Hi Brian,
Good to hear from you.
It is a photo distortion. I noticed it also.
The dish was string tested and passed.
John
Good to hear from you.
It is a photo distortion. I noticed it also.
The dish was string tested and passed.
John
Retrofit My Radioshack Dish Onto My KTI Mount
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Hi Brian,
Good to hear from you.
It is a photo distortion. I noticed it also.
The dish was string tested and passed.
John
I don't know, I thought I was seeing things, but the rim of that dish looks like a roller-coaster track, and sure doesn't seem like it's a photo distortion.
It's possible for a string test across the middle and top to bottom panels to pass, (you did do a cross string test?) and yet to still have panels out of alignment
Mike,
If I get a chance I'll run another cross string test, but the last one tested not perfect, but very good.
It is after all 28 years old.
I think checking some of the bolts for tightness will be also part of the plan.
Mike
If I get a chance I'll run another cross string test, but the last one tested not perfect, but very good.
It is after all 28 years old.
I think checking some of the bolts for tightness will be also part of the plan.
Mike
Well, I have difficulty to tell angles from the photo, alas.
And I didn't think we were at the stage at aiming at any satellite, so I don't know if the mount and dish are still at zero-position... ?
So I'll leave the assessment to you.
Did you set the declination angle just like this:
?
I'm still puzzled by this sentence of yours:
because the angle difference between axis and dish face should be the declination offset angle: 5.85 degrees.
In the photo I cannot discern if that angle is there....
Greetz,
A33
same for me, and while it's definitely not the strongest bird, it is a reasonably easy target here in the Northeast.
a33,
The axis is 42.6 and the declination is 48.5...a difference of 5.85 and the dish and mount are at zero position.
Checking my satellite finder, 78W is coming in with an unsteady 11-17db reading, briefly dropping to zero for a second, before resuming.
Most likely not directly on that satellite, but I believe I should still get a steadier db reading.
John
The axis is 42.6 and the declination is 48.5...a difference of 5.85 and the dish and mount are at zero position.
Checking my satellite finder, 78W is coming in with an unsteady 11-17db reading, briefly dropping to zero for a second, before resuming.
Most likely not directly on that satellite, but I believe I should still get a steadier db reading.
John
Hi All,
As I await my next set of instructions from a33, would anyone know the reason why I would be having a signal issue with my Edision mios stb ?
What happens is that when searching for a signal from the satellite I'm presently closest to (78W) and while in the signal strength/search mode with my stb, I get a quick flash to say 6.1 db and then it drops to nothing. I tried inputting other satellites in the 78W vicinity, moving the dish a little with my positioner and the same thing happens. Then no matter what satellite I chose its the same thing, 6.1 db then nothing.
I have a coax cable directly hooked up from the LNBF to my satellite finder and I get an unsteady signal. When I hook that same coax to the coax that leads to my stb in the basement I get the above issue.
Shouldn't I get some signal reading on the stb. ?
My signal on 78W varies from 0 to between12-17 db in one second intervals.
Thanks in advance for any response.
John
As I await my next set of instructions from a33, would anyone know the reason why I would be having a signal issue with my Edision mios stb ?
What happens is that when searching for a signal from the satellite I'm presently closest to (78W) and while in the signal strength/search mode with my stb, I get a quick flash to say 6.1 db and then it drops to nothing. I tried inputting other satellites in the 78W vicinity, moving the dish a little with my positioner and the same thing happens. Then no matter what satellite I chose its the same thing, 6.1 db then nothing.
I have a coax cable directly hooked up from the LNBF to my satellite finder and I get an unsteady signal. When I hook that same coax to the coax that leads to my stb in the basement I get the above issue.
Shouldn't I get some signal reading on the stb. ?
My signal on 78W varies from 0 to between12-17 db in one second intervals.
Thanks in advance for any response.
John
Hi Andy,
I'll have to check that possibility later.
BTW...what do you have your f/d set at with your RS dish ?
John
I'll have to check that possibility later.
BTW...what do you have your f/d set at with your RS dish ?
John
Is that the same lnbf and coax cabling you used previously, and just moved over to this dish? Or completely new ones you've never used before?
If they've been used before and worked fine, I'd have to agree with Brian for right now. I'm assuming it all works fine with no flashing when just bringing up the settings menu, correct?
If they've been used before and worked fine, I'd have to agree with Brian for right now. I'm assuming it all works fine with no flashing when just bringing up the settings menu, correct?
Mike,
The LNBF and cable were used with my other dish and worked great.
I may have to recheck the skew as Andy suggested and also the f/d.
No flashing with the settings menu, but also no signal presently.
John
The LNBF and cable were used with my other dish and worked great.
I may have to recheck the skew as Andy suggested and also the f/d.
No flashing with the settings menu, but also no signal presently.
John
So, now that declination is set, you do not touch that bolt again 
(unless you have specific reason to believe that the declination offset angle of your mount is wrong).
Now you have to set due south.
Do you prefer the compass method? Then set the dish (still in zero position) to due south, by rotating the whole mount+dish.
And check/double check.
The next step: find satellite 78 W, by moving the dish with the actuator.
For Lat 41.65N and Long 70.00W that would mean about 9.0 degree rotation (to the right, when standing behind the dish).
(For 70.5W: 8.45 degree rotation.)
9 degrees rotation for a 200 centimeter diameter dish would mean 200 * 0.0782 = 15.64 centimeter movement of the sides of the dish forward (the one side) and backward (the other side).
(For 70.5W: 200* 0.0735 cm).
So, I don't know the width of your dish, but you can do the mathematics yourself. Just replace 200 cm in the formulas above, by your dish width.
You have two possible ways now.
1. If you trust your compass, and after you set your dish to true south; then just move the actuator till you find/receive 78 W.
After that, you can finetune by moving the actuator till maximal reception, and/or by adjusting the axis elevation of the mount.
2. If you trust the measure of the movement of the sides of the dish, as calculated above, and you have moved the calculated amount of centimeters/inches away from due south; then move mount+dish on the pole, till you get maximum reception on 78W. (But don't move the actuator!)
After that, you can finetune by adjusting the axis elevation of the mount.
Hopefully, you get steady reception of 78W this way.
(Did you check the rib of the dish, that seems to stick out in front of the dish face, already? Hope that can be fixed...)
Do I make myself understandable?
Greetz,
A33
(unless you have specific reason to believe that the declination offset angle of your mount is wrong).Now you have to set due south.
Do you prefer the compass method? Then set the dish (still in zero position) to due south, by rotating the whole mount+dish.
And check/double check.
The next step: find satellite 78 W, by moving the dish with the actuator.
For Lat 41.65N and Long 70.00W that would mean about 9.0 degree rotation (to the right, when standing behind the dish).
(For 70.5W: 8.45 degree rotation.)
9 degrees rotation for a 200 centimeter diameter dish would mean 200 * 0.0782 = 15.64 centimeter movement of the sides of the dish forward (the one side) and backward (the other side).
(For 70.5W: 200* 0.0735 cm).
So, I don't know the width of your dish, but you can do the mathematics yourself. Just replace 200 cm in the formulas above, by your dish width.
You have two possible ways now.
1. If you trust your compass, and after you set your dish to true south; then just move the actuator till you find/receive 78 W.
After that, you can finetune by moving the actuator till maximal reception, and/or by adjusting the axis elevation of the mount.
2. If you trust the measure of the movement of the sides of the dish, as calculated above, and you have moved the calculated amount of centimeters/inches away from due south; then move mount+dish on the pole, till you get maximum reception on 78W. (But don't move the actuator!)
After that, you can finetune by adjusting the axis elevation of the mount.
Hopefully, you get steady reception of 78W this way.
(Did you check the rib of the dish, that seems to stick out in front of the dish face, already? Hope that can be fixed...)
Do I make myself understandable?
Greetz,
A33
A33,
I fully understand your instructions and will implement them in the next few days. I will use the compass to find due south using the method I described to you earlier. This is what I've done in the past to find a satellite.
As for the dish shape, I will do another string test. However, it looks good to the naked eye.
Thanks so much for all your help.
I will let you know how it goes.
John
I fully understand your instructions and will implement them in the next few days. I will use the compass to find due south using the method I described to you earlier. This is what I've done in the past to find a satellite.
As for the dish shape, I will do another string test. However, it looks good to the naked eye.
Thanks so much for all your help.
I will let you know how it goes.
John
Hi John,
I don't really know what it's set at, I've had that feed on there for a few years now and when I put it on I just moved it until I got the best signal I could on my meter. The feed on that dish is a Chap C/Ku Corotor, so I had to do some tweaking to get the best of both C and Ku. I can go out tomorrow night and measure from the center of the dish to the feed, if you want any other measurements, just let me know.
Andy
Hi All,
I was able to lock a steady signal on 78W (3922 3002V) at 6db....not much but something to work with.
The coax connection I'm using is hooked directly to the LNBF and then to my Sathero satellite finder. When I take that coax and hook it to the coax that leads to the house and stb, I just that quick flash to 12db then it goes to nothing. I have two coax's leading to the house and I've tried both with no results. In fact if I try other satellites on the stb not even near 78W, I get the same 12db to nothing flash.
I have moved the dish a bit with the actuator and still no stb signal.
Any thoughts ?
Thanks,
John
I was able to lock a steady signal on 78W (3922 3002V) at 6db....not much but something to work with.
The coax connection I'm using is hooked directly to the LNBF and then to my Sathero satellite finder. When I take that coax and hook it to the coax that leads to the house and stb, I just that quick flash to 12db then it goes to nothing. I have two coax's leading to the house and I've tried both with no results. In fact if I try other satellites on the stb not even near 78W, I get the same 12db to nothing flash.
I have moved the dish a bit with the actuator and still no stb signal.
Any thoughts ?
Thanks,
John
Well, IF you only see 6db on your meter connected to the short jumper out at the dish, then depending on what sort of coax you are using and how long it is, it's likely you are dropping at least an additional couple db's also running through the length of coax into the house. So the receiver doesn't have enough signal to lock. Since the signals are now digital and not analog, it'll do what you are seeing.
What you should do for now, is take your METER into the house, and measure what the db rating is from inside there just to see what happens there.
Though IF your old dish worked with the same 78w satellite signal, using the same pole, lnbf, coax, and receiver, it then stands to reason that there's something wrong with the dish you have now.
Personally, if that was my dish, for peace of mind I'd remove the button hook and I'd find a friend or two to help me lift the entire dish from the pole. I'd then put it face down on a big enough flat surface somewhere, and check to make sure it's really a parabola.
Because I'm pretty sure my eyes aren't deceiving me on your photos (it would be a first after all the dishes I've had), and the dish petals just don't look to me like they are assembled right. So that dish isn't concentrating the signal to just inside the feedhorn as it should be.
What you should do for now, is take your METER into the house, and measure what the db rating is from inside there just to see what happens there.
Though IF your old dish worked with the same 78w satellite signal, using the same pole, lnbf, coax, and receiver, it then stands to reason that there's something wrong with the dish you have now.
Personally, if that was my dish, for peace of mind I'd remove the button hook and I'd find a friend or two to help me lift the entire dish from the pole. I'd then put it face down on a big enough flat surface somewhere, and check to make sure it's really a parabola.
Because I'm pretty sure my eyes aren't deceiving me on your photos (it would be a first after all the dishes I've had), and the dish petals just don't look to me like they are assembled right. So that dish isn't concentrating the signal to just inside the feedhorn as it should be.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your response.
The length of the rg6 cable leading from my dish to the stb in the house is approx 50 feet.
I was actually planning to do the meter test inside the house next to the stb.
My old KTI dish was very obviously not parabolic to the naked eye, but with tweaking it would get 78W. However I would then not get anything west of say 99w due to its mis-shape.
I will do another string test but as I said earlier, it was pretty damn close, but not a perfect, parabola. Much better however, than the KTI dish.
In the meantime maybe I would have better luck looking for a stronger satellite close to true south.
John
Thanks for your response.
The length of the rg6 cable leading from my dish to the stb in the house is approx 50 feet.
I was actually planning to do the meter test inside the house next to the stb.
My old KTI dish was very obviously not parabolic to the naked eye, but with tweaking it would get 78W. However I would then not get anything west of say 99w due to its mis-shape.
I will do another string test but as I said earlier, it was pretty damn close, but not a perfect, parabola. Much better however, than the KTI dish.
In the meantime maybe I would have better luck looking for a stronger satellite close to true south.
John
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