FTA Channel Help

[reccitron]

This is my first FTA install and the system that I have is listed below:

Sonicview 360 Elite
36” Fortec dish
Invacom Quad Polar LNB
SG-2100 Dish Motor

I installed the system and pointed it to my south satellite (79W). I got a signal of 60 so I did a blind scan. The scan found 13 channels but only about 2 worked. They had a high quality but they weren’t channels that I would watch. I started searching other satellites but couldn’t really find anything on any of them. The dish does seem to be moving correctly.


I found a post where iafirebuff gave a recommendation on what satellites to try. I tried the recommended satellites all of which had a signal of 55-65. I used the linear side of the lnb at a 10,750. The lnb type was set to single. The results are listed below.

97 W - 52 TV channels only 6 had a picture (none worth watching) the rest had “no service or scrambled”

101 W - 4 channels but none of them had a signal
123 W - No channels found
129 W – No Channels found

Am I doing something wrong? Do I need a better signal quality?

 

[concord]

I assume you are referring to signal Quality values.

On 97, you should be able to view Russia Today, ERBU, Al Jazzera, Fashion TV. Note that some channels may I have a scrambled icon on them in the channel listing but are still viewable, check out SatelliteGuys.US - TheList .

Also on 123 how many transponders are you getting? The ones I'm looking at are 11720 and 11800.

 

[reccitron]

On 123 I tried 11720 and 11800 but it didn't find any channels. On 123 I have a signal quality of 58.

 

[satcom1]

Galaxy 18 at 123.0°W - LyngSat

You should receive all the Equity channels.

 

[concord]

Note that on most receivers there is Signal Strength and Signal Quality. Signal Strength is really meaningless, Signal Quality is the one to be concerned with.

I would start with the closest sats from your South point and try sats close first. For example try 74, should get ONN and a few others not listed in TheList.

 

[Tron]

You should be getting around 40 open channels on 123w.

11720 and 11800 alone have over 15 channels each. You're probably not tracking the arc properly. As noted above, signal STRENGTH means absolutely nothing (except that your LNBF is connected). Quality is what you are looking for.

 

[reccitron]

Ok. From what I understand so far is:

• The green signal bar is pretty much worthless. I need to look at the quality bar that is on the screen when I am watching a channel.
• The dish probably isn’t aligned with most of the satellites even though on my true south satellite I have a quality of 8 of 9 bars on one of the channels.

How do I align the dish if I can only get a quality measurement after I find a station? Do I have to keep making minor adjustments and then rescan till I get a channel?

On the channels I found on 97w I am only getting a quality of 4 out of 9 bars. Should I start adjusting on this satellite until I get a high quality on these stations? On 99w, I get a quality of 1 or 2 out of 9. Should I use 99?

If I find one channel on a satellite does that mean I have it aligned well enough to get all of channels or is it possible to only get a few if the quality is only mediocre?

I appreciate all the help.

 

[concord]

One transponder may be stronger than another on the same sat, so yes.

First make sure your pole is perfectly level.

If level, go to say 97 and pick a weak transponder and Slowwwly move your dish left/right and maybe up/down...wait a few seconds between moves and check your quality...try to get the highest quality possible.

 

[voomvoom]

What kind of pole do you have that equipment attached to?
If it is something like this?:
SUPERDISH (SuperDMount) Universal Dish Roof

My guess would be the weight of all that equipment is making the dish lean, even more-so when it's low on the horizon? Also, there are several people on this site, including me, that's had problems with the weight of the Invacom on a Dish/Reflector with no support arms. Maybe that's your problem as well?

 

[reccitron]

What kind of pole do you have that equipment attached to?
If it is something like this?:
SUPERDISH (SuperDMount) Universal Dish Roof

My guess would be the weight of all that equipment is making the dish lean, even more-so when it's low on the horizon? Also, there are several people on this site, including me, that's had problems with the weight of the Invacom on a Dish/Reflector with no support arms. Maybe that's your problem as well?

I have it mounted to a metal vent pipe that comes form the basement and then up through the edge of the roof. It is plumb.

I will do a forum search on the invacom lnb weight.

 

[satcom1]

level accoss the top of the motor,there are two cast lugs. then plumb the back of the motor bracket.

 

[concord]

My 31" Fortec dish does not have the support arms and will not support your LNB. The 36" Fortec should have the support arms, last time I looked....

Assuming you are using USALS, make sure your latitude and longitude are correct on the USALS page (at least thats where my lat/long input is on the Merc II).

 

[Tron]

How do I align the dish if I can only get a quality measurement after I find a station? Do I have to keep making minor adjustments and then rescan till I get a channel?

You align the dish using a strong transponder, which can be found here:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/85225-i-need-strong-transponder-aim-my-dish.html

Once you select an active transponder, you'll get a quality reading without having to scan for channels if you're aimed properly. After that, you can scan in the channels from that transponder.

 

[reccitron]

Here is an update.

I got some time last night to climb up on the roof. I made adjustments and increased my signal quality on Sat 97w. I then had the motor move the dish to 123w. I made small motor and dish adjustments for over an hour and could never get a signal quality. I now believe that there are some trees blocking my reception of some but not all satellites.

My next step is to move the dish to a chimney that sits higher up on the roof. Hopefully that will avoid the trees.


Thanks for the help.

 

[concord]

Good to do a site inspection using a compass and line of site. I had to mount my dish on the chimney also for 30w to 123w (tree grew in the way of 129). I used two chimney straps to hold a galvanzied pipe and mounted it on the pipe...there is some flex in it,but only on real heavy windy days (45mpg or worst).

 

[TRG]

Here is an update.

I got some time last night to climb up on the roof. I made adjustments and increased my signal quality on Sat 97w. I then had the motor move the dish to 123w. I made small motor and dish adjustments for over an hour and could never get a signal quality. I now believe that there are some trees blocking my reception of some but not all satellites.

My next step is to move the dish to a chimney that sits higher up on the roof. Hopefully that will avoid the trees.


Thanks for the help.

Are you sure that you are aligned on your true south satellite?

Did you use the motor to drive to 79W?

Are you getting New York Network on 12181 H 23000 Sr on 79W?

Until you get that I wouldn't bother trying to hit any other satellites. It all starts from there.

With an offset dish the satellite is approximately 22 degrees higher than where the dish is pointing. Keep that in mind when looking to see if trees are blocking your line of site.

 

[satcom1]

Before going for 123, you should setup for G28,AMC3,G3c, these are close to your south. If the motor tracks them reliablly then try 123.

 

[reccitron]

Because of rain and other projects, I haven’t had time to work on the dish until this evening.

I have a good quality on my south Sat 79. On 79 I get KTEL, multiple NYN’s (12182 23,000) and others.

I then had the motor move to G3C 95 and did a blind scan of like Satcom1 suggested. It picked up a bunch of channels but I don’t think they were supposed to be on that Sat. I’m not going to list the channels that were found since I’m not sure if I’m allowed to post them because I haven’t found them on Lyngsat yet. I then looked up what was supposed to be on there. The channels that Lyngsat says are on 95 (CCTV 4, CCTV 9, etc.) have been coming up on my 97 the whole time.

Does this mean my dish isn’t tracking correctly? The pole I have it mounted on is level straight up and down and left and right as you look at the dish.

What should I do next?

Thanks

 

[satcom1]

First thing to check before you waste alot of time, Does the motor zero. Send a goto zero command and check the motor to see if it's really on zero. If it's not you will need to do a zero reset.

 

[Lak7]

Can you get anything on Galaxy18 @ 123 (formerly Galaxy 10R)