Signal Quality Problems

DVD5741 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 09:21 AM

Hi, I was finally able to find the telstar 5 satellite, however, Im having problems with certain transponders. I get like 84% Signal quality on some transponders and I can view the channels just fine. On others I get like 80% quality and I cant view the channels at all. How can I not get the channel when I have 80% quality???????? I tried realigning the dish multiple times and sometimes it is possible to view the transponders that I wasnt getting, but then I lose the channels I had before. Yet still, I am not able to get other tps no matter what I do (for example tp11). Will a bigger dish resolve the problem?

Here are my specs:

Fortec Star 80cm dish w/ universal lnbf
Fortec Star 9800v2

PLEASE HELP SADOUN! :cry:

Sadoun · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 10:10 AM

Start as follows:

~ Make sure your LNBF is setup as UNIVERSAL (9750,10600)
~ Check the Tilt on your LNBF. To adjust the tilt go to http://sadoun.com/Sat/Installation/S...Calculator.htm
~ Try adjusting the focal point distance of the LNBF In/Out from the dish.
~ 80% is low quality, you need to get it to 90% if possible. Are there any trees or buildings in front of the dish?

bobkat · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 01:51 PM

When you say "Can't view the channels" do you mean you get "Bad Signal" error or do you mean the screen is just blank? Remember that many channels on T5 are scrambled. Some receivers just show a blank screen when you go on a scrambled channel.

:!:

kat

PS: I would kill to get 80 % quality!! I'm lucky to pull in 25 to 40 % even on a 90 cm dish; but then again I'm in the fringe area of the T5 footprint for 75-90 cm dishes. Even with the 25 to 40 % quality the picture quality is fine - and I've found out that the quality level depends greatly on the receiver brand and model; example: the SatCruiser ACE yields about 55 to 60 % quality while the older DSR101 models give you 25 - 40 %, even hooked up to the same dish and LNB.

:roll:

DVD5741 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 09:53 PM

I will try once more with the steps you mentioned tomorrow morning Sadoun and let you know. Bobkat, even with 80% quality I am not able to see any picture at all of channels I know that are free (for example like NBN Lebanon, EDTV1, Horizon, etc.) I know they are free because at one point I was able to get those channels. When I adjusted the dish, however, to get other channels I couldn't get before I lost the latter channels even though I was able to get the other ones (like Kuwait, NITV, etc.) Its confusing I know. Im wondering if a bigger dish or a different receiver might be the answer. The other problem is that I have tried everything possible to get Transponder 11, which has Al-Manar, Syria, etc., and in no way am I able to get ANY signal quality. It really pisses me off. :cry:

bobkat · #5 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 10:26 PM

Here's a good site to keep abreast of the latest free and scrambled channels available. I've posted the link for Telstar 5.

http://www.lyngsat.com/t5.shtml

What area are you in? Perhaps a bigger dish may be the solution.

kat
:?

DVD5741 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 01:57 PM

Bobkat, Im in South Florida (Zip Code: 33067)

bobkat · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVD5741

Bobkat, Im in South Florida (Zip Code: 33067)

K - then a bigger dish is not necessary.

I guess you just have to keep trying to aim that sucker til you maximize signal strength and quality. Try LNB rotation too - it does make a difference. Also experiment with focal length like Sadoun advises - I find that maximum length works best - ie: LNB as far back as possible in the cradle.

Good Luck

kat
[/i]

iyad · #8 (**permalink**) 05-06-2003, 02:17 PM

I live in NJ and have struggled recently with the same type of problems you are describing. What I did was buying a Radio Shack Satellite "In-Line Amplifier" Catalog #: 16-1156 Model: D903 . Eventhough the length between my LNB and the Receiver is only 50', I still managed to get an additional 7 to 10% Quality increase on some Transponders. I also noticed that when I press down on the my dish (While not moving the LNB Arm), some transponders' qualities jumped over 50%. I then bought a light weight 6" adjustable "C" Clamp from Home Depot and connected it between the bottom of the dish and the back of the LNB Arm, then I fine tuned the distance between these two by pushing lightly the dish toward the back of LNB Arm (using the Clamp Screw), until I was able to receive 94% signal Quality as opposed to only previously receiving 0% on Transponder 18 (for instance). Consequently, I was able to tune to all Telstar5 FTA channels as listed by Lyngsat. I know that I have lightly altered the Focus Point of the dish, but after trying for days and only getting very few channels with very low quality, this temporary solutions sure beats giving up.

bobkat · #9 (**permalink**) 05-06-2003, 08:25 PM

Seems like your dish is slightly warped or out of round. But whatever works for you is great.

kat'

tonygell · #10 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 01:17 AM

[quote="Sadoun"]Start as follows:

~ Make sure your LNBF is setup as UNIVERSAL (9750,10600)
~ Check the Tilt on your LNBF. To adjust the tilt go to http://sadoun.com/Sat/Installation/S...Calculator.htm
~ Try adjusting the focal point distance of the LNBF In/Out from the dish.
~ 80% is low quality, you need to get it to 90% if possible. Are there any trees or buildings in front of the dish?[/quote

Hello, I am having similar problems . Yesterday I got an 80%
and it accepted it and I got my satellite. Today zip. Is this
common? My LNB is, I think, meant to be programmed as a
single. It is a "C" band only old 10Ft. mesh set up
Have only seen green bars once. My dish set up gives excellent
quality pix bringing in analog signals. Do I need a new more
up to date LNB?
Tonygell

Sadoun · #11 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 12:36 PM

Tonygell

Your KU lnbf is most likely a standard LNBF not a universal.
Assuming you have a Fortec 786v3 receiver, then setup the LNBF type to SINGLE. Click OK on Single and change the LO freq to 10750 using the remote numeral keys. STORE

Make sure whatever transponder you use has the same polarity as the channel on your analog receiver (assuming your analog receiver is controlling the polarity on the LNBF)

GENERAL NOTE:
I would highly recommend that anyone posting here to mention to us the following:

Receiver make and model:
LNBF make and model:
Dish size:
Other equipment used (i.e. 4DTV, analog, BUD, etc):
Support question:

bobkat · #12 (**permalink**) 07-14-2003, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sadoun

GENERAL NOTE:
I would highly recommend that anyone posting here to mention to us the following:

Receiver make and model:
LNBF make and model:
Dish size:
Other equipment used (i.e. 4DTV, analog, BUD, etc):
Support question:

Yes ... that would be a welcome addition to any technical support question.

:wink:

kat

rid0617 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-27-2004, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobkat

When you say "Can't view the channels" do you mean you get "Bad Signal" error or do you mean the screen is just blank? Remember that many channels on T5 are scrambled. Some receivers just show a blank screen when you go on a scrambled channel.

:!:

kat

PS: I would kill to get 80 % quality!! I'm lucky to pull in 25 to 40 % even on a 90 cm dish; but then again I'm in the fringe area of the T5 footprint for 75-90 cm dishes. Even with the 25 to 40 % quality the picture quality is fine - and I've found out that the quality level depends greatly on the receiver brand and model; example: the SatCruiser ACE yields about 55 to 60 % quality while the older DSR101 models give you 25 - 40 %, even hooked up to the same dish and LNB.

:roll:

That is so true. My Satworks 3688 receives perfect broadcasts with 39% quality level.