Clueless in Tennessee

[MariaSophia]

We just installed a JS75 32" dish + ADTH receiver from Home2Us in order to watch BVN. Problem is, no matter where we aim the dish (including straight into a wall!), we always get the same insufficient signal: 54% strength, 34% quality. Does this mean the LNB is bad? Not sure what type LNB is, it has 2 coax plugs if that helps. The install kit came with the most basic install instructions and no spec details. Did I mention I'm a clueless newbie?

Further, we're confused about what satellite we're supposed to aim at. The BVN website lists SES-1 at 101W, but other places list AMC-4 or SatMex-6. We used the coordinates for all 3 options with no change in signal strength. Dishpointer.com shows a clear line of sight to all 3 satellites.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[FaT Air]

BVN is strong on SES-1 at 101W - on TP freq=12120, Vertical polarity, SR=30000 (is programmed into receiver?). For a bit more info, what is the signal and quality if you don't connect the Coax, lnbf. BTW- DO NOT connect, or disconnect the coax with power on, even standby- best to unplug receiver power cord. Model number of LNB may also help.

 

[Jim S.]

BVN is on both SES-1 at 101W and SatMex-6 at 113W. At the time they put the signal up on 113W, they said that they'd be leaving 101W, but they seem to have stuck around.

AMC-4 is a defunct satellite that was located at 101W before SES-1 was. By the way, it doesn't matter what you name the satellite when you set up your receiver. Some of them won't even read the name from the satellite, and if they do, they don't care. The only thing that matters to the receiver is the location, and even that doesn't matter if you're not setting up a motorized dish.

If you're not getting a good signal strength anywhere, then either your LNB is bad or, more likely, you're not really aimed at a satellite. You need to move really slow. If you've never done it before, chances are that you're moving too fast.

The preferred way to aim is to set your elevation, then turn the dish from side to side, since that's much easier than trying to keep the dish from sliding under its own weight while adjusting the elevation. However, the elevation scale on your dish may or may not be accurate. If it's off, you'll have to stumble onto a satellite by luck, and if it's not the right one, figure out which one it is and adjust your settings from there.

Also, in order to get a meaningful quality reading, you have to have the receiver set to an active transponder on the satellite you're trying to aim for. If you pass other satellites on the way, you should get a spike in strength if they have a transponder near the frequency and polarity you've set, but the quality is dependent on having the right symbol rate set.

 

[MariaSophia]

When the coax is disconnected, it gives us 18% strength, 35% quality.
This is printed on the LNB:
Zintech
Dual Pol. LNBF
R.F. 11.70-12.20 Ghz
I.F. 950-1450 Mhz
L.O. 10.750 Ghz

We should probably buy a sat finder to help us aim correctly? Any suggestions on which one to get? Preferably under $100 otherwise I may as well get an installer in.

 

[SatelliteAV]

Sounds like the LNBF is working, but the dish is just not aimed or the receiver is not correctly set-up in the menus.

No need to purchase a meter. Your receiver has a built -in meter that is better than any $100 meter!

• Set-up the receiver and a small TV by your dish
• Select Satellite SES1 - KU (or maybe AMC4 -KU on your receiver)
• Set LNB type to Standard
• Set or verify that the LNB LO frequency is set to 10750
• Select transponder Frequency 12060
• Verify or select Polarity is Horizontal
• Verify or set the Symbol Rate (SR) to 26700

You should have a signal meter displayed on the connected TV screen. Finding the correct satellite and optimizing is all about maximizing the Signal Quality reading.

• Look-up the Compass heading, Elevation angle and the LNBF Skew (rotation) at GeoSatFinder - Satellite Finder Calculator
• Set the LNBF rotation to the correct angle

Important Note: If your dish is mounted on a perfectly plumb post, the install will be much easier!

• Set the elevation angle using the elevation scale stamped in the bracket on the back of the dish. Be aware that often these stampings are not accurate and should only be used as a reference.
• With a compass in hand, move away from any metal or electrical objects and determine a landmark as far away as possible that lines up with the compass reading. Aim the dish arm towards this landmark.
• Observe the Signal Quality reading and very SLOWLY pan the dish from 10 or 15 degrees on one side of the landmark to 10 or 15 degrees on the other side. If the Signal Quality reading moves even slightly, you may be close to satellite and may need a slight elevation adjustment.
• If no Signal Quality reading increase is noted, increase or decrease the elevation in one degree increments and repeat the slow panning movement. You may have to increase or decrease the dish elevation setting up to 5 or more degrees to find and optimize the Signal Quality reading.
• Once you have maximum Signal Quality reading, perform a transponder scan for free channels on this transponder frequency. You will be able to enjoy the Bio and History channels!
• Next, scan for the BVN channel on Transponder Frequency: 12120, Polarity: Vertical, Symbol Rate: 30000.

Good Luck! I am sure that you will be successful!

If you do need a local installer, check out www.ftainstall.com

 

[FaT Air]

Being the strength reading changed with the lnb disconnected, kinda tells me that the lnb is drawing power. So I don't think it's a connection problem. It may be a trait of that particular receiver that the Quality is still about the same, I don't know for sure, as I've never played with that brand/model. If there is a satellite list in the menu, Check the transponder information in the satellite list of the receiver. Reason being, to get a Quality reading, the receiver must be tuned to an active transponder. SES 1 transponders I have active are:
freq - polarity - SR
12060 H 26700
12120 V 30000
11860 H 30000

I'm out of the primary area covered by Satmex6 on Ku but thin Lyngsat probably has it right.
12080 H 25635
Again, one of these has to be selected to see any change in your readings. The 4th paragraph of Jim S's reply is the the best, and only, sure fire way of aiming your dish. And if that fails, then suspect defective lnb or receiver.

 

[MariaSophia]

Still no luck :'-( We very slowly adjusted the aim and still couldn't get a different signal.
We do have some tall trees behind the house but as far as I can tell, they are not directly in the satellite's path.
My husband found a local installer who is willing to help us with correcting the aim. Will let you know what happens.

 

[hd fan]

www.dishpointer.com will show you a google earth view of your house and the path of the satellite as well if there are any obstructions in the way. it also gives you the angle parameters for your location.

 

[MariaSophia]

Just wanted to give everyone an update. After calling dozens of potential dish installers, we couldn't find anyone working in our area, even though we're right next to a major city. I couldn't even find an installer through Home2Us who sold me the dish.
Anyway, after getting close to abandoning the project altogether I gave it another try today. As I was worried about the tall trees behind the house, I set the dish on an umbrella-stand so I could move it around the yard. After standing there like a fool scanning the skies, I finally got the signal readings in the green! Of course, the excitement caused me to lose the signal. Eventually, I got it back and I am currently watching Dutch tv on BVN! The show currently on is horrible but at least it's in Dutch.
My husband still needs to hide the cable and route it to our main tv on the other side of the house but that should be easy compared to finding the satellite.

Thanks for all your help, this forum has been very helpful and gave me hope that I could do it myself afterall.

 

[toucan-man]

Great work. Maybe someone will hire you one day to do an installation.

 

[Mr Tony]

glad to hear its working for ya

 

[brentb636]

And now you have to change your login-name .....

 

[guacharaca]

I remember the first time I got a signal. The excitement. Everyone remembers their first time.