2500a problems

[Jar-Jar]

Help with Pansat 2500A

First of all, thank you for your help. I have a new 2500A receiver, LNBF and 90cm dish all made by Pansat. My problem is I cannot get any channel, scrambled or not. I have tried different elevations and azimuths: NOTHING. My signal goes up to 75% on most satellites, BUT 0% (zero) quality. I replaced my LNBf, bought a new dish ( I had a 80cm) and exchanged the receiver ( I had another brand) I used a good compass, an inclinometer and a simple satellite finder. I can hear a sound coming out of it, but I was told is either DN or Direct TV, because their signal is much stronger than other Ku band satellites. By the way, I am NOT interested in stealing signals from these companies. BUT I am interested in T5 and Sat Mex 5. Please, please, help. I am getting tired of trying (3 months now) and my wife keeps saying: "give it up!" I am in So. Calif, near Palm Springs (By the way, no trees or hills nearby)

 

[silversurfer]

Welcome to Satelliteguys! We are glad your hear...I will move this thread to the Free to Air forum to ensure your question is answered promptly...

 

[PSB]

Yes, welcome to the FTA forum, I know how you are feeling we have ALL been there some just a wee bit longer than others, now you are here I would read up as much as you can there are loads of posts from members who were where you are right now, we will get you started on the coordinates for the ever popular IA5 (T5) satellite! If in doubt get as near to where you think the satellite is and use the smart scan, a compass is a must IMO.

 

[PSB]

Telstar5 IA5 97w (Palm Springs)

Lat. = 33.8 deg N.
Long.=116.5 deg. W.
Azim.=148 deg.W
Magnetic Azim.= 134 deg. (on compass) Magnetic Deviation= - 13.51deg.
Elevation=45.5 deg.

Remember you are looking for quality not signal strength, let us know how you are getting on!

 

[TBI]

Jar Jar,
Can you see the TV from the dish when you are trying to aim? If not that would be the best bet for trying to find any Satellite. Having the wife watch the screen can be impossble after the first hour of nothing. If you can't find T-5 try one near it like T-6 at 93w or AMC 4 at 101w. Mark the pole when you find one then you have a reference point to start your search for the next one and that way it makes it easier if you what to return to that one. When you have one locked in adjust your Elevation and skew for the next one and switch the receiver to the next Sat and an active TP then slowly turn the dish while watching the level till you find it, it may still take some time.

Palm Springs, CA 92264
Latitude 33° 48.108'N Longitude 116° 31.020'W

Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m) El Skew
----------------------------------------------------------------
*** Of Particular Interest ***
AMC 6 72.0W 119.5 106.0 28.7 -46.3
SBS 6 74.0W 121.2 107.7 30.3 -45.3
AMC 5 79.0W 125.9 112.4 34.0 -42.3
AMC 9 85.0W 132.2 118.7 38.3 -38.0
AMC 3 87.0W 134.5 121.0 39.6 -36.3
Galaxy 11 91.0W 139.4 125.9 42.1 -32.8
Intelsat Americas 6 93.0W 142.0 128.5 43.3 -30.8
Galaxy 3C 95.0W 144.7 131.2 44.4 -28.7
Intelsat Americas 5 97.0W 147.5 134.0 45.5 -26.5
Galaxy 4R 99.0W 150.4 136.9 46.4 -24.2
AMC 4 101.0W 153.5 140.0 47.3 -21.8
AMC 1 103.0W 156.6 143.1 48.1 -19.2
AMC 2 105.0W 159.9 146.4 48.8 -16.6
EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 121.0W 188.0 174.5 50.4 6.7
Galaxy 10R 123.0W 191.5 178.0 50.1 9.6
Galaxy 5 125.0W 195.0 181.5 49.7 12.4
Galaxy 13 127.0W 198.4 184.9 49.1 15.2
Intelsat Americas 7 129.0W 201.7 188.2 48.5 17.9



*** All Satellites 5W - 160W ***


Atlantic Bird 3 5.0W 257.6 244.1 -25.6 -54.3
Nilesat 101 102 7.0W 258.8 245.3 -24.1 -54.6
Atlantic Bird 2 7.9W 259.4 245.9 -23.4 -54.8
Telecom 2D 8.0W 259.4 245.9 -23.3 -54.8
Express 3A 11.0W 261.2 247.7 -21.0 -55.2
Eutelsat II F4 11.5W 261.5 248.0 -20.6 -55.3
Atlantic bird 1 12.5W 262.1 248.6 -19.8 -55.4
Gorizont 25 14.0W 263.0 249.5 -18.6 -55.6
Telstar 12 15.0W 263.5 250.0 -17.8 -55.7
Intel 901 18.0W 265.2 251.7 -15.5 -55.9
NSS 7 22.0W 267.5 254.0 -12.3 -56.1
Intelsat 905 24.5W 268.9 255.4 -10.2 -56.2
Intelsat 907 27.5W 90.5 77.0 -7.8 -56.2
Hispasat 1B 1C 1D 30.0W 91.9 78.4 -5.8 -56.1
Intelsat 801 31.5W 92.8 79.3 -4.5 -56.1
Intelsat 903 34.5W 94.5 81.0 -2.1 -55.9
Satcom C1 37.4W 96.1 82.6 0.3 -55.7
Telstar 11 37.5W 96.2 82.7 0.4 -55.7
NSS 806 40.5W 97.9 84.4 2.9 -55.4
Panamsat 3R 6 68 43.0W 99.3 85.8 5.0 -55.1
Panamsat 1R 45.0W 100.5 87.0 6.6 -54.8
Intelsat 705 50.0W 103.6 90.1 10.8 -53.9
Intelsat 706 53.0W 105.5 92.0 13.3 -53.2
intelsat 805 55.5W 107.1 93.6 15.4 -52.6
Panamsat 9 58.0W 108.8 95.3 17.4 -51.9
EchoStar 3 61.5W 111.3 97.8 20.3 -50.7
Rainbow 1 61.5W 111.3 97.8 20.3 -50.7
Brasilsat A2 (incl. 5.8 deg) 63.0W 112.4 98.9 21.5 -50.2
Brasilsat B2 65.0W 113.9 100.3 23.1 -49.5
Brasilsat B1 70.0W 117.8 104.3 27.1 -47.3
Nahuel 1 71.8W 119.3 105.8 28.6 -46.4
AMC 6 72.0W 119.5 106.0 28.7 -46.3
Galaxy 12 74.0W 121.2 107.7 30.3 -45.3
SBS 6 74.0W 121.2 107.7 30.3 -45.3
GOES 12 75.0W 122.1 108.6 31.0 -44.7
AMC 5 79.0W 125.9 112.4 34.0 -42.3
DirecTV 3 81.8W 128.8 115.3 36.1 -40.4
Nimiq 2 82.0W 129.0 115.5 36.2 -40.2
Brasilsat B3 84.0W 131.1 117.6 37.6 -38.8
XM Roll 85.0W 132.2 118.7 38.3 -38.0
AMC 9 85.0W 132.2 118.7 38.3 -38.0
AMC 3 87.0W 134.5 121.0 39.6 -36.3
Galaxy 11 91.0W 139.4 125.9 42.1 -32.8
Nimiq 1 90.9W 139.2 125.7 42.1 -32.9
Brasilsat B4 92.0W 140.7 127.1 42.7 -31.8
Intelsat Americas 6 93.0W 142.0 128.5 43.3 -30.8
Galaxy 8I (incl. 1.0 deg) 95.0W 144.7 131.2 44.4 -28.7
Galaxy 3C 95.0W 144.7 131.2 44.4 -28.7
Intelsat Americas 5 97.0W 147.5 134.0 45.5 -26.5
Inmarsat 2 f2 (incl. 1.7 deg) 98.0W 149.0 135.4 46.0 -25.4
Galaxy 4R 99.0W 150.4 136.9 46.4 -24.2
DirecTV 2 100.8W 153.2 139.7 47.2 -22.0
DirecTV 1R 100.8W 153.2 139.7 47.2 -22.0
AMC 4 101.0W 153.5 140.0 47.3 -21.8
DirecTV 1 101.0W 153.5 140.0 47.3 -21.8
AMSC 1 101.1W 153.6 140.1 47.3 -21.7
DirecTV 4S 101.2W 153.8 140.3 47.4 -21.5
AMC 1 103.0W 156.6 143.1 48.1 -19.2
Solidaridad 1 (incl. 2.8 deg) 103.5W 157.4 143.9 48.3 -18.6
AMC 2 105.0W 159.9 146.4 48.8 -16.6
G-Star 3 (incl. 11.5 deg) 105.0W 159.9 146.4 48.8 -16.6
G-Star 1 (incl. 6.0 deg) 105.0W 159.9 146.4 48.8 -16.6
MSAT 1 106.5W 162.4 148.9 49.2 -14.6
Anik F1 107.3W 163.7 150.2 49.5 -13.5
Anik E1 109.2W 167.0 153.5 49.9 -10.8
DirecTV 6 109.8W 168.0 154.5 50.0 -9.9
EchoStar 6 110.0W 168.4 154.9 50.1 -9.6
EchoStar 8 110.0W 168.4 154.9 50.1 -9.6
Anik E2R 111.1W 170.3 156.8 50.3 -8.0
Solidaridad 2 113.0W 173.7 160.2 50.5 -5.2
Morelos 2 (incl. 4.4 deg) 114.9W 177.1 163.6 50.7 -2.4
XM Rock 115.0W 177.3 163.8 50.7 -2.3
SatMex 5 116.8W 180.5 167.0 50.7 0.4 This is your true south and would not require any skew maybe try it.
Anik E2 118.7W 183.9 170.4 50.6 3.3
DirecTV 5 119.0W 184.5 170.9 50.6 3.7
EchoStar 7 119.0W 184.5 170.9 50.6 3.7
EchoStar 5 119.0W 184.5 170.9 50.6 3.7
EchoStar 9/Intelsat Americas 13 121.0W 188.0 174.5 50.4 6.7
Galaxy 10R 123.0W 191.5 178.0 50.1 9.6
Galaxy 5 125.0W 195.0 181.5 49.7 12.4
Galaxy 13 127.0W 198.4 184.9 49.1 15.2
Intelsat Americas 7 129.0W 201.7 188.2 48.5 17.9
Satcom C3 131.0W 204.9 191.4 47.7 20.5
Galaxy 1R 133.0W 208.0 194.5 46.9 23.0
Satcom C4 135.0W 211.0 197.5 46.0 25.3
AMC 10 135.5W 211.7 198.2 45.7 25.9
AMC 7 137.0W 213.9 200.4 45.0 27.6
AMC 8 139.0W 216.6 203.1 43.9 29.7
Inmarsat 2 f3 (incl. 1.9 deg) 142.0W 220.6 207.1 42.2 32.7
EchoStar 1 148.0W 227.7 214.2 38.3 38.0
EchoStar 2 148.0W 227.7 214.2 38.3 38.0
TDRS 9 (incl. 7.4 deg) 151.0W 231.0 217.5 36.2 40.2
TDRS 10 (incl. 6.2 deg) 151.0W 231.0 217.5 36.2 40.2
EchoStar 4 157.0W 236.9 223.4 31.8 44.1

Satellite Finder is (c) Copyright 2004, P. Lutus

 

[maddawg]

Nice post TBI

 

[Jar-Jar]

Pansat 2500A Help

Thank you VERY much to all who have answered to my post. I have tried all of your suggestions. I did take a portable TV to the back yard and my wife and I tried to get something (she asked: "not, again?") anyway same results: NO quality (but 70-75 % strength as before)
I sent this receiver back to Pansat, reporting it as defective, they returned it a week later. Apparently it worked for them,because it came back programmed with MANY channels on T-5. But for me, same as before.
Do you think both of the LNBF's I have are defective??? You guys: have another suggestion (s)???? Help me please!!!!!

 

[PSB]

Very unlikely two LNBF are bad, but I guess it could happen, you could always swallow your pride and hire a professional installer if you can find one that is familiar with KU band installation and carries a positive identification satellite signal meter that can find any satellite in seconds. You don't have to pay for a full install just the service call and the work done. Other than that keep reading the threads here and keep plugging away, you cant beat blind/smart scan if you are lost, one of these times you will hit something!

 

[anik]

Here's a dumb thought but it bit me the first time I ever tried to install a small dish: You do realize that the dish is an offset dish, and therefore it will appear to be pointed much lower than it really is? In some cases it will look like the dish is pointed at your neighbor's house, or into the trees, but really it is picking up signals from much higher.

Also, the sat finder does show the strongest response on the direct to home satellites, but you can learn to ignore that and still use it to find the weaker signals. Try pointing the dish to approximately where you think the satellite should be, lock the dish down on the pole and move use the elevation adjustment to move it up and down. Resist the temptation to rotate it - just find the strongest signal you can using the elevation. See if you can find a signal. If you get nothing, move the dish just a little to the right or left, and try peaking the elevation again. Sooner or later you should hit a satellite.

Finally, make sure you have everything set up right in the Pansat installation menu. You may have one of the settings messed up. That's all I can think of to check.

 

[Mark_AR]

NO quality (but 70-75 % strength as before)

Do you think both of the LNBF's I have are defective??? You guys: have another suggestion (s)???? Help me please!!!!!

After playing with my PANSAT's for a few months now, I can say that 70-75% strength doesn't mean anything. You can point the dish at the ground and get a 75% signal. If you hold your hand over the LNB, the signal strength will go up a tick or two.

I'd almost bet it is a still a pointing issue.

I'm including a screenshot of my T5 SETUP screen. I don't know if it will help.

I don't know what the F90-U elevation settings look like on your dish or if you went with their PM900 Motor or are motorless at present. All these things are factors in determining pointing.

I would sorta try what anik suggests since you have been trying now for a while. Lock it in as close to 134 with a compass as another person has stated, then move the dish up/down just a little at a time, wait about 5 seconds, then move it a tad more. This is actually backward from standard left-right pointing, but it sounds to me like you are overshooting(too high) or undershooting(too low).

You can even try to point at a dish network sat (Echostar 7 119W at 171 compass and 50.6 elev angle) and see what you can get for signal and quality. It should blast in at a high signal and nearly 99 quality. You don't need to scan it, just use it to confirm your LNB and RG-6 cable is ok. Then move the dish back toward IA5 once you are certain your equipment is working.

You will have to drop the angle back down to about 45.5 and bump it back toward 134 compass heading.

This may actually be more confusing, but it is just a suggestion to point at something with lots of power to confirm everything works and get a general idea of where in the sky you are pointing, then go for the intended sat.

I hope this doesn't confuse you even more, but it has to be something simple. PANSAT has eliminated the box, you have 2 LNB's and it is unlikely they are BOTH bad. The RG-6 cable is a possibility, so make sure the center conductor isn't too short or missing. Pointing ranks higher as the probable cause.

Keep trying. It really is worth it.

 

[maddawg]

Mark, how did you get a 74% signal strength. I'm only getting 44 if I'm lucky. Guess it's back to the drawing board for me.

 

[Mr Tony]

maddawg
Each TP is different..some get a better signal than others. I can get 70's on some and 30's on another.
Also, due to the satellite strengths, he might be in a better spot for signal.

Most of my TP's on IA5 are around 50-55

 

[rjc3895]

I've noticed on my Traxis 2500 that the signal level is around 70 percent, but this background noise. The signal level will move between 1-3% and then drop back down. Since I know I'm pointing in the right direction, I lock down the dish at the strongest signal and start to ajust the elevation. Again, I will see a slight change of 1-3 %. The changes are very subtle. Since I do not have a blind scan on my unit, my next step is to go into the house, select my transponder manager, and adjust the frequency. Often I have found that by changing my frequency up or down a few digits will give me a quality signal.

One other thought. Are you located near any major industrial parks or militaray bases? I have several manufacturing plants in the same direction where my dish is pointed in addition to some tall trees. I've often wondered if those facilities or the militray base are using some kind of a radio frequency that's causing interference with my quality signal strength.

Iceberg and Peter: Is it possible to get a "false" quaility signal due to radio frequency interference?

 

[Mr Tony]

I goofed. I answered maddawg's post as meaning signal quality. Signal strength on mine is around 70, and that is facing the ground. The Pansats register a signal if the LNBF is hooked up.

Signal quality is a whole different animal The quality varies on TP's

 

[Mr Tony]

I didnt make a mistake......I was answering the queston but they put signal strength when they meant signal quality

 

[Mark_AR]

Mark, how did you get a 74% signal strength. I'm only getting 44 if I'm lucky. Guess it's back to the drawing board for me.

Well, I did some tweaking. Once I got the signal, on my TRUE SOUTH sat, I'd tighten all the bolts down.

Step 1: With my hand on the LNB arm, I would put slight pressure on it, left, then right and hold it for 3 or 4 seconds. While watching the QUALITY the whole time. (This is where it helps to have an old composite monitor or little portable TV next to your dish)

I would do the same thing up and down, just putting a little pressure on the arm to change the elevation.

Noting which direction netted me a higher quality, I would loosen the bolts and adjust it slightly and then start over again until I was certain I got the highest quality.

Step 2: I adjusted the FOCUS of the dish/LNB. This is the equivalent of being nearsighted or farsighted and giving your dish a pair of glasses.

Think of the LNB as a flashlight. If the LNB is too far back, light spills over the sides of the dish and signal is lost. If too close, the light is concentrated in the center and you can't see any signals on the outer edges. It is actually the inverse that happens, you are focusing a signal that is 23,000 miles out in space onto a little wire inside your LNB, but the flashlight analogy works to give you an image of what is happening.

You want to match the LNB to the dish buy sliding it in or out in the bracket until you get a positive change in quality. You may only notice a small change, but every little bit helps.

Now select a SAT that is as far east and west as you intend to receive and do it again starting with Step 1.

If you have a decent signal quality, then leave everything alone. If you notice a big change, then you may need to fiddle more with your decination angle and start over.

Lastly...

You may also have to slightly adjust your Skew(rotation) of the LNB. Do this to get the best signal on your True-South or nearest true-south sat. It should be very close to 0 degrees(straight up/down). Twist it just a little bit one way or the other. Not much though.

On a motorized dish, once this is set, skew is taken care of by the angle of the motor arm plus the angle you set for declination.

FINAL NOTE: It may be a tradeoff against how much time and effort you want to put in to fine tuning and improvement of signal quality. As Iceberg states, quality changes on each transponder of each satellite.

Equipment, time of day, satellite wobble, and weather conditions all play a part in signal quality.

It is like squeezing a few more horsepower out of an engine. I think thats what makes FTA fun and challenging.

 

[wxman1]

I had a similar frustrating time on the weekend with my Pansat. If you have a universal LNB you may wish to change the setting on the antenna setup to show the LNB as universal 9750/10600 (Universal 1) As soon as I made the change got a quality signal in less than a minute with the satfinder.

 

[Jar-Jar]

Pandsat 2500A help

First of all, I AM NOT interested in stealing programming from DN or D-TV. But can anybody tell me how I program my receiver to get the free programming like music channels or test screen, in order to test my receiver??? Thank you everybody for your help. I will try your suggestions this w/e if the weather allows it and if my wife is willing to help. (She wants me to throw away all my FTA equipment)

 

[PSB]

Check the below link for a list of what you can get with an 18" dish and a FTA receiver, there are no FTA channels on DirecTV, they use a different system, for the FTA channels/radio on the other DBS satellites you would need a DBS (DirecTV/Dish) LNB, and you would have to change your LNB L.O. settings from KU 10750 to DBS 11250, when you do a blind/smart scan it will pick up both radio and TV channels. I would get the system all set up for KU band before adding the DBS option, IMO.

18" Link

 

[Jar-Jar]

Pansat 25000A help

I have an old Direct TV LNBF left by my house's former owner. If I attach it to my 90cm dish and connect it to my receiver, will I get anything????