What type of dish to buy?

[mergs]

I'm considering buying a new dish so I can pick up other birds and have a couple of questions as to what are the best options for me. I now have a 31" winegard and 2 SG2100 digipower motors with a viewsat pro receiver and a disect switch that is capable of 4 ports. I really wanted to pull in Galaxy 17 for Sioux hockey games but can't get a strong enough signal. I also enjoy the satellite 10R and would also like to pick up a Russian bird for possibly more hockey. The motors that I have only pick up a couple of satellites if they are right next to each other wise I have to go up on the roof and re-adjust. The mounting pole is plumb in both directions, I have latitude of 45.3 and a longitude of --93.8 for Becker, MN. Maybe the pole is crushed or something else but the motor moves real slow when it's below zero in the Winter. The questions are: 1. How big of a dish do you think I can get away with for this motor (the stats say 1.2m). If bigger is
better should I go with the Max?. 2 Could I go with a stationary dish with multiple LNB's? 3 If I did that can I still move the dish to hit other birds?. 4With multiple LNBs is it possible to get 10R at 123W and say Rainbow1 at the other end of the Clark Belt at 61.5W without moving it? 5With two motors what would be my best option? Attatched are pictures of my dish to see if I have it set up right. Thanks for the help-Have a Happy New Year!

 

[Tron]

I would not go larger than a 36" (90 CM) dish on the SG-2100. Those motors seem to perform best with dishes of that size.

There is no way that you could see that much of the arc (123w to 61.5w) on the same dish without moving it, even with a T-90 toroidal dish. Those are specialized dishes that can receive many satellites from the same dish, and they can only catch a maximum of a 40 degree slice of the arc (example: 79w to 119w). An ordinary dish might get you a few degrees to each side of the center satellite, but that's about it. If you want that much of the arc on one dish, the only way would be a motor.

 

[Anole]

laundry list of questions

It's like asking, "what color should I paint my car to make it go faster?" -
Here's some recommendations I posted for another user, just yesterday.

I'm considering buying a new dish so I can pick up other birds and have a couple of questions as to what are the best options for me. I now have a 31" winegard and 2 SG2100 digipower motors with a viewsat pro receiver and a disect switch that is capable of 4 ports.

Are you running the motors through a diseqc switch?
Probably not the best idea.

The motors that I have only pick up a couple of satellites if they are right next to each other wise I have to go up on the roof and re-adjust. The mounting pole is plumb in both directions, I have latitude of 45.3 and a longitude of --93.8 for Becker, MN. Maybe the pole is crushed or something else but the motor moves
real slow when it's below zero in the Winter.

I would say the motor/dish combinations are not properly aligned.

The questions are:
1. How big of a dish do you think I can get away with for this motor (the stats say 1.2m). If bigger is better should I go with the Max?.

People do get away with 1.2m dishes on those motors.
Personally, I would not go there (see above)
If you -do- get a 1.2m, I'd look seriously at the heavier duty motors (including the STAB HH120 and whatever Sadoun has for top-of-the line).

2 Could I go with a stationary dish with multiple LNB's?

That's a popular solution. Just remember, for best results , the satellites must be withing a fairly narrow range.
AND, there are physical limits as to how close you can get LNBs to each other, so that affects getting birds 2° apart.
There's plenty of discussion of similar examples, here on the forum.

3 If I did that can I still move the dish to hit other birds?.

If you install multiple LNBs, then I would not try to motorize such a dish.
It's one or the other. . . for what you are talking about.

4 With multiple LNBs is it possible to get 10R at 123W and say Rainbow1 at the other end of the Clark Belt at 61.5W without moving it?

NO. The range of birds on a multi-LNB dish is limited.
Depends on the dish, but ±10° is probably good.
You might get ±15° if you are lucky.
Beyond that, you may have some success, but that'd be on a case-by-case basis.
And of course, circular LNBs may spread out a lot further, but they are NOT the subject of this discussion!

5 With two motors what would be my best option?

One receiver per motor.
Better alignment.
Bigger dish (such as 90cm or 1m)
Maybe better LNBs?

I would try putting a motor on a short ground-mounted pole to get more tuning experience.
Have my doubts the top of your pole is really plumb.
And, if you use that J-pole, I'd turn it around and mount it with the long leg up.
It also needs side support struts. Some dishes come with 'em , but you could fashion your own.

Some people mount close to a wall or post, and use a turnbuckle from the top of their pole to the wall behind to level the pole after hanging the heavy motor and dish on it.
All that off-center weight has got to have a negative affect on the plumbness of the mast.

I'm sure there are other suggestions, but it's late and I"ve run out of steam. -

 

[Cadsulfide]

If at all possible go with a post in the ground. More stable, no roof leaks, and you cannot fall off the ground!

 

[nhulst]

I really wanted to pull in Galaxy 17 for Sioux hockey games but can't get a strong enough signal.

If you can't get a strong enough signal to get FSSN this year, you need to seriously re-evaluate your setup. FSSN this year is probably the second strongest signal I have seen on any FSS satellite, ever. Make sure your mast is level, dish isn't warped, etc.

If you meant that you couldn't get FSSN last year and you haven't tried again this year, I can understand.... I used the 80 cm Fortec Star dish last winter and it was touch-and-go all winter. Go give it a shot on G17, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Don't know how this will correlate to your viewsat, but on my Mercury II on G17, I typically get Q in the mid 40's on 12060 V 26700 and right around 80 for FSSN.

 

[Mr Tony]

I really wanted to pull in Galaxy 17 for Sioux hockey games but can't get a strong enough signal.

something aint right then. This year they are burying the meter. I'm just down the road (SW suburbs of Mpls) and it maxes the meter (85 on the Coolsat 5000, 99 on the Pansat 1500)...if it wasnt so damn cold, I might try a 18" dish with linear LNB to see if it will work (betcha it will)

Maybe the pole is crushed or something else but the motor moves real slow when it's below zero in the Winter.

when you move between satellites pick a H transponder. Then the receiver sends 18volts to the motor and it moves faster. My SG2100 has been mounted since 04 and still runs like a champ

The questions are: 1. How big of a dish do you think I can get away with for this motor (the stats say 1.2m). If bigger is
better should I go with the Max?.

I'd stick to 36" max...shipping is torture above that

2 Could I go with a stationary dish with multiple LNB's?

you could

3 If I did that can I still move the dish to hit other birds?.

[
yep. I have 3 fixed dishes and a motorized

4With multiple LNBs is it possible to get 10R at 123W and say Rainbow1 at the other end of the Clark Belt at 61.5W without moving it?

nope...maybe 6 degrees off but not that much

Best thing to do is when it gets warmer is start from true south and go from there....sounds like the dish is out of whack just a little bit. But as noted 91W is just 2 degrees off your true south so you should be able to get that with no issues.

I would zero the motor and reset it (with the pinhole). Since you are .8 off true south (93.8) set up USALS as 93.8 and motor to 93 then repeak the dish. THe last pic is right
motor at 45...leave it once you set at 45
dish at 23-24 but you may have to tweak that

 

[mergs]

Fighting Sioux Sports Network

I've been trying to get this on my winegaurd 31" dish with an sg2100 motor and a viewsat pro reciever. I picked up a signal of 20% at 93W but wasn't sure if this was galaxy 17. Is this bird now at 91W (next to NIM 1?)? Is my dish big enough for Becker, MN 55308? Iceberg buddy, you seem to be a Siouxper fan, any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Lak7]

Galaxy 17 is at 91west, along with Nimiq.

 

[walrus1957]

I've been trying to get this on my winegaurd 31" dish with an sg2100 motor and a viewsat pro reciever. I picked up a signal of 20% at 93W but wasn't sure if this was galaxy 17. Is this bird now at 91W (next to NIM 1?)? Is my dish big enough for Becker, MN 55308? Iceberg buddy, you seem to be a Siouxper fan, any ideas? Thanks.

Do you have a transponder frequency and SR for the signal you were picking up? I can test with my 31" dish and Coolsat receiver at a location near Omaha on both 91 and 93W to see what is there.

 

[Anole]

. . . please see below . . .

 

[nhulst]

Anole, is the thread you found in a member only area? When I click the link, it tells me I don't have permission to view the thread.

Mergs, the usual recommended transponder on G17 for pointing your dish is 12060 V 26700. I'm a little concerned with you having only a 31" dish that that transponder may be weak for you. I know there are a couple of HughesNet transponders on there as well... I'll scan tonight and see if I can find one that's stronger for you.

Be careful to peak your dish accurately. 31" is on the small end of the spectrum for a Ku dish and so it's not going to be as sharp directionally as a larger dish. You have to be sure you're right in the middle and not on a side lobe. Of course, as strong as FSSN is this year, if you can get any of the other TPs at all, you should get FSSN just fine.

 

[Anole]

correction:

Okay, here's a better link with public info.
It's hardly a secret.
Wikipedia has [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_Sioux_Sports_Network"]Fighting Sioux Sports Network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:FSSN_logo.png" class="image" title="FSSN logo"><img alt="FSSN logo" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/FSSN_logo.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/6/61/FSSN_logo.png[/ame] on it, too.

edit: direct from the source.
... and remember, it's a feed, so the channel is only up for games.

 

[Mr Tony]

correct. Since its a feed its up 15 minutes before the game

12060 V 26700 is a 24/7 transponder up there on 91 and is pretty strong. I am getting 75 quality on a 30" Winegard/Coolsat 5000

FSSN comes in at 85 quality (which is like a 100)

 

[Mr Tony]

I'm a little concerned with you having only a 31" dish that that transponder may be weak for you.

the 30" dish I use in Minneapolis worked just dandy..picks up 99% of everything I need to see

 

[Mr Tony]

addition....to the OP there are a couple strong transponders on 93
-Azteca
-Macy's

see thelist above for the info...if you lock on those with a strong quality then you should be on the arc pretty good. Azteca maxes the meter and Macy's is real close

 

[walrus1957]

correct. Since its a feed its up 15 minutes before the game

12060 V 26700 is a 24/7 transponder up there on 91 and is pretty strong. I am getting 75 quality on a 30" Winegard/Coolsat 5000

FSSN comes in at 85 quality (which is like a 100)

Iceberg,

Do you have the audio and video idents for this feed? I have 10 channels captured on that transponder using that symbol rate, three in the clear. The three clear channels I have listed as, Ocasional Use 1- video ID 1160 audio ID 1120, Ocasional Use 2- video 1260 audio 1220, and Ocasional Use 3- video 1760 audio 1720. If none of the three are the AVPIDs can you provide them, I assume they would use the same each time, or do they change them? I would like to add in channel master to my feeds list for Galaxy 17. Would be a nice addition to viewing having this feed.

Currently Ocasional Use 1 and 2 are showing color bars with steady tone at 70% quality.

 

[Mr Tony]

that is the correct info for that transponder

10 or 11 channels....3 in the clear and the rest scrambled. Yesterday radio is on one of the scrambled transponders (audi in the clear) at apid 1620...I did a pid entry and added the video for the color bars (1160) so I can listen to yesterday radio

 

[walrus1957]

Just a little information to pass along. Did some research about FSSN (Fighting Sioux Sports Network) at their home site. They state home games will also be broadcast via satellite, here is a copy and paste of the information obtained:

Satellite

Home games are also broadcast via satellite for the benefit of those outside the Grand Forks viewing area.
The contents of this cablecast are protected under copyright and other intellectual property laws. This cablecast is licensed only for non commercial private viewing in homes. Any distribution outside of the licensed territory, copying, transmission, public performance, alternation or reverse engineering is strictly prohibited any may result in criminal and/or civil liability.
All Rights Reserved.

Satellite coordinates for the 2008-09 season
The contents of this cablecast are protected under copyright and other intellectual property laws. This cablecast is licensed only for non commercial private viewing in homes. Any distribution outside of the licensed territory, copying, transmission, public performance, alternation or reverse engineering is strictly prohibited and may result in criminal and/or civil liability.
All rights reserved.

Satellite Info
Galaxy 17 Digital – 91.0° W
K24 Slot F - 9 MHz
Ku Band - Downlink Frequency: 12187 V
L Band - Downlink Frequency: 1437 V
Symbol Rate 4.88
FEC 3/4
PMT 480
Video 481
Audio 484 (Primary L&R)

Receiver Audio Info
Left Channel - Mono Program Audio
Right Channel - Cue tones ONLY
Markets with WDAZ 102* - ON
Markets with WDAZ 102# - OFF
Markets without WDAZ 063* - ON
Markets without WDAZ 063# - OFF

There is a hockey game scheduled to air on 1/23/09 at 7:30 PM on FSSN, this will be a opportune time to check out the signal.

​

 

[Mr Tony]

yep they've been FTA for 6 years now. Its designed for the podunk cable companies in NW Minnesota and out in ND to grab the signal to show the games

 

[Anole]

Ice - thanks for merging the threads.
Makes more sense as one. - :up