Advice Needed Astra 2e from the french riviera

[PaulR]

Sounds like a 1.2m dish to me.

 

[Stuggy]

Ok I made some progress. I am getting channels and some HD. For example I get BBC hd.

I am not getting ITV hd. Is the best strategy to tune to a channel that I am not getting and try and get it working by adjusting the dish?

 

[Stuggy]

Is there a particular channel I should tune to to optimise the levels or should I just do what I mentioned in the list above?

 

[Mickha]

Can you please post more details, as there are several BBC HD channels, some on the vertical polarity, and some on the Horizontal polarity.
Which channels are you getting and at what signal quality level?
It might be that you've skewed the LNB incorrectly, alternatively some might be broadcasting at lower power.
Have you checked all the channels, using the UK spot beam?

https://www.lyngsat.com/Astra-2E-2F-2G.html

 

[RimaNTSS]

And do not forget to post some pictures of installation site

 

[Stuggy]

This is Freesat 106 BBC hd.

Here are most of the channels I don't get yet.
107
108
111 ITV hd
127
148
149
150
151
157-160
166
167 quest hd breaks up
168-170
172
200 BBC news

Also, when setting the dish up the elevation had me stumped for a while. I think the scale does not take into account the offset elevation of the dish. I think for this dish it is 25 degrees but I am not certain. So after finding that out I still need to check elevation again.

I will post pics after things are final. I'm hoping to find tune today. In the guide I also think that there are some channel numbers not showing in the list.

Can anyone comment on my ideas on how to fine tune?

 

[Stuggy]

As far as skew I twisted the LNB slightly clockwise to try and get -13.

 

[dmaavrigdo]

View attachment 123536

This is Freesat 106 BBC hd.

Here are most of the channels I don't get yet.
107
108
111 ITV hd
127
148
149
150
151
157-160
166
167 quest hd breaks up
168-170
172
200 BBC news

Also, when setting the dish up the elevation had me stumped for a while. I think the scale does not take into account the offset elevation of the dish. I think for this dish it is 25 degrees but I am not certain. So after finding that out I still need to check elevation again.

I will post pics after things are final. I'm hoping to find tune today. In the guide I also think that there are some channel numbers not showing in the list.

Can anyone comment on my ideas on how to fine tune?

Push and pull on the bottom of the dish while watching screen/meter to check if you need to reset it.

 

[a33]

What I would do, even with a new dish:
Check if the top and bottom string towards the LNBfeedhorn match the offset angle of the dish (ass measured through dish hight and dish width).

That is easy to measure; if needed I can put it in my calculator for you.
I've seen enough instances where the feedhorn position didn't match the offset angle of the dish.
You could also measure depth of the dish at the center and (let) calculate focal distance and all; but that is more difficult. If feedhorn position matches offset angle, that might be overdone.


Are the channels you are missing (mostly) from 28.2 east or from 28.5 east? That would give an indication if the tweaking should be eastwards or westwards. Even on 70cm dishes, I found the difference between the two satellite position noticable.


For tweaking skew on difficult to get satellites, I usually try to find the zero-reception on the opposite polarity of a transponder. So, setting the transponder polarity from V to H, or vice versa. Often the range around zero is smaller and more precise than the range around maximum reception.

Greetz,
A33

Edit: Don't forget to tweak LNB-distance, so sliding the LNB more towards and from the dish. That could also help.
And tweak on a weak transponder. It is the weakest transponders that you want to improve, and hopefully by doing this you get also a few not-yet-received transponders.

 

[4wd]

What kind og level monitotring is available up there on the roof ? You will need adjusting to sub-mm accuracy to get decent reception of the UK transponders. And chose some compromise between 28 E, F & G.

And -both- my Famavals needed the mentionned adjusting og the lnb 'hotspot' pointing to get proper levels from the UK spots, I don't think this is by chance, it's a manufacturing inaccuracy.

 

[Stuggy]

I have a signal meter to use on the roof. I also have a camera inside pointing at the TV screen that I can see signal levels while viewing my phone. A bit cumbersome. As far as the lnb slide I drilled another hole in the arm then realised it won't work because of the rim of the dish. I need some kind of clamp like you did. I will just play with it manually for now to see if I see a difference.

 

[Stuggy]

Edit: Don't forget to tweak LNB-distance, so sliding the LNB more towards and from the dish. That could also help.
And tweak on a weak transponder. It is the weakest transponders that you want to improve, and hopefully by doing this you get also a few not-yet-received transponders.

That is what I assumed to tweak a weak signal then all the others should improve too. I will try that.

 

[RimaNTSS]

@Stuggy I think you are wasting your time. IMHO proper way how to install and adjust antenna should be:
- do the string test to find out whether the shape is perfect;
- measure dimensions and calculate offset angle and position of Focal point;
- make sure LNB-holder holds LNB in such a way that it's Phase center is co-located with antenna's Focal point;
- point antenna to satellite to maximum signal and adjust LNB's skew.
- you may also need to move LNB closer/further to dish to get better performance.

If you continue to drill additional holes in the feedarm to move LNB around you will be doing it forever and will never get maximum from the dish.

 

[Stuggy]

Thanks for the response. I won't drill any more holes. I will follow instructions.

On a side note I just turned on TV to go do some tweaking and it seems some channels are now coming in so maybe a transponder update happened in the box. ITV hd for one still has no picture.

 

[a33]

- do the string test to find out whether the shape is perfect;
- measure dimensions and calculate offset angle and position of Focal point;
- make sure LNB-holder holds LNB in such a way that it's Phase center is co-located with antenna's Focal point;

So, for the calculation:
Mark the top and bottom of the working area of the dish. Same for left and right of the dish; so that the 4 points form a perfect diamond.
Use the points to measure hight and width.
To calculate focal distance: also mark exact middle point of the dish.
Measure dish depth at the middle, towards the working area dish face, very precise. Be sure to compensate for the hight of the rim!

With these three measures the dish specs can be calculated.
To be able to compare calculation outcomes with reality, also measure top string and bottom string, that is distance(s) from top (and bottom) to about 3,5 cm before the middle of the LNB-holder.

greetz,
A33

 

[4wd]

As you have realized, one needs a sliding\adjustable system to properly being able to control the lnb pointing at best dish hotspot.

Now, in my case(s) this made the dish(es) immensely better for the weakest uk spot beams, may or may not apply to your setup, just providing some tips that may be of help in getting the most out of the dish.

As a test, after doing the best possible adjustments with everything stock, loosen the bottom bolt and gently slide the arm a little while watching the meter closely. On my Famavals the levels jumped up immediately, and the dish went from meeeehhh to very decent for the price. Now secure the arm at the best levels, recheck the dish by gently pushing the edges and see if levels go up or down, evnt. readjust for best levels, go back to the bottom arm, get best levels, repeat etc until nothing gets better :O)

Picture, the temporary-eternal adjustment test-system on my 120 in Norway. Never make temporary experiments that actually works, it'll stay that way :O)

 

[dmaavrigdo]

Thanks for the response. I won't drill any more holes. I will follow instructions.

On a side note I just turned on TV to go do some tweaking and it seems some channels are now coming in so maybe a transponder update happened in the box. ITV hd for one still has no picture.

I'm a long way from you but just as a matter of interest I see no signal at all on the ITVHD transponders. Don't waste too much effort on them.

 

[a33]

@4wd : You just tried, and never measured/calculated?

greetz,
A33

 

[4wd]

^^^ Am playing with (fixed) dishes, lnb's, receivers, cutting trees etc until am satisfied I cannot get anything more out of the existing situation :O)
My only measurements is the Solo2 on wifi + the app, can test and try all transponders under any conditions with very fine measurements, and be sure I get max results.

 

[Stuggy]

After tweaking my set up I am quite pleased. Only ITV hd seems tricky. Sometimes it locks and sometimes not.

Interestingly my analogue signal tester couldn't help me much at the end because it was maxed out even when I turned it all the way down. I'm not sure why.

I will monitor how it goes. Today I think I'll tighten down all the bolts.