Help! GT Media
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Ok I have a few NA satellites in my list. I have 60% signal, but when I do my blind scan its not finding any channels. My LNB Freq is on Universal (5150-11475) on all the satellites I have in my list. My transponders are set on 12152 H 22000 on all the satellites in my list. I live in sw corner of Missouri. Is there something I'm not doing right? Or do I need a stronger signal? Thanks for any help I can get.
Welcome to Satellite Guys!
Is the 60% reading on signal or quality bar? If it's on the signal bar that just means you have a functional lnbf connected to your receiver. You need to see the quality bar have a reading. What model of lnbf and dish are you using? The setting in your receiver for lnbf frequency needs to be set for either ku band (5 digits) or c band (4 digits). It can't be both at the same time. What satellite are you aiming for and what method/tools did you use to point the dish? 
Its been a while since I've been that far north. I was in Lamar a few months back.
The "eyes" on the end of that dish are LNBFs.
Those LNBF's will not work for FTA. You could modify that dish with a proper LNBF, but it is really too small for FTA stuff. You also have to move the dish to be aimed at 97W. What you need to do is get a 90cm dish and a linear LNBF that is separate from your DISH stuff.
Those LNBF's will not work for FTA. You could modify that dish with a proper LNBF, but it is really too small for FTA stuff. You also have to move the dish to be aimed at 97W. What you need to do is get a 90cm dish and a linear LNBF that is separate from your DISH stuff.
KE4EST beat me to it!
As he said your dish could be modded but it's not recommended for someone new to this and you won't get great results. If you want to get into FTA try to get a 90cm dish. That will get the majority of what is in the clear. Try the dish first by itself then you can upgrade to a motor once you are comfortable with setting things up and aiming. Here is a good choice. It comes with the lnbf and ships for free.
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Can you take a digital picture of the whole assembly and attach it to a post? That way we can kind of see what you're seeing.
That said, DBS dishes (DISH, DIRECTV, Bell, Shaw, etc.) are far from optimal for FTA. They should probably be looked at as more of a personal challenge in backyard fabrication and testing how patient you are rather than a practical solution to exploring the world of FTA.
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It might be helpful to point out that almost all FTA satellite signals are either vertically or horizontally polarized. Pay systems, like DirecTV, Dish, etc. are circularly polarized. The two are not inter-compatable! The difference is in the construction of the thingamabob at the end of the arm, that the coax connects to. You need the right kind, for what you're doing.
Also, the "vertical" and "horizontal" polarization are figured relative to Celestial North / South, and the Celestial Equator. Near the horizon, these are at a large angle to gravity's up & down, and your left & right. (See a sky chart.) This difference is called the skew, and it makes a big difference in how you aim a FTA satellite dish. Since pay systems use circular polarization, it makes no difference for them. And their dishes aren't designed to be mounted with a skew; so there's that, too.
And of course, I've probably oversimplified and overcomplicated the explanation. Don't Panic. The guys here can set you right.
Also, the "vertical" and "horizontal" polarization are figured relative to Celestial North / South, and the Celestial Equator. Near the horizon, these are at a large angle to gravity's up & down, and your left & right. (See a sky chart.) This difference is called the skew, and it makes a big difference in how you aim a FTA satellite dish. Since pay systems use circular polarization, it makes no difference for them. And their dishes aren't designed to be mounted with a skew; so there's that, too.
And of course, I've probably oversimplified and overcomplicated the explanation. Don't Panic. The guys here can set you right.
This part of your explanation should have been left out as it isn't accurate. All modern DBS dishes require fairly careful skew adjustment as they have to line up multiple satellites.
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