Please help setting up

[newyorkzxtc]

Hey there , Happy Holidays everyone.

I'm trying to setup a dish on a flat roof since its the only clear view of the southern sky. I had rigged up the dish on some plywood and it seems pretty stable with some weight put on the wood. I cant seem to get a signal at all. Im not sure what im doing wrong though. I have pictures of what i have here so far , not sure how to post em on here.

- Video-path Multi-Dish Switch SW21 (123475958-AB)
- Dish Pro Digital LNBF BS1B2UP 101M (119)
- Dish Network Dish 500 Dish
-Dish DVR510 Receiver

I only have that single LNB hooked up to the 119 ,( Do i need dual lnb ??) I'm a newbie at this so any help would be greatly appreciated. Again , I have pics of the setup if anyone would mine helping me post em on here.

Thanks again. :tux:

 

[Van]

Since you have only one lnbf then you wont need the switch. The dish will have to be skewed to the correct setting for your location and the elevation set as well. A coax line will have to run from the dish to the receiver and the receiver will have to be hooked to the tv. You will need to be in the signal strength screen with the 119 satellite selected and set it to transponder 11. Run a check switch to clear out any old switch matrix first though.

Depending on where your at in the country you will have to aim the dish to the general location of the satellite your wanting to get so first thing you need to know is what sat you want, once you get this figured out then you aim the dish in the direction that the receiver can supply you by inputing your zipcode on the signal screen. The info it gives you will correspond to a compas setting you can use with a compas to determine the direction you need to aim the dish. As for elevation it will also give you that information as well and as long as your mast is plumb you should be fine in tuning in the dish. The best way to tune in a dish is to have a sat meter, without it then your next step is to have the receiver and a tv on the roof with you to tune in the dish from the signal strength screen.

 

[rwjga]

119 is a strong satellite anywhere in the country, so if you follow the steps above, you should not have any problems. The signal meter on the receiver has a delay, so it is not the best to peak the dish with. A cheap signal meter attached to the dish when it is set up with the general settings will work just fine. It will allow you to peak the dish without making a number trips from your tv set to the roof. As said above, the point dish screen will give you your settings when you put in your zip. You can also find them on line. One place is the installation manual for your dish type. Sadoun Satellite sales as listed on the top page of this screen is one place that has the manuals on line. If you have problems, post what you are seeing here and this site has all kinds of experts that will help you. Good Luck

 

[SmityWhity]

Pictures would help... When you either edit a post, or create a new reply, right above the area you type in, move your mouse across the icons and you will see "Insert Image" and then search for the image on your computer.

Here's some more important info.

It sounds like you have a DP LNBF. If 2 RF connectors, its a DP Dual LNBF, and if 1 RF connector, it is a DP Single LNBF. I don't think the DP LNBF is compatible with that Legacy Switch (SW21); if it is, someone will follow-up with a post. However, as said, you don't need a switch with a single satellite position LNBF.

Since you state you have a Dish 500 dish, and you put the DP LNBF in the 119 slot, I would say you have the Dish 500 with the Y-Bracket which will let you mount 2 DP LNBF (single or dual) on it, or you can mount 1 DP Twin LNBF.
NOTE: Twin = 2 sats, while Dual = 2 single outputs for 2 single receivers.

I would invest in a DP Twin LNBF, which picks up 2 satellite locations, 119 & 110; has a built in switch, and will allow longer RG-6 cable runs.

If you were using a Dish 500 with the LNBF I-Bracket, then you would use the Dish 300 settings in the Point Dish Screen, and select the correct satellite such as 119. You will not get a SKEW reading, but set it to 90 which equals 0 (zero) degrees tilt. However, I don't think this applies to you, pictures will tell.

However, since you are using a Dish 500 with a Y-Bracket, you will need to use the Dish 500 settings and select either 119 or 110. Either sat will give you the same settings for your zip code.
- (1) Most important, the mast must be plumb in ALL directions. Do not go any further until it is perfectly plumb, or you'll be wasting your time.
- (2) Set the SKEW to whatever it says. Then never touch it again.
- (3) Set the ELEVATION.
- (4) Set the AZIMUTH.
- (5) Peak the AZIMUTH. When peaking, you may want to move it left or right about 1/32" at a time.
- (6) Peak the ELEVATION. When peaking, you may want to move it up or down about 1/32" at a time.

When setting the Elevation and Azimuth, if you move it 1/8", it will be like pointing it from Houston, TX to San Diego, CA. So be patient, and move slowly.

 

[newyorkzxtc]

Here is where I am so far.. Also , should I be getting a " Installed Switch : Unknown " AFTER I have removed the switch and connected it straight to the lnb ? I used the Attachments button on top since its the only option I saw as far as attaching and uploading from the pc. Also , Im not sure how Im supposed to find the azimuth angle on the dish. I know that my Azimuth should be 209 , Skew 119 and Elevation 49. ( Zip code 77079)I got the Skew and Elevation since its easy to find on the dish but how about the Azimuth ? Thanks.

 

[Jared Twomey]

since you are just using 1 lnb, set the reciever to Dish 300 to get your settings. Skew should be 0 (or 90 on the back of the dish)... then set the elevation at whatever it needs to be, and move the dish very slowly side to side. Also, i'm sure you know this... but make sure the mast is completely plumb... or you will have to compensate on the dish itself

 

[SmityWhity]

Birddoggy,

Using the Dish 500 with an I-Bracket for a single LNBF, I agree that he should use the Dish 300 settings and set the Skew to 0 degrees which would be 90 on the Dish 500.

However, since he is using the Y-Bracket, do you think he would be better off to set the Skew for a Dish 500?


Newyorkzxtc,

In the check switch screen, leave SUPERDISH and ALTERNATE unchecked.

How do you set the Azimuth?
Directly South of your position is 180 degrees. When facing South (180), to your Right or West would be 270 degrees.
- S === 180
- SSW = 202.5
- SW == 225
- WSW = 247.5
- W === 270
So 209 would be somewhere between SSW and SW if you had a compass, or estimate it (by which side of the trees the moss is on ).

When using the Dish 500 with 2 LNBF's, the dish is aimed between the 2 satellites, and with the I-Bracket with 1 LNBF it is aimed at the satellite (for all practical purposes).

Just be patient when looking for the satellite. Move east to west slowly and watch the signal meter on the receiver. If it finds a satellite, give it time to tell you that you found the wrong satellite and hopefully tell you which one you found so that you know if you went past it or not. Remember, if you find the 110 satellite, you will need to twist the dish on the mast less than 1/8" to the West, like try moving it about 1/32"; and if you find the 129 satellite, you will need to twist to the East about 1/32" to 1/8" to get the 119.

 

[Jared Twomey]

nah, i'd use the 300 settings... its a big enough dish to pick up the 119 fine being offset. Back before most of the retailers around here started ordering I-brackets, we used an offset lnb for the 61.5 all the time (must carry for locals).

That said, if it was me, I would pick up a cheap DP or DPP twin off craigslist, ebay, ect... and set it up the right way

 

[vegassatellite]

You should put the pornography away before snapping pictures in your bedroom.






























Just kidding. I wanted to see how many people would go through those pics to try and see if there really was any in the photos.

 

[newyorkzxtc]

I keep getting Echostar 110 West satellite. Moving it left or right just causes me to lose the signal all together. I have connected the switch I have and at least its catching something , without the switch im not even getting the echostar 110. Any ideas guys ???

 

[oldford]

Hmmm...

You shouldn't need the switch at all with only one lnb and its DP at that. But I'm not there and can't see it so leave it alone if its workin' I guess.

Anyway, if you are getting 110 and want 119, your elevation is just a bit too high and az is a bit to the south.

Lower the el a degree or (not quite) 2 and turn the az a bit to the right (as you stand in back of the dish) you are almost there.

Good luck from snowy (again) eastern Maine, Eric

 

[SmityWhity]

Zip Code 77079 Houston, TX

Dish 500 for 119 and 110:
- SK = 119, EL = 49, AZ = 209

Dish 500 for 119 only:
- SK = 90, EL = 47, AZ = 216 (+/- for offset Y-Bracket)

Dish 500 for 110 only:
- SK = 90, EL = 52, AZ = 202 (+/- for offset Y-Bracket)

Hmm, you're getting 110 with the switch, and nothing without - I guess anything is possible.

I'm not familiar with the 510 receiver, but most are the same, so here goes....

Remove the cable from Sat-In cable from the back of the receiver.
Go to the Dish Point Screen and run a Check Switch, without any checks.
It should find nothing, i.e., no switch, no LNBF/Satellites. If it says it has detected less satellites - do you want to save, say yes and save.

Then...
- Assume you are going to go and get another DP Dual LNBF, or a DP Twin; but not a DP Plus Twin, however, it will also work - just costs more.
- Plumb your mast. If its a half bubble off, its not going to work right.
- Put the one DP LNBF you have, in the 119 slot. Make sure LNBF and LNBF holder are tight and do not wiggle more than a (red) hair.
- Connect a RG6 cable from the DP LNBF directly to the 510 Sat-In port.
- Set Skew to 119. Make sure you do not over tighten the bolts and that the skew plate and dish pan are in alignment all the way around the skew plate.
- Set Elevation to 49. Only snug so that you can make adjustments later.
- Swing the dish so that it is roughly pointing SSW.
- Go to the Point Dish Screen and select:
- - - TP 11
- - - Sat 119
- - - Don't worry about Dish Type, Zip Code, or anything else, they have no affect & are for info only.
- Now slowly twist the dish to the West about 1/32" at a time, and give the receiver 8 to 10 seconds to register a change in signal. Yes it's slow.
- If you find 110, then you will need to move the dish a little more to the west, but not much. If you make a mark on the dish mast, you should not have to move the dish more than 1/8 from that mark.
- Once you have 119 on the Point Dish Screen, run a Check Switch.

If you're mast is plumb, and the settings are right, I think you should be able to pick up 119 and 110 without any major adjustments. Of course it should be peaked once you find a signal.

If you get the above adjusted, you should then be able to add a DP Dual LNBF for 110, or remove the current LNBF and replace it with a DP Twin, and get both satellites - with only minor adjustments.

Does the LNBF you currently have, have one or two RF outputs?

Also, TP 11 is a good TP for Sat 119.
Sat 110 also has a TP 11, but I don't know if its a spot beam or not, and if its available in Houston.

EDIT:
You mentioned putting it on a flat roof.
Are you testing it on a balcony, that has an overhang from a roof, or maybe a tree in the way?
If so, you need to remember that you need to get the dish close to the edge of the balcony, so that when the satellite signal comes in from the top, a little more than 20 degrees above where the dish appears to be looking, that it actually hits the dish pan and bounces back to the LNBF. Also, you may need to raise it on a table so that the balcony rails do not affect the signals.

 

[ddgtomahawk]

Hey I am close to ya if you cant get it I will come wing it for you.

 

[SmityWhity]

If he takes you up on the offer, maybe you have an LNBF he can borrow.

 

[newyorkzxtc]

I just got a lnb with dual outputs for 10 bucks on craigslist . Havent had any luck connecting it . I guess its just horribly uncomfortable to adjust it on the roof from my patio. Anyhoo , I wouldnt mind some help. Thanks

 

[digiblur]

Aren't the SW21's and DishPro LNB's not compatible?

 

[newyorkzxtc]

UPDATE: I got it all working a few minutes ago , thanks a ton for all the help from everyone.

 

[SmityWhity]

But we would still like to know what's working? Maybe a picture of your Point Dish screen.

Hopefully he removed the DP Dual LNBF (or DP Single LNBF) off the Y-Bracket and replaced it with a DishPro Twin LNBF and not have to use a switch, run a single cable between either DP Twin LNBF outputs and the receiver, and have both 119 and 110.