Multiple LNBs

[MattFL]

My motor crapped out and I don’t feel like investing in a new one, so I thought I’d go back to a fixed dish with multiple LNBs. I went with parts I already had in my garage. Lots of zip ties and a flat metal bar I bent using a hammer and a scrap piece of pipe. It’s actually quite secure!
The dish (90cm) is fixed on 99W and my 2 “sidecars” are on 103W and 87W. Signal strength and quality are high on the 103W Srv mux and 87W CNN NS1-7. I had DW on 103W but lost it. I also have a modified DTV dish on 129W.

 

[Jim S.]

You're not going to be happy when 103 shuts down. I don't know when that's supposed to be, but I imagine it's not too far off since most of what's on it is duplicated on 101.

 

[MattFL]

You're not going to be happy when 103 shuts down. I don't know when that's supposed to be, but I imagine it's not too far off since most of what's on it is duplicated on 101.

Yup. One day at a time.

 

[a33]

I had DW on 103W but lost it.

When the line 87W to 99W is about correct, then I would expect the 103W LNB to be a bit higher than that line, not lower.

So if you want DW back, you might try some extra fine-adjustment in that direction?

Nonetheless: with that distance between 87W and 99W, nice that you found the proper LNB position!

Greetz,
A33

 

[MattFL]

When the line 87W to 99W is about correct, then I would expect the 103W LNB to be a bit higher than that line, not lower.

So if you want DW back, you might try some extra fine-adjustment in that direction?

Nonetheless: with that distance between 87W and 99W, nice that you found the proper LNB position!

Greetz,
A33

DW has always been very difficult for me, even when I had my motor. My go-to satellite is 99W, so having the 103W mux is a bonus. Right now everything is dialed in and I'm afraid to look at it . I have some new LNBs to put on this weekend so I might play with it a little.
Finding 87W was surprisingly easy. I estimated it's location holding an LNB and found it in about 10 seconds. It's such a strong transponder.

 

[a33]

Finding 87W was surprisingly easy. I estimated it's location holding an LNB and found it in about 10 seconds. It's such a strong transponder.

Good job!
I have a (recently made!) calculator program to calculate the exact needed multifeed skew for situations like these, but you do this by hand...

Multifeed skew for 99 central and 103 sidecar for lat=27, Lon=-81.5 would be 30.5 degree (measured in the plane perpendicular to the viewing direction of the 99W LNB.)

Greetz,
A33