Issues with new C-Band setup

[L3gion]

Ok guys... I've got a pretty big problem.

I contracted a local sat guy to install a c-band setup for FTA here at our office so we can use it for business purposes.

We ordered the equipment through him, on his recommendation given our requirements, etc.

Now, we're having problems getting anything from the dish.

We specifically wanted NASA and Bloomberg TV from AMC-6 and G-11/G-17. We're getting very little signal from NASA (which is ok, since that was the play part of the project)... however, when we initially tried to get feed from G-11/17 we were getting fairly high signal, but no quality. Come to find out we're less than 1/2 mile away from SFO airport so certainly TE was a factor. Since then we've purchased an alternate LNB and feed-horn to account for this interference.

Now when try's G11/17 he's only able to pull from the vertical transponders... when he rotates the feedhorn/LNB to the horizontal position, he get's nothing.

So at this point I'm concerned that this guy doesn't know what he's doing and need to determine what the solution could be.

Any insight? Questions? Comments... I'm open to it all! I'm no expert by any means... this is why I hired him.

Please help!

[fordman01]

Originally Posted by bitgravity

Ok guys... I've got a pretty big problem.

I contracted a local sat guy to install a c-band setup for FTA here at our office so we can use it for business purposes.

We ordered the equipment through him, on his recommendation given our requirements, etc.

Now, we're having problems getting anything from the dish.

We specifically wanted NASA and Bloomberg TV from AMC-6 and G-11/G-17. We're getting very little signal from NASA (which is ok, since that was the play part of the project)... however, when we initially tried to get feed from G-11/17 we were getting fairly high signal, but no quality. Come to find out we're less than 1/2 mile away from SFO airport so certainly TE was a factor. Since then we've purchased an alternate LNB and feed-horn to account for this interference.

Now when try's G11/17 he's only able to pull from the vertical transponders... when he rotates the feedhorn/LNB to the horizontal position, he get's nothing.

So at this point I'm concerned that this guy doesn't know what he's doing and need to determine what the solution could be.

Any insight? Questions? Comments... I'm open to it all! I'm no expert by any means... this is why I hired him.

Please help!

are you using a bcs621??????

[L3gion]

I ran a search on bcs621 and have determined that we are NOT using that particular LNB/Feedhorn assembly.

Additionally, we're currently using a 6ft dish...given that G11/G17 claim that EIRP and this particular dish size should be appropriate for the bird we're trying to hit... however I'm concerned that we're under on the dish size and the installer is not wanting to claim responsibility for that choice.

We're also using the SonicView HD8000. The receiver should be ok right?

[captain]

Originally Posted by bitgravity

I ran a search on bcs621 and have determined that we are NOT using that particular LNB/Feedhorn assembly.

Additionally, we're currently using a 6ft dish...given that G11/G17 claim that EIRP and this particular dish size should be appropriate for the bird we're trying to hit... however I'm concerned that we're under on the dish size and the installer is not wanting to claim responsibility for that choice.

We're also using the SonicView HD8000. The receiver should be ok right?

Hi Bit:
1st off, how are you controlling the polarity, LNB-f or servo motor, or a dual lnb's via a switch.
2nd, is the SV8000 moving the dish or is it a fixed dish, an do you have a slave reciver running that dish?

Now the SV8000 is the best receiver that I have ever used running a big dish with its motor functions with a controller, far better than alot of other brands that I have used, an I have had alot of FTA-receivers. I keep at least 3 C-bands dishes running here or more at times.

Now you're 6-footer is a little small for C-band, I would not go under 10-foot dish size for what you are trying to do. but it will work, you just need to have the F/D & F/L set perfect on smaller reflectors, an also alot of pannel alinement is needed to make sure that the reflector is perfect an true. an remember that all prime focas antennas don't have the same gain as size for size, that is why most of mine here are comercal dishes, alot more DB-gain.

But give all the details on what you have as for as model an manufactor of everything, an will try to help you out.
Good luck.

[L3gion]

On the above:

Fixed dish... and there's nothing controlling the polarity. Should there be? I believe there's a servo motor on the LNB but there's nothing connected to it. The installer was manually turning the entire assembly rather than having anything hooked up to the motor itself.

I believe that the wind is becoming our enemy given that the Q has dropped significantly over the course of the weekend and it's dropping in and out... as described below.

Now riddle me this: We can set the receiver to AMC10 (which is where the channel I really want to lock onto is...) but when we go to view the settings again, it's showing Galaxy1R... we're getting drops in quality so the feed is bumpy to say the least. And the fact that it's showing 1R is also really odd...

[captain]

Originally Posted by L3gion

On the above:

Fixed dish... and there's nothing controlling the polarity. Should there be? I believe there's a servo motor on the LNB but there's nothing connected to it. The installer was manually turning the entire assembly rather than having anything hooked up to the motor itself.

realy you sud have a single polarity feed, chapperal makes 1, an it will give you better DB gain, but the servo 1 will also work. now on the servo motor if you are only using 1-polarity use a receiver to set the antenna in the feed throat or remove the sevo motor an set the antenna with a screw driver an put some silcone on it to hold it in place.


I believe that the wind is becoming our enemy given that the Q has dropped significantly over the course of the weekend and it's dropping in and out... as described below.

Now the wind sud not bother a 6-footer at all, sounds like not enough cocrete was ever put in the base or you have some thing louse at the dish.


Now riddle me this: We can set the receiver to AMC10 (which is where the channel I really want to lock onto is...) but when we go to view the settings again, it's showing Galaxy1R... we're getting drops in quality so the feed is bumpy to say the least. And the fact that it's showing 1R is also really odd...

Now this is telling me that you're F/D is not set corect, an also may not have the dish peaked in well either, but getting a satellite right next to the 1 that you're peaked in on is a F/D problem. in you're dish paper work you sud have what the F/D needs to be set at, set it an DO NOT move it. also by moving the feed for the right polarity could have changed this setting. the F/D ratio is very important dealling with rejecting adjacent satellites an ground noise, an it will vary with the diameter of a dish an the depth of a dish.

in all it realy sounds like you need to find another installer, sounds like he doesn't know what he is doing, the best way to find a good installer is to ask how they are going to aline a dish with what type of equipment. A spectrum Aniz is the best (i will use them here, have 2 of them), an if they tell you a birddog or a satellite finder, then call some 1 else.

Now L3 will give you a quick way that I will set up a Big dish, an it takes me longer to set up, than to peak a dish in. will put a short peice of wire on the dish, then add 2 4-way satellites splitters 1-c &1-ku, will use a DSR-922 to move the dish an control polatity, as well to look a dig-chipper signals, then will put the spectrum aniz on a AB-switch (to switch from C & ku), then will also use a mpeg receiver on another port with a disqec switch, then on the last port another AB switch into a IF sniffer, to read my signal levels (with the sniffer it is the finest measure ment that I have ever used on a dish). then after all is set up will go into the alinement of the dish, an feed.

Good Luck

[captain]

L3 reread you're quote in my last post.