noob in CA need help with equipment...

[joam1234]

Could use some help as well...

Please forgive the repetitive type of question, but I have read plenty of messages, instructions, web site info and it seems like I'm close but no cigar.
I live in zip 94564 and have found my information to be Lat: 37o 59.814' N (I rounded up to 38o) and Longitude 122o 17.250' W (122.3).
I purchased from gosatellite.com a motorized package consisting of Viewsonic 2000 extreme, fortec dish 90cm, an hh90 rotor, diseqc switch sw41 (came with vs) and Invacom QPH-031 LNB.
At first I followed the directions found here and elsewhere. I leveled the post/bracket that came with the dish and attached it to the house wall.
I then mounted and connected everything (which I probably should not have done and tried fixed position first/ no motor). Checked level again and it was not level. I guess the weight, tilted the post to one side when I oriented the entire setup towards south. I attached a wire with turnbuckles to provide support and leveled the post again (on one vertical direction 98% of the bubble is within the lines: is this an issue? other is fine. top is level). So now the post is level. I set rotor latitude to 38 and elevation on the dish to 39 degrees (from hh90 manual).
I have read that trying to get to true south is tricky with a motorized mount so I may remove it as my next step if this doesn't work but would anyone recommend a satellite to focus on first and what settings I should use on the VS2000? Should I try to use the diseqc or usals? Also could you verify my connections, I connected one L and one C port to the 4 in 1 switch (lnb 1 and lnb 2) and then one wire to rotor and from rotor to receiver. What type of lnb is this invacom? Universal ? Should I have the diseqc settings on to something? Should I shoot for Galaxy 10R as south? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[PSB]

The Invacom QPH-031 is a STANDARD LNBF on the Linear outputs, the L.O. should be 10750

(11250 for the Circular side, later much later)




G10R @ 123º w is your true south satellite! Sounds like a good place to start!



I would remove the motor and switch and try to find and store the G10R satellite first!

                        Pinole, CA 94564
         Latitude 37° 59.814'N Longitude 122° 17.250'W

                       Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m)    El  Skew
---------------------------------------------------------------
                               
                      Intelsat 707   53.0W 103.1  87.5   7.6 -50.1
                               
                   Intelsat 805   55.5W 104.8  89.2   9.5 -49.6
                               
                          Pas 9   58.0W 106.5  91.0  11.5 -49.1
                               
                       Amazonas   61.0W 108.6  93.1  13.8 -48.3
                               
                     EchoStar 3   61.5W 109.0  93.4  14.2 -48.2
                               
                      Rainbow 1   61.5W 109.0  93.4  14.2 -48.2
                               
               Estrela do Sul 1   63.0W 110.1  94.5  15.3 -47.7
                               
                   Brasilsat B2   65.0W 111.6  96.0  16.9 -47.1
                               
                   Brasilsat B1   70.0W 115.5  99.9  20.7 -45.4
                               
                       Nahuel 1   71.8W 116.9 101.4  22.0 -44.6
                               
                      DirecTV 1   72.5W 117.5 101.9  22.6 -44.3
                               
                          AMC 6   72.0W 117.1 101.5  22.2 -44.6
                               
                          SBS 6   74.0W 118.8 103.2  23.7 -43.7
                               
                     Echostar 4   77.0W 121.4 105.8  25.8 -42.3
                               
                          AMC 5   79.0W 123.2 107.6  27.3 -41.3
                               
                      Nimiq 2/3   82.0W 126.0 110.4  29.4 -39.6
                               
                          AMC-9   83.0W 127.0 111.4  30.1 -39.0
                               
                   Brasilsat B3   84.0W 127.9 112.4  30.7 -38.4
                               
                          AMC 2   85.0W 129.0 113.4  31.4 -37.8
                               
                          AMC 3   87.0W 131.0 115.5  32.7 -36.5
                               
                           IA-8   89.0W 133.2 117.6  34.0 -35.1
                               
                      Galaxy 11   91.0W 135.4 119.8  35.2 -33.6
                               
                     Nimiq 1/4i   91.0W 135.4 119.8  35.2 -33.6
                               
                   Brasilsat B4   92.0W 136.5 120.9  35.8 -32.8
                               
                           IA-6   93.0W 137.7 122.1  36.4 -32.1
                               
                      Galaxy 3C   95.0W 140.0 124.5  37.6 -30.4
                               
                           IA-5   97.0W 142.5 126.9  38.7 -28.7
                               
                      Galaxy 16   99.0W 145.0 129.5  39.7 -26.8
                               
                     Spaceway 2   99.2W 145.3 129.7  39.8 -26.7
                               
                DirecTV 1R/4S/8  101.0W 147.7 132.1  40.7 -24.9
                               
                          AMC 4  101.0W 147.7 132.1  40.7 -24.9
                               
                     Spaceway 1  103.0W 150.4 134.8  41.6 -22.9
                               
                          AMC 1  103.0W 150.4 134.8  41.6 -22.9
                               
                         AMC 15  105.0W 153.2 137.6  42.4 -20.8
                               
                      Anik F1/R  107.3W 156.5 140.9  43.2 -18.3
                               
                      DirecTV 5  109.5W 159.8 144.2  44.0 -15.8
                               
                EchoStar 6/8/10  110.0W 160.5 145.0  44.1 -15.2
                               
                        Anik F2  111.1W 162.2 146.6  44.4 -13.9
                               
                  Solidaridad 2  113.0W 165.1 149.6  44.9 -11.7
                               
                       SatMex 6  113.0W 165.1 149.6  44.9 -11.7
                               
                       SatMex 5  116.8W 171.1 155.6  45.6  -7.0
                               
                         AMC-16  119.0W 174.7 159.1  45.8  -4.2
                               
                     DirecTV 7s  119.0W 174.7 159.1  45.8  -4.2
                               
                     EchoStar 7  119.0W 174.7 159.1  45.8  -4.2
                               
          EchoStar 9/Telstar 13  121.0W 177.9 162.4  45.9  -1.6
                               
                     Galaxy 10R  123.0W 181.2 165.6  46.0   0.9
                               
                      Galaxy 14  125.0W 184.4 168.8  45.9   3.5
                               
                  Galaxy 13/H 1  127.0W 187.6 172.1  45.7   6.0
                               
 Intelsat Americas 7/Echostar 5  129.0W 190.8 175.3  45.4   8.5
                               
                         AMC 11  131.0W 194.0 178.4  45.0  11.0
                               
                      Galaxy 15  133.0W 197.1 181.5  44.6  13.4
                               
                         AMC 10  135.0W 200.1 184.6  44.0  15.7
                               
                          AMC 7  137.0W 203.1 187.5  43.3  18.0
                               
                          AMC 8  139.0W 206.0 190.4  42.6  20.2
                               
                   EchoStar 1/2  148.0W 218.0 202.5  38.4  29.0

        Satellite Finder is (c) Copyright 2004, P. Lutus

Here is a good strong transponder to use when looking for the G10R satellite!

DFeq. 12114

Pol. V

SR. 4442

 

[Mr Tony]

split posts to new thread

 

[joam1234]

Thanks for the help. I will check those settings but I decided to double check my post and took everything down again and used a better compass. I re-installed everything and now that I think I'm at the right area, I'm worried now about some trees in the distance. But first things first. I will check again my settings and let you know. By the way, do you recommend using a sat finder for the first satellite? do they work? If I aim for the G10R satellite, could you go over the settings with me, for ex: diseqc? TP? SW?
Any help, again much appreciated.

 

[PSB]

A satfinder will pull you to the MUCH stronger DBS satellites! But they are good to get you onto the Clarke Belt.

Nothing works better when trying to find a satellite than using a LIVE transponder and watching the signal QUALITY meter!

 

[joam1234]

OK. Thanks for that. I will use a live transponder on the G10 and hopefully go from there. If I get that, then I'll aim for another one in the Clarke Belt and try to pull in that one. If things go well, I can then scan the arc and get others. Thanks again.

 

[joam1234]

:up Update: I was able to finally locate my dish in the right place and I'm able to receive Galaxy 10 R now!!!. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find IA5 and others. I'm especially looking forward to some channels with soccer (S. American & European if I get lucky. Any suggestions?) Just for others who might have struggled, these were my mistakes. 1) Check the post for level (It's emphasized in the forums for a reason. It's that important) and make sure you tighten the lag screws or bolts. You don't want the dish to sag especially if you add a rotor. 2)Check for south with a compass and make sure you set it on a iron/magnet/electrical free area. Note where south is, know the amount of declination you have to account for and adjust to it. I made the mistake of adjusting right instead of left. In the matter of satellites, 30 degrees makes a HUGE difference! and finally 3) it's going to take time (4 days for me) to finally understand everything that's needed. From adjustments to the dish to settings in your receiver. But it's satisfying to see those strentgh and quality bars finally appear at 70% or better and then see some additional tv channels from all over the world.
Thanks everyone for your help and tips.

 

[PSB]

LOADS of soccer on IA-5 There is also a FTA channel on 110w called GOL TV (24/7 soccer) You would need the DBS circular side of your LNBF and set your L.O. to 11250

GLAD to hear you got it now

 

[Mr Tony]

glad you got it working
now the fun begins