Hello! Newbie

[Mr Tony]

Could it be that F1 is properly alined but F2 has slid out of place? Would that account for it?

very possible

I'm using the same coax and can pick up unscrambled channels with my StarChoice receiver. So if my FTA receiver can only ever see the F2 transponders that could at least explain the results.

what kind of signals are you getting on the SC box? Check the ebno number (menu 6-0-5 right arrow to diagnostic c)

If that is a likely culpret then which birds might I want to take a shot at for actual FTA reception? If I point it at 101, for example, would I be able to get 3ABN (if I understand right)?

correct...check out thelist for satellites that you can pick up

Wow! This is all kinda fun and kinda frustrating all at the same time. At least for a newbie.

welcome to the world of fta

 

[Scroll]

Today is not one of the better days for signal quality, which such a day is why I had purchased the Primestar antenna years ago but never got around to installing.

I can only guess what these numbers mean so bare with me if I don't get it right.

07 000FAFC 00 01 nB. 3/4 299
+2.750 19.51 000 1221 NA 0
60 60 0/0 195 +5.0
0-00 4112:10 1330.750 3-209 00000000

 

[Mr Tony]

over on the right hand side of Diagnostic C it should show a + something

I think in the above post it is +5.0 which is pretty low for AnikF1. I get around +9 or so in Minneapolis. So it does sound like the dish needs to be tweaked a little bit

 

[Scroll]

Great! Then that probably accounts for a few things. I may as well play around with repointing to other birds this weekend. Clouds & rain for 40+% chance until then, and without a compass I need all the help I can get, as in a strong clear signal to beep the sat meter.

Thanks for the help! I appreciate it!!

 

[Mr Tony]

if you want to aim, couple suggestions using that dish

1. make a mark on the mast and on the mounting bracket so if you screw up, you know where 107.3 is
2. sometimes its easier to aim with the 111.1 LNB which is straight down the arm versus the 107.3 which is off centre. Make sure to set it for 10750 LNB LO 22k on
3. check out thelist for satellites nearby and the active transponders. Sometimes its easier to work across the arc
4. when you move the dish, a little movement can mean a lot. If you make that mark on the mast, moving it 1/16" is like 4 or 6 degrees across the arc.

 

[Keith Brannen]

if you want to aim, couple suggestions using that dish

1. make a mark on the mast and on the mounting bracket so if you screw up, you know where 107.3 is
2. sometimes its easier to aim with the 111.1 LNB which is straight down the arm versus the 107.3 which is off centre. Make sure to set it for 10750 LNB LO 22k on
3. check out thelist for satellites nearby and the active transponders. Sometimes its easier to work across the arc
4. when you move the dish, a little movement can mean a lot. If you make that mark on the mast, moving it 1/16" is like 4 or 6 degrees across the arc.

5. When skewing the dish, add 90 to whatever number it says to skew the LNB, for example if for the satellite it says to skew it 20 degrees it is 110 on the dish, or if it says it is -20 then it is 70 on the dish.
6. If your mast is plumb, the elevation (at least on the three Star Choice dishes I have) is fairly accurate, unlike some dishes that can be off by up to 5 degrees (such as my Fortecs, one being 4 degrees off).

Good luck!

 

[Mr Tony]

5. When skewing the dish, add 90 to whatever number it says to skew the LNB, for example if for the satellite it says to skew it 20 degrees it is 110 on the dish, or if it says it is -20 then it is 70 on the dish.

good point

6. If your mast is plumb, the elevation (at least on the three Star Choice dishes I have) is fairly accurate, unlike some dishes that can be off by up to 5 degrees (such as my Fortecs, one being 4 degrees off).

Good luck!

best part of those dishes. They also (the 75e) have a screw elevation which is awesome. Only need one hand to adjust elevation

 

[Keith Brannen]

They also (the 75e) have a screw elevation which is awesome. Only need one hand to adjust elevation

Very nice! The 60e doesn't have that feature, unfortunately.

 

[iafirebuff]

I really like that elevation screw. I wish all the dishes hand that. Makes fine tuning a breeze!

 

[Mr Tony]

I really like that elevation screw. I wish all the dishes hand that. Makes fine tuning a breeze!

too bad only a few dishes have them. Makes those P* dishes very easy to tweak. Turn the wrench 1/2 a turn and see results right away

 

[Scroll]

Well the StarChoice antenna option is out for now.

I decided to give it a try. After fiddling with the dish for a while with no luck I chanced to notice that the lnb cover was missing and I was never able to get *C back. I'm also suspicous of the audible signals on my cheapo sat finder. Seemed like it almost always had a tone, but nothin' audible came from either receiver I tried.

So I guess it's time to concentrate on the Primestar dish at ground level for a while as soon as I can mount it.

Sad part about the *C being down is I just updated the unscrambled channels.

 

[Anole]

Elevation Bolts !

In this post , I listed some threads where JsatTV discussed, brainstormed, fabricated, and installed his own elevation bolt on a 1m Fortec Star dish.
Pretty creative, if I do say.
The Fortec 1.2m lacks the elevation screw adjustment, too.

Also, see the mount on the back of the GeoSatPro 1.2m dish.
It's already equipped with what looks like a very nice elevator bolt.
And you can mount it right-side up or upside down, too.

Several members have added similar screw adjustments to their own designs.
They show up in the Primestar mounting threads, where folks put 'em on small motors, and need to shed the weight of the original mount.
Pix by DirtyShame.
Pic by Stogie5150.
I spent some time looking for another example where a member put a big threaded hex nut/connector about an inch long on the end of a long screw.
I think he could turn the hex connector in 1/6 turn steps and it'd hold itself in place where it pushed against the back of his dish mount.