Hi I'm pretty new, been lurking around the site for a month and I decided to take the plunge, purchased a WSI 1cm offset dish, dual band C LNB (from Sadoun.com) and sonicview HD8000 receiver. Got all the coordinates correct, however, don't have any channels. Am I supposed to do any type of software download with the receiver? Could it be the lnb? I get a signal that is good but no qualty and searching the satellites comes up "failed", I've been trying to figure this out for 3 days, any help would be appreciated. Thanks, newbie2fta.
HELP, PLEASE
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You won't get much with a Cband lnbf on a 1M dish ( there are a few channels available, that are powerful enough to pick up on a 1M dish with Cband lnbf and conical scalar ring) .
The 1M dish is designed for Ku band reception. A 6 foot dish is generally the smallest recommended for Cband. So you need a standard dual linear lnbf , so you can try to get some Ku band channels.
Apparently you don't have a motor, so you might as well get a new lnbf and try for Galaxy 19 at 97W, it has the most channels of any single satellite over North America.
What channels are you trying to get ?
The 1M dish is designed for Ku band reception. A 6 foot dish is generally the smallest recommended for Cband. So you need a standard dual linear lnbf , so you can try to get some Ku band channels.
Apparently you don't have a motor, so you might as well get a new lnbf and try for Galaxy 19 at 97W, it has the most channels of any single satellite over North America.
What channels are you trying to get ?
I know that traditionally you need a 6 ft dish but I opted to go smaller for my first time. My concern is that I'm not getting any channels at all. All of my searches come up "failed". I am wondering if the twin C lnb is the problem or if there are file "bins" needed for the Sonicview receiver. I've searched and have found other people having problems with no channel but finding the correct coordinates seems to have solved their problem, my coordinates are right for the motor and dish, so I'm really in need of advice. Thanks, Portia. P.S. Couldn't find an installer so a friend is helping me.
C-band on a small dish isn't recommended for newbies.
That said, if you are as driven as Linuxman, you might get these channels (assuming they're still there):
- satellite list for 1m dish
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-ai...mestar-mini-bud-experiment-7.html#post1509116
You didn't say which LNBF you got, but I'll assume the GeoSat Ck-1 , which is dual band.
Again, they are not for the beginner, as Ku performance is somewhat difficult to optimize.
. . . especially on a small dish.
However, some of the Ku programming on 97°w as example, or Whitesprings, should be relatively easy.
That'll give you some initial success and confidence.
Visit our The List (top of the page) and look for a strong signal to use for aiming your dish.
Cross reference to Linuxman's 1m C-band list above.
If this is your first experience on FTA, and you have all new equipment, there are 100 things that can trip you up.
However, we'll try to get you through it. - :up
PS:
We have a review of the SonicView 8000 receiver.
That may provide some tune-up info to assist.
Most of us don't have that brand/model, so help will be thin.
That said, if you are as driven as Linuxman, you might get these channels (assuming they're still there):
- satellite list for 1m dish
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-ai...mestar-mini-bud-experiment-7.html#post1509116
You didn't say which LNBF you got, but I'll assume the GeoSat Ck-1 , which is dual band.
Again, they are not for the beginner, as Ku performance is somewhat difficult to optimize.
. . . especially on a small dish.
However, some of the Ku programming on 97°w as example, or Whitesprings, should be relatively easy.
That'll give you some initial success and confidence.
Visit our The List (top of the page) and look for a strong signal to use for aiming your dish.
Cross reference to Linuxman's 1m C-band list above.
If this is your first experience on FTA, and you have all new equipment, there are 100 things that can trip you up.
However, we'll try to get you through it. - :up
PS:
We have a review of the SonicView 8000 receiver.
That may provide some tune-up info to assist.
Most of us don't have that brand/model, so help will be thin.
You might want to invest in a conical scalar ring, if you haven't already. It adds about 15Q to my miniBud reception and makes it actually useful. Mine is a 1.2M dish, and in the pic the conical scalar ring is the "blue" thing on the lnbf.
[edit] One thing to watch for, on your lnbf the correct orientation is for the arrow, or "0" point to be either at 9:00 or 3:00 , to have your polarity correctly aligned. That seems to be a GeosatPro standard .
[edit] One thing to watch for, on your lnbf the correct orientation is for the arrow, or "0" point to be either at 9:00 or 3:00 , to have your polarity correctly aligned. That seems to be a GeosatPro standard .
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Brent, thanks for the GeosatPro info. I got the lnb from Sadoun and it didn't come with any instructions, I am going to call them tomorrow to ask for assistance with it. Anole, thanks for the info on the Sonicview reviews, I read them before I purchased it and those reviews were part of the reason I chose it, also I have a hard head and always forget that UNTIL after I've done something that vexes my nerves, i.e., I know you said a mini bud was a challenge for a newbie, which is why I couldn't resist doing it, so now here I am asking for help - I knew it would be difficult so I ordered it now because in Chicago winter can come quick and I wanted to give myself enough time to get it working. I'm only looking for whatever free channels I can get, tired of paying monthly bills for reruns. It was a toss up between getting local channels within 35 miles (OTA) and possibly getting distance channels via satellilte, I couldn't resist. The LNB is a GEOSAT PRO C2 output dual C Band LNBF. The motor is a Fortec Star HH 42. I tried to get reputable equipment from reputable people since I knew the items weren't returnable. thanks for the help, I'll call Sadoun and WS Industries in the a.m. to see what they can add. I don't know where else I can troubleshoot. Its raining here so I can't do anymore today. thanks for the help and I'll keep you posted on my progress. Maybe send a pic when its done - if its ever done
Most 'locals' are on C-band.
The CW feeds are closest south from your location on 91w on 3720 H 26700. I'm in St Louis with a mini bud and can't pull that transponder though all of the 'christian' TPs come in fine. With that dish a Ku LNB is your best bet for anything other than christian programming and home shopping channels.
You won't find any Chicago locals on Ku, so if that is your goal I'd invest in a signal amp and a good omni uhf antenna.
Also Dish has a Welcome Pack for $9.99 and includes:
AMC
Bloomberg
Boomerrang
CMT
Comedy Central
Discovery Kids
Food
Hallmark
History
TLC
MSNBC
MTV2 (but not MTV)
Oxygen
QVC
Shop NBC
TBS
The Weather Channel
WE
add locals for $5 more and you're golden!
The CW feeds are closest south from your location on 91w on 3720 H 26700. I'm in St Louis with a mini bud and can't pull that transponder though all of the 'christian' TPs come in fine. With that dish a Ku LNB is your best bet for anything other than christian programming and home shopping channels.
You won't find any Chicago locals on Ku, so if that is your goal I'd invest in a signal amp and a good omni uhf antenna.
Also Dish has a Welcome Pack for $9.99 and includes:
AMC
Bloomberg
Boomerrang
CMT
Comedy Central
Discovery Kids
Food
Hallmark
History
TLC
MSNBC
MTV2 (but not MTV)
Oxygen
QVC
Shop NBC
TBS
The Weather Channel
WE
add locals for $5 more and you're golden!
do you get signal on those? I remember getting good signal on those on my 4 footer
You do know that CW nets have to be manually added. They do not scan in
I had a satellite guy check my install and it seems that I did a good job, was off on the true south but he aligned it correctly, yet still get signal strengthen but no quality. All my sources "fail", don't know what to do to get locked on a satellite?
Also got a conical scalar ring on the unit - came with the dual C band lnb. I'll let you guys know when I get a satellite and what stations I can pick up with my little 1m dish. I'm excited about seeing what I can get.
Also got a conical scalar ring on the unit - came with the dual C band lnb. I'll let you guys know when I get a satellite and what stations I can pick up with my little 1m dish. I'm excited about seeing what I can get.
I get 15Q on 3720 with my P*84e. My CNX has a threshold of 35Q, so no, didn't get it.
A four foot would get me there!
It was a toss up between getting local channels within 35 miles (OTA) and possibly getting distance channels via satellilte, I couldn't resist.
Why not do both? You're in a good location for OTA (googling "chicago ota channels" shows over 30 stations) and I believe your Sonicview 8000hd has a built in ATSC tuner so all you need is an antenna. If you're interested in tinkering you could build a small fractal antenna or a gray hoverman. You could even try a indoor copper wire di-pole like what they include with portable radios,tv's, PC tv tuners etc. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Usually if there's nothing on satellite I look at what's on OTA and vice versa
Yea, in a previous thread, I suggested an outdoor antenna.
Then, I looked up her zip code and saw all the OTA choices at under five miles, and recommended rabbit ears!
Those locals should be burning down her tuner! - :up
Then, I looked up her zip code and saw all the OTA choices at under five miles, and recommended rabbit ears!
Those locals should be burning down her tuner! - :up
As previously stated, C-Band with any less than a 6' dish is going to be more than challenging.
Instead of simply scanning to find a channel, I would find a channel that others have had luck picking up with a "mini bud" and lock it's freq. and SR into your receiver then move the dish until you get some quality. The installer you had looking at your install was not able to get anything either? That makes me wonder how you know it is set up properly with correct co-ordinates.
When setting up a dish, even when you know the co-ordinates you still have to do some fine tuning to bring things in. This would be especially important with a dish that size.
Keep at it, you will eventually find something and build on it from there. If nothing materializes with C-Band then you could throw a Ku LNB on it and still have programs worth watching. Good Luck
Instead of simply scanning to find a channel, I would find a channel that others have had luck picking up with a "mini bud" and lock it's freq. and SR into your receiver then move the dish until you get some quality. The installer you had looking at your install was not able to get anything either? That makes me wonder how you know it is set up properly with correct co-ordinates.
When setting up a dish, even when you know the co-ordinates you still have to do some fine tuning to bring things in. This would be especially important with a dish that size.
Keep at it, you will eventually find something and build on it from there. If nothing materializes with C-Band then you could throw a Ku LNB on it and still have programs worth watching. Good Luck
Thanks for all the advice, I am hearing and listening. It rained most of the day so I didn't really get to fiddle with the dish. I did order a c/ku band lnb with conical scalar ring kit. All the threads I've seen have used the conical scalar ring with the c/ku band lnb with small dishes so I ordered it today.
Anole, I did pay attention when you told me about a local tv antenna, I have one on the roof and am going to track down the cable that leads into the house, see if it works.
I'm excited about seeing what stations I can get, after hanging out here for over a month, I think I've caught the bug. Hopefully Wednesday will be sunny and I can play with my new toy and get it working. I'll certainly let you know when I do.
As for the Dishnet tech, he is a family friend and didn't know about C Band or motors just Dishnet so he was only helpful in helping me to double check my coordinates and helped me to find my true south.
Thanks again for all the help and you'll be hearing from me soon (i) with more questions or (ii) with pix of my new channels when I get it up and running.
Anole, I did pay attention when you told me about a local tv antenna, I have one on the roof and am going to track down the cable that leads into the house, see if it works.
I'm excited about seeing what stations I can get, after hanging out here for over a month, I think I've caught the bug. Hopefully Wednesday will be sunny and I can play with my new toy and get it working. I'll certainly let you know when I do.
As for the Dishnet tech, he is a family friend and didn't know about C Band or motors just Dishnet so he was only helpful in helping me to double check my coordinates and helped me to find my true south.
Thanks again for all the help and you'll be hearing from me soon (i) with more questions or (ii) with pix of my new channels when I get it up and running.
it didn't come with any instructions
Instructions?
We don't need any stinkin' instructions!
LOL... Do you know what movie this comes from?....
Bandit: We are Federales, you know, the mounted police.
Dobbs: If you are the police, where are your badges?
Bandit: Badges?
Bandit: We ain't got no badges.
Bandit: We don't need no badges!
Bandit: I don't have to show you any stinking badges!
Dobbs: You better not come any closer.
Bandit: No sir, Hombre. We're not trying to do you any harm.
Bandit: Why don't you try to be a little more polite.
Bandit: Give us your gun, and we'll leave you in peace.
Dobbs: I need my gun myself.
Bandit: Ahh.... Throw that old item over here. We'll pick it up and go on our way.
Dobbs: You'll go anyway without my gun, and you'll go quick!
Just wondering if you recall this movie. If you don't you ought to watch it. It's a classic!
Ha ha! Hope you guys and gals don't mind a wee bit of humor and a slight trip into nostalgia.
But, the thing is, we don't usually use too many instructions. Not until we get stuck really bad. This attribute is what makes up the bulk of the hobby. It's just plain fun, like a little movie trivia!
Most receivers and peripheral equipment in this hobby do not come with good or any instructions. That is what Google and Yahoo and Dogpile and forums like this one are for. If you were given all the perfect instructions right off the bat in a manual that came with your equipment when you purchased it, then you and I wouldn't have met. That would be a shame.
That indeed would be a shame for I enjoy knowing you! This is a hobby for folks who like to discuss shop. It is an Elite group and I am am happy to be a member of this group!
RADAR
any help is good help:
Aligning a DishNetwork dish is child's play, and they used to come with self-install kits for first-time-novices to put in.
I once had a half-dozen LNBs to test, and I mounted them one at a time on a little dish, then hand-held it and aimed at the sky, to see if they got signal. -
It didn't take much longer to verify the LNBs, than to tell the story.
But, on the up-side, it's always good to have another pair of eyes, and hands, to help out.
He probably also knew how to properly secure and ground the dish, as well as make proper cables with connectors.
Elevation and magnetic azimuth he can demonstrate to you, too!
But the mechanical fine-tuning will be a bit of a surprise to him. -
- Oh, and maybe skew!
Who knows? After you break him in, he might start doing FTA installs as a side-line! - :up
Well, you can do that job with a pretty good sense of direction, and not much more! -
Aligning a DishNetwork dish is child's play, and they used to come with self-install kits for first-time-novices to put in.
I once had a half-dozen LNBs to test, and I mounted them one at a time on a little dish, then hand-held it and aimed at the sky, to see if they got signal. -
It didn't take much longer to verify the LNBs, than to tell the story.
But, on the up-side, it's always good to have another pair of eyes, and hands, to help out.
He probably also knew how to properly secure and ground the dish, as well as make proper cables with connectors.
Elevation and magnetic azimuth he can demonstrate to you, too!
But the mechanical fine-tuning will be a bit of a surprise to him. -
- Oh, and maybe skew!Who knows? After you break him in, he might start doing FTA installs as a side-line! - :up
ku lnb
i have hooked up lnbs aimed at my roof and get signal strengthen
how could he tell if it is aimed right ?
did he try to sell you a ku lnb ? i would.
i have hooked up lnbs aimed at my roof and get signal strengthen
how could he tell if it is aimed right ?
did he try to sell you a ku lnb ? i would.
Newbie,
I do think that you are getting in too deep right off the bat. Attempting to acquire C-Band signals on a small, offset dish isn't a very good place to begin. It is difficult enough to acquire the Ku band stuff and especially with a Sonic View receiver.
If you are trying this with a motorized dish, you are almost certain to fail as it just requires too much research, investigation, time and extreme patience and a willingness to accept failures without admitting defeat. It is not an easy task to take on.
I would recommend becoming extremely proficient at dialing in Ku band signals first, on a fixed point dish. Then move to a motorized system and then return to a fixed dish to dabble with the C-Band signals from a single satellite. It can be done, but I wouldn't expect too much.
RADAR
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