cannot find signal after little "accident"

DruzeTito · #1 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 10:01 PM

To cut a long story short my 90cm dish + motor was on a tripod mount and the mount tipped over so naturally the dish slammed onto grass. (from wind)

Ever since i cannot find any signal.. not my true south AMC 5, not IA5, nothing, no linear ku. I get signal strength jumps when i know im close, but quality never appears.

I am beginning to fear that the dish or arm got seriously bent out of shape. Just a new 90cm dish from sadoun is $100 !!!! I looked hard visually from all angles and i just can't see too much than your "normal" small dents. I don't have pictures yet. What do you guys think? Can this have an effect?

Should I maybe try without motor?

kevision · #2 (**permalink**) 09-12-2005, 11:43 PM

did it fall forward? my only thought (and this has happened to my setup before) is that the LNB got knocked forward in its mount, so that it's too close to the dish by about half an inch.
good luck!

DruzeTito · #3 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 12:33 PM

it fell on it's right side. I even tried using another lnb, and i had both lnbs as far as possible from the dish.

bobkat · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 03:58 PM

Did you check the dish for true plane? In other words, did it get "warped" from the fall? If you look down at the dish and hold it at your feet the side edges should be true and in line. If not, finding signal is next to impossible.

kat

DruzeTito · #5 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 05:26 PM

I think it did get warped, but i straightened it back a little.. lol. I don't know about the edges though.. ill have to check. The dish is at my other house 90 miles from where iam now so i guess in a few more days i'll be able to check until i make further tests like no motor.

Also, which is the strongest ku transponders in the sky? Do you think Echostar @ 121 is one of the strongest? I want to try getting anything.

Admin · #6 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 09:26 PM

DruzeTito

I am afraid your dish is warped. Any warpage will make signal lock next to impossible. If you see any warpage, just forget abour "Straightening" that reflector. It won't work. Just un-mount it and store it for the winter ....... so you can use as a............... snow slid :mozilla_laughing:

bobkat · #7 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admin

so you can use as a............... snow slide :mozilla_laughing:

HeHeHe... :mozilla_laughing: :mozilla_laughing: ...or a birdbath for crooked birds... :mozilla_wink:

kat

DruzeTito · #8 (**permalink**) 09-13-2005, 10:11 PM

thanks for the laughs..

gee the signal is THAT sensitive.. darn..

Admin · #9 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 12:40 AM

DruzeTito

No sarcasim intended.

Quote:

gee the signal is THAT sensitive.. darn..

Imagine the refelector as a convex mirror. If perfect, then it should aim the light at the focal point. If it has distortion to its surfance, then the light will scatter and the focal point will get much less light.

bobkat · #10 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admin

Imagine the reflector as a convex mirror. If perfect, then it should aim the light at the focal point. If it has distortion to its surface, then the light will scatter and the focal point will get much less light.

Very nice analogy. :mozilla_smile:

kat

DruzeTito · #11 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 01:12 PM

but we're not dealing with optics here! These are just microwaves... hmm.

vj9999 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 02:54 PM

Wave is a wave. No matter if it is a light wave or a sound wave or a microwave, it will bounce of the surface the same.

DruzeTito · #13 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 02:56 PM

ahh.. ok. Thanks for all your help guys.

FLsatMan · #14 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 11:10 AM

I'm in the sdame boat with my 100 cm dish. I've got a spare that I thought about setting up and taking the measurements so that I could bend my current one back in shape. For what I've heard here that may not be an option.

Do you think If I use the new dish to pickup AMC 3 I'd be able to use the old warped one to pick up DTV 101 ? I know the DBS sats are higher powered so it may be an option?

DruzeTito · #15 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 02:03 PM

yes you might have a chance with a dtv or dish network sat. Im confident a damn tin foil can catch those satellites.

What happen with my dish was it got bent.. but i couldn't notice it. I actually got signals on every KU satellite i tested but thats when i didnt use a motor! When i used a motor, the motor would move east and west of my true south and skew the dish along the way.. and the more it skewed the less chances i had to catch a satellite. So i sold that dish to someone and i warned him not to use it with a motor.