custom multi lnb for 75e channelmaster

[Titanium]

Great news that you are getting a larger 1m dish! You will have a much better experience.

A Raine and Keith Brannen have provided some great advice and photos. I will just present the similar information slightly different. Between all of our suggestions, you will be successful!

The satellites that you are aiming at are located on the west side of the top of the arc from your location. Your due south satellite is approximately 78w. This means that the LNBFs installed on the West side of the centered 97w LNBF will be lower and the LNBFs on the East side of the centered LNBF will be higher. For the initial aiming, I would keep the dish skew at default level position and adjust the height for each position. You might want to optimize the dish gain be calculating the reflector skew setting at a future time, but for now, it just adds another variable to the LNBF positioning and will make the aiming more difficult. If you wish to continue and try to set the reflector skew, I do not have a way of calculating the reflector skew setting for your reflector. You might try the setting recommended for a DirecTV install for your zip code. Not sure if the setting will remain accurate past the +/-9 satellite offsets that DirecTV uses.

Here are 3 satellites for aiming based on your zip code 14739:
87w Elevation 40.4, skew +9.5
97w Elevation 37.5 skew +19.5
103w Elevation 35.1, skew +25

• With 97w satellite in the center LNBF position, set the dish elevation to approximately 37.5 degrees. Connect directly to the LNBF and tune the STB to 97w and place on an active transponder. Rotate the LNBF skew to approx. +19.5. Aim/optimize the dish. Blind Scan for channels.
  
• Connect directly to a second LNBF and tune the STB to 87w and place on an active transponder. Rotate the LNBF to +9.5 degrees skew and hold on the West side of the centered LNBF. Slightly lower the LNBF and move slowly left/right while watching the Signal Quality meter. Once the Signal Quality reading is registered, take note of the approximate location and set the clamp to hold the LNBF. Once the clamp is in position, fine tune the LNBF position to optimize the Signal Quality. Blind Scan for channels.
  
• Connect directly to a third LNBF and tune the STB to 103w and place on an active transponder. Rotate the LNBF to +25 degrees skew and hold on the East side of the centered LNBF. Slightly raise the LNBF and move slowly left/right while watching the Signal Quality meter. Once the Signal Quality reading is registered, take note of the approximate location and set the clamp to hold the LNBF. Once the clamp is in position, fine tune the LNBF position to optimize the Signal Quality. Blind Scan for channels.
• Power OFF STB. Install switch. Power on STB. Program the switch setting port for each satellite.

 

[Keith Brannen]

It is better to skew the dish, especially when using multiple LNBS, as they then see more of the dish. To me, it looks like glover31 already has the dish skewed correctly. With my Star Choice elliptical dishes (made by Channel Master) on the scale 90 is level. You then add (or subtract) the skew depending on whether the skew is plus or minus. In glover31's case, it would be 90 + 19.5 so the skew is set to 109.5 (if it was -19.5 then it would be 90 - 19.5 or 70.5). For outer LNB skews you take the skew and minus 19.5. In other words, 87 would be set to -10 and 103 set to 5.5.

As Brian notes the 87 LNB will be lower than the new "level" (19.5 degree slant) and the 103 LNB will be above it.

 

[a33]

satlex calculator gives as dish-skew for location friendship for outermost sats 87W and 103W: minus 13,85 degrees.

See: http://www.satlex.us/en/wavefrontie...&location=&la=42.19&lo=-78.14&country_code=us

These calculators are sooooo usefull

Greetz,
A33

 

[glover31]

so it would seem I would be further ahead to remove the center lnbf and start with 2 lnbf one to the left and one to the right. Maybe scan in the sat I am looking for for first might make things easier.

 

[Keith Brannen]

so it would seem I would be further ahead to remove the center lnbf and start with 2 lnbf one to the left and one to the right. Maybe scan in the sat I am looking for for first might make things easier.

Persoanally, I'd start with the centre LNB where it is, max out that signal, and then try for satellites on either side. Then you can see what levels you are able to achieve, and whether they are satisfactory or not. As well, it depends on the priority of the satellites that you want. For example, if 87 is a priority, then yes, you may want to go without a centre LNB and put both 87 and 97 off-centre and split the difference (5 degrees off centre for both).

 

[glover31]

Persoanally, I'd start with the centre LNB where it is, max out that signal, and then try for satellites on either side. Then you can see what levels you are able to achieve, and whether they are satisfactory or not. As well, it depends on the priority of the satellites that you want. For example, if 87 is a priority, then yes, you may want to go without a centre LNB and put both 87 and 97 off-centre and split the difference (5 degrees off centre for both).

Pretty much what I meant. By the way, bigger dish on the way. 1 meter. wahoo!

 

[glover31]

Great news that you are getting a larger 1m dish! You will have a much better experience.

A Raine and Keith Brannen have provided some great advice and photos. I will just present the similar information slightly different. Between all of our suggestions, you will be successful!

The satellites that you are aiming at are located on the west side of the top of the arc from your location. Your due south satellite is approximately 78w. This means that the LNBFs installed on the West side of the centered 97w LNBF will be lower and the LNBFs on the East side of the centered LNBF will be higher. For the initial aiming, I would keep the dish skew at default level position and adjust the height for each position. You might want to optimize the dish gain be calculating the reflector skew setting at a future time, but for now, it just adds another variable to the LNBF positioning and will make the aiming more difficult. If you wish to continue and try to set the reflector skew, I do not have a way of calculating the reflector skew setting for your reflector. You might try the setting recommended for a DirecTV install for your zip code. Not sure if the setting will remain accurate past the +/-9 satellite offsets that DirecTV uses.

Here are 3 satellites for aiming based on your zip code 14739:
87w Elevation 40.4, skew +9.5
97w Elevation 37.5 skew +19.5
103w Elevation 35.1, skew +25

• With 97w satellite in the center LNBF position, set the dish elevation to approximately 37.5 degrees. Connect directly to the LNBF and tune the STB to 97w and place on an active transponder. Rotate the LNBF skew to approx. +19.5. Aim/optimize the dish. Blind Scan for channels.
  
• Connect directly to a second LNBF and tune the STB to 87w and place on an active transponder. Rotate the LNBF to +9.5 degrees skew and hold on the West side of the centered LNBF. Slightly lower the LNBF and move slowly left/right while watching the Signal Quality meter. Once the Signal Quality reading is registered, take note of the approximate location and set the clamp to hold the LNBF. Once the clamp is in position, fine tune the LNBF position to optimize the Signal Quality. Blind Scan for channels.
  
• Connect directly to a third LNBF and tune the STB to 103w and place on an active transponder. Rotate the LNBF to +25 degrees skew and hold on the East side of the centered LNBF. Slightly raise the LNBF and move slowly left/right while watching the Signal Quality meter. Once the Signal Quality reading is registered, take note of the approximate location and set the clamp to hold the LNBF. Once the clamp is in position, fine tune the LNBF position to optimize the Signal Quality. Blind Scan for channels.
• Power OFF STB. Install switch. Power on STB. Program the switch setting port for each satellite.

Holy smokes! I have spent countless hours on this thing. Last night was about the straw breaker. After scanning sats left and right before setting multi lnbf's on the dish I still had horrible troubles. No issues scanning sats using center lnbf. But using additional lnbf's pfffff ha ha ha ha . I am getting all the transponders to scan in on each sat I am after as well as in between on accident. Yet, No channels for like hours. Then finally I got 89 / 91 west. So off a bit. Was going for 87. Even though it was the wrong sat I tried tuning to 89. What a joke! The best I could get was 70 plus for strength and 11 for signal quality. 11!. That's pretty sucky. Will try 87. But doubt it will come in. Its further out so I would assume if 89 and 91 suck for quality then this would be worse. Not sure what to do here. Maybe use the center for 87 and the other for galaxy 19. I am thinking this dish is not reliable for additional lnbf's. Can only imagine the rain and snow. Also the I don't know the exact skew on the dish right now but the dish is tilted to the left if you were behind it. So 97 west is center and 87 is on and incline going slightly higher than the center on the right " left if facing dish" and all other sats would be higher yet. All make the meter spike on lowest setting. But will not scan in. to week of signal

 

[glover31]

85E dish has arrived. I would say YEAH! but there are issues right off the bat. ugg... Appears to be the wrong lnbf arm and the dual lnbf holder is cracked. On the other hand It came with a cable box. $127.11.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Is this Channel Master still USA company or they already copying dishes and manuals in PRC?

 

[Titanium]

Channel Master has been sold many times during the past 10 years. Believe the company is now Raven from the UK.

These are NOS - New Old Stock circa 2000 ???

 

[glover31]

It has a spot on the dish for the primstar sticker. Its definitely a new dish. I just don't understand how this arm is going to work. I am wondering what the original arm length should be in comparison. I am getting very suspicious about ordering stuff from impaktproducts. First a over priced lnbf that doesn't work. Told to ship it back to them at my cost. Yeah, i don't think so. Then odd ball parts and more almost broken stuff. What can I say... False economy right? I wonder if I could do a dual lnb bracket with c band or better yet the multi lnb ku as I had originally planed for the 75 e dish. I dont know if the 75 e arm would be right or not. It would likely bolt up perfect but length Is what I mean.

NEW OLD STOCK / PRC I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Titanium]

The rectangular arm sure looks like the 84E universal type arm made by Channel Master. They distributed several arms for different applications. Some were fitted for direct mounting DSS LNBFs by the base, others were for single or dual 23mm throat clamps and this type was usually usually used with the 40mm throat clamps.

 

[glover31]

The rectangular arm sure looks like the 84E universal type arm made by Channel Master. They distributed several arms for different applications. Some were fitted for direct mounting DSS LNBFs by the base, others were for single or dual 23mm throat clamps and this type was usually usually used with the 40mm throat clamps.

ok. I will go with it then.

 

[dsmith0429]

This is actually an old WSNet dish. They used the same dish as Primestar, but the feed arm was different. They went out of business in 2003. It is a Channel Master 84E...

 

[dsmith0429]

85E dish has arrived. I would say YEAH! but there are issues right off the bat. ugg... Appears to be the wrong lnbf arm and the dual lnbf holder is cracked. On the other hand It came with a cable box. $127.11. View attachment 110933 View attachment 110934 View attachment 110935

These are great dishes for FTA. Mine, a Primestar, has a different feed arm, which needed modifications to use, also does not have the skew adjustments on the back, so that's a huge plus that the one you bought, the WSNet version, does, and that is the universal feed arm, so that makes it more useful as well.

 

[glover31]

These are great dishes for FTA. Mine, a Primestar, has a different feed arm, which needed modifications to use, also does not have the skew adjustments on the back, so that's a huge plus that the one you bought, the WSNet version, does, and that is the universal feed arm, so that makes it more useful as well.

Actually the dish has the spot on it for the primestar sticker. Its definatley a primestar dish. It just has a different feed arm than it was designed for. I cant use the lnbf holder unless I buy more aspen eagle lnbf and those things are blinking expensive with the shipping. I could possibly use bullet/ micro lnbf's but then the lnbf's I just bought get put on the back burner.

So here are my questions. Will the following lnbf holders work for fta sats with slight modification?

or may be this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Satellite-Dish-LNB-Bracket-Double-LNB-Mount-WS24-/251366482298
Credit for the pictures go to satellite av and wsi as they are from those web pages

 

[waylew]

You're going to need adjustability in all directions,the Direct holders are just for Direct.

 

[primestar31]

You can ADD a boat seat swivel base between the reflector and the elevation bracket, and adjust skew that way by turning the whole reflector. So your lnbs can be mounted in the same level as the center one using some EMT on a emt hanger, and you can spin the dish to match the arc. I did this years ago, with a base I got from Walmart. The holes on the boat seat pretty much match right up on Primestar dishes. You might have to ream them a little larger. The bases are cheap also.

When you done, just drill a hole between the two seat plates, and screw in a self-tapping screw to lock them.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/posts/1860200/ <<< here is pics of it.

 

[dsmith0429]

If you look at the setup manual you have in the picture, you will notice that yours has WSNet in the lower right hand corner.

The spot where the Primestar logo would be located can be seen behind other logos on some dishes that was used by other services. Apparently Channel Master used their excess stock to provide them to other companies. But, I have seen some without the logo spot as well, probably re-tooled their molds after the failure of Primestar or they just simply provided them for a reduced price, who knows...

Globecast also used these dishes for their WorldTV service. But I noticed that the feed arm attachment at the bottom was re-tooled on some versions for a different size feed arm. Possibly a later version?

I think SKY used these in the U.K. as well.

There is several different LNB holders originally made for these, but seem very difficult to find now.

For mine I'm hoping to figure out how to make my own, by using electrical conduit and conduit clamps from the hardware store. I remember seeing a post where someone has done that, but I'll have to find it again.

Also thought of trying one of these, but may have to do some modifications to be able to use it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Multi-Feed-...5-ku-band-LNBs-FTA-5-LNB-Holder-/290908896124

 

[glover31]

You can ADD a boat seat swivel base between the reflector and the elevation bracket, and adjust skew that way by turning the whole reflector. So your lnbs can be mounted in the same level as the center one using some EMT on a emt hanger, and you can spin the dish to match the arc. I did this years ago, with a base I got from Walmart. The holes on the boat seat pretty much match right up on Primestar dishes. You might have to ream them a little larger. The bases are cheap also.

When you done, just drill a hole between the two seat plates, and screw in a self-tapping screw to lock them.



http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/posts/1860200/ <<< here is pics of it.

The whole dish already has a skew bracket. Look at the picture above. That is why I was thinking this DIRECT bracket Might work. I noticed it has degree separation marks and wonder if I could not drill more holes To get in between degree hits.