Newbie interested in FTA satellite.

[av1998]

I am brand new to all these. I am located in Clawson, Michigan. Zipcode is 48017.

I like the M-1 Motorized Lifetime Ultra Blind Search Choice Set. Besides buying this package set, what else would a newbie like me need to purchase ? I have absolutely zero experience, but I can follow instructions well therefore Sadoun's guides would help me along.

Do I need to purchase any other tools, meters and equipment/gadgets if I am not planning to be a professional installer ? Please share you thoughts and advice.

[swampthang7]

av1998;...just a thought or two and some advice;save your money and buy a hooker,some smoke,a bottle of tanqueray,and some dilaudid for the day after.much cheaper and your blood pressure will stay much lower.do this,and if you still want to go bird hunting...i will load the shotgun for you.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by swampthang7

av1998;...just a thought or two and some advice;save your money and buy a hooker,some smoke,a bottle of tanqueray,and some dilaudid for the day after.much cheaper and your blood pressure will stay much lower.do this,and if you still want to go bird hunting...i will load the shotgun for you.

LMAO !!!! :lol: :lol:

Nice, "Mr. Thang", real nice...

But hey, ya got a point...

av1998: Setting up a FTA system is not the piece of cake most people think it is -- especially with a motor. I suggest you do a lot of reading on this forum and arm yourself with lots of knowledge; after all, Knowledge is Good -- what movie was that from, swamp? I think it was Animal House.
FTA can be very rewarding and a great hobby -- you just have to do some research first.

If you have any further questions, swamp will be happy to help you out... HeHeHe. (We're even now swamp... :wink: )

---> "(please refer questions on this topic to Bobkat and dts for clarification...i'm just the messenger)" :lol:

kat

[swampthang7]

kat;when he posts again,I'll be all over it to help. :wink:

[av1998]

I have read this forum over the past 1 week going back to postings in 2003 until now.

I understand it is not easy, hence the desire to seek advice on proper equipment and tools which I may need to purchase in order to venture further into such a project.

I am perfectly capable of reading Sadoun's guides and doing complex math in order to install the dish correctly. I also realize that sometimes perhaps even doing eveything right may not be enough to achieve optimal results. Therefore, I am making a post here asking the more experienced experts to share some THOUGHTS and ADVICE ..... NOT insults and criticisms.

Isn't that what the Sadoun Help Forum is intended for ?

[Admin]

av1998

You came to the right place. Your journey has just started. If you seek "light" you will find it. Be square now and travel safe. :lol:

[bobkat]

av1998:

Your previous statement: "Therefore, I am making a post here asking the more experienced experts to share some THOUGHTS and ADVICE ..... NOT insults and criticisms.

Isn't that what the Sadoun Help Forum is intended for ?"


Yes, the Help Forum is for that; it is also intended as a sounding board, meeting place, idea exchange and in swamp's case, a house of ill repute. We are here to help but also to have a little fun and unwind. Frankly I found nothing insulting in swamp's reply to your initial post. It was perhaps a little over the top but not insulting. You may have taken it as such but he was just telling you, as I did, that its difficult to install these FTA systems. It takes lots of reading to familiarize yourself with the tricks of the trade and the potential pitfalls associated with this type of satellite system installation.

So, over and above what you've learned over the past week in reading, here's a couple of answers to some of the concerns in your first post:

1) Special equipment is not required. For the casual installer I suggest taking a small TV set and the receiver out to the dish site for the alignment procedure. Small "beeper" signal finders are useless for FTA setup.

2) Complex math is overkill -- in fact, if you 'calculate' too much you will surely fail. Sadoun's motor instructions are all you need. Print out the instructions and take them to the dish site. If the wind should blow your pages away DO NOT PROCEED -- go back to your computer and print off another set.

3) When setting your calculated dish elevation (using the formula on Sadoun's guide) simply use the graduated scale markings on the dish itself -- do not get carried away trying to measure offsets and angles with protractors and other tools -- you will drive yourself insane.

4) Make sure the mast upon which you mount the motor is absolutely, perfectly 100 % level and plumb -- this is the most common mistake people make and doing so renders the whole setup useless because the dish cannot precisely track the arc as it moves.

So that's a few pointers that I hope will help you out.

kat

[swampthang7]

say,sir;now lighten up just a touch.I admire your sense of adventure,and thought I'd throw a little lighthearted comment on the board.I suggest we start over on square one,and if I can be of any help,I will be happy to do so. 8)

[bobkat]

HeHeHe -- I see another potential candidate-in-the-making for our new "Classic Threads" forum... Mwahahahahaha.... :twisted:

kat

[swampthang7]

say....saw that new forum today,...EMPTY!! not a post in there! ...can i be first,huh??pretty please??can i can i can i????okokok...second then!!! I'm done,ADMIN...no more from me here! 8)

[bobkat]

Sorry Boris, that's classified.... :lol: :lol:

Actually swampster -- you will be second. I already beat ya to it... :wink:

kat