Aiming Issue

[daveplot]

I'm trying to aim my dish with a compass, and every time I get near the metal pole or ladder the compass gets thrown off. Does anyone have any ideas on how to aim the dish?

What degree should I be pointing it to? 188? (lat 38.36, long 75.5)

Also does anyone know how to return the motor to 0 with the Pansat 2500a? The motor is a stab hh120

Thanks

 

[Wholeshoe]

You can return the motor to zero by having the receiver hooked up to it and pushing a button on the motor if it is a SG-2100. Push once and hold for one direction or twice real fast and hold for the other direction.

Wholeshoe

 

[Mr Tony]

on the Pansat if you set up your USALS function, there is a option to move it back to zero

 

[PSB]

No buttons on the HH 120 : ( You will have to hook it up to the receiver, and if the above USALS tip will not work switch to DiSEqC 1.2 and manually move it back to zero, had to do this with a HH100 last week!
Also give us your zip and we can give you "all" the angles you will need!

 

[SatelliteAV]

Drive the dish using USALS to a satellite position which is in the orbital slot closest to your Longitude (example: If you longitude is 97.xx degrees aim at IA5 at 97 West).

Using a program like SatFinder find the magnetic azimuth for the satellite. This will be the reading on the dial of the compass. Take compass readings in several locations near the dish and sight a object on the horizon (I.E tree, tower, etc.) now get several feet behind the dish and verify the position on the horizon with the compass reading. Taking readings in several locations will help with eliminating false readings caused by electrical wiring, metal objects or even iron ore in the ground. (Don't laugh .... this has happened to me several times!)

Now, sight down the LNBF arm and aim for the distant object.

 

[daveplot]

Also give us your zip and we can give you "all" the angles you will need!

The zip is 21801

 

[PSB]

Salisbury, MD 21801
Latitude 38° 21.780'N Longitude 75° 35.532'W

Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m) El Skew
-------------------------------------------------------------
*** Of Particular Interest ***

EchoStar 3 61.5W 158.0 170.0 43.2 -17.1
EchoStar 6 110.0W 227.8 239.8 33.0 35.5
EchoStar 8 110.0W 227.8 239.8 33.0 35.5
EchoStar 7 119.0W 236.7 248.7 27.0 41.0
EchoStar 5 119.0W 236.7 248.7 27.0 41.0
EchoStar 9/Telstar 13 121.0W 238.5 250.6 25.6 42.0
EchoStar 1 148.0W 258.9 270.9 5.0 50.3
EchoStar 2 148.0W 258.9 270.9 5.0 50.3
EchoStar 4 157.0W 264.6 276.7 -2.0 51.3

DirecTV 3 81.8W 189.9 202.0 45.1 7.8
DirecTV 2 100.8W 217.2 229.2 38.4 28.3
DirecTV 1R 100.8W 217.2 229.2 38.4 28.3
DirecTV 1 101.0W 217.4 229.4 38.3 28.5
DirecTV 4S 101.2W 217.7 229.7 38.2 28.6
DirecTV 6 109.8W 227.6 239.6 33.1 35.4
DirecTV 5 119.0W 236.7 248.7 27.0 41.0

*** All Satellites 61W - 160W ***

EchoStar 3 61.5W 158.0 170.0 43.2 -17.1
Rainbow 1 61.5W 158.0 170.0 43.2 -17.1
Brasilsat A2 (incl. 5.8 deg) 63.0W 160.2 172.2 43.6 -15.4
Brasilsat B2 65.0W 163.2 175.2 44.2 -13.1
Brasilsat B1 70.0W 171.0 183.0 45.2 -7.0
Nahuel 1 71.8W 173.9 185.9 45.4 -4.8
AMC 6 72.0W 174.2 186.2 45.4 -4.5
Galaxy 12 74.0W 177.4 189.4 45.5 -2.0
SBS 6 74.0W 177.4 189.4 45.5 -2.0
GOES 12 75.0W 179.0 191.1 45.6 -0.7
AMC 5 79.0W 185.5 197.5 45.4 4.3
DirecTV 3 81.8W 189.9 202.0 45.1 7.8
Nimiq 2 82.0W 190.3 202.3 45.1 8.0
Brasilsat B3 84.0W 193.4 205.4 44.7 10.5
XM Roll 85.0W 194.9 207.0 44.5 11.7
AMC 9 85.0W 194.9 207.0 44.5 11.7
AMC 3 87.0W 198.0 210.0 44.0 14.0
Galaxy 11 91.0W 203.9 216.0 42.7 18.6
Nimiq 1 91.0W 203.9 216.0 42.7 18.6
Brasilsat B4 92.0W 205.4 217.4 42.4 19.6
Telstar 6 93.0W 206.8 218.8 42.0 20.7
Galaxy 8I (incl. 1.0 deg) 95.0W 209.6 221.6 41.2 22.8
Galaxy 3C 95.0W 209.6 221.6 41.2 22.8
Telstar 5 97.0W 212.3 224.3 40.3 24.8
Inmarsat 2 f2 (incl. 1.7 deg) 98.0W 213.6 225.6 39.8 25.7
Galaxy 4R 99.0W 214.9 226.9 39.3 26.7
DirecTV 2 100.8W 217.2 229.2 38.4 28.3
DirecTV 1R 100.8W 217.2 229.2 38.4 28.3
AMC 4 101.0W 217.4 229.4 38.3 28.5
DirecTV 1 101.0W 217.4 229.4 38.3 28.5
AMSC 1 101.1W 217.6 229.6 38.2 28.5
DirecTV 4S 101.2W 217.7 229.7 38.2 28.6
AMC 1 103.0W 219.9 231.9 37.2 30.2
Solidaridad 1 (incl. 2.8 deg) 103.5W 220.5 232.5 36.9 30.6
AMC 2 105.0W 222.2 234.3 36.1 31.8
G-Star 3 (incl. 11.5 deg) 105.0W 222.2 234.3 36.1 31.8
G-Star 1 (incl. 6.0 deg) 105.0W 222.2 234.3 36.1 31.8
MSAT 1 106.5W 224.0 236.0 35.2 33.0
Anik F1 107.3W 224.9 236.9 34.7 33.6
Anik E1 109.2W 227.0 239.0 33.5 35.0
DirecTV 6 109.8W 227.6 239.6 33.1 35.4
EchoStar 6 110.0W 227.8 239.8 33.0 35.5
EchoStar 8 110.0W 227.8 239.8 33.0 35.5
Anik E2R 111.1W 229.0 241.0 32.3 36.3
Solidaridad 2 113.0W 230.9 243.0 31.1 37.5
Morelos 2 (incl. 4.4 deg) 114.9W 232.8 244.8 29.8 38.7
XM Rock 115.0W 232.9 244.9 29.7 38.7
SatMex 5 116.8W 234.7 246.7 28.5 39.8
Anik E2 118.7W 236.5 248.5 27.2 40.8
DirecTV 5 119.0W 236.7 248.7 27.0 41.0
EchoStar 7 119.0W 236.7 248.7 27.0 41.0
EchoStar 5 119.0W 236.7 248.7 27.0 41.0
EchoStar 9/Telstar 13 121.0W 238.5 250.6 25.6 42.0
Galaxy 10R 123.0W 240.3 252.3 24.1 42.9
Galaxy 5 125.0W 242.0 254.0 22.7 43.8
Galaxy 9 127.0W 243.7 255.7 21.2 44.6
Telstar 7 129.0W 245.3 257.3 19.7 45.4
Satcom C3 131.0W 246.8 258.8 18.2 46.1
Galaxy 1R 133.0W 248.4 260.4 16.7 46.8
Satcom C4 135.0W 249.9 261.9 15.1 47.4
GOES 10 135.5W 250.2 262.2 14.7 47.5
AMC 7 137.0W 251.3 263.3 13.6 48.0
AMC 8 139.0W 252.7 264.8 12.0 48.5
Inmarsat 2 f3 (incl. 1.9 deg) 142.0W 254.8 266.8 9.7 49.2
EchoStar 1 148.0W 258.9 270.9 5.0 50.3
EchoStar 2 148.0W 258.9 270.9 5.0 50.3
TDRS 9 (incl. 7.4 deg) 151.0W 260.8 272.8 2.7 50.7
TDRS 10 (incl. 6.2 deg) 151.0W 260.8 272.8 2.7 50.7
EchoStar 4 157.0W 264.6 276.7 -2.0 51.3

 

[daveplot]

I have the dish aimed at SBS 6 (189 deg) and I'm not getting any signal.

The motor is set to my latitude at 38.5 deg and the dish elevation is set to 45.5 deg.

The level % keeps jumping around from the upper 60s to upper 70s but the quality is at 0.

Since this is a used dish the thought of the LBNF being bad. If this could be a possibility, are there any suggestions on types or brand/models?

 

[PSB]

45.5 is the elevation angle for the dish before adding it to the motor, check the motor manual for the exact elevation of the dish taking into account the declination.
Most of the time the LNB is fine just a pointing issue, I guess the elevation on the dish is set too high, not done enough installs with this motor to comment further than check manual for the formula to work out the exact elevation needed on dish! Good luck!

 

[PSB]

SBS 6 74.0W 177.4 189.4 45.5 -2.0

Also you should be pointing 177 deg as your area has a -12 deg magnetic deviation, forgot to add that sorry : (

 

[Mr Tony]

SBS 6 74.0W 177.4 189.4 45.5 -2.0

Also you should be pointing 177 deg as your area has a -12 deg magnetic deviation, forgot to add that sorry : (

Pete
you ADD to it if your East of the Mississippi River

 

[daveplot]

I just did the formula from the manual again, and lowered down the dish. It was actually set at 23.5 deg, when it should be 23.9 deg.

Is 189 deg correct for pointing the dish? Looking at the manual for the motor they say to use 180 + 11.5.

 

[Mr Tony]

daveplot

use 180+11.5=191.5

Pete got his math messed up

 

[PSB]

The above satfinder program still says -12 deg. strange I will have to play with it some more.
Yes its the program I ran my own zip and it said +2 deg and its -2deg in this area

 

[daveplot]

I still can't get any signal. I just checked and rechecked the angle the dish is pointing and it's right at 191.5. The pole is plumb also.

Any ideas?

 

[PSB]

What type of LNB have you got? And what have you set the LNB L.O. to in the antenna set up screen?

Standard KU LNBF= 10750 L.O.
Universal KU LNBF= 09750-10600 L.O.
DBS=11250 L.O.

 

[daveplot]

It's a Norsat LNB set to 10750.

 

[SatelliteAV]

What TP frequency are you using? Try FREQ. 11741 / H / SR 6616
Ohio News Network

This satellite has very few 24 / 7 stations and if it isn't Saturday or Sunday with sports backhauls or around news time, it can be a difficult bird to find.

 

[daveplot]

What TP frequency are you using? Try FREQ. 11741 / H / SR 6616

Yes, that's what i'm using with a skew of -2.