Raising the dead

[3puttbob]

Hi all
Have a 1990 , 3 meter C-band with a Mini Mag LNB on a Chapparel horn and a GI Innovation 450 i Receiver/Mover. After 20 years of non-op. I was in the mood to invoke life. All works but, when I try to move the dish it runs for 2 secs and says Actuator Error, Check wiring. I did that at the dish. The dish itself moves freely. I connected 12v to run the actuator to check end points and the limit switches work. Closest thing I can figure is when the screen shows the limit positions, The actual dish position shows ****. Can't figure that part out. Any suggestions on where to look?

 

[FTA4PA]

Hi all
Have a 1990 , 3 meter C-band with a Mini Mag LNB on a Chapparel horn and a GI Innovation 450 i Receiver/Mover. After 20 years of non-op. I was in the mood to invoke life. All works but, when I try to move the dish it runs for 2 secs and says Actuator Error, Check wiring. I did that at the dish. The dish itself moves freely. I connected 12v to run the actuator to check end points and the limit switches work. Closest thing I can figure is when the screen shows the limit positions, The actual dish position shows ****. Can't figure that part out. Any suggestions on where to look?

Good to hear you want to give her purpose again.
Perhaps a bad/stuck reed switch in the actuator. Check for opening/closing of switch using continuity setting on multi-meter while you use your 12v to move the actuator. If good, check for corroded/broken/disconnected pulse wire(s) between actuator and mover.

 

[3puttbob]

There's a disc with a contact on it with a sensor next to it. I connected a vom to the 2 wires and it was showing a spike every revolution.

 

[FTA4PA]

There's a disc with a contact on it with a sensor next to it. I connected a vom to the 2 wires and it was showing a spike every revolution.

Appears sensor is working. Check sensor wire connections to actuator and mover. If solid and no corrosion then check continuity of sensor wires between actuator to mover.

 

[waylew]

There's a disc with a contact on it with a sensor next to it. I connected a vom to the 2 wires and it was showing a spike every revolution.

Did you set the east/west limits in the receiver?

 

[3puttbob]

East West limits are set and show location #'s on screen. Just that present location is showing ****. I suspect it shuts down because it doesn't have a reference of where it currently is.???

 

[3puttbob]

I also checked continuity between mover wires and the box. All good.

 

[Titanium]

**** would indicate a logic issue with the mover. What happens if you do a reset on the controller?

 

[3puttbob]

I did look for some sort of factory reset in the manual and couldn't find it.

 

[3puttbob]

a couple pages were stuck together and guess what...reset procedures. I'll get to that today and see what happens.

 

[Titanium]

Pafe 65: Clear All Memory.

Possible that the East and West limits are set to the same value?

 

[primestar31]

Pafe 65: Clear All Memory.

Possible that the East and West limits are set to the same value?

I had a MicroHD receiver get corrupted, and it did that a couple years ago. Had to reflash the firmware to finally fix it.

 

[3puttbob]

Well, I took the wires out of the back, cut/stripped and reinstalled. I now have actuator control. As I flipped through all my old sat listings I see nothing is available. Just snow. I'm guessing there are no more analog sats and the only way to receive is to buy a digital receiver??

 

[waylew]

Well, I took the wires out of the back, cut/stripped and reinstalled. I now have actuator control. As I flipped through all my old sat listings I see nothing is available. Just snow. I'm guessing there are no more analog sats and the only way to receive is to buy a digital receiver??

Cspan ch7 at 131west(likely C3 in the receiver).The only analog channel left.
Oh,and,if the VCII box is still in the receiver,remove it and pitch it.It is of no use or value anymore.

 

[3puttbob]

Thanks. Tried it. Still find nothing. Dish location could be way off these days. Guess I should look into a digital receiver if I want to pursue this.

 

[3puttbob]

Have satellites shifted that much in the past 20 years? Following the online satellite locator, the farthest West I can go before my original limit is 125 deg. West. To reach 131 W I would have to re-attach my actuator to allow more westerly movement.. Does that make any sense?

 

[Magic Static]

With an unobstructed view you should be able to get 55.5W ~ 139.0W = 84° of arc which your actuator should be able to handle if mounted properly. 20 years ago C Band subscription services were more grouped together. With FTA you want to cover as many satellites as you can because content is everywhere.

 

[3puttbob]

Wow, things have changed

 

[Magic Static]

Wow, things have changed

Yes definitely get a digital receiver. Unless all you watch is CSPAN.
Here is some of the stuff you can find.... http://ftalistings.com/

 

[3puttbob]

That really helps. I need to move my actuator mount. Thanks