if time is taken to carefully string test and measure the dish, the calculated fp and f/d will always be correct. if patience is excercised when setting the scalar / feedhorn assembly, first, before aiming the reflector, it will usually save alot of time. it is essential to place the feedhorn at the center point, correct focal point, correct f/d and skew all at once. it is easiest to mark the skew at the dishes apex and then lower the dish to install the scalar and feedhorn. lowering the dish is personal preference. it sometimes eliminates ladder work and always eliminates focused microwave radiation. i use a tape measure to initially install the scalar ring. i set it at (focal point + (feedhorn protrusion - 3/16"). so for an fd of .38 (feedhorn potrusion of and focal point 44 1/8 id set the scalar at 44 1/8 + (1/2 - 3/16) = 44 9/16. i allow 3/16 for the flatness of the center plate. once the scalar is set at the distance at the center, measure from the dish rim to the scalar ring in 4 points around the dish. repeat until the scalar is centered. then check the distance from the dish at center. i usually measure from the center plate to 4 places around the scalars edge. once the 2 sets of 4 measurements are the same the scalar is centered and in the same plane as the dish rim. install the lnb perpendicular to the ring and at the proper skew. at this point i consider the lnb / feedhorn / scalar ring done. every time ive attempted to tweak ive done more damgage than good. at this point you can aim your reflector knowing that the maximum signal can be reflected for each satellite. after practising this procedure many times, trying a laser feedhorn aiming tool, alot of head scratching, alot of lnb tweaking ive got it down to around an hour long process. that depends on beers of course. but when all is said and done, seeing most s2 at max quality across the arc on a 10 foot mesh is pretty rewarding.

crackt out,.