Help for Newbie on Prime Focus with Dish Networks

[virginsatguy]

I've obtained the following equipment for a Dish Networks setup in the Carribean:
VIP612 that has been authorized and works on a 48 in offset dish
Fortec Star 180 cm Prime Focus Dish
DishPro Dual Lnbf
DPP-44 switch (needed for when I pull in other dishes)

I spent over an hour scanning slowly in the right vicinity of the 110W sat and couldn't get any signal at all. In fact when I pull the LNB from the collar and point at the ground I get more signal on my meter.

On the 48 in dish, I can get 110 at about 70% max signal strength with and without the switch in the circuit but can't lock into 119 although I can see it on the meter. Another guy I knows with an older dish receiver gets 100% on both birds with exact same dish.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? I've had a suggestion to look harder for a sat. and have tried that with no success.

The reciever was originally set up in TX with a standard N.A. 3 satellite system (110/119/129). Is there any configuration options I need to set? I haven't done the switch scan to completion because it warns me it is going to delete information so I cancel out. Is that an important step?

What is the best transponder to specify use for the initial search?

Sorry for length of posting but I'm about out of ideas.

 

[Awohar]

do you mean you are using a twin lnb to receive both 119 and 110??

if so, the dish too big for that lnb because the lnb so far away from dish that 9 degrees spacing is much farther apart than the eyes on that lnb.

take you a loooooooong piece of paper and draw a long line on it, then from end of line draw another line that is angled 9 degrees apart and you see the lines get further and further away from each other as you draw. this why twin don't work on large dish except for one satellite.

 

[nelson61]

The bigger the antenna, the smaller the beamwidth.

sounds like you are trying to find the signal with your receiver. A fraction of an inch out and you will see nothing on your 1.8M.

You need to get a signal meter ( cheap one will work just fine) to hone in on the satellite. Then, you can use the receiver to optimize if needed.

 

[virginsatguy]

Clarifications

1. I'm not using a twin LNB, its a dual. The LNB is Dish Pro Plus Dual LNB which means it has two identical outputs that can go to different receivers or switchs. It is not a twin LNB which looks at two birds.

2. Here in the islands, people use a six foot offset dish and position two LNBs on it for 110 and 119. The dish is tuned with the main LNB in the normal position for 119 and then a second LNB is placed about 6 inches lower and 6 inches in front on the main LNB which picks up 110. It can be stretched to three birds as well. I was hoping to be able to do something similar with my prime focus dish but I've been told recently that is not possible. So at this point, I'm just trying to get one sat with the 4 ft offset dish and a second with the 6 ft prime focus dish.

3. I do have an inexpensive meter and it is helpful in finding the 110 sat but I haven't been able to find the 119 with it. The bigger issue is that I'm not able to get a high enough signal level for a reliable picture. A guy that has done a number of installs here for himself and friends told me that I might need to redo my connections and completely remove the braided shielding from the connection as this reduces the signal level. Makes no sense to me as I've always included the braid in a grounding role for an RG 6 connection.

4. I have had a couple of people tell me about how much more narrow the beam width is for the larger dish and maybe I just haven't pointed precisely enough so far. I've also been told that you need a meter that identifies the sat when you find one to work your way to the one you want.

5. What I want to know is if anyone out there actually uses a prime focus dish with dishpro plus lnb to successfully pick up dish networks. If I know the basic pieces can work together, I'll find a way to make mine work.

 

[nelson61]

1. I'm not using a twin LNB, its a dual. The LNB is Dish Pro Plus Dual LNB which means it has two identical outputs that can go to different receivers or switchs. It is not a twin LNB which looks at two birds.

2. Here in the islands, people use a six foot offset dish and position two LNBs on it for 110 and 119. The dish is tuned with the main LNB in the normal position for 119 and then a second LNB is placed about 6 inches lower and 6 inches in front on the main LNB which picks up 110. It can be stretched to three birds as well. I was hoping to be able to do something similar with my prime focus dish but I've been told recently that is not possible. So at this point, I'm just trying to get one sat with the 4 ft offset dish and a second with the 6 ft prime focus dish.

3. I do have an inexpensive meter and it is helpful in finding the 110 sat but I haven't been able to find the 119 with it. The bigger issue is that I'm not able to get a high enough signal level for a reliable picture. A guy that has done a number of installs here for himself and friends told me that I might need to redo my connections and completely remove the braided shielding from the connection as this reduces the signal level. Makes no sense to me as I've always included the braid in a grounding role for an RG 6 connection.

4. I have had a couple of people tell me about how much more narrow the beam width is for the larger dish and maybe I just haven't pointed precisely enough so far. I've also been told that you need a meter that identifies the sat when you find one to work your way to the one you want.

5. What I want to know is if anyone out there actually uses a prime focus dish with dishpro plus lnb to successfully pick up dish networks. If I know the basic pieces can work together, I'll find a way to make mine work.

No problem with prime focus solid antennas. The offset is just a section cut out of a larger prime focus. So, that is not your problem.

I did a quick search and see that it has 6 sections. Did you assemble correctly? Tape a fishing line across it and then run another line at 90 degrees at various locations. The lines have to exactly touch at all points or your assembly is out of line.

Next, how are you mounting the lnb? Best way is to rip the plastic cover off and mount using the aluminium barrel.

And, you are correct. The braiding provides shielding and grounding and you need it.

 

[virginsatguy]

Thanks Nelson61 and One More Thing

Your advice makes sense. I will check the disk shape/alignment. The LNB was mounted as you suggest with plastic off. I've read that rotation of LNB is not important for Dish Networks and have done nothing special there. Just pointed the right angled thing at the base of the LNB down so the connectors would be on bottom.

If that is good, sound like I just need to work harder to point it accurately.

Assuming I can get the signal strength up to a high level on the prime focus dish, do you think the double LNB thing used on the big offset dishes here might have a chance of working?

 

[nelson61]

Your advice makes sense. I will check the disk shape/alignment. The LNB was mounted as you suggest with plastic off. I've read that rotation of LNB is not important for Dish Networks and have done nothing special there. Just pointed the right angled thing at the base of the LNB down so the connectors would be on bottom.

If that is good, sound like I just need to work harder to point it accurately.

Assuming I can get the signal strength up to a high level on the prime focus dish, do you think the double LNB thing used on the big offset dishes here might have a chance of working?

Don't see why not. Usually you point the dish at the weakest signal and then mount the stronger one as offset. If both are equal, you might want to point inbetween them and offset both lnbs a bit.

The offset lnb is "seeing" a smaller antenna area.