Newbie... 1st post & 2 questions

[Gooch]

Hey memebers,

Spent the last month trolling FTA sites. Settled on this one for three main reasons:
-wealth of knowledge
-quality of information, and
-high level of civility

Just purchased a new home and decided it needs FTA. Just purchased my first system, so this is all new to me. Anticipate the need for expert advice, so wasted no time upgrading the membership. Who says consumers are no longer willing to pay for quality products/services?

Since new to FTA testing, must admit I’ve focused more time on what hardware to buy than what I will actually use it for. Meaning, I’m not yet sure what birds I will want -- not to mention figuring-out the logistics involved. I don’t need PVR or HD, and will only connect one TV for a while, but want to avoid the upgrade racket (receiver excluded, of course). With that said, here’s what I purchased:
-Viewsat Ultra
-Foretec 90cm antenna
-Stab HH-90 rotor
-Invacom QPH-031 LNB
-signal meter, angle finder, RG-6, outdoor spec F-types

Still waiting on the receiver, so currently focusing on antenna install. I think I have this phase under control thanks to all your How Tos and other info -- we’ll see how it goes. by the way, my location is Chicagoland area.

QUESTIONS:
Any PROs or CONs to the above setup?
Any value in using a GPS for accurate Lon/Lat determination?
[or is it more like throwing horse shoes, where close is good enough]

Thanks.
Gooch

[edwinsao]

this is a hobby my friend welcome to aba and also a little read can be your best friend just go to the right section a gonna give you the links because is your first post,welcome to abadss enjoy the site and remember you can ask 24/7 with no problem
http://www.abadss.com/forum/306-viewsat-ultra-help/
http://www.abadss.com/forum/29-lnb-d...on-guides.html
and the bin files you will finde in the download section,the set up is easy,you have a very good unit ,with a compas is enouth to find the birds,good luck

[coorslightly]

The Three best birds out there are 110 echostar (8.6) 119 echostar & bell xpress 91 (nimitz 1.3) . these 3 have the best programming to satisfy your tv needs for the entire family.
plus your viewsat ultra has one of the best support in the fta world.

[mr shady]

Your gps will help you how somewhat and you look like you are heading in the right direction with your equpinment you may want to get another dish and lnbs in the future and have more sats to choose from and welcome and enjoy your time here!

[NEW TO TV]

Welcome Gooch to ABA. You have already been provided some good links to help you with your choice of reciever and an install guide for your motor by edwinsao.

The choice in the dish was a good one. That size dish will help you pull in weaker signals.

You made a wise choice with the lnb. It will recieve circuliar as well as linear sats.

Looks like you are on your way to testing fta. Read all you can in the forums and that will help you get a good working knowledge. Good luck.

[RICKSBEACH]

Welcome to the site gooch
It looks like edwinsao has supplied you with great information for you to go over so your set there. Also it looks like you have picked up some good equipment for testing.
Take a look around the site and if you have any problems or questions about FTA just ask away and some great people here will be glad to help you out.
Enjoy your stay here!

[Gooch]

Well my confidence level hit zero about 3 hours ago. Since then been scouring the forums for answers, and nearing wit's end.

In a nutshell, need to know correct STB settings for my setup... namely for "antenna setup", as well as any others I should know about. Then correct steps to get motor moving for scanning. Hoped the individual manuals would clarify all this, but no luck.

Here's where I'm at: (received my STB yesterday - VS Ultra)
- Completed installation of antenna (Foretec 90cm), motor (HH-90), LNB(QPH-031), DiSEqC and cableing (quad cable with compression fittings). Spent a full day making sure mast and motor plumb, elevation set, and maximum signal strength at True South using a powered analog signal meter (LNB direct connect).
- Cableing config: LNB L to DiSEqC port 1, LNB C to port2 (as outlined in Stab's install sheet), DiSEqC "receiver" port motor's "LNB" port, motor's "REC" port to STB.
- Connected STB, Downloaded Fac PGM 1.24 and non-Fac PGM 070618.
- Connected USB stick, powered on STB, upgraded to Fac file. Cycled power for 1 minute after box completely rebooted.
- Powered on STB, upgraded to non-Fac file. Cycled power for 1 minute after box completely rebooted.
- Attempted antenna setup, but could not get any signal due to not knowing proper settings, such as:
-- LNB type
-- LNB high
-- LNB low
-- TP Freq
-- DiSEqC 1.0
-- Motor
-- Legacy SW

Would appreciate someone clarifying those settings for my system. Then what's my next step. Guess I wasn't as prepared as I thought. Much thanks, by the way.
Gooch

[Gooch]

UPDATE: Late night reading revealed a mistake: Elevation set on both brackets (motor & dish), instead of just the motor. Duh! I will correct this tonight and check/adjust signal strength thereafter.

Does it matter which LNB tap I test with? My assumption is it depends on which bird.

I still could use some guidance on "antenna setup" parameters.

Gooch

[mr shady]

if you are asking does it matter wich lnb for what bird no they will work for all as for the setting i would wait for edwinsao he seems to know the motor part or reread the link he gave you sorry could;nt be more help!

[woodcreeker]

That's quite a setup for a newbie!! We'll get you up and running.

Well, the best thing to do is to level the mast, both front to back, and side to side. (The vertical pole the motor mount is going to be mounted to)

Then, set the latitude on the side of that mount with your latutude. Notice there is a little arrow in front of the nut to adjust it to the scale on the side. Get a compass and aim the mount as due south as you are able by aligning the mount mast to the motor mounting pole. Get back from it 20 feet to do this. I placed 2 sticks on the ground to show me which way is south from the pole. (Yes, I live out in the sticks) There is a hole on the pole on the motor which will help you locate the dish on that pole. Then mount the dish pointing due south as well.

Ultra setup should be under Nimiq 1, LNB type, standard. You should have cable in C for circular port, or that switch setting reflected in Diseqc port settings. Or do you have a SW-21? I would run straight cables for now. LNB freq is 11250. Motor USALS. Put in lat/long settings.

Next manually turn the motor a little west with the remote if you are east of the Mississippi River, or a little east if you are way west of the Mississippi River until you find Nimiq 1. You can use the elevations a little on the dish to adjust in Nimiq 1 for maximum strength, you should see 100 quality there. You should see Nimiq 1 in the upper right blue area when you find it. This is the southernmost satellite.

The trick here is to scan satellite when you find it with the F1 button, and click yes to update information. Do this for every satellite.

You then go out 30 degrees to the west to Echo 7 manually setup echo 7 with same settings and change TP to 12239. You will need to readjust the dish there a little. I loosed all the bolts on the dish bracket adjustments to the motor arm and positioned it until I had Echo 7 at quality 100. Then retightened them, obviously. When I swung it back to Nimiq 1, I still had 100 quality. Then I knew I was on the Clarke Belt (satellite arc all satellites are on).

Best satellites are Echo 7(119W), Echo 8(110W), Nimiq 1(91W), Nimiq 2(82W)

Remember you need a switch to use between the motor and LNB for switching the LNB from circular to linear (marked C and L on LNB ports) This has to set in your settings.

Any more problems, I'll try to help. You may have been discouraged, but the rewards of your efforts are right around the corner.

Good Luck !!

[Gooch]

Thanks guys. Regarding SW-21, I don't have one.

Mast and motor are plumb and elevation set on motor bracket -- I just need to set elevation on dish bracket to 0° (RIGHT??) so as not to have doubled elevation. Then I'll follow WC's steps for adjusting by pointing to birds.

QUESTIONS:

What is the better signal meter; analog or via the Ultra?

To clarify "as due south as you are able" does this mean True South (magnetic south -/+ declination)? If so, mine is 182° and already dialed-in.

Thanks again!
Gooch