No signal lock on 8 ft Fortek to DTV signal

[cas2000]

:cry:
I am in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. The installation is:

Clear unobstructed view of sky on roof.
8ft Fortek Star, RCA Directv receiver at end of 60ft RG6 cable and RCA DTV LNB at 91.5cm focus.
Dish pointing at 65.4 elev and 176.3 az magnetic. Polarization 0 deg (101W DTV).
SF95 picks up "strong" signal on -5db dial setting

Local installers use 8ft fiberglass dish and unknown LNB to receive DTV signal very well.

The receiver signal meter shows 0 signal strength and does not lock onto signal.

Do I need another LNB with more gain? Do I need to rotate existing LNB. What other measures can I use to capture the signal?

Please HELP, I could cry after hauling the antenna (122lbs) all this way.

Phil

[bobkat]

Wow !!! :shock:

An 8 foot Fortec dish -- blows my mind.

You should not need to rotate a DTV RCA LNB since they are circular polarity. If your SF-95 meter shows 'something' I would think the LNB is working OK. My first thought is that you are on the wrong satellite. Take a digital photo and show us this beastie !!!

kat

[Nsat]

cas2000

I would recommend you get whatever LNBF the locals are using. Prime focus dishes require special LNBF with scaller rings that standard offset dish type LNBFs do not provide.

[cas2000]

Here is some more data regarding my installation.

The Fortek FS08 is an 8ft prime focus dish, purchased 4 weeks ago from Sadoun. Excellent condition on ground mount, level within 1deg. Fotos will follow on the bulletin board. It is difficult to measure to any closer tolerance because of the slanted roof position. The dish was chosen because of the weak signal outside of the US.

The LNB is a dual feed unit from a 18in eliptical DTV (RCA) dish with 12in focus.

All satellite transponders, except the inactive or spot beam ones, register a signal on the SF95. on both of the two RG6 cables, same signal strength at the end of the cable run.

What other LNB can I use?

[cas2000]

[img]
http://www.the-hhp.com/Antenna.jpg
[/img]

[bobkat]

:shock:

Damn Skippy !!!!

That just makes me want to pop open a few Coronas !!!! 8)

How on earth do you attach the mounting plate to a tile roof??? :?:

kat

[bobkat]

Hmmm....

interesting.. seems Sadoun has a built-in profanity detector in this forum.

"Dam_ Skippy" was changed to "Darn Skippy"...

"Frankly Scarlett ... I don't give a darn"

"Darn the Torpedoes" -- one of Tom Petty's greatest albums

C'est la vie....

kat

[cas2000]

In Mexico there is no such a thing as "square" or "right angle". There was an existing mesh antenna and pole on a concrete base with damage sustained from the2002 hurricane and I removed it. Than, after several days of watching my belly button and some help from Pacifico, a really good local brew, (better than Corona) I used some mortar, U channels and angle iron to come up with this:
:lol:

http://www.the-hhp.com/Antennabase.jpg

Enjoy
Phil

[bobkat]

mmmmm.... Pacifico !!! :P Can't say I've ever tried it. I don't think its available in Canada - only Corona and Sol... :cry:

That's one evil looking mount job, Phil !!!! Very innovative, I must say... :wink:

kat

[cas2000]

With the help of you, members, and especially Mike Kohl from Global Communications (www.global-cm.net) I now have locked in the DTV signal (all channels!). Here are the steps taken:

1. Realign the dish to point to a compass reading of (about) 163 degrees west , which is way off of the published az and deviation, etc. of sites offering alignment data for the DTV 101W satellite with the help of a satellite finder.
2. Purchased ADL-OP-120MR Mounting Ring and a California Amplifier DBS LNB combination for prime focus antenna based on recommendations from Global Communications.
3. Tighten the bolts that were 1/16th of an inch apart in places on one of the six panels of the Fortek 8ft prime focus dish antenna. This may have improved the geometry of the dish for tighter focus. (very critical that all bolts are tight).
4. Center the LNB to within .5cm of the dish axis. This is quite critical to get maximum signal as well.
5. Extend the distance (focal location) of the LNB from the published 91.5cm to 92.3cm with washers on the bolts of the rods holding the LNB in the focal point (for a gain of 5 percent of signal).
6. Then, lugging a flat panel monitor, a Viewsonic TV tuner, a DTV receiver and power cord to the roof, up a steep ladder to 35 ft above ground, I readjusted the dish pointing by -.3 degrees to maximize the signal on the DTV receiver signal meter for transponders 2,3,10,23.

Mike Kohl patiently helped me troubleshoot and complete steps 2 through 5

Voila!!!

Thanks guys!

[Nsat]

Cool congratulations.