2nd Birdview with 621 C/Ku LNBF project underway. C-band working well!
Today's weather allowed an afternoon with the dishes.
First step: tweak the motorized birdview dish for signal on W-5 using existing Birdview dual LNB. Got great results, around 10.2 or a bit less on the "C" diagnostic screens. (not shown. pics are from new LNBF)
Step 2: Remove original Birdview Scalar, replace with Birdview that has center milled-out to accept the larger cylinder of the BSC-621 LNBF. Broke two struts' threaded ends off, but had spare struts. Replaced them, and put the black-bottomed Birdview Scalar with milled center and LNBF in place. Once again, the scalar supplied with the LNBF had a bolt pattern that perfectly matches the original Birdview's scalar holes. Simply get longer bolts to fit, and its an EASY conversion.
Didn't know if the "guts" of this 621 LNBF were similar to the C-band only DMX 241 unit shown earlier in this thread on my stationary dish, but mounted the LNBF as if they were located similarly. On a properly installed Birdview, this places the flat "hookup" C-band side of the LNBF in about about a 1 O'clock/7 O'clock line when dish is pointed at W-5. Currently feeding C-band only, will look for Ku later. Hopefully tomorrow.
Step 3: Go to the menu Iceberg recommended for quality tweaking and check both horizontal and vertical signals on the 4D. This unit seems to be stronger on the "Horizontal" channels, but acceptable on Vertical as well. We range from the 8's to as high as 12 on some transponders.
As pictures show, the qualities vary...from acceptable on some transponders to excellent on others. Is this a normal situation for digital as it used to be with analog as well? (changes in quality from transponder to transponder). Would this be considered a second "healthy" install thus far based on the numbes shown? Bravo's W-5 Transponder is gangbusters strong, probably the best I am receiving.
Next will come the Ku side of things, using the Pansat 3500. First, however I want to verify the Pansat is getting signal. When the Pansat was slaved off the Birdview/4D Horizontal C-band side only, I received various channels, using the 4D to move the dish and Pansat for FTA reception with good results. Never tried Ku or C-band vertical.
Now, with a single feed only to start on c-band from the 621, slaved to the Pansat, I need to change some settings, and I assume I need to re-scan the same satellites with the "horizontal" channels selected on the 4D, but..somewhere I read that the polarities may be different on 4D vs. FTA on C-band? I could use some help with that info.....At this point, I just want to verify the C-band part of the FTA is back working on the new LNBF.
The next step for me is to move both the horizontal and vertical feeds from this motorized dish to the FTA exclusively, and return the 4D to the stationary dish, making this birdview a movable FTA dish only..... and install the proper diseq switch INSIDE on the two feed lines coming in from the 621. I understand this works better than using the outside built-in switch on the 621 does?
What LNB settings and other setup settings should I have for the Pansat since this change from the Birdview "standard" LNB? on its current single feed? Any help appreciated.
What should the LNB settings on the Pansat be? I know that the 4D will set the polarities as of now, but when I migrate the 4d back to the stationary dish, this motorized c and ku birdview will feed the pansat 3500 exclusively with dual lines into the building. Any help in hookup with diseq info (inside, not the LNB built-in) to the Pansat also appreciated.
Pictures show the varying qualities on C-band with the 621 LNBF but I believe most are well within acceptable bracket. I hope the Ku will align well. I'd love any input on getting Ku tuned in, where to send the dish for best possible signal for setup, any info appreciated via this forum or by PM.
Apologies to the moderators if the post is long. Trying to be specific about what I am asking, and the procedure I've used to get the results thus far. Both this project and the stationary one that started this thread have gone well!