Can HH90 point to my extreme West or East satellites?

[rainman]

Originally Posted by yuzhanin

Just want to double check: I did the Sun Altitude/Azimuth calculation at the linked site, and got this:

12:26.....86.1.....178.5
12:27.....86.1.....181.9

To make sure, I do it right, I need to ADD one hour to account for the daylight savings time now in effect, correct? So, at about 12:26:30 PM, "the True South will be revealed".

Feels like an episode from Mackenna's Gold (link).

yeah but it does work when i set up my 90cm this is what i used and only had to move the mount about a 1/16th of inch to get locked.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by yuzhanin

Just want to double check: I did the Sun Altitude/Azimuth calculation at the linked site, and got this:

12:26.....86.1.....178.5
12:27.....86.1.....181.9

To make sure, I do it right, I need to ADD one hour to account for the daylight savings time now in effect, correct? So, at about 12:26:30 PM, "the True South will be revealed".

Feels like an episode from Mackenna's Gold (link).

I usually have a hard time remembering whether to add or subtract, but I generally look at the times when the elevation is zero, ie sunset and sunrise, and I can usually tell from that. But yes, if the table says 12:26 standard time, then it would be 1:26 daylight time.
Another way to do the same thing, is to look in a local newspaper (or weather on local TV news), and it will tell you the sunset/sunrise times. Basically just split the difference between the two, although that will be for the city or airport nearby, not at your location. With the USNO site, you can put in your own lat/lon to get more accurate.

[yuzhanin]

Well, the sun is out, but it wasn't when I needed it. What a waste. Now I have to wait until the weekend.

I guess, I can bring up the observation I held back since yesterday.

As misaligned as my setup currently is, I do get a strong signal (and quality) on CIRCUILAR satellites at 91W, 110W and 119W. So, it seems that my arc matches the proper arc in this section.

What is bothering me is the fact that I cannot get a good lock on any LINEAR satellite in this part of the sky. I do get AMC 4 at 101W and all channels on it (based on the LyngSat data), but that's it. IA5/Galaxy 25 at 97W would be the main satellite I would be interested in. I do get a signal with a quality of 10 to 30 in its vicinity but cannot get a list of channels when I do a scan.

[kyzursozay]

Haven't seen a description of what receiver your using? Are you sure switch settings in menu conform to your setup DiSEqC & 22kHz? I assume w QPH-031/ 22kHz switch for FTA, Linear port of LNB would be to Port A (1)of switch & Circ port of LNB would be to Port B of switch. Out port of switch to LNB port on motor. You might try leaving out switch go straight from one of the L ports on LNB to LNB port on motor & go down menu to transponder & step thru all tp's and see if S & Q change.

[yuzhanin]

Originally Posted by kyzursozay

Haven't seen a description of what receiver your using? Are you sure switch settings in menu conform to your setup DiSEqC & 22kHz? I assume w QPH-031/ 22kHz switch for FTA, Linear port of LNB would be to Port A (1)of switch & Circ port of LNB would be to Port B of switch. Out port of switch to LNB port on motor. You might try leaving out switch go straight from one of the L ports on LNB to LNB port on motor & go down menu to transponder & step thru all tp's and see if S & Q change.

I tried leaving the switch out, but it did not improve the situation. I also tried both L outputs on the LNB.

I am using a borrowed Viewsat. I have not invested in a receiver yet. I figured, I want to see if I would be able to get anything out of my setup. I haven't even decided on what brand receiver I want to go with.

I learned about the proper settings for the LNB and the switch relatively late, but I am hoping I have it done right at this time. I would appreciate a confirmation, though. Here is how I have it:

1)
LNB (Linear) -> Switch Port A (labeled "22KHz", so ON)
LNB (Circular) -> Switch Port B (labeled "0", so OFF)

2)
Switch output -> Motor -> Receiver

3)
In antenna settings for LINEAR satellites, I have:
LNB Type: Standard
LO KHz: 10750
22 KHz: On
DiSeqC: None

For CIRCULAR satellites, I have:
LNB Type: Standard
LO KHz: 11250
22 KHz: Off
DiSeqC: None

In addition to the AMC 4 at 101W, I also got AMC 15 at 105W with its "You have a dish pointed at..." channel. But, it is really bothering me that the receiver has an easier time locking in circular satellites when I am after linear ones. With the time invested so far, I would be better served with a $30 Dish Network subscription if I had an interest in their offerings. Wouldn't you think that since the 91W - 119W section of the arc seems to be aligned properly, I should be able to reel in (all, most of, some of) the linear sats in that range?

[rainman]

the reason it locks circular sats easier is because they have a stronger signal than linear sats.

[yuzhanin]

Originally Posted by rainman

the reason it locks circular sats easier is because they have a stronger signal than linear sats.

That's certainly true. But with a 31" dish and a 0.3 dB LNB, you would think that I would not have such a hard time.

From an LNB's standpoint, are the "mechanics" of receiving linear signals vs. circular signals the same? In other words, given signals of equal strength, is it easier to position a dish (even a stationary one) to receive the one kind or the other?

[wejones]

Originally Posted by yuzhanin

That's certainly true. But with a 31" dish and a 0.3 dB LNB, you would think that I would not have such a hard time.

From an LNB's standpoint, are the "mechanics" of receiving linear signals vs. circular signals the same? In other words, given signals of equal strength, is it easier to position a dish (even a stationary one) to receive the one kind or the other?

In addition to the circular sats being more powerful, {which is significant in itself since a 31" dish is borderline size wise {and any dish has more gain at the freq of the circular sats than at the freq of the linear sats}, and the 0.3 db lnb may actually have less gain than a cheaper one), with a linear sat, the orientation of your lnbf is important since that defines your polarity. With circular signals the orientation is less important. I know that you have the lnbf oriented with cables down, which is correct for a motorized system, however, if you are significantly out of alignment, which I'm guessing is the case, you'd be hitting sats when the motor was rotated to a different angle that should be the case, which makes the polarity off a bit. The fact that you can't see the strong Nimiq and Echostar sats near AMC5 tells me that for whatever reason, you are way off on alignment, so I'd expect the polarity to be way off too.
Also, with a small dish like that, interferrence from nearby sats is important. Linear sats are separated by 2 degrees in most cases, while circular sats are often separated by 9 degrees (although they have been putting some of them closer together lately). So you won't expect as much problem from interferrence with circular sats.
So there are a bunch of factors involved here, but basically you have a marginal dish size wise, which means that when alignment isn't perfect, you are going to have more problems with linear sats.
Again.... the first step is to find your true south sat, and it is generally a waste of time to be looking at other sats until you find that. The two things you have made clear by finding other sats is that (1) your system works, and (2) that you are out of alignment. To get into alignment you have to find your true south sat. The most likely reason for you not finding your true south sat is that your dish elevation is way off and that your compass determination of where south is, is way off.

[yuzhanin]

Originally Posted by wejones

Again.... the first step is to find your true south sat, and it is generally a waste of time to be looking at other sats until you find that. ... To get into alignment you have to find your true south sat. The most likely reason for you not finding your true south sat is that your dish elevation is way off and that your compass determination of where south is, is way off.

Now, if only the weather cooperated for the noon shadow approach... It will have to wait until the weekend.

[yuzhanin]

OK, I just did a "damage assessment" (no time to tinker with the dish today). My TS estimate is too far to the west, which I have suspected. I need to rotate the motor about a foot to the east (in rough terms, since I am "measuring" a straight distance when we are actually talking about an arc).

I also see that the LNB can be moved in (toward the dish) or out about an inch. How much of an effect would "focusing" (not tilting/skewing) the LNB have?

[boroda1]

Originally Posted by yuzhanin

I also see that the LNB can be moved in (toward the dish) or out about an inch. How much of an effect would "focusing" (not tilting/skewing) the LNB have?

Sadoun suggests to move LNB out from dish as far as possible for best reception, I studied all the tutorials he has there

[wejones]

Originally Posted by boroda1

Sadoun suggests to move LNB out from dish as far as possible for best reception, I studied all the tutorials he has there

And although I've never noticed much difference in signal strength, the above seems to be correct based on my mirror experiments. It seemed like the focus was best about an inch in front of the lnbf holder (although in my case it was offset 2.5" to the side), which pretty much corresponds to moving the lnbf as far back as possible.

[yuzhanin]

Thank you. At least my LNB is positioned correctly, even if by accident.

[yuzhanin]

Well, I tried and tried until the rain came and saved the day. No, I din't get my dish aligned properly, but at least the rain saved me from wasting any more time on it. I guess, it is good that I have not invested into a receiver. My loss is limited to the motorized dish only.

I might just point it to IA5 at 97W when I have a chance, and use it as a stationary setup.

Thank you everyone for trying to help. Your suggestions were invaluable and extremely educational.

[boroda1]

Never give up!
You can get yourself a small 5" TV, and take that and Viewsat to your dish.
This way you will see the signal progress, while you move the dish/motor assembly. Try also NYN transponder - 12182 H 23000, maybe stronger than KUEN.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by boroda1

Never give up!
You can get yourself a small 5" TV, and take that and Viewsat to your dish.
This way you will see the signal progress, while you move the dish/motor assembly. Try also NYN transponder - 12182 H 23000, maybe stronger than KUEN.

But he couldn't even find Nimiq-2 !!! Something's got to be pretty wrong to not find Nimiq-2. I think he's just not varying the dish elevation over a wide enough range or something. I think he has to look considerably higher, even though his angles seem to be correct. It has me confused how he can find the other DBS sats, but not find Nimiq-2. Something just doesn't make sense here. Perhaps bent lnbf arm or something, although it doesn't look bent.
I think perhaps he needs an SF-95 meter, and use it to find Nimiq.

[yuzhanin]

Originally Posted by wejones

But he couldn't even find Nimiq-2 !!! Something's got to be pretty wrong to not find Nimiq-2. I think he's ju