Trying to position a 7 foot dish for sat @ 72

[John Popper]

I have this old 7 foot dish some technician installed for me back in the day for a digital service here in Mexico called DTH Multivision which has long since disappeared. I haven't used the dish in like 12 years so looking at it the other day made me think If I can use it to get the one C Band satellite I cannot reach with my 10 footer: AMC6 @ 72.

Since this dish has no positioner (it used to be fixed on one satellite) and was moved out of range to connect some phone cables (was out of town when they did it) it's now all over the place so I want to be able to position it for that satellite, and maybe in the future for the lower Ku Band ones, but I have no clue as to where to put the compass to get an idea as to where I'm at. I bought the DMS satellite kit with the sat finder to do it, but I don't even know where to start since the kit only has instructions for the sat finder but not for the compass, any ideas? where should I put the compass? dumb me I don't think ive used a compass since I was like 11

here are pics of the dish

 

[Lak7]

but I don't even know where to start since the kit only has instructions for the sat finder but not for the compass, any ideas

dishpointer.com
Enter your location, make note of the Azimuth - that's the compass reading.

 

[MikeinBaja]

here in Mexico

Where in Mexico? If northern Baja, I may be able to help.

 

[John Popper]

Where in Mexico? If northern Baja, I may be able to help.

very far from you, im close to the Cholula Pyramids

 

[John Popper]

dishpointer.com
Enter your location, make note of the Azimuth - that's the compass reading.

this is what I get from dish pointer for sat 97

where do I physically place the compass, what's my reference point?

 

[MikeinBaja]

Sorry that didn't work - have Birdog meter - will travel (but not that far).

Magnetic S/B your point - but keep the compass away from the metal.

 

[Mr Tony]

67 elevation...hee hee

I'd kill for that. My true south is 38 here in Minnesota

Also..very nice dish

 

[John Popper]

do any of you know of any youtube vid that shows how someone installs a BUD? Ive seen a bunch of installation vids but of small dishes, I'm having a tough time moving this thing around on such a narrow roof, I cant position myself comfortably and I still don't know how to measure the elevation, azimuth etc

 

[guapoharry]

Looks like my KTI dish... Seems like you are missing an elevation adjustment....

Rotate the dial so one of the yellow lines is next to the slit. Place the compass on something like a cardboard box away from metal that has iron in it. Rotate the compass so the magnetic azimuth value lines up with the line. Look through the peephole toward some landmark toward the horizon. That's where the dish should point...

Are those water tanks on roofs of the houses pictured?

¡Cholula!

edit added picture.

 

[John Popper]

Thanks Harry, will try that tomorrow and yeah those are water tanks right next gas deposits (99% of houses here have that setup) right next to the crappy "Sky" pizza dish that I refuse to get (I do have cable though)

 

[turbosat]

John P that satellite is the south satellite for you (nearest your longitude) south using the compass should be quite easy to find. Just aim that long bar on top of the mount to south, set your elevation and you should be very close. There's a good c-band install howto from the old geo-orbit website, if I can find it I"ll post the link.

 

[John Popper]

Thanks Turbo, would appreciate that how to link!

 

[delta_charlie]

Hi, maybe this will help - that dish is a prime focus so it points direct at the satellite you want to receive. Try to picture it like it was a huge flashlight reflector. If you can stand about 10 feet directly behind the dish you should be able to eyeball the compass heading. For the elevation, you could rig up a string direct across the rim of the dish and check if for the elevation. Hope this helps, DC

 

[Davage]

There is a video on this site that show's how to set up a C-Band dish to track the arc. The video was made back in the good old analog days.

Boresight News Videos

It's the one titled - Shaun Kenny - Tracking Made Easy

 

[John Popper]

Thanks a lot for that vid Davage! I saw dude in the video used a magnetic protractor (which I believe it's easier to use on these types of dishes than a compass), I just went to ebay and bought one, when I get it I can check out the measurements on my 10 footer (that works like a charm) and copy them for the smaller dish and then just position it on 79 to get those channels! will keep everyone posted!

 

[turbosat]

Here ya go John:
Footprints by Dish Size - Adjusting the Polar Mount for Prime Focus Antenna - C/Ku-Band Satellite Systems - Tuning, Tracking, Azimuth, Elevation, Declination Angles, F/D Ratio, Focal Distance, Inclinometer, LNB/Feedhorn Assembly, Actuator Assembly, C

That'll cover just about everything involved in setting up a c-band dish, most of which us old cbanders learned the hard way, haha.

 

[John Popper]

Thanks turbo! great info on that page!
and congrats on Alabama winning the NCAA chip (if you're a Bama fan lol)

 

[turbosat]

IF I'm a fan, he says!

Thanks.

 

[Davage]

I'm glad the video helped out. That video was made by the Late Shaun Kenny... He died quite a few years ago in an unfortunate accident where he fell off of the roof. On that same page is the video announcement of his death.

He sure knew his satellite stuff.

RIP Shaun..

 

[Tron]

IF I'm a fan, he says!

Thanks.

Well, ya could have been an <GASP> Auburn fan!

From one SEC fan to another (LSU here!), Congratulations!