Best way to peak a transponder

[iBoston]

I have a satellite signal finder which i have found to be great to peak in a satellite. But, I have noticed that some transponders are peaked differently than other transponders on the same satellite. I want to keep the sensitivity up there, like a signal finder, but is there something that won't break the bank that will let me peak to a specific transponder (frequency) . Of-course preferably something that will handle both DVBS and DVBS2.

 

[KE4EST]

I personally use a SatHero SH-200HD. It is low priced and works great for the hobbyist. Just make sure to find a SH-200HD. The original SH-200 will work it just has a flickering issue on S2 signals that can be annoying. Still works fine just can drive you batty. There is also the 8dtek DSM Desired and the First Strike FS1(may not do S2, depending on version), also Satlink has several models that I hear are ok(never tried one personally).

 

[Magic Static]

Tweaking all transponders at once requires a spectrum analyzer. Adding DVBS2 requires an expensive top shelf meter. I bought an AI TurboS2 and very happy I did, Wish I would have bought this one first instead of buying cheaper meters and trying to get by. With practice and patience you can tune your dish very well with lesser meters, but I seem to have more money than patience.

 

[harshness]

Exactly how far apart might these transponders be that you might get one optimally and be compromised on another?

 

[Mr Tony]

alot of it has to do with if there are adjacent satellite interference and the size of dish one is using

I remember when I had FTA there was a feed for North Dakota Hockey (Fighting Sioux Sports Network) that was on 93W. For some reason if the dish was peaked on the 24/7 transponders the FSSN was lower signal. If it was nudged east one or two clicks on the motor it came in fine. So for that year I had added a specific satellite for that feed only (so the motor moved to it when I selected it)

We also had issues with 97W which is the main satellite for ethnic and religious stations where one or two transponders were "just off peak location" and required a nudge west to optimize signal.

Usually a larger dish solved the adjacent interference

 

[iBoston]

Exactly how far apart might these transponders be that you might get one optimally and be compromised on another?

There are a bunch of Spanish channels and Signals i can not get in the 78w and farther Eastern range. It is weird. There are transponders that lock in/out and jump up to 65% but won't stay locked, yet, on the same satellite, i can get signal rates up near 100%. I've learned in the past that i can make things worse than better when i try and peak my dish, so i want a good Signal finder that will allow me to narrow in one transponder over another. - I am still not 100% that i have the rotation of my dish 100% spot on. I might have a situation where i have to peak up on the west side and peak down on the east side, which means my rotation is off, but, i need more sensitive equipment...

Edit : I guess this proves I'm a hobbyist. Even though i will probably never watch these channels, it drives me nuts knowing the signal is there and obtainable if i just had everything working right. So, its a pride issue..

 

[iBoston]

alot of it has to do with if there are adjacent satellite interference and the size of dish one is using

I remember when I had FTA there was a feed for North Dakota Hockey (Fighting Sioux Sports Network) that was on 93W. For some reason if the dish was peaked on the 24/7 transponders the FSSN was lower signal. If it was nudged east one or two clicks on the motor it came in fine. So for that year I had added a specific satellite for that feed only (so the motor moved to it when I selected it)

We also had issues with 97W which is the main satellite for ethnic and religious stations where one or two transponders were "just off peak location" and required a nudge west to optimize signal.

Usually a larger dish solved the adjacent interference

Yea, i have run into this in a couple situations. I find that the FTA music channels on 55w do not appear to be peaked with the rest of the satellite. I have a 10' dish and like i said, I think I have some dish tweaking to do, but, what ever i need to do, it will need to be small changes...

 

[harshness]

Usually a larger dish solved the adjacent interference

Thank you, this answers my question. The smaller dishes just aren't focused precisely enough to dodge adjacent signals.

 

[Mr Tony]

Thank you, this answers my question. The smaller dishes just aren't focused precisely enough to dodge adjacent signals.

I was referring normally to KU where folks can get by with a 30" dish (I did for 10 years) but a 36" usually solves the issues

C-Band is sometimes a different animal and a 10 foot dish should be fine for most signals (now if he had a 6 footer then my statement above would apply....had 2 of them too)

 

[iBoston]

I personally use a SatHero SH-200HD. It is low priced and works great for the hobbyist. Just make sure to find a SH-200HD. The original SH-200 will work it just has a flickering issue on S2 signals that can be annoying. Still works fine just can drive you batty. There is also the 8dtek DSM Desired and the First Strike FS1(may not do S2, depending on version), also Satlink has several models that I hear are ok(never tried one personally).

Okay, i just put in an order for the SH-200HD. Thank you. Hope it will give me what i need.