Got a C-Band dish...now some questions

[drhydro]

Really I would go for analog first, get that nailed down for best signal, then switch to the 2100 dvb (slaved). I used this setup with the analog (drake 1724) outputing coax, and the dvb (satworks) outputing s video to my tv, then used the PIP on the tv so i could get both up at the same time for fine tuning.

After you get that analog and some dvb to work right then hook the polarotor to the 2100.

 

[Mr Tony]

Here's the LNB I got recently (Thanks DrHydro)

so in the 4th picture that would be like aiming it at 12:00, right?
The 3rd picture is what the inside looks like when its at 12:00 (picture 4)

 

[7720driver]

Berg, if you still have any doubt about how to orient the LNB, then it might be helpful to find the limits of the servomotor's travel, by hooking it up indoors, where you can see what's going on.

 

[drhydro]

That looks right to me Iceberg. I would pull my feedhorn cover off and verify for you, but you and Pete sent us plenty of the white fluffy crap, so no climbing on ladders till that melts.

 

[Mr Tony]

we got more today DrHydro...another 7-10 inches of fluffy white snow

 

[ftarock]

Don't expect too much for the 6ft dish. It's good for fun. I would say you will get less than 10% of the C-band channels. You will probably get some luck with Pas9 and couple channels from Anik sats.
FTARock,

we got more today DrHydro...another 7-10 inches of fluffy white snow

 

[PSB]

I use a 6' mesh dish for C-Band about 30 minutes away from Iceberg and have NO TROUBLE with 95% of the C-Band digital signals up there. With a solid dish you can expect better results, depending on the line of sight to the satellites of course!

 

[Mr Tony]

ftarock
I was at Petes house and saw the C-Band stuff with my own eyes...thats why I decided to get one.

Heck, if we can get "the stronger stuff" with a 40" dish, a 6 footer should be no problem

 

[Mr Tony]

what kind of wire should I buy to run the polorator to the box? Would something like 20 guage wire work? How much shielding should it have

(I'm not talking the coax....I'm talking about the wire to run the polorotor)

 

[ftarock]

As satellite dealer/installer, I assume you already know 6ft is not 2 degs complient. I would never suggest anyone putting 6ft dish for reliable C-band reception. I will bet if you talk with anyone working in satellite industry, you will get the same answer. I hope Iceberg will get the same result as yours, just want to give a headup if he does not, then don't be disappointed.
FtaRock,

I use a 6' mesh dish for C-Band about 30 minutes away from Iceberg and have NO TROUBLE with 95% of the C-Band digital signals up there. With a solid dish you can expect better results, depending on the line of sight to the satellites of course!

 

[Mr Tony]

um...PSB IS in the satellite industry...20 years of it (he needs to update his profile....profile says 15+ years in Satellite (Europe+USA) Licensed Technology Systems Contractor/Power Limited Technician )

Pete is one of my buddies so I trust him.....plus this is just for tinkering to see what I can get

Due to my extreme limitations (I cant bury it in the ground, it has to be on my deck) a 6 footer is what I have to work with.

I have been able to get C-Band analog on T5 and G4 and digital on G4 even with a LOS issue…I had a dish in the way. With the dish gone, I plan on seeing what else can I get. (until the snow came).

I’m not looking to hook a 4DTV to it and subscribe…I plan on putting it on 1 satellite and keeping it there and maybe hand move it across my TS satellite and its neighbors (T6 is my TS and IA8, G11, T6, G3 and T5 are the same elevation)

This is just a hobby….a very fun (and expensive) one

 

[mark_calgary]

what kind of wire should I buy to run the polorator to the box? Would something like 20 guage wire work? How much shielding should it have

(I'm not talking the coax....I'm talking about the wire to run the polorotor)

My "permanently temporary" solution was to run a single Cat-5 cable for both the polar servo and the position sensor in the actuator. The distance is over 30m (100ft or so). I used it because I had it not because I thought it was the best thing. It has survived almost a year (Our winters are like yours except maybe less snow and a bit warmer). Ideally I should use a stranded wire of whatever gauge with an insulation rated for outdoor use. Only the actuator motor (which you don't have - yet ) needs a thicker wire. Mine is 16 gauge 2 conductor cord from Home Depot.

Since this is my system and it has been built of used/free parts I'm not concerned about absolute reliability. If something breaks it just gives me a reason to tinker some more which is what I like to do anyway. A proper satellite installer (for big dishes) would probably freak out over some of my wiring.

 

[mikekohl]

Tony,

Your pictures gave me some insight into where else to troubleshoot for that missing perfection. The Gardiner LNB is probably the culprit if anything. By the looks of the picture, it's at least ten years old, and I have memories of very mixed results with them for analog reception in the 90s. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they got very erratic and unstable. Not something I would particularly trust for digital reception on MPEG-2 if there was a decision between using it and an alternative.

For comparison, I have had extremely good luck with the digital C-band LNBs from Pansat. When used with a dielectric plate, even NSS-806 works in our neighborhood on a 10 foot antenna. I was able to successfully receive AMC-7 with a bit of margin using a 6-1/2 foot KTI antenna and the Pansat LNBF...for the Anchorage channels.
If you run into obstacles after checking reception on other satellites, let me know and I can give you a heckuva deal on a "test model".
Will be trying same on Intelsat 805 with a 5-foot Paraclipse Hydro and post my results, as compared to a 2.3 meter antenna of the same brand right next to it.

 

[mikekohl]

Correction from last post.
Make that a Pansat C-band LNBF...not an LNB.

 

[Mr Tony]

Your pictures gave me some insight into where else to troubleshoot for that missing perfection. The Gardiner LNB is probably the culprit if anything. By the looks of the picture, it's at least ten years old, and I have memories of very mixed results with them for analog reception in the 90s. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they got very erratic and unstable. Not something I would particularly trust for digital reception on MPEG-2 if there was a decision between using it and an alternative.

Mike
I haven’t hooked up the Gardiner LNB yet. I have been using a DMSI 421 C-band LNBF. You have to manually skew it which is some of the issue. I can get analog fine but digital needs some tweaking.
http://www.dmsiusa.com/c-band_lnbf.htm

I had to move a dish (which I did) and now with the snow I have (we have about a foot in Shakopee) I haven’t had time to work on it. I hopefully am going to move the dish back to the spot I had it (its in the corner right now) and start working on it.

 

[PSB]

As satellite dealer/installer, I assume you already know 6ft is not 2 degs complient. I would never suggest anyone putting 6ft dish for reliable C-band reception. I will bet if you talk with anyone working in satellite industry, you will get the same answer. I hope Iceberg will get the same result as yours, just want to give a headup if he does not, then don't be disappointed.
FtaRock,

As Iceberg said he has SEEN with his own eyes what can and can not be picked up with a 6' mesh dish. (95% of the DVB channels including staggering quality HD!)
So hopefully you are not accusing the SatelliteGuy of the year and myself of misleading the members here?

I also don't advise getting a 6' dish for C-band but after having GREAT success with a 40" P* dish my professional opinion is a 6' dish ROCKS (No Pun intended ) Always get as BIG a dish as you can get, and get away with!

Hopefully you are not trying to put people off from buying a 6' dish from our GOLD sponsor Sadoun, we work VERY hard bringing the Cream of the Crop of sponsors here to the SatelliteGuys.US FTA forum!

This is a FUN hobby and I am having GREAT success and FUN with my 6' dish

 

[ftarock]

No, I am not accusing anyone or anything. I am simply stating the fact that 6ft dish C-band is not 2 degs compliant. That's all. Using a 6ft, it will "see" 2-3 sats if the are 2 degs apart.
About Fortec: my opinion is while it makes good receivers, their dishes are just so-so, compare to other brands such as Winegard, Patriot, GeoSat. I have Fortec dishes from 80cm to 1.6m as well as Patriot 1.1m, Geosat 1m....Patriot and GeoSat beats Fortec 1.2m any days (all dish are well alligned with spectrum analyzer).
Well, just my opinion, I don't mean to upset anyone here.
FtaRock

As Iceberg said he has SEEN with his own eyes what can and can not be picked up with a 6' mesh dish. (95% of the DVB channels including staggering quality HD!)
So hopefully you are not accusing the SatelliteGuy of the year and myself of misleading the members here?

I also don't advise getting a 6' dish for C-band but after having GREAT success with a 40" P* dish my professional opinion is a 6' dish ROCKS (No Pun intended ) Always get as BIG a dish as you can get, and get away with!

Hopefully you are not trying to put people off from buying a 6' dish from our GOLD sponsor Sadoun, we work VERY hard bringing the Cream of the Crop of sponsors here to the SatelliteGuys.US FTA forum!

This is a FUN hobby and I am having GREAT success and FUN with my 6' dish

 

[ftarock]

There are no differences between 4dtv and dvb signal. Both are qpsk mpeg2. What make the differences is the FEC that they use. Anyways, I hope that you have luck with the 6ft dish.
FtaRock

um...PSB IS in the satellite industry...20 years of it (he needs to update his profile....profile says 15+ years in Satellite (Europe+USA) Licensed Technology Systems Contractor/Power Limited Technician )

Pete is one of my buddies so I trust him.....plus this is just for tinkering to see what I can get

Due to my extreme limitations (I cant bury it in the ground, it has to be on my deck) a 6 footer is what I have to work with.

I have been able to get C-Band analog on T5 and G4 and digital on G4 even with a LOS issue…I had a dish in the way. With the dish gone, I plan on seeing what else can I get. (until the snow came).

I’m not looking to hook a 4DTV to it and subscribe…I plan on putting it on 1 satellite and keeping it there and maybe hand move it across my TS satellite and its neighbors (T6 is my TS and IA8, G11, T6, G3 and T5 are the same elevation)

This is just a hobby….a very fun (and expensive) one

 

[Mr Tony]

understandable
I know about the bleed over, heck Ive seen stuff from T5 bleed over to G4


I just wanted to make sure you understood I planned on using this as a "tinker" and see what else I can pick up.

When something new pops in I'm happy
When its in English I get real happy
When I like the program, then Bergie really happy

 

[PSB]

No one is upset ftarock

We are simply stating the FACT that both of have witnessed. (95% of digital channels work fine with a 6' dish)

Heck I am sitting here watching HD with a signal quality of 75% on C-Band.

lets just agree to disagree and get on with the FUN of the hobby, your input is appreciated here