New set up SG2100 motor.

[gabe33]

SG2100 motor setup with Skyteck cm dish and duel lnb.
LNB SPecs:

Twin Universal LNBF
SkyTech Twin Universal LNBF.
Input Frequency Range 12.25-12.75Ghz
L.O.Frequency 11.30GHz Output
Frequency Range 950~1450MHz
D.C.Current Consumption 150mA(Max.)
Operating Temperature -40C - 60C
Noise Figure 0.5dB

I poobably need to get a new LNB, but will give this one a try. You guys have inspired me to do a motor setup.

Here are my location details. I live in Santa Ana, CA 92707
What is my true south Sat? What angle do I need to set the motor/ dish at? From what I read you just need to find the Sat arc and then adjust the dish with the motor to hit the true South. Is this correct?:

 

[simulated]

Zip Code: 92707
State: California

Latitude: +33.679069
Longitude: -117.876789

therefore your "true south" satellite would be either satmex 5 at 116.8 or amc16/echostar7/directv7s at 119.

Seeing how you have an lnb capable of receiving only circular polarity satellites, i'd go with echostar7 satellite at 119. Check your motors manual for the correct heights/angles for the sg2100 for your location.

What size dish is the Skyteck?

 

[PSB]

Its a good idea to find and store your true south satellite WITHOUT the motor first. (I would also wait until you get a linear LNB to more accurately line up to the Clarke Belt)

Here are all the angles WITHOUT the motor.............

                   Santa Ana Height, CA 92707
         Latitude 33° 42.954'N Longitude 117° 52.218'W

                       Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m)    El  Skew
---------------------------------------------------------------
                               
                       Amos 1/2    4.0W 256.2 242.3 -27.4 -53.9
                               
                Atlantic Bird 3    5.0W 256.8 243.0 -26.6 -54.1
                               
                Nilesat 101/102    7.0W 258.1 244.2 -25.1 -54.5
                               
     Telecom 2D/Atlantic Bird 2    8.0W 258.7 244.8 -24.3 -54.6
                               
                     Express A3   11.0W 260.4 246.6 -22.0 -55.1
                               
                     Telstar 12   15.0W 262.8 248.9 -18.9 -55.6
                               
                   Intelsat 901   18.0W 264.5 250.6 -16.5 -55.9
                               
                          NSS 7   22.0W 266.7 252.9 -13.3 -56.1
                               
                   Intelsat 905   24.5W 268.1 254.3 -11.3 -56.2
                               
                   Intelsat 907   27.5W 269.8 255.9  -8.9 -56.3
                               
                  Hispasat 1C/D   30.0W  91.2  77.3  -6.9 -56.3
                               
                   Intelsat 801   31.5W  92.0  78.2  -5.6 -56.2
                               
                   Intelsat 903   34.5W  93.7  79.8  -3.2 -56.1
                               
                    AMC 12/T 11   37.5W  95.4  81.5  -0.7 -55.9
                               
                        NSS 806   40.5W  97.1  83.2   1.8 -55.6
                               
                      Pas 3R/6B   43.0W  98.5  84.7   3.9 -55.3
                               
                         Pas 1R   45.0W  99.7  85.8   5.5 -55.1
                               
                   Intelsat 705   50.0W 102.7  88.9   9.7 -54.2
                               
                   Intelsat 707   53.0W 104.6  90.7  12.2 -53.6
                               
                   Intelsat 805   55.5W 106.2  92.3  14.3 -53.0
                               
                          Pas 9   58.0W 107.9  94.0  16.3 -52.3
                               
                       Amazonas   61.0W 109.9  96.1  18.8 -51.5
                               
                     EchoStar 3   61.5W 110.3  96.4  19.2 -51.3
                               
                      Rainbow 1   61.5W 110.3  96.4  19.2 -51.3
                               
               Estrela do Sul 1   63.0W 111.3  97.5  20.4 -50.8
                               
                   Brasilsat B2   65.0W 112.8  98.9  22.1 -50.1
                               
                   Brasilsat B1   70.0W 116.7 102.8  26.1 -48.0
                               
                       Nahuel 1   71.8W 118.1 104.3  27.5 -47.2
                               
                      DirecTV 1   72.5W 118.7 104.9  28.1 -46.8
                               
                          AMC 6   72.0W 118.3 104.4  27.7 -47.1
                               
                          SBS 6   74.0W 120.0 106.1  29.3 -46.1
                               
                     Echostar 4   77.0W 122.7 108.8  31.6 -44.4
                               
                          AMC 5   79.0W 124.6 110.7  33.1 -43.2
                               
                      Nimiq 2/3   82.0W 127.5 113.6  35.3 -41.3
                               
                          AMC-9   83.0W 128.5 114.7  36.0 -40.6
                               
                   Brasilsat B3   84.0W 129.6 115.7  36.7 -39.9
                               
                          AMC 2   85.0W 130.7 116.8  37.4 -39.1
                               
                          AMC 3   87.0W 132.9 119.0  38.8 -37.6
                               
                           IA-8   89.0W 135.2 121.3  40.1 -35.9
                               
                      Galaxy 11   91.0W 137.6 123.7  41.4 -34.1
                               
                     Nimiq 1/4i   91.0W 137.6 123.7  41.4 -34.1
                               
                   Brasilsat B4   92.0W 138.9 125.0  42.0 -33.2
                               
                           IA-6   93.0W 140.1 126.3  42.6 -32.2
                               
                      Galaxy 3C   95.0W 142.8 128.9  43.8 -30.2
                               
                           IA-5   97.0W 145.5 131.7  44.9 -28.1
                               
                      Galaxy 4R   99.0W 148.4 134.5  45.9 -25.9
                               
                     Spaceway 2   99.2W 148.7 134.8  46.0 -25.6
                               
                DirecTV 1R/4S/8  101.0W 151.4 137.5  46.8 -23.5
                               
                          AMC 4  101.0W 151.4 137.5  46.8 -23.5
                               
                     Spaceway 1  103.0W 154.4 140.6  47.7 -21.0
                               
                          AMC 1  103.0W 154.4 140.6  47.7 -21.0
                               
                         AMC 15  105.0W 157.6 143.8  48.4 -18.5
                               
                      Anik F1/R  107.3W 161.4 147.6  49.2 -15.4
                               
                      DirecTV 5  109.5W 165.2 151.3  49.8 -12.3
                               
                EchoStar 6/8/10  110.0W 166.0 152.2  49.9 -11.6
                               
                        Anik F2  111.1W 167.9 154.1  50.1 -10.0
                               
                  Solidaridad 2  113.0W 171.3 157.4  50.4  -7.3
                               
                       SatMex 6  113.0W 171.3 157.4  50.4  -7.3
                               
                       SatMex 5  116.8W 178.1 164.2  50.8  -1.6
                               
                         AMC-16  119.0W 182.0 168.2  50.8   1.7
                               
                     DirecTV 7s  119.0W 182.0 168.2  50.8   1.7
                               
                     EchoStar 7  119.0W 182.0 168.2  50.8   1.7
                               
          EchoStar 9/Telstar 13  121.0W 185.6 171.8  50.7   4.7
                               
                     Galaxy 10R  123.0W 189.2 175.3  50.4   7.6
                               
                      Galaxy 14  125.0W 192.7 178.8  50.1  10.5
                               
                  Galaxy 13/H 1  127.0W 196.1 182.3  49.6  13.4
                               
 Intelsat Americas 7/Echostar 5  129.0W 199.5 185.7  49.0  16.1
                               
                         AMC 11  131.0W 202.8 188.9  48.3  18.8
                               
                      Galaxy 15  133.0W 206.0 192.1  47.6  21.4
                               
                         AMC 10  135.0W 209.0 195.2  46.7  23.8
                               
                          AMC 7  137.0W 212.0 198.1  45.7  26.2
                               
                          AMC 8  139.0W 214.8 201.0  44.7  28.4
                               
                   EchoStar 1/2  148.0W 226.3 212.4  39.3  37.0

        Satellite Finder is (c) Copyright 2004, P. Lutus

Then when you do come to put on the motor here are the angles to use.........


Motor elevation = 56º

Dish elevation (when used with motor) = 24.5º

 

[gabe33]

Thanks

Thanks guys.... I have a question about a universal LNB and a Linear LNB. From what I have read a Universal should be able to hit the free to air sats. I have been able to hit 123W and 97W with the Universal LNB and a 90cm 36" dish that I have. I am pretty sure that this LNB will work for free to air. Can someone explain why I would need a lower noise LNB? Mine is rated at .5 and that seems kind of high.

 

[PSB]

0.5 dB is fine! That will work with all FTA signals! The lower noise LNB's help with really low signals. But there will be virtually no difference between a 0.5 and a 0.3db LNBF other than the quality of manufacture.

I am sure Iceberg has done a few tests with different noise level LNB's See the review area.

 

[brentb636]

signal to noise ratio is the simple answer . On a marginally strong signal, an LNB with a low noise rating will deliver a more useable signal to the receiver. I'm pretty new at this but I'd be practical and see whether or not you're happy with your current results. For optimal results, you'd upgrade your dish, LNB, etc , and spend some bucks that you might feel were not that well spent.

Personally I wish I had purchased a slightly larger dish ( roof mount is a necessity ) . If I had a clear southern sky I'd like the largest Ku band dish I could find , but that is wishful thinking. I'm happy with my results so far, but I know that eventually I'll want to upgrade hardware . I'm just that kinda guy (geek).

 

[gabe33]

What is more impotant to your signal?

What is more impotant to your signal: A larger dish(I have a 36" 90cm) or a high powered LNB for KU Band stuff?

 

[PSB]

Bigger dish will collect more signal, thats what its all about!

 

[Craig Henrikson]

Its a good idea to find and store your true south satellite WITHOUT the motor first. (I would also wait until you get a linear LNB to more accurately line up to the Clarke Belt)

Pete -- Interesting you say that. I agree if you don't have USALS, but if he does the exact "true south" sat isn't very important, IMHO

Craig

 

[PSB]

Well that's the way I (And most people here) started that's why we always recommend to walk before you run!
Always best to use your true south satellite or as close it as you can get! Makes for a more accurate track of the arc. That's what the experts say!

With a fixed dish they can get used to the receiver configure the LNBF and try a few satellites first. I mean they are here asking for help usually after trying to go straight to a motorized setup!

 

[billsat]

Another new SG2100 installation

Ok, so I finally acquired a SG2100 motor and a used 1m Winegard offset dish for my micro BUD adventure. According to the printed manual that came with the SG2100, the motor should be set to my latitude (27º N / 63º elevation), and the dish to 30º minus declination angle, which is listed as 4.526º. This translates to 25.5º (dish angle). By the way, the downloadable manual states 40º minus declination angle (instead of 30º), so I also have doubts as to which is correct.

Now, setting the motor latitude angle was no problem, due to easy to read marks on the mount as shown in the first picture. But what about the dish? It only has set of marks with a faint legend that reads: "5 DEG PER DIV". Now, looking at the second picture, could any of you give me an idea on how to correctly set up the 25.5º dish angle? The current angle dish is just a random position.

Thanks.

 

[PSB]

Looks like you have to judge it by the middle of the bolt head and let the signal quality meter be your guide!

 

[Craig Henrikson]

Use the 30 degree setting -- newer units use 40 degrees - meaning that yours has been sitting around for a year or so. (Probably!!)

Personally, I would try my best to get the dish parallel to the axis of the motor arm and then use an edge of the bracket as a reference to move the required distance. Looks like a tough mount to adjust :-(

 

[billsat]

PSB, I think I am the psychic now... somehow I knew the only way to aim this dish would be by trial and error with a sat finder or the receiver's signal meter.

Craig, thanks for the clarification regarding the 30º/40º degrees issue.

Now, one final question before I get back on the roof. I want to be sure I understand this correctly. I will try to get the dish parallel to the axis of the motor arm and then try to adjust it 25.5º higher, right? Sorry if this is too obvious for most of you, first timer here. :

 

[Craig Henrikson]

PSB, I think I am the psychic now... somehow I knew the only way to aim this dish would be by trial and error with a sat finder or the receiver's signal meter.

Craig, thanks for the clarification regarding the 30º/40º degrees issue.

Now, one final question before I get back on the roof. I want to be sure I understand this correctly. I will try to get the dish parallel to the axis of the motor arm and then try to adjust it 25.5º higher, right? Sorry if this is too obvious for most of you, first timer here. :

NO! -- You are setting a "Look Down" angle because you are not at the equator. Please check the manual again as the 25.5 doesn't sound right at all -- and I don't have my manual here to help. Here in Albany at about 43 degrees North the lookdown is ( if my failing mind is still working) 8-10 degrees (maybe) -- and that is down -- ie. lower. Yours should be less, but is DOWN - not up.

Sorry I can't be more help.

 

[billsat]

NO! -- You are setting a "Look Down" angle because you are not at the equator. Please check the manual again as the 25.5 doesn't sound right at all -- and I don't have my manual here to help. Here in Albany at about 43 degrees North the lookdown is ( if my failing mind is still working) 8-10 degrees (maybe) -- and that is down -- ie. lower. Yours should be less, but is DOWN - not up.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Craig, but you ARE a lot of help! It's just that I am a total newbie when it comes to setting up dishes... but it's fun, so I am looking forward to getting it working (with a little of your kind help, that is). Ok, back to the issue at hand... this is what the manual for my SG2100 says:


Your Site Latitude: 27
___Elevation Angle: 63
_______Declination: 4.526


Since the manual says the dish should be set to 30º minus the "declination" angle (30 - 4.526 = 25.5), that's how I got to the 25.5º angle. But, since my dish does not have a scale, I am trying to find out what angle to point the dish against vertical (I just found a basic inclinometer which should work great for my needs).

So, what should I do next? Thanks

 

[LordAlex]

Billsat..your numbers are similar to mine... my sg2100 is set to 30 degrees lat which is about 60 begrees on the elevation side...... using the exact same formula you quoted...30- delclination which for me is about 25 i started the dish at vertical...moved it up 25 and bingo ! it was aimed true south of course. good luck.

 

[billsat]

LordAlex,
Interesting... given your particular example, my dish should be set at 25.5º up from vertical, while true south. It all makes sense now. The scales on dishes are meant to be used while attached to a plumb pole. My particular dish, as you can see on the picture I posted above, does not have any readings on the scale, but the inclinometer I borrowed will make up for it. And I also borrowed a digital sat finder from the same friend, so I hope nothing will prevent me from getting a signal now. This friend has offered to set it up for me, but I am up for the challenge; alone (with your and the rest of the guys here guidance, of course).

Too bad I couldn't give it a shot tonight, but I will try it tomorrow after work. I just have to get a few gallons of mosquito repellent and hopefully be able to post successful results soon.

 

[Craig Henrikson]

Do what L Alex says -- I seem to be getting confused as it is clear that my dish is RAISED from parallel with the axis of hte mount, just as he says! (sigh)

Craig

 

[billsat]

Success!!!

I finally got it working, thanks to all for your tips. I simply followed LordAlex and STB's advise and my dish is tracking the satellite arch nicely. 6 easy steps:

1- Checked and rechecked pole being plumb
2- SG2100 @ my exact latitude using its mount scale and pointing magnetic north
3- Using inclinometer, started with dish vertical and pulled it up 25.5º (as per formula above)
4 - Using signal meter (Digisat II), started scanning (succesfully) with manual button on motor and adjusted for true north on its mount via 3 blind satellites, east, center and west of due south
5- Went back inside and started adding a bunch of satellites using Lyngsat
6- Still having fun on step 5, fine tuning will have to wait

My 1m Winegard and universal KU LNB are bringing down satellite signals nicely. I have found lots of foreign channels, mostly from asia and the middle east, and a few religious programming from the States. The SG2100 is fast and very precise going back and forth the satellites I've found.

Seems like most of the fun FTA stuff is still on C-Band, no? I am thinking on getting that BSC621-2 C/KU lnb, but I will need a much larger dish and actuator for that.

Either way, my 2 day project is a total success! Thanks once again for your assistance.

-Billsat