SG2100 Out Of Range USALS

[Berling Sizemore]

Hello all,

Here is my set-up...

Wingaurd 76cm dish
invacom qph-031
Sg2100
Pansat 2700

121.6, 36.7
My southern sat = 121

Here is my issue...
I use USALS in the pansat menu for all sats. When I try to move the sat (from the pansat instalation menu) to 61.5 it gives me an out of range message. Can I use USALS for this sat based on my location? If not, when pointing the dish using the other protocal how do I know if I locked on? I don't think there is a signal strength meter in that screen.

Yes I know there are no FTA channels on 61.5 however for me its more the ability to be able to lock on all sats in my slice of the clarke belt. I now watch strickly FTA.

Thanks folks for taking the time to read and hopefully help out.

- Berling

[elgemcdlf]

61.5 is out of range for your system. I am using a SG2100 and getting 57 degrees travel. I am at 87 and can get to 30 but no more. I have a physical block to the west of 123. If I subtract 61.5 from 121 I get 59.5 degrees of travel.

Sorry but you just miss it by 2.5 degrees.

[rainman]

check and see if the receiver and motor limits been set if so change them to what you need to get to where you want to go.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by rainman

check and see if the receiver and motor limits been set if so change them to what you need to get to where you want to go.

I have no limits set on mine and 57 is the best I can get. It stops at physical motor stop. I suppose disassembly of the motor and resyncing the gears might get you more travel in one direction over the other. Have not taken one apart so do not know if this is a feasable idea.

[rainman]

they promote the range to be 75 east and 75 west and say it is adjustable. don't know for sure don't own the motor just going on what i have read.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by rainman

they promote the range to be 75 east and 75 west and say it is adjustable. don't know for sure don't own the motor just going on what i have read.

I will have to read up on this beast. If that is true I have mileage to go yet The scale on the motor only goes to 60 each side of 0.

[elgemcdlf]

Ok Sadoun you have pics of one without the cover. Do you know how to adjust the physical stops of the SG2100 as to get the full 75 east and west travel advertised? I have been all over and can find no info on this.

[boroda1]

Here is the link to "Go to X" calculator, I found on SatelliteGuys:
http://www.moteck.com/product.asp?idproduct=91
This will calculate the motor travel necessary to hit a satellite.
Travel limit for my Satcontrol motor is 50° (on motor scale) both ways.
For Moteck, it's 70 - 75° each way.
Hi, Berling!
I would appreciate, if you do the experiment to find out which is the east-most satellite, you can get with Moteck motor.
Make sure to remove any east/west limits preset in the receiver.
If you are able to view your motor moving when you control it from receiver, please, note how far it moves. Gradually go east from one sat to another,
let's say from 79° to 74°, then to 72°. At some point motor will stop, resisting any further movement. If you need any assistance, please, ask!

[Berling Sizemore]

Originally Posted by boroda1

Hi, Berling!
I would appreciate, if you do the experiment to find out which is the east-most satellite, you can get with Moteck motor.
!

Sure, no problem I'll try it out and report back.

Now I do remember something about setting the mechanical limits that where mentioned in the Manuel of the sg2100. However, when I use the little button under the motor... The sat swings all the way east and all the way west. So far that it touches the wall both directions.

I have pointed at 61.5 before with a standard 18" DTV dish. So I have a feel for where that sat is in relation to my location. I can say that with the button on the bottom it would most definitely swing to and past that sat. My trouble seems to be from the Pansat software not allowing it.

I will check to see if I might of screwed up at some point and put in travel limitation on the Pansat. I remember seeing that although it wasn't on the USALS menu it was on the other Diseqc (correct me if I am wrong) protocol.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by boroda1

Here is the link ...need any assistance, please, ask!

Ok that says my motor is moving 62.7 which is still far from 75 and I am hitting a physical block in the motor from going any further. This is verified by using a power pack and manual movement at the motor. Not using the receiver. If his motor has the same setup as mine he can not get to 61.5 from where he is without altering something.

[elgemcdlf]

Ok modifying the stops in a SG2100A. First I will say this voids the warranty so if the warranty is of importance to you stop reading here. Next with this modification you must have a reliable receiver and have the limits set. A final precaution I have not done this but comes from another source.

Remove the tube and you will see 2 small stops. You must now remove the motor cover and take the stops out. I have presented the question of machining these stops and placing them back into the motor but have received no response as of yet. Put the cover back on the motor and replace the tube and now the motor in theory would rotate all the way out to 80+ degrees but may become stuck permanently if you go that far.

[rainman]

sounds like you could get alot bigger arc this way.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by rainman

sounds like you could get alot bigger arc this way.

Yes but you most likely will run into your own mount somewhere around 82 degrees. There is also the issue of being able to see that close to the horizon along with ground noise.

In my case I would only gain about 5 more channels in languages I am not familiar with. For someone in another part of the country like CA or AZ getting a bit farther east could be quite beneficial.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by Berling Sizemore

Sure, no problem I'll try it out and report back.

Now I do remember something about setting the mechanical limits that where mentioned in the Manuel of the sg2100. However, when I use the little button under the motor... The sat swings all the way east and all the way west. So far that it touches the wall both directions.

I have pointed at 61.5 before with a standard 18" DTV dish. So I have a feel for where that sat is in relation to my location. I can say that with the button on the bottom it would most definitely swing to and past that sat. My trouble seems to be from the Pansat software not allowing it.

I will check to see if I might of screwed up at some point and put in travel limitation on the Pansat. I remember seeing that although it wasn't on the USALS menu it was on the other Diseqc (correct me if I am wrong) protocol.

Did you ever get more travel out of your motor?

[Berling Sizemore]

[quote=elgemcdlf]Did you ever get more travel out of your motor?

Always has been the same af as travel.

I believe one of my issues is software. I have to get a pansat BIN from their site.

Also, I am not quite tracking the arc. I am hitting some sats and getting echos of the wrong sat sometimes. I noticed that if I play with the actual position of the sat I get better signal. (ie 97.0 is best sig strength if USALS is set to 97.6W) Is this common? Should I be using USALS to correct signal strength or am I band aiding another problem?

Also, now that I see the range of rotation from 61.5 - 148 I see that I could have placed my dish in better location. at 61.5 that dish gets darn near parallel to the roof.

That being said at one point I got 1 transponder from 148.0 and after I set my USALS to 62.5 I could get multiple transponders on what was 61.5.

I do not have Internet access at home so I could not load the BIN yet. But I figure the whole assemble should come down and be moved to a better location.

I am moving in a few months so I may just leave it as is for now. In any case thanks for the help folks. I will load the bin however and see if it cures the 61.5 out of range issue.

- Berling