Starbox powering LNB, Motor, signal meter

atperson100 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 01:44 AM

I found out today that the Starbox can not power the LNB, motor, and a signal meter at the same time. My plan was to use the signal meter to get the motor installed correctly since the Starbox's signal meter is so insensitive. But, nope, all I get is the motor trying to start, but not having enough power to move.

Since I have a rather long cable run, I was going to get an amplifier.. But if it has trouble with the signal meter, I'm guessing it wont be able to operate the amp very well.

Oh..what should I do...?

wejones · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atperson100

I found out today that the Starbox can not power the LNB, motor, and a signal meter at the same time. My plan was to use the signal meter to get the motor installed correctly since the Starbox's signal meter is so insensitive. But, nope, all I get is the motor trying to start, but not having enough power to move.

Since I have a rather long cable run, I was going to get an amplifier.. But if it has trouble with the signal meter, I'm guessing it wont be able to operate the amp very well.

Oh..what should I do...?

What signal meter, and where did you buy it, and where is it installed in the circuit???

It wouldn't surprise me that the Starbox might have problems, but I see no reason that the signal meter should cause any problems, unless you have it installed prior to the motor, since some meters don't pass the DiseqC 1.2 commands requirred to move the motor. The meters that Sadoun sells DO pass the DiseqC signals, however it would still be better to put the meter AFTER the motor, then it wouldn't cause any problem.
I also don't see why you'd have an issue with long cable run if you're out at the dish trying to align it. If, by chance, you're trying to put this meter in the house, with a long cable run between the meter and the dish, then I've never found this to work. The meter needs to be out at the dish.
Finally, I don't think an amplifier will help. There are very few cases where an amp will even help with signal, but unless the amp is externally powered, and provides it's own lnbf power, which I don't think is likely what you're talking about, then I don't think it will have a chance of helping.

atperson100 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 02:48 PM

The signal meter is an SF-95 that I got elsewhere. However, I'm not too concerned about diseqc passthrough because I was controling the motor by hitting the buttons directly on the motor itself.

wejones · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atperson100

The signal meter is an SF-95 that I got elsewhere. However, I'm not too concerned about diseqc passthrough because I was controling the motor by hitting the buttons directly on the motor itself.

So you're saying that without the SF95 inserted your dish moves, but put it in and it doesn't? That's really strange. I'm still curious where the meter is in the circuit though. It really shouldn't draw much current at all, but I'd suspect that you have a bad short section of coax. I keep meaning to get out my Starbox and try it again. I'll have to do that, and try it with and without a meter when the bugs die down a bit. But regardless, I think that even though the Starbox has gotten a lot of bad reviews, I can't beleive it is so marginal that a meter would kill it's function, unless there is something else bad.

atperson100 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 02:33 AM

Yeah! Whats really strange is that the motor sounds like its trying to move, but can't.. Like, I hit the button and i makes these sounds like the motor is starting, but the power is cut. Meanwhile, the backlight on the meter is flickering.

I have the meter before the motor. I didn't think it would be a problem since thats the way I hooked it up when I tried the same setup with an STB.. which powered the setup fine. I should recheck the coax, but it seems like it can't be the problem seeing that the STB powers it fine.

This is going to make setting this up a little more tricky. At this point, I'm wishing I had a USALS motor so I wouldnt have to deal with storing positions in the motor.

teched · #6 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atperson100

Yeah! Whats really strange is that the motor sounds like its trying to move, but can't.. Like, I hit the button and i makes these sounds like the motor is starting, but the power is cut. Meanwhile, the backlight on the meter is flickering.

That sounds like what I saw when I first tried to setup my most recent FTA system (Mercury II, QPH-031, 80cm dish, SG2100, 22kHz switch). Lots of clicking and flashing lights (motor and signal meter, SF-95) and no movement.

I don't recall what exactly I did to get around it (short of dropping the switch and motor out of the circuit).