After what seems like over 100 trips up and down the ladder in the last 6 months, and in the interest of helping other beginners, (if its okay), I would like to summarize some of the steps and lessons learned to get this system to work.
Final Setup:
Today the Fortec Dish, Stab Motor, & Invacom QPH-031 LNB are very accurately tracking Satellites from 72.0W to 127.0W. On my South Satellite G 25 / 97.0W I can now get Q signal levels on 11966 = 65%, and on IceBergs' list 12152 = Q of up to 75%, and 12177 = Q of 75%. See Pics 1 & 2. It must be duly noted that without the help of the many wise folks in this great Satellite Forum, I would have been hopelessly lost.
First Attempts - LNB Touching the Roof Shingles:/B
The first attempt was to try and install the Fortec Star Dish with the Standard Roof Mount. I was first sold a SG 2100 Motor. The low roof location resulted in the LNB hitting the roof shingles so it had to be turned upside down to avoid hitting the roof when rotating. See Picture 3. The whole setup was extremely shakey when walking by the dish. After many problems trying to acquire 97.0W I contacted Fortec Canada who instructed me to trade in my SG2100 Motor for a Stab HH 120 Motor that was $60.00 more. So I got the Stab HH 120 Motor.
Placing the Fortec Ground Dish Mount on the Roof:
Talked to my great friend George, telling him that likely the best mount for this dish and motor was the Fortec Ground Mount. George said then let's put it on the Roof! (Everyone need to have a friend like George). So went to a local Plywood Store and bought a 8 Ft. Cedar Fence Post. Got their professional Carpenter to cut the Cedar Post down to 4 Ft. The 4 foot piece was cut again to the exact angle or pitch of the roof. (To get the right roof angle we took 2 - 2X4s and nailed them together on the roof then took them to the Plywood Store so the Carpenter could measure the exact roof pitch angle). We then mounted the 2 - 4 ft cedar posts on the roof Peak for the Base of the Fortec Ground Mount Post. See Pictures 4 & 5. Used washers to Plumb up the Dish Post used tar to waterproof everything, and this month painted the fading cedar posts with 3 coats of wood preservative.
Problems Experienced trying to Find True South 97.0W:
Used a compass to get an idea where true South was and rotated the Dish and Motor to this point. See Picture # 6. By far The biggest problem was the Elevation of this Dish being so far off. Satcalculator.freehostia.com told me for Winnipeg (Canada) my Dish Elevation should be set to 22.7 degrees. But in fact it needed to set be 32.7 degrees!! The other major problem that needed to get resolved was someone on this Web site advised me that when in USALS on my ViewSat Receiver Antenna Settings you had to punch in your Longitude and Latitude coordinates then press OK to Blind Scan in each Satellite. This works well.
Satellite Meter Used:
On these pages I had read a Tip By IceBerg that the best Satellite Meter was a small TV and the actual Sat Receiver itself. This has worked very well indeed for this installation, since you can see the picture and actually fine tune in the Tp's on each satellite. If the Dish goes out of calibration, it only takes about 5 minutes to get it back in line with this setup.
Pivot Bolt and Plate for Fine Tuning Dish Elevation:
A major problem I had was trying to fine tune the Elevation on the Fortec Star Dish. Thanks to some great advice from Anole, Bill190, and many others, we installed a Pivot Bolt and Steel Plate which has helped immensely in trying to adjust the elevation of the Dish. See picture #7. The Pivot Bolt has been the difference in being able to attain a Q of up to 63% on 11966 Russia Today on 97.0W.
Other Problems:
The Dish & Motor had some side to side wind issues. Tightening up the U Bolts on the Dish has helped, but when the wind is up to 55 MPH as it was today The LNB tends to bob up and down at times resulting in a temporary loss of picture. Had some problems with a Motor Clamp and Nut stripping due to stainless steel nuts and stainless steel clamps (galling problem). Took off the Motor and rethreaded the Clamp, then put anti-seize compound on everything. See Picture # 8. Fortec Canada has since been good enough to send me 2 new Stab Motor Clamps for free!!
Final Thoughts:
I've been wondering if this setup can support a 1.2 meter Dish - but with the wind could this 1.2 Meter Dish be too big for the Roof?? Would this enable me to get Satmex 6?
My Garden:This is my other hobby - Vegetable Gardening - see final pics. Some Tomatoes are now ready for eating.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated, and I hope this helps other beginners in this great hobby.
Final Setup:
Today the Fortec Dish, Stab Motor, & Invacom QPH-031 LNB are very accurately tracking Satellites from 72.0W to 127.0W. On my South Satellite G 25 / 97.0W I can now get Q signal levels on 11966 = 65%, and on IceBergs' list 12152 = Q of up to 75%, and 12177 = Q of 75%. See Pics 1 & 2. It must be duly noted that without the help of the many wise folks in this great Satellite Forum, I would have been hopelessly lost.
First Attempts - LNB Touching the Roof Shingles:/B
The first attempt was to try and install the Fortec Star Dish with the Standard Roof Mount. I was first sold a SG 2100 Motor. The low roof location resulted in the LNB hitting the roof shingles so it had to be turned upside down to avoid hitting the roof when rotating. See Picture 3. The whole setup was extremely shakey when walking by the dish. After many problems trying to acquire 97.0W I contacted Fortec Canada who instructed me to trade in my SG2100 Motor for a Stab HH 120 Motor that was $60.00 more. So I got the Stab HH 120 Motor.
Placing the Fortec Ground Dish Mount on the Roof:
Talked to my great friend George, telling him that likely the best mount for this dish and motor was the Fortec Ground Mount. George said then let's put it on the Roof! (Everyone need to have a friend like George). So went to a local Plywood Store and bought a 8 Ft. Cedar Fence Post. Got their professional Carpenter to cut the Cedar Post down to 4 Ft. The 4 foot piece was cut again to the exact angle or pitch of the roof. (To get the right roof angle we took 2 - 2X4s and nailed them together on the roof then took them to the Plywood Store so the Carpenter could measure the exact roof pitch angle). We then mounted the 2 - 4 ft cedar posts on the roof Peak for the Base of the Fortec Ground Mount Post. See Pictures 4 & 5. Used washers to Plumb up the Dish Post used tar to waterproof everything, and this month painted the fading cedar posts with 3 coats of wood preservative.
Problems Experienced trying to Find True South 97.0W:
Used a compass to get an idea where true South was and rotated the Dish and Motor to this point. See Picture # 6. By far The biggest problem was the Elevation of this Dish being so far off. Satcalculator.freehostia.com told me for Winnipeg (Canada) my Dish Elevation should be set to 22.7 degrees. But in fact it needed to set be 32.7 degrees!! The other major problem that needed to get resolved was someone on this Web site advised me that when in USALS on my ViewSat Receiver Antenna Settings you had to punch in your Longitude and Latitude coordinates then press OK to Blind Scan in each Satellite. This works well.
Satellite Meter Used:
On these pages I had read a Tip By IceBerg that the best Satellite Meter was a small TV and the actual Sat Receiver itself. This has worked very well indeed for this installation, since you can see the picture and actually fine tune in the Tp's on each satellite. If the Dish goes out of calibration, it only takes about 5 minutes to get it back in line with this setup.
Pivot Bolt and Plate for Fine Tuning Dish Elevation:
A major problem I had was trying to fine tune the Elevation on the Fortec Star Dish. Thanks to some great advice from Anole, Bill190, and many others, we installed a Pivot Bolt and Steel Plate which has helped immensely in trying to adjust the elevation of the Dish. See picture #7. The Pivot Bolt has been the difference in being able to attain a Q of up to 63% on 11966 Russia Today on 97.0W.
Other Problems:
The Dish & Motor had some side to side wind issues. Tightening up the U Bolts on the Dish has helped, but when the wind is up to 55 MPH as it was today The LNB tends to bob up and down at times resulting in a temporary loss of picture. Had some problems with a Motor Clamp and Nut stripping due to stainless steel nuts and stainless steel clamps (galling problem). Took off the Motor and rethreaded the Clamp, then put anti-seize compound on everything. See Picture # 8. Fortec Canada has since been good enough to send me 2 new Stab Motor Clamps for free!!
Final Thoughts:
I've been wondering if this setup can support a 1.2 meter Dish - but with the wind could this 1.2 Meter Dish be too big for the Roof?? Would this enable me to get Satmex 6?
My Garden:This is my other hobby - Vegetable Gardening - see final pics. Some Tomatoes are now ready for eating.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated, and I hope this helps other beginners in this great hobby.
The 120cm dish probably wouldn't improve reception enough to warrant the extra expense (and they are VERY expensive to ship). Looks like you have a nice system!
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