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Jarhead84-90

Jarhead84-90

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
Jan 9, 2006
63
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WI
Hello, Though I am not new to satellite, having had Dish and Direct, I am new to the FTA scene. My primary interest would be PBS for my youngest daughter but would also like to see the world so to speak. This is what I am currently planning on purchasing:

- Pansat 3500s
- DiseqC Switch One 4x1 DiseqC Switch - Included
- Update Cable Null Modem Cable - Included
- Dish 36 Inch
- LNB Linear Dual
- Motor Pansat PM 900S
- Signal Finder Analog Signal Finder

I live in West Bend WI 53090
I have tried to read up on as much as possible but would like an opinion on this setup and if it's workable for my area, eventually I would plan to add some more dishes where necessary to expand but thought just to start out this would work.


Oh and also I do do all my own installations, and am electrically and mechanically inclined, working as a mechanic and having worked comm/nav electrical in the USMC,

Thanks much for any help.
 
Last edited:
Welcome :wave

Looks like a great system to start with. Yes, what you have their will work fine. The dish needs to be at least 30” for most FTA. I’m in MN (uh oh, you’re a cheesehead) :D and it works fine for most everything. I wish I had a little bigger dish for my mototized but due to roof issues I can’t : (
I know PSB uses a 36” and it works really good. (and he’s in our neck of the woods too)
 
Yes 36" dish is the way to go. 1m would be better but 36" will serve very well.
 
:up Well thanks for the quick response, good I'm glad this will work. What is the "true south satellite" . Also I've seen different lists of the "available" satellites in my area, and they seem to differ from each other. Would it be possible to get an available list and angles? Thanks again. I will be ordering my system tonight and by this weekend I hope to be installing. :D Mark
 
Your true south satellite is needed when setting up a motor. After aiming the dish and motor at the true south satellite all the others should fall into place as you motor east to west.

Your true south is always the same as your longitude....(This is the closest zip I could get to work)

IA-8 would be your true south satellite (or near enough)

Code: 
  Theresa, WI 53091
Latitude 43° 30.270'N Longitude 88° 26.868'W

              Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m)   El  Skew
-----------------------------------------------------
  12.5°W Atlantic Bird   12.5W  99.8 102.9  1.4 -45.6
            Telstar 12   15.0W 101.6 104.7  3.2 -45.3
          Intelsat 901   18.0W 103.7 106.9  5.4 -44.8
                 NSS 7   22.0W 106.7 109.9  8.2 -44.0
          Intelsat 905   24.5W 108.6 111.8 10.0 -43.4
          Intelsat 907   27.5W 110.9 114.1 12.1 -42.6
         Hispasat 1C/D   30.0W 112.9 116.1 13.9 -41.9
          Intelsat 801   31.5W 114.1 117.3 14.9 -41.4
          Intelsat 903   34.5W 116.6 119.8 16.9 -40.4
           AMC 12/T 11   37.5W 119.2 122.3 19.0 -39.3
               NSS 806   40.5W 121.8 125.0 20.9 -38.0
             Pas 3R/6B   43.0W 124.1 127.3 22.6 -36.9
                Pas 1R   45.0W 126.0 129.2 23.8 -35.9
          Intelsat 705   50.0W 130.9 134.1 26.9 -33.2
          Intelsat 707   53.0W 134.0 137.2 28.6 -31.4
          Intelsat 805   55.5W 136.7 139.9 30.0 -29.8
                 Pas 9   58.0W 139.5 142.7 31.3 -28.1
              Amazonas   61.0W 143.0 146.1 32.8 -25.9
            EchoStar 3   61.5W 143.6 146.7 33.0 -25.5
             Rainbow 1   61.5W 143.6 146.7 33.0 -25.5
              Nahuel 1   71.8W 156.5 159.7 37.1 -16.8
             DirecTV 1   72.5W 157.5 160.6 37.3 -16.1
                 AMC 6   72.0W 156.8 159.9 37.2 -16.6
             Galaxy 12   74.0W 159.5 162.6 37.7 -14.7
                 SBS 6   74.0W 159.5 162.6 37.7 -14.7
               GOES 12   75.0W 160.8 164.0 38.0 -13.8
                 AMC 5   79.0W 166.4 169.6 38.9  -9.8
             DirecTV 3   81.8W 170.4 173.5 39.4  -7.0
               Nimiq 2   82.0W 170.7 173.8 39.4  -6.7
                 AMC 9   83.0W 172.1 175.3 39.5  -5.7
          Brasilsat B3   84.0W 173.6 176.7 39.6  -4.7
              AMC 2/16   85.0W 175.0 178.2 39.7  -3.6
                 AMC 3   87.0W 177.9 181.1 39.8  -1.5
                  IA-8   89.0W 180.8 184.0 39.8   0.6
             Galaxy 11   91.0W 183.7 186.9 39.8   2.7
             Nimiq 1/3   91.0W 183.7 186.9 39.8   2.7
          Brasilsat B4   92.0W 185.2 188.3 39.7   3.7
             Telstar 6   93.0W 186.6 189.8 39.6   4.8
             Galaxy 3C   95.0W 189.5 192.6 39.4   6.9
             Telstar 5   97.0W 192.3 195.5 39.1   8.9
             Galaxy 4R   99.0W 195.1 198.3 38.7  10.9
       DirecTV 1R/4S/8  101.0W 197.9 201.1 38.2  12.9
                 AMC 4  101.0W 197.9 201.1 38.2  12.9
            Spaceway 1  102.0W 199.3 202.5 38.0  13.9
                 AMC 1  103.0W 200.7 203.8 37.7  14.8
                AMC 15  105.0W 203.4 206.5 37.1  16.7
           Anik F1/F1R  107.3W 206.4 209.5 36.3  18.8
             DirecTV 6  109.5W 209.2 212.4 35.5  20.7
            EchoStar 6  110.0W 209.8 213.0 35.3  21.2
            EchoStar 8  110.0W 209.8 213.0 35.3  21.2
               Anik F2  111.1W 211.2 214.4 34.9  22.1
         Solidaridad 2  113.0W 213.6 216.7 34.1  23.6
              SatMex 5  116.8W 218.1 221.2 32.3  26.6
             DirecTV 5  119.0W 220.6 223.8 31.2  28.2
            EchoStar 7  119.0W 220.6 223.8 31.2  28.2
 EchoStar 9/Telstar 13  121.0W 222.8 226.0 30.2  29.5
            Galaxy 10R  123.0W 225.0 228.2 29.1  30.9
             Galaxy 12  125.0W 227.1 230.3 28.0  32.1
         Galaxy 13/H 1  127.0W 229.2 232.3 26.8  33.3
  Telstar 7/Echostar 5  129.0W 231.2 234.3 25.6  34.4
                AMC 11  131.0W 233.1 236.3 24.4  35.5
             Galaxy 1R  133.0W 235.0 238.2 23.1  36.5
                AMC 10  135.0W 236.9 240.0 21.8  37.4
                 AMC 7  137.0W 238.7 241.9 20.6  38.3
                 AMC 8  139.0W 240.5 243.6 19.2  39.1
            EchoStar 1  148.0W 248.0 251.1 13.1  42.2
            EchoStar 2  148.0W 248.0 251.1 13.1  42.2
                      
............................................................
                      
 *** DBS SATELLITE ***
                      
         EchoStar 3/R1   61.5W 143.6 146.7 33.0 -25.5
          EchoStar 6/8  110.0W 209.8 213.0 35.3  21.2
            EchoStar 7  119.0W 220.6 223.8 31.2  28.2
 EchoStar 9/Telstar 13  121.0W 222.8 226.0 30.2  29.5
            EchoStar 5  129.0W 231.2 234.3 25.6  34.4
          EchoStar 1/2  148.0W 248.0 251.1 13.1  42.2
                      
               Nimiq 2   82.0W 170.7 173.8 39.4  -6.7
             Nimiq 1/3   91.0W 183.7 186.9 39.8   2.7
                      
       DirecTV 1R/4S/8  101.0W 197.9 201.1 38.2  12.9
             DirecTV 5  110.0W 209.8 213.0 35.3  21.2
            DirecTV 7S  119.0W 220.6 223.8 31.2  28.2
                      
                      

Satellite Finder is (c) Copyright 2004, P. Lutus
 
True south is what you use when a motor is involved. It is the satellite that is the highest in the sky for your location. For myself (and PSB) it’s IA6 (Telstar 6) at 93 degrees west. Everything else has a lower elevation with the motor.

It’s the same as your longitude. Pete will give you all the angles (he has that program on his computer)

Your TS might be Galaxy 11 (91W) but not sure.
 
You maybe Man of the year but not FASTEST man of the year :)
This picture may help you visualise how the satellites line up in the sky and how your true south satellite is always the highest in the sky.......
 

Attachments

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That picture should answer a lot of motor questions for people. Great work PSB!
 
Yup, that definately helps, Thanks again , Iceberg and Pete (PSB). This forum is fantastic and the support from it's members is outstanding. Well I've ordered my system, should be here in 2-5 days. Mark
 
Your true south is always the same as your longitude....(This is the closest zip I could get to work)

IA-8 would be your true south satellite (or near enough)
Click to expand...

PSB, I downloaded the Sat finder program I think you are using, My list comes out a little different than yours, is yours updated or with more data that you put in? I see that it doesnt show alot of the ones on the list you gave me, and it shows our old zip before our town added another zip to it . My zip code on there would be 53095 then because 53091 is like 40 miles away. So if it is not too much trouble and if you get around to it could I see a list for 53095 . Thanks again, Mark
 
Yes you can edit the list of satellites, but here is the new one for the correct zip code.......

Code: 
  West Bend, WI 53095
Latitude 43° 25.344'N Longitude 88° 11.070'W

              Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m)   El  Skew
-----------------------------------------------------
  12.5°W Atlantic Bird   12.5W  99.9 103.3  1.6 -45.7
            Telstar 12   15.0W 101.7 105.1  3.4 -45.3
          Intelsat 901   18.0W 103.9 107.3  5.6 -44.8
                 NSS 7   22.0W 106.9 110.2  8.4 -44.0
          Intelsat 905   24.5W 108.8 112.1 10.2 -43.4
          Intelsat 907   27.5W 111.1 114.5 12.3 -42.7
         Hispasat 1C/D   30.0W 113.1 116.5 14.1 -41.9
          Intelsat 801   31.5W 114.3 117.7 15.1 -41.4
          Intelsat 903   34.5W 116.8 120.2 17.2 -40.4
           AMC 12/T 11   37.5W 119.4 122.7 19.2 -39.3
               NSS 806   40.5W 122.0 125.4 21.2 -38.0
             Pas 3R/6B   43.0W 124.3 127.7 22.8 -36.9
                Pas 1R   45.0W 126.2 129.6 24.0 -35.9
          Intelsat 705   50.0W 131.2 134.5 27.1 -33.2
          Intelsat 707   53.0W 134.3 137.6 28.8 -31.3
          Intelsat 805   55.5W 137.0 140.3 30.2 -29.7
                 Pas 9   58.0W 139.8 143.1 31.5 -28.0
              Amazonas   61.0W 143.2 146.6 33.0 -25.8
            EchoStar 3   61.5W 143.8 147.2 33.2 -25.4
             Rainbow 1   61.5W 143.8 147.2 33.2 -25.4
              Nahuel 1   71.8W 156.8 160.2 37.3 -16.6
             DirecTV 1   72.5W 157.8 161.1 37.5 -15.9
                 AMC 6   72.0W 157.1 160.5 37.3 -16.4
             Galaxy 12   74.0W 159.8 163.2 37.9 -14.5
                 SBS 6   74.0W 159.8 163.2 37.9 -14.5
               GOES 12   75.0W 161.2 164.5 38.2 -13.6
                 AMC 5   79.0W 166.8 170.1 39.1  -9.6
             DirecTV 3   81.8W 170.8 174.1 39.5  -6.7
               Nimiq 2   82.0W 171.0 174.4 39.5  -6.5
                 AMC 9   83.0W 172.5 175.8 39.6  -5.5
          Brasilsat B3   84.0W 173.9 177.3 39.7  -4.4
              AMC 2/16   85.0W 175.4 178.7 39.8  -3.4
                 AMC 3   87.0W 178.3 181.6 39.9  -1.3
                  IA-8   89.0W 181.2 184.6 39.9   0.9
             Galaxy 11   91.0W 184.1 187.5 39.8   3.0
             Nimiq 1/3   91.0W 184.1 187.5 39.8   3.0
          Brasilsat B4   92.0W 185.5 188.9 39.8   4.0
             Telstar 6   93.0W 187.0 190.4 39.7   5.1
             Galaxy 3C   95.0W 189.9 193.2 39.4   7.1
             Telstar 5   97.0W 192.7 196.1 39.1   9.2
             Galaxy 4R   99.0W 195.5 198.9 38.7  11.2
       DirecTV 1R/4S/8  101.0W 198.3 201.7 38.3  13.2
                 AMC 4  101.0W 198.3 201.7 38.3  13.2
            Spaceway 1  102.0W 199.7 203.1 38.0  14.2
                 AMC 1  103.0W 201.0 204.4 37.7  15.1
                AMC 15  105.0W 203.7 207.1 37.1  17.0
           Anik F1/F1R  107.3W 206.8 210.1 36.3  19.1
             DirecTV 6  109.5W 209.6 212.9 35.5  21.0
            EchoStar 6  110.0W 210.2 213.6 35.3  21.4
            EchoStar 8  110.0W 210.2 213.6 35.3  21.4
               Anik F2  111.1W 211.6 215.0 34.9  22.4
         Solidaridad 2  113.0W 213.9 217.3 34.0  23.9
              SatMex 5  116.8W 218.4 221.8 32.3  26.8
             DirecTV 5  119.0W 221.0 224.3 31.2  28.4
            EchoStar 7  119.0W 221.0 224.3 31.2  28.4
 EchoStar 9/Telstar 13  121.0W 223.2 226.5 30.1  29.8
            Galaxy 10R  123.0W 225.3 228.7 29.0  31.1
             Galaxy 12  125.0W 227.4 230.8 27.9  32.3
         Galaxy 13/H 1  127.0W 229.5 232.9 26.7  33.5
  Telstar 7/Echostar 5  129.0W 231.5 234.9 25.5  34.6
                AMC 11  131.0W 233.4 236.8 24.3  35.7
             Galaxy 1R  133.0W 235.3 238.7 23.0  36.7
                AMC 10  135.0W 237.2 240.5 21.7  37.6
                 AMC 7  137.0W 239.0 242.3 20.4  38.5
                 AMC 8  139.0W 240.7 244.1 19.1  39.3
            EchoStar 1  148.0W 248.2 251.6 12.9  42.4
            EchoStar 2  148.0W 248.2 251.6 12.9  42.4
                      
............................................................
                      
 *** DBS SATELLITE ***
                      
         EchoStar 3/R1   61.5W 143.8 147.2 33.2 -25.4
          EchoStar 6/8  110.0W 210.2 213.6 35.3  21.4
            EchoStar 7  119.0W 221.0 224.3 31.2  28.4
 EchoStar 9/Telstar 13  121.0W 223.2 226.5 30.1  29.8
            EchoStar 5  129.0W 231.5 234.9 25.5  34.6
          EchoStar 1/2  148.0W 248.2 251.6 12.9  42.4
                      
               Nimiq 2   82.0W 171.0 174.4 39.5  -6.5
             Nimiq 1/3   91.0W 184.1 187.5 39.8   3.0
                      
       DirecTV 1R/4S/8  101.0W 198.3 201.7 38.3  13.2
             DirecTV 5  110.0W 210.2 213.6 35.3  21.4
            DirecTV 7S  119.0W 221.0 224.3 31.2  28.4
                      
                      

Satellite Finder is (c) Copyright 2004, P. Lutus
 
Mark,
To get the maximum amount of PBS stations you will need a AC-3 decoder. If your audio system supports AC-3 you are all set, otherwise you will need to pick up an AC-3 decoder. I use a Creative Labs Extigy external sound card that works great, see review area.
 
Another quick question while I'm waiting for my new system. Is there a magazine of some sorts for FTA, like a "what's hot" kinda deal, or reviews of the latest and greatest stuff, techie kinda info? Like my sons get "Playstation" mag, it reviews new games and other platforms. Something I can take to the outhouse to read. lol
Thanks, Mark
 
drhydro said:
Mark,
To get the maximum amount of PBS stations you will need a AC-3 decoder. If your audio system supports AC-3 you are all set, otherwise you will need to pick up an AC-3 decoder. I use a Creative Labs Extigy external sound card that works great, see review area.
Click to expand...
Ok, although my home theater system is kinda low end it does say " Dolby Digital" (ac-3 Mode) so I should be good to go there,

And thanks PSB, I will have to check out a copy of that mag, I see this month just happens to have " Setting up a Motorized Dish" Thanks again for all the help, Mark:up
 
Alright, My system finally arrived today, Pansat- 3500s, PM900s,and FC90P.
Started to put my dish together and ran into the first minor snag, the hole on the motor pole to the dish didnt quite line up with the holes on the pole clamp for the dish, but both lined up on thier own, motor to dish, and clamp to dish. So I just lined it up as center as posible, motor on clamp and reamed out the hole on the clamp to allow the bolt to pass through freely. It all bolts up now.
That shouldnt cause alignment problems should it , if the moter mounted square to the dish in the first place? The rest of my installation should go pretty smooth, (fingers crossed). Thanks, Mark
 
You should be okay as long as the dish is centered on the motor shaft. Looking down at your dish/motor assembly from above, the LNB arm should be exactly parallel with the center of the motor shaft (there's usually a 'ridge' on the motor shaft to help you determine center).
 
Well, a little aggrevation ,frustration, walk away and go to work( last night).
Came home today with a fresh perspective, a little more relaxed and Wha-La, got it set right to AMC3 ,Quality at about 70%, Set smart Search on the 3500s and I have listings!
One minor question though on the Pansat 3500s setup, do I need to worry about the skew setting on the setup menu, Default was 45 , satfinder says -1.3,
I think I'll stick on this sat for a bit before I actully start playing around moving and readjusting the motor. Thanks again in advance. I'm sure I'll be back here posting before long.
Oh and I made my mast on a pallet set up on my back upstairs porch(you couldn't get me on my roof if my life depended on it), and a tv antenna tripod, with 1.25 heavy conduit, worked out pretty sweet. I could post a pic or 2 if anyone else is interested in seeing it. Well later then, Mark
 
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