Newbie Looking for info for first C/Ku Set Up

[brob3950]

Hi,

I recently acquired a free 10 ft mesh dish, mount, cabling, and Toshiba TRX-80. I picked up old copies of a satellite tv installation and troubleshooting guide and the hidden signals on satellite, and have been reading to get up to speed on the basics. I'm an amateur radio operator, so have that background as a starting point, but am new to working with satellite technology. The gear that I have appears to be ....

-WineGard 10'mesh dish - no model markings
-Polar mount with actuator - incl steel pipe base with 4 bolt bottom flange
-Chaparral feedhorn (think it's Corotor II) with CalAmp C and Ku LNBs
- ~60 ft ribbon cable with coax & controls wires
- Toshiba TRX-80

I have a number of questions, no doubt more as I start to install ...

- My books are early 90s vintage, good for the basics, but out of date. Any recommended reading to get current with FTA technology and gear ?
- The site is rocky with little soil, so I plan to pour a pad with 4 bolts in it and set the base flange on nuts to enable adjusting level and plumb. Any caveats or suggestions?
- I'll wire the receiver back up to the feedhorn and controls in the shop to check out the actuator and the polarity changing mechanism before I start the installation. Any other tests I should run while I'm at it?
- Are there inexpensive replacements or upgrades I should consider before I install? My goal is to get basic C and Ku band reception working, enjoy whatever's available with current gear, and then when I know more, upgrade as needed. That said, if I'm working with something that's cheap and easy to upgrade before I install I'd want to do that, expecially LNBs or anything that will require working at the dish site.

I've really been impressed with how helpful folks on this lists seem to be and appreciate any advice that anyone has for me. I've tried to find user manuals for the various pieces of gear and have some info, but advice from experienced folks is what I think I need most.

Thanks!

 

[Anole]

welcome:

Welcome aboard.
We do have some HAMs here.
I'm one, but more interested in computers 'n satellites these days.

Congrats on the 10' dish.
Post some pictures of it. Front, back, side, motor, feedhorn 'n lnbs.
Shoot 'em from different angles.
We've got eagle-eyed members who can tell you the full history of whatever you find. -

For more basic set-up info, the Geo-Orbit site may look old, but it's got all the basics.

I think you should be able to get going with that hardware.
Eventually, you'll want either a 4DTV subscription receiver, or a DVB free to air digital receiver.
But that all can wait.

 

[rv1pop]

My biggest idea would be to go to the group buy thread from SatelliteAV and get the $13.00 LNB (+8.00 S&H) ordered before it sells out! If you decide you do not need it, later, there will be members who missed the sale that will take it off your hands! (I would even buy more come summer when heat costs go down!)
POP

 

[brob3950]

Thanks. Will get some pictures up on the stuff I haven't been able to ID. Also took the suggestion to get in on the group buy. Now that I'm learning about this stuff I know I want to get it all up and current.

 

[turbosat]

The base construction will be important, you'll need that pole to be plumb, as good as you can get it, ku band is very finicky when it comes to tracking the satellites. So when the time comes, check that pipe on 4sides with a good carpenter's level to be sure its good and vertical. Then, check the top of the pipe to make sure it's level, again, check several places. If one edge of your pipe is high (end not cut flush) it will throw the mount's accuracy off. Grind away if needed. The rest should be cake....