Primestar Dish Set-up

[ChuckBoozer]

Newbie here just getting started in FTA.

Since I am pretty frugal, I have been putting out feelers on the local Freecycle board and was able to pick up a Primestar dish no longer in use (see attached pictures).

1. Can I use the existing LNB set-up to pick up FTA signals or do I need to retro-fit the dish with a standard and/or universal LNB?
2. There are 2 coaxial inputs (vertical & horizontal?) on the current LNB. Can I just hook up to one or do I need to combine the signals? If I need to combine the signals, how do I do that?

Any help would be appreciated - Thanks!

 

[gabshere]

yes it should work fine depending on the satellite you aim for like g10 most just use the vertical but you could get a diseqc switch and combine the two. thats a good fine and a great way to start out FTA FREE lol i like free

 

[voomvoom]

You could also use a 3x4 multiswitch or a 4x4 multiswitch.

Al

 

[Mr Tony]

The LNB will work fine as noted above

you might want to paint that dish though...looks pretty shabby

 

[iafirebuff]

I took my gas powered pressure washer to my Primestars. They looked like those in the pictures above. After a few minutes, they look like new

 

[ChuckBoozer]

....you might want to paint that dish though...looks pretty shabby

Yeah, I'll probably take a sponge and hot soapy water to it tomorrow to see if I can't spruce it up a little before mounting.

Trust me - my wife was not pleased.

 

[Gary Z]

Nice looking Dish. I have one exactly like it with the same LNB, using it on G10. I only have the vertical side connected. I have 2 other Primestar dishes I have not setup yet but the LNBs are different on the other 2.

 

[ChuckBoozer]

PS - I also dug up the pole mount (along w/concrete) and have already re-mounted it in my backyard.

In addition, I was also given a variety of other satellite accessories, although I don't think they will be of much use:

General Instrument 301D Primestar receiver
Dish 500 satellite Dish w/Dual LNB's
Dish Videopath Multi-Dish Switch SW21

 

[WyrTwister]

PS - I also dug up the pole mount (along w/concrete) and have already re-mounted it in my backyard.

In addition, I was also given a variety of other satellite accessories, although I don't think they will be of much use:

General Instrument 301D Primestar receiver
Dish 500 satellite Dish w/Dual LNB's
Dish Videopath Multi-Dish Switch SW21

If your receiver " knows " how to operate the SW 21 & you can figure the setup , you can use the SW21 to combine the H & the V feed .

Think it would involve creating duplicate sats , a H entry & a V entry for each sat .

Wyr

 

[ChuckBoozer]

Nice looking Dish. I have one exactly like it with the same LNB, using it on G10. I only have the vertical side connected. I have 2 other Primestar dishes I have not setup yet but the LNBs are different on the other 2.

Nice set-up - I plan to aim my dish to G10 as well.

By the way, how did you go about aligning your Primestar dish? You cannot make skew adjustments on the reflector, correct?

 

[PopcornNMore]

Wash the dish using Krud Kleaner available at Home Depot and Lowes. I use this product on all my dishes and they get good as new.

 

[Anole]

... how did you go about aligning your Primestar dish?
You cannot make skew adjustments on the reflector, correct?

I've never -ever- seen that Dove-bar LNB before, in any pictures!
Strange looking thing.

If the dish doesn't rotate for skew, and the horn can't be allowed to rotate relative to the dish....
.... that just leaves the dove-bar to be rotated . . .
...and in some of the pictures, it is.
Does the horn & LNB somehow slip relative to each other?
If so, I've really seen something new , tonight!

The good news is, it's begging for an Invacom QPF-031 , flange-mount LNB.
... no wait. Maybe not. Unless you can somehow make the Invacom slip, too!

 

[Tron]

If you plan on using the Primestar LNB, combine the H and V outputs via a multiswitch. Doesn't have to be a 4 x 4... A 2 x 4 or 3 x 4 (most commonly found, it has a third input for OTA antenna) DirecTV-style multiswitch will work well.

 

[stogie5150]

I just got done setting some P* dishes up, went through the same issues that you are...so I posted my threads for ya, I think you will find them useful.


http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=87025

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=87822

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=89220

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=89220

There's pictures in most of the threads, and anything else you might need I can see that the fellas here are leading you surely in the correct direction, as they did me...that IS a cool LNB on that dish though, Never seen one of those...

Oh, and if you need anything else, feel free to PM me anytime. I'm home most days. :up

 

[Gary Z]

Nice set-up - I plan to aim my dish to G10 as well.

By the way, how did you go about aligning your Primestar dish? You cannot make skew adjustments on the reflector, correct?

No you can't make skew adjustments on the reflector, you adjust the skew by loosing the bolts on the LNB and rotating the LNB to the proper skew. There is a gauge on the LNB that shows what position it is at. I had downloaded a program that told me what postilion it should be at for my zip code.

The bolts you loosen for the Skew are not the bolts that mount the LNB to the Dish arm they are on the body of the LNB.

 

[Gary Z]

If the dish doesn't rotate for skew, and the horn can't be allowed to rotate relative to the dish....
.... that just leaves the dove-bar to be rotated . . .
...and in some of the pictures, it is.
Does the horn & LNB somehow slip relative to each other?

When adjusting the the skew the Body of the LNB rotates while the neck and horn are stationary. See the attached picture.

 

[gabshere]

Gary
great photos for illustration

 

[Anole]

learn something every day !

When adjusting the the skew the Body of the LNB rotates while the neck and horn are stationary.

Very nice pictures.

So.... could you drop an Invacom flange-mount LNB in there, in place of the dove bar...?
I can see how you adjust it.
About as I imagined.
But still don't know if the mechanics are such that a QPF-031 or a Dish FSS LNB could be substituted.

inexpensive Dish 121 FSS LNB shown below...

 

[gabshere]

yes i think it will i'm working on getting a QPF when i sell my QPH

would also like to find a couple of the lnb type like you have pictured

 

[Gary Z]

So.... could you drop an Invacom flange-mount LNB in there, in place of the dove bar...?

Don't think it will work. I may be wrong though. I know I can take a LNB with a 40mm neck and take off the plastic case and and expose the 20mm neck and it fits and works on the Primestar. I think Iceberg posted some pictures a while back showing how this is done.