Best Way to Receive Whole Ku Arc With Fixed Dishes?

[meinename]

A null cable but that's all I know...
Brian will have to reply back with the software download process.

The Import process was for a file with the extension .sdb so you'd need something like the Coolsat Loader. But I didn't have a null cable to connect via Hyperterminal. So no idea.

 

[linuxman]

A null cable but that's all I know...
Brian will have to reply back with the software download process.

The Import process was for a file with the extension .sdb so you'd need something like the Coolsat Loader. But I didn't have a null cable to connect via Hyperterminal. So no idea.

Still haven't heard from Brian about the official loader, which cable to use, and whether you can open the file as a Conaxsat file and use Channel Master on it, but maybe he'll reply soon.

Hopefully both the DSR-100c and the DVR-1100c with both work that way for the channel list.

The satellite update works great. Just set it on automatic, or update manually any time you want.

 

[linuxman]

I have to change my schedule on this project for a little while.

My Pulmonologist put me on Chantix which I started on Monday. For those of you who don't know, it is a smoking cessation drug. It is a gradual increasing dosage spread out over 7 days with the 8th day on full dose.

I am on day 4 starting the second step up, and the drug makes me dizzy even when walking on the flat ground. But if it will help me get off cigarettes, it will be worth it. So, I know the full dosage will be worse.

But to my point. The over all project involves some non-moving C-Band dishes of which I need the 2 NPRMs that are currently on the parking lot.

So, while I am not able to get on the roof because of the Chantix, I am going to start working on taking down the Prodelin and my 10 foot Perfect Ten scanning dish and preparing to put in permanent masts for those dishes sunk in the ground with concrete.

I will be opening a thread in the C-Band section shortly for that caper.

I will return to this thread when I am able to get back on the roof and finish the Ku part of this project.

Edit: My new thread on Non-moving C-Band Project.

 

[gabshere]

So, while I am not able to get on the roof because of the Chantix, I am going to start working on taking down the Prodelin and my 10 foot Perfect Ten scanning dish and preparing to put in permanent masts for those dishes sunk in the ground with concrete

good luck with the chantix anything to help you quit smoking is a good thing ...

 

[linuxman]

I wanted to update this thread with my progress towards getting this project done.

I have cross-posted this in my Non-Moving C-Band Project thread in the C-Band section.

I have added 7 C-Band dishes to this project to go with the Ku portion. I might have an 8th C-Band LNBF on the Prodelin dish if I can get 127W LCN to come in with it pointed at 121W.

I started a drawing today to lay out my coax and switches.

Looks like twelve 4X4 multi-switches, three 4X1 diseqc switches for each receiver, and a single 8X1 diseqc switch for each receiver.

Gives me a total of 24 lnbs. I can add another Ku dish or two before I get done without adding a ton of money to the cost, and I just might do that.

Let me know if I have screwed anything up in the switches etc.

You can see for yourself below:

 

[gremlin411]

How many receivers are you going to have

 

[linuxman]

How many receivers are you going to have

My current plan calls for 3 receivers. That will leave me with room for one more receiver as an expansion if needed.

 

[linuxman]

Finally!!!

Got all my needed supplies in finally including the Geosat Pro C-2 Dual Output C-Band LNBFs and the rain stopped and it was warm yesterday and today, so I got started back on my project.

I am on the parking lot now, and will be another day or so, then up on the roof to finish off.

Turns out that the Prodelin does an outstanding job on C-Band with an off-center LNBF.

I have 121W C-Band, 123W Ku, 125W Ku, and 127W C-Band. The Ku signals are outstanding of course, but what surprised me was how well 127W came in being 6 degrees off center. I have LCN Louisiana Superstation at 75% SQ and another transponder on that satellite at 60% SQ. Everything on 121W comes in decently for me too.

Tomorrow, I am going to try and mount 129W for White Springs on there too somehow even if I have to strap it to 127W.

I need 8 LNBFs on the parking lot to fill out a 1X4 diseqc switch. I have these 4, and one for 107w, and 101/97W on my Geosat Pro dish. so White Springs would make it come to 8 and would be a good fit.

I hope to wrap up this project in a couple of weeks, but I have gotten so slow, that just wiring up the prodelin took me a little over two hours today.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the Geosat Pro C-2 LNBFs are every bit as good as the CK-1 for signal, and maybe even better. They are doing an outstanding job.

Thanks to SatelliteAV for making them available to us!!!

Here are the pics:

 

[Anole]

You're sure getting your money's worth out of that six-foot dish! - :up -

Wonder if you tried any C-band scalars in your experiments?

One last thought: watch out for water in the C2's which point upwards.
Maybe a water bottle for a cover?

 

[Mr Tony]

very cool pics

Wish I could get 121 & 123 on the 4 footer

 

[Keith Brannen]

Very nice. Do you have any plans for any LNBs on the (from the front) left side of the dish, or will it remain "lopsided"?

 

[linuxman]

You're sure getting your money's worth out of that six-foot dish! - :up -

Well, when you don't have any money in the dish, it's pretty easy to get your investment back out!

Wonder if you tried any C-band scalars in your experiments?

I tried putting the flat scalars on both C-Band LNBFs, but there was no improvement in the signal, so I left them off.

One last thought: watch out for water in the C2's which point upwards.
Maybe a water bottle for a cover?

Thanks for the tip. I'll check out how far the faces are from vertical and will make a rain cap for them if necessary.

very cool pics

Wish I could get 121 & 123 on the 4 footer

Thanks!

I guess the focal distance isn't long enough on the 4 footer to fit the LNBFs that close? That would be my guess. It's a shame!

Very nice. Do you have any plans for any LNBs on the (from the front) left side of the dish, or will it remain "lopsided"?

Thanks!

I could easily put 119w and 110w on the dish on the "left" side, but that would throw off my diseqc scheme for the parking lot which would mean three more long cable runs.

I might end up doing that, but I want to see how the dishes on the roof play out first.

 

[Tron]

I wonder if conical scalers would increase quality on those C-Band LNBFs... They would really get in the way, though...

 

[linuxman]

I wonder if conical scalers would increase quality on those C-Band LNBFs... They would really get in the way, though..

I think in this situation they would be a hindrance more than a help.

I got 129W hung on the Prodelin and have White Springs bouncing between 60 and 75% SQ.

I also got another C-2 hung on my home-made dish and tuned up for 107.3W. ASN is at 60% SQ. That dish was wired up to the back already, and I will get 129W ran to it along with 101/97W wire run tomorrow too.

Then all I will need is to run the 3 long runs to the entry on the roof and the parking lot will be finished.

Here are todays pics:

 

[Mr Tony]

Tron I think you had a "groundhog day" moment there

5 posts each 5 minutes part

 

[linuxman]

I spent about 4 hours today doing nothing but wiring things up. I still have three cables to run as you can see in the blue line below for 97/101W. Then I have to run 3 lines up on the roof the the entry into the building as shown by the yellow line below.

My hands started cramping, so I quit.

Anole is worried about the cables laying on the ground like that, but I told him not to worry. As many cables as there are, and all tied to the dish poles, if anyone trips, they are going down. The cables aren't coming loose.

Just one more dish with 2 lnbfs to go on the parking lot.

Here are today's pics:

 

[Mr Tony]

frickin sweet

good idea labelling the ports

 

[gremlin411]

you inspire all of us linuxman


P.S. in pic two it looks like you missed a contector in bottom of the pic.

 

[linuxman]

frickin sweet

good idea labelling the ports

Thanks Guy!!

Labeling everything is a must with the magnitude of this setup.

you inspire all of us linuxman


P.S. in pic two it looks like you missed a contector in bottom of the pic.

Thanks!! I have been inspired myself by the members on this forum to even start this project. Especially Anole and Iceberg with their many posts on switches and Keith Brannen who has been my mentor with multi-lnb dishes along with a host of others.

All the connectors are in place that are supposed to be there at the time of the picture.

Oh My Gosh!!!!

It works!!!!!

I got 97/101W wired today and a single cable ran to the roof and into my Diamond 9000HD receiver. Got my sheet where everything was written down and sure enough just as Iceberg told me how to hook the 4X1 switches up at the dishes to make less cable runs and have the 8X1 right off the receiver, and it works. : :up

WooooHoooo!!!!!

I only have about a third of the project finished, but am so happy with the way it is working out, it is unbelievable!!

Picture Linuxman jumping up and down and rolling in the floor.

Oh well, enough excitement. I have a lot of work yet to do, but in the long run it is going to be well worth the effort.

More to come as I progress.

Thanks for all of your encouragement!!

PS, It is official, the Diamond 9000HD does work well with diseqc 1.1.

 

[gremlin411]

I am sorry I worded it wrong. It looks like one connector is not crimped all the way. the one on the bottom diseqc in pic two.