkat · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2004, 06:11 PM

Well, seems you have it set up correctly. Just a matter of patience; although I admit 8 weeks is being pretty patient... :shock:

Run a search on Telstar5 in these forums. There are lots of very helpful threads from folks with the same problem you are having.

kat

magog45 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2004, 10:21 PM

You are truely patient, but one thing I have found out is that the magnetic declination seems to vary a great deal. Where I am it should be +3.2 degrees but that gets me the satellite beside the one I want. I point at the exact coordinates as calculated on sadouns calculator and bingo great signal and quality. My brother lives about 3 miles from me as the crow flies and the +3.2 hits the sat. I watched a program a few weeks ago about how there are major fluctuations taking place in the earth's core, should make pointing a dish more and more interesting.

jl · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2004, 12:07 AM

Hey Kat, thanks for the help so far.Questions: What distance should LNBF be from dish surface (my dish is 1 m)? Must LNBF be in the or pointing to center of dish ???mine seems pointing to bottom of dish

bobkat · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2004, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jl

Must LNBF be in the or pointing to center of dish ???mine seems pointing to bottom of dish

:shock: :shock:

Yes, that would defintely throw off your signal !!! The LNB must point toward the center of the dish. Perhaps you have the LNB holder assembled incorrectly.

kat

jl · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2004, 12:53 AM

Thank you Mr Kat. But, no, bracket was assembled correctly, but perhaps the arm is off. May I ask again what distance should LNB be from dish surface?????
You are a real WAY KOOL KAT!!!!!!! T H A N K S S S S

bobkat · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2004, 01:35 AM

Thanks... :roll:

The distance from the LNB to the dish is determined by the design of the dish assembly. Only minor adjustment is possible by sliding the LNB forward or backwards a bit -- like an inch or so. This is called "focal distance". You can experiment with it for maximum signal quality -- once you get it. I'm more concerned with your LNB pointing toward the bottom of your dish. Something is not right by the way you describe it.

kat

pmb1010 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2004, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jl

Thank you Mr Kat. But, no, bracket was assembled correctly, but perhaps the arm is off. May I ask again what distance should LNB be from dish surface?????
You are a real WAY KOOL KAT!!!!!!! T H A N K S S S S

Here's the explanation on how to calculate the focal length for an offset dish: (warning, very technical):
http://www.vhfcomm.co.uk/otypka.htm

Would it be possible to take a picture of your dish side view?

The offset type 30" dish does make the LNB sort of look like it points to the bottom of the dish, but you must remember that the signal is bouncing on an angle from higher than where the center of the dish is physically pointing. Look at the graphics of the dish half way down this page:
http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Installati...nting-Tips.htm

jl · #11 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 12:29 AM

Gentlemen, thank you for all the help so far................But no changes: I am still getting a good signal (76%) but O % on the quality, no pix, no sound. My wife keep saying: "give it up" But like the old r and r song said "I want my MTV", In my my case " I want my Sat TV"
I disassembled my LNBF bracket. movedLNBF. to point to center of dish No change. Any ideas in sat land????

magog45 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 10:01 AM

If you know someone who has a spare dish perhaps you should change it out to see what the problem is. I spent a long time as well before I discovered I was using the wrong arm on an old starchoice elliptical dish, change the arm and bingo. I also spent a bit of time toying with what turned out to be a dying lnb, now thanks to some last second bidding on eBay I have spares so I can eliminate problems when I have them.

jl · #13 (**permalink**) 08-09-2004, 06:51 PM

Thank you again to everybody, helping me. Mr PMB1010, you mentioned taking a pix of my dish. Did you want me to send you one? I have a digital camera, I could send you one. if that will help.
I have no access to another dish, except to an old 18" Dish Network without an LNB. I tried using it, connecting my own lnbf, but "good try, but no cigar". I guess I could buy another one if I knew that would solve my problem.It is about US$100 or more (with shipping)
It looks like I am running out of options.

swampthang7 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-10-2004, 11:03 AM

jf;...you said you could get an 18" dish..yes? get it.mount it.shoot for echostar 7.you will at least receive some bark channels and PTL/Jimmy swaggart stuff.at least you can START eliminating some problems.let us know.

swampthang7 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-10-2004, 11:04 AM

PS...use a regular DN or DTV LNB. 8)

pmb1010 · #16 (**permalink**) 08-10-2004, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jl

Thank you again to everybody, helping me. Mr PMB1010, you mentioned taking a pix of my dish. Did you want me to send you one? I have a digital camera, I could send you one. if that will help.

No need to send it. Post it to an online hosting service (example: picturetrail.com), and place the URL link to it here in a message for all to see and hopefully one of us can see if anything is funky with your install...

(Hint: if you click the IMG button, paste your online picture link and close again with the IMG button the picture will show up when we browse the message here...)

jl · #17 (**permalink**) 08-10-2004, 06:43 PM

Mr Thang, I tried using 18" and my LNB's, NOTHING, I tried different elevations, and azimuths: "Nuttin" I will tried taking a pix, and posting it and see what happen.
Thank you all!!!!

swampthang7 · #18 (**permalink**) 08-10-2004, 06:54 PM

jl;...let's go back to square 1.do you have a satfinder,or a DN receiver?if you go for BEV or Echostar,you can pick up ,say Echostar7 and key the small dish in tight(Quality 70%,and signal 90%).Then start to figure if the receiver is the problem.

jl · #19 (**permalink**) 08-11-2004, 08:47 PM

Mr. Thang, NO, I do not have a DN or sat finder. I do have a Pansat 2500A receiver and 2 dishes, one a 18" and one 1 meter. I also have 2 Ku band LNBs. Any ideas???

swampthang7 · #20 (**permalink**) 08-11-2004, 09:17 PM

yes.put the 18' dish up w/ the ku lnb.set your LOF tp 11250 and lnb setting to circular.get your elevation and azimuth from lyngsat.set the elevation first,then pan the general area of your azimuth.SLOWLY.take your receiver and tv on the roof with you.go to e-bay,buy a receiver for DN and it will help.All FTA receivers are sllloooww on the uptick when it comes to signal. 8)

dtsexpert · #21 (**permalink**) 08-12-2004, 05:54 AM

Are you sure about the last statement? What brand of FTA are you using? BEC and Fortec are pretty sensitive to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by swampthang7

yes.put the 18' dish up w/ the ku lnb.set your LOF tp 11250 and lnb setting to circular.get your elevation and azimuth from lyngsat.set the elevation first,then pan the general area of your azimuth.SLOWLY.take your receiver and tv on the roof with you.go to e-bay,buy a receiver for DN and it will help.All FTA receivers are sllloooww on the uptick when it comes to signal. 8)