Need Help FTA Dish Instalation

[Blue Crystal]

I'm new to the forum and to FTA Satellite. I just picked up a 10ft. mesh dish made by "Perfect 10".
My plan is to use it to receive k and c band. The holes in the mesh are small enough. I hope, in the near future to obtain a dual LNB (BSC621), a CoolSat 6000 receiver and a vbox for the actuator.
I live in central Florida.
My problem, at this point, is to install the dish. I know about burying in concrete. However, I don't know how high my mounting pole should be. I don't know what angle the dish should be to the pole, if any. I also don't know which satellite I should try to get first. I guess I just really don't know how to get started.
Any help would greatly be appreciated.

 

[Lak7]

This page may help.....
Footprints by Dish Size - Adjusting the Polar Mount for Prime Focus Antenna - C/Ku-Band Satellite Systems - Tuning, Tracking, Azimuth, Elevation, Declination Angles, F/D Ratio, Focal Distance, Inclinometer, LNB/Feedhorn Assembly, Actuator Assembly, C

 

[phlatwound]

Lots of good info here:

Footprints by Dish Size - Adjusting the Polar Mount for Prime Focus Antenna - C/Ku-Band Satellite Systems - Tuning, Tracking, Azimuth, Elevation, Declination Angles, F/D Ratio, Focal Distance, Inclinometer, LNB/Feedhorn Assembly, Actuator Assembly, C

Lots more in the "sticky" threads at the top of the forum.

You need to determine your line-of-sight (LOS) from southeast to southwest...do you have any trees/buildings/obstructions that might block the view of your dish in those directions? The closer you get to each end of your viewable arc (google "Clarke Belt" if you don't understand "arc") the lower the satellite will appear to be in the sky.

The dish setting angles can be found with one of the satellite calculators, like this one:

Satellite Look Angles Satellite Heading Calculator Azimuth Elevation Skew Tilt LNBF Latitude and Longitude values

Just enter your address and go from there.

If no obstructions, you could probably get away with 8'-10' of pipe sticking out of the ground, high enough to mow around, low enough to work on with some degree of ease. Read some more, develop more questions....repeat as necessary, lots of help here.

 

[Blue Crystal]

Thanks LAK 7 and Phlatwound
I went to both pages and it seems to be exactly what I need.
I saved them to my "favorites"
thanks again

 

[Anole]

Yea, I recommend that Geo-Orbit site to everyone wanting to get their feet wet with a BUD, too.
The web pages look like they were designed in the 80's (or earlier), but the content is right on the money! - :up

As phlatwound was saying, you need to see how good your view of the satellite arc is.
One way to do a poor-man's site survey, is to take a simple inclinometer and a list of satellite locations (customized for your city) and look for obstructions.
Below are the tools you need.

Oh, and for that list, get this site to print you out a PDF of all the birds, and use it as a check list.
You will probably want to concentrate on satellites at least 20° above your east and west horizon (just as a rule of thumb).




ThisBUDsForYou and his soda straw inclinometer
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-ai...a-straw-inclinometer-line-sight-pictures.html
Delta Charlie had some variation on the idea, too
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/146479-15-min-duct-tape-elevation-gauge.html

 

[Tron]

Make sure your pole is exactly level before the concrete dries. Best way to do this is with a magnetic angle finder.

 

[Cadsulfide]

If you have the space, consider a second dish for Ku reception, the combo lnb's are a comprimise, you'll get better performance (more channels) using the 10 footer for C Band only and a dedicated dish for Ku.

 

[Blue Crystal]

Cadsulfide

Thanks to everyone for their info. I will check out everything.

cadsulfide if I used a dedicated dish for ku, should I get another 10ft dish in order to get world wide ku band or would something smaller work?

 

[rv1pop]

I'm not Cadsulfide, but an answer to your question, although "bigger is Better" a 10 ft dish for KU may be overkill --- and you will only get horizon to horizon anyway.

As far south as you are, In My Opinion - only, a 36" (90cm) should be good. A 6 foot is the largest I would go in my area for KU, a 1.2M is the largest I have for KU and and it is not up yet. My 1M gets the signals I want (on G25 which appears to be failing, so need the better dish) so far. AMC21 might require a larger than 36" to get all the signal I need, although it is very close to my true south so will get a Primestatr 75E to start.

 

[Cadsulfide]

RV1PoP is right about your Ku rig. An old Primestar works great, and a used & modified Superdisk works ok too.

 

[Blue Crystal]

Thanks for all the info,

I know where an old Prime Star is setting. I'll check to see if they want it removed.

I'm sure this has been posted before my time. However, can a Dish Network or Direct Tv system be converted to FTA by changing to FTA Lnb and FTA Receiver for Ku band?

If I am understanding correctly I know that I have to have an analog system to get analog channels, and digitital to receive digi. However, if I end up with a HD system would it also pick up digi channels?

 

[Anole]

I'm sure this has been posted before my time. However, can a Dish Network or Direct Tv system be converted to FTA by changing to FTA Lnb and FTA Receiver for Ku band?

Yes, but still a good question. The receivers are worthless.

Most of the general run of the mill Dish Network and DirecTV dishes are good for little more than receiving NASA or Angle One on 119°.
The Dish 121° or 105° SuperDishes already have a linear FSS LNB on them and while a little small, should get you some of the stronger satellites.
(So, as a general rule, I wouldn't pay any money for one, but if I had one, I wouldn't throw it out.) -
Post a picture or give us a link* to what you have and we can give better advice.

If I am understanding correctly I know that I have to have an analog system to get analog channels, and digitital to receive digi. However, if I end up with a HD system would it also pick up digi channels?

Yes, the HD is digital, so the HD receiver is a superset.
However, get your facts straight before purchasing a hi def FTA receiver.
Else there may be a lot of disappointments ahead.


* here're a bunch of pictures of various DirecTV dishes you might run across.

 

[Blue Crystal]

Thanks Anole,

I'm sorry my response is slow. My computer picked up a virus and can't get it out yet.
I compared my old Direct TV dish to the web page you gave me.
My dish is a Direct TV Phase I with a single LNB. It seems to be useless for anything else.
Thanks for the HD info.

 

[SatPhreak]

You can use that Phase I dish for Nasa and Angel One on Dish's 119 satellite. That's about all you get with it though. None of the other circular birds have anything but slate channels that are in the clear.

 

[Blue Crystal]

Thanks Satphreak

I'll keep that in mind