Need some help - 8 foot Unimesh install

[comfortably_numb]

Today we may address some of the issues we're having with satellites on the eastern and western ends of the arc. Satellites at 97, 99, 101, 103 and 105 come in perfectly, but we have issues with 87, 89, 91, 117 and 121. Is this a declanation issue with the dish? If so, how should adjustments be made, and will they affect the satellites that are fine-tuned in the middle of the arc?

 

[TRG]

Today we may address some of the issues we're having with satellites on the eastern and western ends of the arc. Satellites at 97, 99, 101, 103 and 105 come in perfectly, but we have issues with 87, 89, 91, 117 and 121. Is this a declaration issue with the dish? If so, how should adjustments be made, and will they affect the satellites that are fine-tuned in the middle of the arc?

Post 17 should help answer your question.

Post in thread 'Need some help - 8 foot Unimesh install'

Jul 20, 2025

It's starting to look like a headend out here

We had success tuning a lot of feeds on 117 and 121, but nothing east of that.

So we have a lot of work to do, but we have a good start.

View attachment 183903

Perhaps this will help.

• FTA4PA

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[arlo]

I might can help. Here's a sketch from some time ago using 'dinner plate' methodology.
My buttonhook feed defies all common sense as you can see from the notes at the upper right.
I am very interested in knowing your results for future reference.
As you can see. If I pull the lower part of the dish rim UP to increase dB. It's actually aimed too high.
Screwy because you'd think raising the dish to seemingly aim it higher in the air to increase signal was the exact opposite. Too low.
Using the declination adjuster to lower the dish on closer-to-zenith satellites increased signal.

I was using a score of 1-5 based on how hard pulling/pushing on the rim made the signal the strongest. Then I went to dB.
Plotting the x at the representative relative satellite aim point looking at the back of the dish.
Get as many satellites plotted as you can. Some will fall very close to the desired arc. Some higher or lower and marked with an x.
Look at 101W. Why is he plotted higher on what should be a seemingly steady point to point plot? Don't know.
Fine.

Then connect the x's. How is your arc looking? Egg shaped? In my case on the doodle it appears as if there is a slight North/South axis issue. Everyone is just a touch low. But the Western sats are closer to the actual arc.
Extra fine Sharpie. Automatic center punch. Mark the pole and dish mount.Grab the tools.
Look at the chart (my most-favoritest) that TRG planted above. Be like Watney and science the s**t out of it.
In the end you probably will not be 100%. But very, very close. It takes patience and a lot of tweaking.

Look for slop in the dish piviots too. Weight shift as the dish swings through the arc can make for some very iffy aiming issues.
They have to be solid.

Hope this helps a little bit. Get back to us. Good luck.