Understanding which dish to point at during setup.

[Berling Sizemore]

Here is my set up

Sg2100
Wingaurd 76CM
Pansat 2700
Pansat 4X1 Diseqc
Invacom qph-031

My Location 121.6, 36.7

Now my question is...

Should I factor in Mag Dec when trying to fing true south sat.

In other words would my true south sat be 121.0 or should I assume that it is really 129.0

Since my lat 121.6+15.0 (mag dec) =136.6?

Thanks!!

[Berling Sizemore]

Also...

One other question when it comes to entering my lat lon on the pansat usals menu. Do i enter with mag dec? In otherwords its is set now 121.6 (no declinastion incl).

[fishej]

Originally Posted by Berling Sizemore

Also...

One other question when it comes to entering my lat lon on the pansat usals menu. Do i enter with mag dec? In otherwords its is set now 121.6 (no declinastion incl).

Magnetic declination applies only to your compass. If your magnetic declination is +15.0, then the bearing for south using a compass would be 165 degrees.

Use your longitude (and latitude) unmodified in the look angle calculators to figure our your correct dish and motor elevations. Then, using a compass, point the whole assembly generally towards south (= 165 on your compass). (For some motors, need your declination angle instead of look angles. Sadoun has a table of declination angles for your use if needed. By the way, that declination angle isn't the same as your magnetic declination.)

Set your longitude and latitude, again, unmodified, in your receiver configuration. Tell the receiver to move the dish to whatever satellite is good for you and nearest to your longitude (that would be your "nearest south satellite"). Then try to find the the signal by s-l-o-w-l-y rotating the motor to the left and right. (If that fails, triple check all the angle settings, and try again. Adjust the dish elevation a couple of degrees if necessary, and try again.)

[Berling Sizemore]

Originally Posted by fishej

Magnetic declination applies only to your compass. If your magnetic declination is +15.0, then the bearing for south using a compass would be 165 degrees.

Use your longitude (and latitude) unmodified in the look angle calculators to figure our your correct dish and motor elevations. Then, using a compass, point the whole assembly generally towards south (= 165 on your compass). (For some motors, need your declination angle instead of look angles. Sadoun has a table of declination angles for your use if needed. By the way, that declination angle isn't the same as your magnetic declination.)

Set your longitude and latitude, again, unmodified, in your receiver configuration. Tell the receiver to move the dish to whatever satellite is good for you and nearest to your longitude (that would be your "nearest south satellite"). Then try to find the the signal by s-l-o-w-l-y rotating the motor to the left and right. (If that fails, triple check all the angle settings, and try again. Adjust the dish elevation a couple of degrees if necessary, and try again.)

OK I think I got it now... So I do have it right. 121.0 is my southern most sat. Also, entering 121.6 and 36.7 is correct for the pansat menu. Sounds like I just need to do some minor tweeking.

I removed my dish recently and plumbed the mount post. I hooked every thing up. 2 cables from the invacom to the diseqc (port 1 liner port 4 circular). Then from the diseqc to the motor. Another cable from the motor to the Pansat 2700. So far so good.

Now I went to the pansat menu and drove the dish to "refrence position" then "move" (all this while on the 121.0 sat). Now I went out and physically moved the entire assymbly until I got signal.

Now I set up a few mor sat ok. Close to my 121.0 point. Getting sats on the farther ends of the sky have been challenging. Asuming I did the above steps ok I just need to fine tune is that correct?

[radiobob]

Yep...you pretty much have it. But, since your true south sat @ 121° is EchoStar9/IA13, most of what you'll receive is Dish Network, a losing proposition without a subscription. You might consider directing your receiver to go to G10R at 123° where there are whumping signals on 11800 V and 11805 H, then fine tune your motor position (physically) using that as your beacon.

There is interaction between your motor elevation and your dish elevation (declination). I had to raise my motor a degree or two and lower my dish by an equal amount to get my dish to track all the birds across the arc. If you find that the sats on the East-West ends of your arc are problematic, you can re-shape how steep or shallow an arc your dish traces, by working with this interaction. This may involve some trial and error; as always...tiny steps in your adjustments!

All in all, I think you've got it!

[boroda1]

Originally Posted by radiobob

Yep...you pretty much have it. But, since your true south sat @ 121° is EchoStar9/IA13, most of what you'll receive is Dish Network, a losing proposition without a subscription.

Dish at 121 is a linear polarity satellite, and is great for aiming at.
Use tp 12074 V 20000 to align your dish. It showing "Congratulations! You have a SuperDish" picture and music. Very strong signal, can even try to use SF95 cheap meter.
Azimuth for 121 Echo is 121-15=106, but with a motor, you don't need to worry about it,
USALS will find it by moving dish 0.6 degrees to the east

[radiobob]

Originally Posted by boroda1

Dish at 121 is a linear polarity satellite, and is great for aiming at.

Cool! Live and learn...