I Must Be Doing Something Wrong With This Motorized Dish

[sch]

OK, I am newbie in FTA satellite TV and I have to be doing something wrong. I am located in Michigan ZIP CODE 49316 ( latitude 42.8 N and longitude 85.5W) and I am trying to install motorized 36" dish ( Fortec FC-90 with SM3D22 motor and KUL1 LNB all obtained from Sadoun) and PANSAT 3500SD receiver. Mast is vertically plumb, mounted on concrete basement wall, no obstructions, position nice and clean. Motor shaft set to 0 DEG. mounted on mast, motor elevation set to 43 deg. ( to match my latitude), dish centered properly to motor shaft and mounted, dish elevation set to 40 deg. ( used calculator here on sadoun.com, 46.5 - 6.5 declination = 40 deg. OK ,I thought, I am ready. LNB nice and tight, skew 0. Thru south is next ( southern-most satellite). According to instructions my thru south should be at 185 DEG. Used that small toy compass, aligned whole assembly best I could, tight down bolts, than start playing with receiver. My southern-most satellite should be AMC-3/Ku ( at 87 DEG.) In receiver set up I picked AMC-3 switched to USALS entered proper latitude and longitude pressed OK and dish moved few deg and stopped. All this time my signal level is 76% and quality is 0%. Loosened motor bolts slowly I moved whole assembly ( motor and dish) left and right and one big NOTHING. My signal level is 76% and quality is 0% no matter what I do. I tried half dozen of satellites in setup used USALS, motor moves dish nice and smooth but my signal is always at same level ( 76% level and 0% quality). Moved motor dish manually, same numbers, put "T" shirt over LNB still same numbers ?? When I disconnect LNB signal drop to 25% ??? Replaced coax cables ( I am using short coax cables, 6' and 25' to avoid signal strength drop) , got same numbers, tried without DISEq switch, same thing, 76% and 0%. What I am doing wrong? How come my signal quality bar did not show not even 1% ever. Is something connected wrong. LNB is connected to LNB1 on motor. I have been moving by hand whole assembly left and right for hours and not even flinch. It has been snowing here in Michigan ( no snow accumulation on ground yet) but is d@#* cold I am about to loose all my fingers. HELP PLEASE. Best regards from SNOWMAN.

[rainman]

try changing your dish elevation up or down by 1 degree then retry your east to west sweep.

note: on my 90 cm fortec had to drop the elevation by 5 degrees to get quality.

[satnutwillb]

Also,check in setup to make sure you have the correct entries,such as 10750 for standard lnb or 10600 for universial.Check ports are set up correct.Hope this helps some.

[pmb1010]

and make sure you are tuned to an active transponder while you are searching for the signal. Many times the default transponder that is pre-programmed into the box is not active.
I didnt see that mentioned in your writeup.
try the PBS stations:
http://www.lyngsat.com/amc3.html

The spot where you get signal is very small. It is possible to "sweep" past it if you are moving too quickly. moving the dish an 1/8 of an inch will lose the quality indicator. It ramps up and drops real quick.

[sch]

Thanks rainman, that did job. I had to drop dish 7 deg down to get signal. Seams that all fortec dish needs lower setting point than calculated. Once again thanks for help.

[pmb1010]

not all of them.

My 80cm and my 120cm were right on the dot - within 1/2 calculated degree setting of the dish number.

Glad to hear you've got some reception.

[rainman]

glad to here we could be of help sch enjoy your veiwing.