usals vs. diseq 1.2 instructions on how to setup motor on pansat 9500hdx

[michaelhoffa]

Manual for this box not detailed enough. Got ws9036ne, pansat receiver, Ariza tech spm-990 motor, and a C/Ku band LNB BSC621.
I had been setting dish to each sat manually, but now have motor described above.

I set up motor as instructed. set sat to diseqc1.2 and with signal meter connected to lnb port on motor and receiver connected to rcv port on motor.
Manually moved dish with switch until I got a good tone, check compass heading and was reasonably sure I was pointing at galaxy 16.
Performed a blind scan and saw good channels on c-band. When I went back into antenna setup page saw that galaxy 16 was locked when selecting weakest transponder. Did same for galaxy 19 ku, got channels and saw it was also locked. Each time I saved the diseqc setting and selected a different position number and saved each one after tweaking till I got the best signal on weakest transponder.

So, I am reasonable sure that I did it right as when I select a different channel for each sat it moves the dish and the channel comes in good and clear.

My question is this:
If I now have this setup correctly and my reference point returns to zero, will setting each of my satellites to use usals make it work?
Or do I have to find each one manually as I did before and save them each with a different position number?

Thanks
Mike

 

[SatelliteAV]

Welcome to Satellite Guys!

The motor should first be installed and optimized using USALS instead of DiSEqC 1.2. There can be slight aiming errors that you are over riding by bumping the motor east or west.

If you activate USALS, does the motor drive to the correct satellite and provide the same high Signal Quality readings as were received when manually aiming with DiSEqC 1.2? If so, the motor has been correctly installed and signal optimized. If the USALS selection drives the dish slightly off of the previous optimized readings, then readjust the motor on the pole and the dish elevation until the Signal Quality readings are peaked.

USALS will calculate each satellite position and automatically move the motor position to this calculated position. There is no motor position number saved for each satellite when using USALS mode. You will not need to manual find each satellite if using USALS as the receive calculates the motor position each time a motor movement is issued. When receiving satellites near the horizon, it may be necessary to use DiSEqC 1.2 mode. USALS calculations are typically limited to +/-60 or 70 degrees from the center (0) and to move the motor further than the receivers USALS calculation limit, DiSEqC 1.2 mode will be necessary.

 

[KE4EST]

Welcome to the site!

 

[michaelhoffa]

Found out the motor the guy at Impakt Products suggested does not say in the manual it is usals compatible.
I was able to get a few sats programmed in and the motor will go to each one.
I have to manually move the dish with the switch and scan each one found and save it.

Also of note, once I find a sat with the meter in line, I can not move the motor using the receiver, only using the switch on the motor, and I have to remove it in order to save the position.

Is there a easier way to do this?

Thanks

 

[SatelliteAV]

That would be highly unusual as motors are typically GoToX compatible, which is a one way communication of USALS.

Have you selected USALS mode and inputted the longitude and latitude for the installation location?

 

[michaelhoffa]

OK, I got a new Openbox S10, set up the motor to '0' and reset it. Then told the Openbox to use USALS for all satellites.
tried to scan AMC9 and when the receiver says it is moving the motor, it is not.
SPM-990 motor from ImpaktProducts.com
Not liking this at all. Any suggestions?

 

[primestar31]

Maybe that motor isn't capable of being used with USALS? What happens if you try to set a few up as diseqc, does the motor move then?

Try that, and see what happens.

Also make sure there are no motor limits set on the receiver. Does the receiver have a place for you to enter your latitude and longitude, and did you do that? If you didn't, that also could explain why USALS won't work.

Wow, I hate to say this, but every posting I can find on this motor when I Google it, is from a person that can't get their receiver to move it! It works with the switches on the motor, but the receiver control doesn't work... nobody as of yet has posted a solution.

 

[michaelhoffa]

It started to rain, I will try to setup a few using DisEq settings.
I did input my long and Lat where is asked for in the Menu.

Thanks

 

[michaelhoffa]

Able to use DisEqc with the motor spm-990, picked two sats at both ends of the arc and it will move to both using the receiver. Openbox S10.
Now I quess I have to input each one manually and select a new position for each.

 

[SatelliteAV]

Does the motor have a LED light that blinks when receiving commands from the receiver? If so, does it blink when USALS move command is sent?

I believe that you have issues with the receiver, not the motor.

 

[michaelhoffa]

I will check that out. But the same behavior on two different receivers?
I tried it with my pansat 9500hdx as well.

Thanks

 

[SatelliteAV]

Didn't catch that the problem is happening with two different receivers. I have never had a motor model that didn't natively recognize USALS, but it is possible.

Have you considered that the motor might be defective?

 

[michaelhoffa]

Yes, I got two of these motors from the same supplier, and one of them was bad out of the box, moved for 15 seconds then led went out and it failed to move again.
I sent it back and just got the replacement.The first one that worked, will only work with DisEqc 1.2 selected in the menu of both receivers.
I am going to connect the second one just recieved and see if it has same issue.