Forgive me for being “long winded”, but information is power. This is not truly FTA, but it’s also not the “Big Guys”. Hope I’m posting in the correct place.
First time at this, am I just being impatient?
Equipment list:
-Winegard DS-2076 76cm dish (fixed)
-Pansat FSS Digital KU LNBF (PF-7600S) RF: 11.7-12.2Ghz, L.O. Freq: 10.75Ghz, N.F. 0.6db
-Finepass SV-5800 VCS Digital Satellite Receiver
-Viaccess Ver.1.1 Smartcard with 1 year H2US1, H2US2 subscription
Target Satellite Information from my locale:
-AMC-4K (101.0deg West)
-Elevation: 38.9deg
-Azimuth: True-214.8, Mag. Compass: 225.2
-LNB Skew: 26.4deg (I assume the positive “+” is implied)
-Per provider, TP used: 12120/V/30000
Setup actions:
-Installed mast on deck (easy access) using magnetic analog Ace Hardware inclinometer
-Adjusted dish elevation to above setting using the primitive scale on the dish mount
-Adjusted azimuth using cheap chart magnetic compass squared the best I could on top of mast to above azimuth
-Skewed LNB (counterclockwise facing dish) to above setting using primitive scale on LNB mount. I ensured LNB was pushed back away from dish in its mount (two scales line up)
-Ran 100ft of cable through hole in house to receiver, coiling approximately 40 unused feet prior to receiver (limiting factor?)
What I’m (not) seeing on receiver:
-I guess the satellite (or correct satellite)
-Signal strength is 96-98 on a scale of 0-100, but Signal Quality is 0. I understand my goal is Signal Quality and it’s the true indicator I’ve successfully aligned.
-When I use my receiver to scan the TP (or programmed TP’s) a list of subscription broadcast channels appear with a “No Signal” advisory. I assume these are pre-programmed into the receiver.
Corrective action to date:
-Spent the last two days tweaking elevation, azimuth, and skew at very small increments in hope of seeing something other than “0” Signal Quality with negative results
Possible limiting factors:
- As stated above, I did coil approximately 40 feet of cable just prior to the receiver. I believe it’s possible there could be a resistance issue, but I assume I would see some indication of Signal Quality anyway, so I’m hesitant to replace/hack the cable until I get an initial indicator of Signal Quality on the above TP. Once (hopefully) aligned, I’ll address resistance loss.
- There is what may be an obstacle approximately 175 feet away. I don’t really believe this is the case. It appears that my directional line-of-sight skirts the very top of a (currently bare) tree when eye-balling my dish (elevation/angle)
I really don’t want to pay the only independent installer near me the $200 +materials for the use of a digital meter/identifier and to place the static dish on the roof. I see there is a relatively inexpensive analog “Sat Finder” on the market, but it doesn’t appear to identify satellites or measure signal quality (signal strength only). My receiver already does this. I’m guessing it’s probably useful on a roof when doing this solo.
Am I just being impatient here? Am I missing something? Does a Viaccess card need to be activated? I’m guessing (notice I use the term guessing a lot, thus the post) the card doesn’t factor in to signal quality.
Appreciate any suggestions, recommendations, and/or guidance from the quorum.
Regards,
Tom
First time at this, am I just being impatient?
Equipment list:
-Winegard DS-2076 76cm dish (fixed)
-Pansat FSS Digital KU LNBF (PF-7600S) RF: 11.7-12.2Ghz, L.O. Freq: 10.75Ghz, N.F. 0.6db
-Finepass SV-5800 VCS Digital Satellite Receiver
-Viaccess Ver.1.1 Smartcard with 1 year H2US1, H2US2 subscription
Target Satellite Information from my locale:
-AMC-4K (101.0deg West)
-Elevation: 38.9deg
-Azimuth: True-214.8, Mag. Compass: 225.2
-LNB Skew: 26.4deg (I assume the positive “+” is implied)
-Per provider, TP used: 12120/V/30000
Setup actions:
-Installed mast on deck (easy access) using magnetic analog Ace Hardware inclinometer
-Adjusted dish elevation to above setting using the primitive scale on the dish mount
-Adjusted azimuth using cheap chart magnetic compass squared the best I could on top of mast to above azimuth
-Skewed LNB (counterclockwise facing dish) to above setting using primitive scale on LNB mount. I ensured LNB was pushed back away from dish in its mount (two scales line up)
-Ran 100ft of cable through hole in house to receiver, coiling approximately 40 unused feet prior to receiver (limiting factor?)
What I’m (not) seeing on receiver:
-I guess the satellite (or correct satellite)
-Signal strength is 96-98 on a scale of 0-100, but Signal Quality is 0. I understand my goal is Signal Quality and it’s the true indicator I’ve successfully aligned.
-When I use my receiver to scan the TP (or programmed TP’s) a list of subscription broadcast channels appear with a “No Signal” advisory. I assume these are pre-programmed into the receiver.
Corrective action to date:
-Spent the last two days tweaking elevation, azimuth, and skew at very small increments in hope of seeing something other than “0” Signal Quality with negative results
Possible limiting factors:
- As stated above, I did coil approximately 40 feet of cable just prior to the receiver. I believe it’s possible there could be a resistance issue, but I assume I would see some indication of Signal Quality anyway, so I’m hesitant to replace/hack the cable until I get an initial indicator of Signal Quality on the above TP. Once (hopefully) aligned, I’ll address resistance loss.
- There is what may be an obstacle approximately 175 feet away. I don’t really believe this is the case. It appears that my directional line-of-sight skirts the very top of a (currently bare) tree when eye-balling my dish (elevation/angle)
I really don’t want to pay the only independent installer near me the $200 +materials for the use of a digital meter/identifier and to place the static dish on the roof. I see there is a relatively inexpensive analog “Sat Finder” on the market, but it doesn’t appear to identify satellites or measure signal quality (signal strength only). My receiver already does this. I’m guessing it’s probably useful on a roof when doing this solo.
Am I just being impatient here? Am I missing something? Does a Viaccess card need to be activated? I’m guessing (notice I use the term guessing a lot, thus the post) the card doesn’t factor in to signal quality.
Appreciate any suggestions, recommendations, and/or guidance from the quorum.
Regards,
Tom
