Out Of Touch And Need Help With FTA

[avenger]

First of all, I have done alot of reading in this FTA Forum, I have found answers to some of the questions that I had, but there is still are more to ask.

My equipmet consist of one "Fortec Lifetime Ultra" one "Viewsat Ultra" a 36" vertical dish with an Invacom LNB the dish is being moved with a "Moteck SG2100" motor.

While I was scanning for Satellites, I noticed that the satellite names and degree designation in my units do not even match or agrees with anything that Lynsat shows. I need an up to date "Satinfo" data for both of them. Where can I obtain this information.

Which of these two units (Fortec (FLU) or Viewsat Ultra) is more user friendly with the Moteck SG2100 motor.

As of yesterday I was able to obtain view and download some satellite channels from a few satellites. The most Southern satellite for my area is Nimiq1,3 91.0W. After reseting the motor, I have set all of the required parameters for viewing this particular satellite. It seems that the motor "Zero" is off by some degrees.

What I downloaded from the othe satellites, do not match what Lyngsat indicated it to be. As I said earlier nothing matches when it come to the names and the degrees of the satellites searched with either of my units. when compared with Lyngsat listing.

Any help or advice is greatly, greatly appreciated.

avenger.

 

[Mr Tony]

Use the Fortec...way better motor control

The older receivers have different satellite names on them. Here is a thread that has "what satellite is where" and has older names on them
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/71402-what-satellite-where.html

 

[avenger]

Iceberg, Thanks for the reply and the much needed satellite information. Being that Nimiq1,3 91.0W is the most closest to my Longitude (which is 89.7576 degrees), and knowing that this satellite is like my starting point for everything after, how precise or accurate does the Longitude and Latitude settings have to be in order for the dish to accurately track the other satellites on th sky?. This has always been a lingering question on my mind, considering that the dish Zero seems to be off by a few degrees. In reality, I was not able to actually view any channels or anything from this satellite at all. I tried to locate Galaxy19, which I was told that this satellite offers alot of channels to view.
As always thanks for any help or information

avenger

 

[AcWxRadar]

Avenger,

I would use satellite 89.0°W Galaxy 28 instead. You should pick up the ABC News channels on TP 11955 V SR 19532. This will put your true south sat much closer to your acutal longitude.

Set your motor mount to your latitude.

Add satellite 89.0°W to your satellite list in the receiver and set it to use USALS for motor positioning.

Manually add TP 11955 V SR 19532 to the list for this satellite.

Enter your exact decimal latitude and longitude coordinates in the USALS menu, rounded to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Then set your motor to the home or reference position (zero degrees on the motor shaft) and command the motor to drive to 89.0°W.

Next, adjust the whole assembly azimuth aiming and the dish elevation to peak the signal to optimum.

RADAR

 

[avenger]

Thanks AcWxRadar for the information. I was under the impression that Nimiq1 (91.0W), was my starting point to view all the satellites from my area. In reality I was not aware that there is a Galaxy 28 satellite in the 98.0W position. Somehow my old Fortec Lifetime Ultra does not show that satellite in the satellite roster. Now the only thing to do is to make the changes to the dish setting, and make Galaxy28 (89.0W) my starting point. It is a little late to do anything today, but tomorrow I will give it a go. Thanks again
avenger

 

[woodheat/nooil]

Does the Fortec Lifetime Ultra have Telstar 4? That was the old sat in the same place as G28.
Skyvision Satellite Equipment Just use the old name for now if it will work for you?

 

[updatelee]

The darn names of the satellites change so often I wouldnt even bother, just know the deg, ie 97.0w

 

[Anole]

confusion over a typo:

... closest to my Longitude (which is 89.7576 degrees)...

 

[avenger]

No the Fortec Lifetime Ultra is lacking that particular Satellite altogether. I will have to manually add it to the list.

 

[avenger]

While looking at the satellite finder "Dishpointer.xxx", I noticed that there is a Motorized Systems section, chose Moteck SG2100 from the list, there is a difference between a stationary and a motorized satellite dish settings, such as a 5.0 degrees declination angle, what does this actually means when dealing with the dish and motor setting, declination in which way?. Before I go and change the Soutern satellite dish setting from Nimiq1 (91W) to Galaxy28 (89W), where do I interface this 5.0 degrees declination angle to the setup?.
Thanking You in advance.
avenger.

 

[pjcl]

Hey, use this to learn a little about declination and such:


hxxp://www.satcruiser.com/PubFiles/SG_2100.pdf

 

[avenger]

Well finally made Galaxy28 (89.0W) my Southern satellite. I hope that everything that I did was right. As usual I have a few questions.

1. When I scanned Galaxy 28 for the first time and told the receiver to move to that satellite, it indicated that the dish would move 0.9 degree East, if that is my starting point, should it been at perfect zero degree?

2. I am still not too clear with this "Declination Angle" thing. The settings for the Dish and Motor parameters for my area according to "DishPointer" are :
Motor Latitude: 30.3 degrees
Declination Angle: 5.0 degrees
Elevation: 25 degrees
Azimuth: 180 degrees
is the Declination angle already built into those parameters, or do I have to do something more to the setup?. The SG2100 installation manual refers to "Setting Angle of the Dish" as finding the Declination Angle by the atached ANGLE TABLE. According to the table my Site latitude being 30 degrees the elevation angle is 60 degrees and the declination angle is 4.961 degrees, now is the declination angle automatically comes into effect with these parameters?.

After changing the Southern satellite, and scanning a few more, I am still not getting the FTA satellites that according to Lyngsat, I should be viewing.
Thanks again
avenger

 

[Lak7]

is the Declination angle already built into those parameters, or do I have to do something more to the setup?.

It's built in. The formula is Motor Tube Bend minus Declination Angle, the SG2100 has a 30 degree bend:
30 - 5 = 25 Dish Elevation

if that is my starting point, should it been at perfect zero degree?

No. Hitting your Tues south Sat is just the starting point. Once you have locked your True South Sat, you would then have the receiver drive the Dish using USALS, and readjust the the Azimuth and dish Elevation to peak Quality reading.

I am still not getting the FTA satellites that according to Lyngsat,

Are you getting any channels?

 

[AcWxRadar]

Well finally made Galaxy28 (89.0W) my Southern satellite. I hope that everything that I did was right. As usual I have a few questions.

1. When I scanned Galaxy 28 for the first time and told the receiver to move to that satellite, it indicated that the dish would move 0.9 degree East, if that is my starting point, should it been at perfect zero degree?

Avenger,

Since satellite 89.0°W is not perfectly at your true south (which is 89.7576 degrees) the motor has to move slightly. You wouldn't want it to remain at perfect ZERO degrees as that would throw off your arc. Probably not a great deal, but enough to cause troubles getting all the sats to align. Only if your house was located at precisely 89.0°W longitude would the motor remain at zero degrees when you command it to drive to this satellite.

Not too many FTA'ers are fortunate to have their actual longitude line up precisely with a really well known satellite. You are pretty close, being only about 0.8° off.

2. I am still not too clear with this "Declination Angle" thing. The settings for the Dish and Motor parameters for my area according to "DishPointer" are :
Motor Latitude: 30.3 degrees
Declination Angle: 5.0 degrees
Elevation: 25 degrees
Azimuth: 180 degrees
is the Declination angle already built into those parameters, or do I have to do something more to the setup?. The SG2100 installation manual refers to "Setting Angle of the Dish" as finding the Declination Angle by the atached ANGLE TABLE. According to the table my Site latitude being 30 degrees the elevation angle is 60 degrees and the declination angle is 4.961 degrees, now is the declination angle automatically comes into effect with these parameters?.

As Lak7 already stated, the declination is included in the other parameters for you. However, there may be some slight rounding errors involved, so I would prefer to set your dish elevation just a tick above 25° since, according to the SG2100 manual it gives you 4.961° (30.3 - 4.961 = 25.34°).

After changing the Southern satellite, and scanning a few more, I am still not getting the FTA satellites that according to Lyngsat, I should be viewing.
Thanks again
avenger

Were you able to scan the ABC news channels from 89.0°W?

RADAR

 

[avenger]

Yes, I am getting some satellite channels, but not all that are shown on the Lyngsat's roster. I have checked and re-checked the dish and motor's setting, I have even resetted the motor. I looks like I might have to rename and include some new satellites, since the Fotec Lifetime Ultra is missing most of the up to date satellites. I am interested in viewing the RTV and the other oldie channel. I will continue to plug along, and hopefuly I get it corrected soon.
Thanks Again
avenger

 

[AcWxRadar]

Avenger,

Yes, often you will find that FTA receivers don't have all the satellites or TPs listed or even very well upt to date in their stock list and you have to add them manually.

This takes some time to get them all in and up to date and things change often so it is a continual process.

Don't be surprised if Lyngsat's information is also out of date. Lyngsat is pretty good, but not perfect. The best thing is a really good blind scanning receiver.

I think that your Fortec has a pretty good reputation for blind scanning capability.

RADAR

 

[avenger]

I want to Thank everyone that helped me while I was trying to get back to FTA. Well good people an new friends, with the help i got, I finally was able to obtain and view most of the satellites list that my old faithful Fortec (FLU) receiver had to offer. When I first stated that I was out of touch, well as you can see, I was out of touch. It has been more than a year since a played with this dish setup, and it seem that everything that I knew about this hobby, I had forgotten.

Where can I obtain a most up to date North America KU band satellite list available, I mean something different, other than what Lyngsat has to offer. There must be aleast more new FTA satellites out there just waiting to be viewed.

Thanks again for all the help I received from you unselfish and devoted FTA helping people.
avenger

 

[thebaggins]

Try the " LIST " tab at the top of the page has very good info:up

 

[Mr Tony]

Try the " LIST " tab at the top of the page has very good info:up

and the KU side is usually updated regularily
The C-Band side is about a month behind...damn I wish the person who updated the C-Band side would get off his duff and update it
(If you are confused...that's me who does the C-Band side)

 

[avenger]

Ok, now that I feel lucky, I guess that I will try to get me a bigger dish and go for the Amazonia1 satellite. Of course it will be a while before I get all my equipment bought.
avenger