Pansat 3500 setup questions

[videobruce]

I have a few questions for setting up this 3500s do to the poor instructions or lack of detailed instructions;

1. How can you confirm your LNBF is actually working?

2. The SS indicator, is there a difference between the one shown in the antenna setup/positioning menu and the one shown when you hit the 'SIG' button on the remote as far as accuracy?

3. I'm getting various reading when I power the unit up. Usually it shows around 70% (whatever that is suppose to mean). But, I have seen it as low as 20% and as high as 99% with no signal.

4. I have had the receiver appear to lock up where it doesn't/can't move the motor when the scale shows 99%. I have to power it down (pwr switch on back of unit) to make it optional again. Other functions seem to work ok.

5. Since I haven't actually done a scan yet, every time I power the unit up I get what appears to be the first time menu screen. Language, Instalation etc. Can I assume that this is because I haven't actually found a satelitte yet? Really annoying.

6. I assume the correct LNB type would be standard with a Invacom Quad LNBF would be 'Standard'?


I have looked around and don't seem to see any answers to these questions. I haven't gotten off the boat yesterday, but these importers of these Chineese wonders seem to assume you know most of this.

[kevision]

1. How can you confirm your LNBF is actually working?
-There is no LNB test like on a Dishnetwork reciever. You'll need to verify its operation from an actual signal.

2. The SS indicator, is there a difference between the one shown in the antenna setup/positioning menu and the one shown when you hit the 'SIG' button on the remote as far as accuracy?
-The 'SIG' meter responds a little faster and indicates a finer gradient. And it's actually measuring 'quality', not the signal strength as one might expect from a 'SIG' button.

3. I'm getting various reading when I power the unit up. Usually it shows around 70% (whatever that is suppose to mean). But, I have seen it as low as 20% and as high as 99% with no signal.
-From what source? and is that the quality reading? Signal strength tends to be a poor indicator for pointing. I ignore it. It's the Quality indicator that will light up if you are actually on something.

4. I have had the receiver appear to lock up where it doesn't/can't move the motor when the scale shows 99%. I have to power it down (pwr switch on back of unit) to make it optional again. Other functions seem to work ok.
-Not sure what this is.

5. Since I haven't actually done a scan yet, every time I power the unit up I get what appears to be the first time menu screen. Language, Instalation etc. Can I assume that this is because I haven't actually found a satelitte yet? Really annoying.
-correct. if there's no channel data stored, it will go to to that setup screen. you can do a basic 'satellite scan' to get some in there quickly.

6. I assume the correct LNB type would be standard with a Invacom Quad LNBF would be 'Standard'?
-The LNB setting is different for each satellite. It's stored in the antenna setup screen. Standard or Universal 1 will be the setting for most of them.

[videobruce]

3. I'm reading SS, there is no reading on quality.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by videobruce

3. I'm reading SS, there is no reading on quality.

kevision is right. Ignore the "strength" indicator and go after "quality"; it is the only real factor that matters. Just move the dish around until you get quality for the selected satellite. Make sure the receiver is set to an active transponder on that particular satellite.

kat

[videobruce]

Ok, nice to know. BUT why is there a SS indicator when it doesn't really mean anythinhg?

Question 7;
There are only 3 TP's listed for each satellite under the 'TP' menu entry (with no signal).

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by videobruce

Ok, nice to know. BUT why is there a SS indicator when it doesn't really mean anythinhg?

Question 7;
There are only 3 TP's listed for each satellite under the 'TP' menu entry (with no signal).

Well, good question. It means something, I'm just not too sure what. The quality reading is the one that will light up when you hit the desired bird. I think quality measures things like bit error rate and stuff that only my Birdog has to worry about, not me... HeHeHe.

As for only 3 transponders for each satellite; that is weird. IA5 alone should have at least a dozen. You will have to manually enter then using lyngsat. ---> http://www.lyngsat.com/ia5.html

kat

[videobruce]

Again, this is with no scan and no active satellite.
I think the receiver is bad. I'm going to request an exchange. That locking up of the motor is a real problem. It either doesn't respond or just keeps moving. I have to power down to stop or regain control.

[bobkat]

Did you try doing a factory reset in the receiver? This cures all sorts of problems. The reset should be a submenu of "Installation" or "System Setup". As for motor issues I suggest you PM pmb1010 on this board. He's a whiz with motors.

kat

[videobruce]

I have 4 possibilities (or any combination of the four);
1. The LNBF is bad,
2, The motor is bad (not passing the RF signal),
3. The receiver is bad for two reasons (no signal and weird lockup of rotor control),
4. I'm way out in left field and not close enough for any 'bird'.

Of course the last would be the first choice for any reading this, but there are two birds that are 2 degrees from true south (that I'm not 100% sure I have the proper 10 degree offset accounted for (separate issue). I moved the dish more than enough either way to pass both of them. I have also moved the elevation both directions, though since there are so many possibilities when 'tweaking' I could of not gotten the correct 'sweet' spot.

How do you know if the motor is passing the signal?
As far as the receiver, you can't use one of those Dave or Charlie LNBFs' correct? from

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by videobruce

How do you know if the motor is passing the signal?
As far as the receiver, you can't use one of those Dave or Charlie LNBFs' correct? from

Well, I guess a simple way to see if the motor is passing the signal is to connect a voltmeter to the "LNB IN" connector on the motor. Hook up the receiver (LNB IN or IF IN) to the motor's "TO RECEIVER" connector with a length of RG6; turn the receiver on and then measure the voltage at the "LNB IN" connector on the motor. It should read 13/18 Vdc. This will verify three things: that the receiver is putting out the required current to power the LNB, that the "LNB POWER" setting in the receiver is indeed turned "ON", and that the motor is passing the current to the LNB. Chances are if the motor passes the DC current it is also passing the RF signal.

You can't use DirecTV or Dishnetwork LNBs for FTA satellites; they require linear LNBs, either standard or universal.

kat

[kevision]

Are you certian that you have the motor settings for each satellite correct? The motor will only move to the ones in which you have set it for, and that has to be set in the 'antenna setup' for each satellite.

i'd also program in an active transponder by looking at Lyngsat. The ones pre-loaded on the box are usually old.

I'd wait to return it until you actually get satellite.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by kevision

Are you certian that you have the motor settings for each satellite correct? The motor will only move to the ones in which you have set it for, and that has to be set in the 'antenna setup' for each satellite.

i'd also program in an active transponder by looking at Lyngsat. The ones pre-loaded on the box are usually old.

I'd wait to return it until you actually get satellite.

Yes, I gather you know that the motor settings are called "DiSEqC 1.2" on certain receivers. As kevision says, these settings must be set individually for each satellite you hope to tune in.

Another quick question: Does your receiver have the original factory software? Or has it been "modified", as it were. Some 3rd party flashes do evil things to the motor operation sometimes. Plus it will void your warranty. Just asking...

kat

[videobruce]

You can't use DirecTV or Dishnetwork LNBs for FTA satellites

I understand that, I just wanted to see if the motor and receiver were working (receiving a signal).

Are you certian that you have the motor settings for each satellite correct?

At the time of the last post I was just manually moving to see if I could find anything.

Does your receiver have the original factory software?

Yes, I haven't done a thing yet. It has the 5/05 version. I have the 65/95 firmware, but haven't even looked at the zip folder yet.

Update. Things are up and running. I didn't realize elevation as as critical as it is. I must of been off a few degrees, just enough to pass by everything. I can see why when I saw a comment about using C band dishes for Ku regarding alignment. :mozilla_surprised:

Two things are still a issue, this locking up of the motor control to where it either doesn't respond or just keeps moving untill I power the receiver down completely,
second, it looks as my 'arc' is out from one end to the other. Ok south but the further I go east or west, the worse it gets. I will look into this further, but that's as far as I got to date.

Other receiver questions;
1. What is thet '6-70' I see on boot up on the display?
2. Can the motor be moved when you are on the 'SS' screen (so you can 'hear' the signal change)?

[kevision]

2. Can the motor be moved when you are on the 'SS' screen (so you can 'hear' the signal change)?

yes, go to antenna setup, select a satellite, select 'postioner setting', select '1.2' , press OK, scroll down to 'movement', then press the left or right arrows. This dish will move slightly in the direction you select while the 'quality' meter remains active at the bottom of the screen.


yeah elevation and leveling are critical. like within 1/16 of an inch or less. to get the full arc, i manually peak the signal on the furthest west, the middle, and the furthest east of my arc, then lock in all the bolts. This may seem counter-productive (ie by peaking on the furthest east it messes up the furthest west) but it works. *shrug* I should also note that i use USALS which seems a heck of alot easier. However, if i want to move the motor slightly like described above, i just switch to 1.2 to do it, then back to USALS.

this locking up of the motor control to where it either doesn't respond or just keeps moving untill I power the receiver down completely

there are a few times in which this is supposed to happen. sometimes when you enter a new satallite, it will pan left and right before settling on the correct position. Also, mae sure you put in the satellite position correctly. I think on the pansat, it assumes youre in europe and defaults to all sats being East longitute. If you accidentaly enter a position for east, it will pan all the way over and then get you an 'out of range' dialogue. a final note on this, be sure your settings are saved when you leave the dish pointing screen. select 'save' and then exit. you should always get a 'saving' dialouge. If not, then nothing is stored and the dish just sits there when you expect it to move.

[videobruce]

yes, go to antenna setup, select a satellite, select 'postioner setting', select '1.2' , press OK, scroll down to 'movement', then press the left or right arrows. This dish will move slightly in the direction you select while the 'quality' meter remains active at the bottom of the screen.

I understand that, but what I wanted was to 'hear' the beeps while not seeing the screen.

This movement is only when I am doing it manually (nudgeing). This is the only way I have moved the dish so far (in the antenna position screen).

I also understand 'peaking' the dish at each extream end of the arc.
What I now find the dish is not tracking the arc through the range. I don't know yet which way it is off and I have seen those diagrams on what to do in either situation.

Separate question, flashing the unit with a newer bin file from Pansat, any issue using the serial cable from a computer instead of a SD card?