Direcway Dish: Modifications/Help Needed

[DocRobster]

I have obtained an older Direcway dish setup (39x23ish) and I plan on using it to get my RTN fix via Galaxy 18. I have searched the boards and I am not sure what I need to do so I want to know the following: I have attached some pictures for your review.

Does the LNB of this dish work good enough or should I modify the bracket like THE_NET_ BUILDERS website?

Can I used the current feed horn (square) and bolt a round C120 flange to it? Or does the flange bolt right on or do I need a new waveguide? I am thinking of the Invacom unit or something with a low S/N ratio.

If I keep the current LNB, should I remove the transmitters and tape it off?

What about those stacked FSS LNBs from the SuperDish 105?


Thanks for all your help!

 

[Mr Tony]

if you can remove the transmitter the LNB works fine as is. I use to have one of those and they worked awesome!

 

[DocRobster]

Does this particular LNB do both vertical and horizontal?

I got the transmitter off and I placed a thin piece of aluminum foil between the two flanges.

Is this ok?

 

[nhulst]

I second what Iceberg said, the Direcway system comes with a fine LNB. Yes, it does both horizontal and vertical. Make sure your LO is set to 10750 and 22 kHz off (assuming you don't need it to run a switch.) I used a Direcway dish for a little while and I found it to be as good as, and occasionally better than, an 80 cm dish, with better aesthetics

 

[Mr Tony]

I cant see inside the LNB but if you see 2 notches then it does both

 

[WildeComputers]

Does this particular LNB do both vertical and horizontal?

I got the transmitter off and I placed a thin piece of aluminum foil between the two flanges.

Is this ok?

I never put anything (like foil or tape) on mine. Once I removed the transmitter a couple other pieces fell off too. It works fine without the pieces that fell off. It should work just fine for you.

 

[DocRobster]

Well I made my first attempt to zero in on Galaxy 18. I unplugged my Visionsat and then I made a small patch cord straight to the new dish of which I made a temporary platform to mount it.

Here is my question of the day. Does the numbers @ dishpointer.com for the skew and elevation angle match up 100% to this Direcway dish? I tried for an hour and could not get a signal.

I just gave up for the night and patched in my other Geosat motorized dish and I am watching Star Trek.

Any ideas?

 

[turbosat]

Those numbers may get you close but you'll probably need to do some tweaking to hit the satellite you want. I had used my old direcpc dish on G10, and it was a pain to ever point it there lol. It'll be skewed to the right, I believe , for you, like mine was (G10 is west of true south for you also I think). Loosen the azimuth bolts and twist the dish to the right, as you're behind it. And move it ever so slowly east and west while searching for signal.

 

[Tron]

It'll be skewed to the right, I believe , for you, like mine was (G10 is west of true south for you also I think). Loosen the azimuth bolts and twist the dish to the right, as you're behind it. And move it ever so slowly east and west while searching for signal.

Yeah, from the Houston area (Katy) it will definitely be toward the southwest of the arc, as it is here in New Orleans. Skew makes a great deal of difference when the satellite is not close to true south. I once spent 2 hours on a roof aiming a dish at G-10R (G-18 now) before I realized that the dish had previously been aimed at 97w. Adjusted skew and found G-10R in a couple of minutes. D'OH moment for me

 

[DocRobster]

I cleaned and scrubbed the whole dish and took it all apart. This model has has skew adjustment on the back. I was using my other 90cm dish as a 'guide' to estimate how it should look along with dishpointer.com

i am thinking of trying to hit CCTV (95W) as this is a strong transponder and my DS.

What y'all think?

 

[DocRobster]

Success! - Kindof.......

I decided to change the LNB to one I had laying around. I used one the Geosats that I got when I got my Satellite AV combo package. Well it works. I guess the other LNB with the Direcway was bad.

Anyone want the LNB and Transmitter to test?

I now have a stationary dish for RTN!!!! I am getting about 75% Quality on my Visionsat on 11800. Does everyone think that signal strength is good? I tried to tweak all the parameters. I do must say tweaking this dish must be done is TINY steps.

Here are my pictures.

 

[ACRadio]

That LNBF puts the focal point a bit forward. If you look at the original feed the focal point is not much further forward than the bracket...this can make a difference.

 

[DocRobster]

I will try to move it back a little. I was gaging from the feed horn. I guess the true location is where the feed horn bolts to the receiver.

I am correct?

 

[ACRadio]

I will try to move it back a little. I was gaging from the feed horn. I guess the true location is where the feed horn bolts to the receiver.

I am correct?

On the one I had the feed opening was just a bit (3/4 inch) inside the mounting bracket. I took most of the mounting pieces off and built a multifeed so I could place the focal point at the correct position as well as use multiple LNBF's.

 

[Tron]

You might tweak the position of the LNBF to achieve the best quality, but 75 on 11800 with the Visionsat sounds about right.