Usals problem & alignment

[Red alert]

Question for you all. How many of you actually measure the arm length before installing a new setup? This is something I never had thought of doing in the past due to “trust” of supplier.

HM-Sat have decided to send me the correct arm which is good news. Thanks @a33

 

[sonnetpete]

Question for you all. How many of you actually measure the arm length before installing a new setup?

Never...though to qualify that, all the dishes I've installed in the past here (seven and counting) have just 'looked right' out of the box. Perhaps that's because I've usually upgraded dishes and I have a smaller diameter one to compare the larger one with (though from memory, I've not done so) However, I'm pleased that HM Sat have finally agreed to send you a replacement feedarm. We await results....

 

[jeallen01]

Question for you all. How many of you actually measure the arm length before installing a new setup? This is something I never had thought of doing in the past due to “trust” of supplier.

HM-Sat have decided to send me the correct arm which is good news. Thanks @a33

Like @sonnetpete, I've never thought to measure arm lengths for the same reasons - OTOH, most of my dishes are s/h and "probably" worked OK for the previous owners (even some of the latter appeared to have no idea of how to set them up!)

 

[a33]

Question for you all. How many of you actually measure the arm length before installing a new setup? This is something I never had thought of doing in the past due to “trust” of supplier.

HM-Sat have decided to send me the correct arm which is good news. Thanks @a33

First of all: Yes that is good news, from HM-satshop!
I don't know what went wrong the first time, but I didn't think the intention of the satshop was to give bad service.
I'm glad that it seems to get solved neatly, after all?


Who tests correct focal position? I do!
I've seen enough cases of not optimal LNB-position on the internet: wrong arm length, or wrong offset position ("arm hanging through" ~ is that english?). My own triax 115 did have an arm hanging too low. Trust, but verify!

And I did offer to calculate it for you, didn't I?
But I must confess it's easier when you have a calculator at hand for that. I have made my own myself (even for wider than high offset paraboloid dishes!). Parabola6 by strannik is also excellent; introduced here bij RimaNTSS.

For motor setups I find it essential. The angles don't add up right, if the LNB is not at the correct offset angle.

Greetz,
A33

 

[Channel Hopper]

The arms I have here for Gibertini are for the older style 60 and 80cm reflector designs, but good news that the German distributor is playing ball, a pity the manufacturer's name is tarnished as a result.

 

[Lazarus]

+1 for never.

 

[Red alert]

Hi all,
Thought i should provide an update. Received the arm from hm-sat last week and recently installed it. Signals improved by 30 - 40 % across the arc. Setup on thor using freq 12418 V and tweaked to 100% SNR. Tested 26 east also and picked up 190 channels. Finally on arc after only a few hours of tweaking. Can anyone recommend any other freq on thor to align on. Would it make a difference if i align on a weaker transponder on thor?


In other news i just received a lnb arm direct from Gibertini today, see attached. Once I emailed them about the issue i was having a few weeks ago they asked for my address. Actually they asked for my address before hm-sat agreed to send me the arm. Anyway this is a great example of how customer service should be and understanding customer problems. In the future i think i would go direct to Gibertini.

 

[sonnetpete]

Would it make a difference if i align on a weaker transponder on thor?

If you want to try and get Thor spot on, leave it on a strong transponder but use the 'wet tea towel' trick. I.E. Dampen a cloth (not necessarily one you use to dry dishes) but not soaking and hang it over the LNB so it blocks the end facing the dish face. This will effectively attenuate the signal and allow for fine adjustments. Saves searching for a specifically weak TP.

 

[jeallen01]

@Red alert

Glad to hear the good news - so the "Left of centre thought" managed to point the way forward!

BTW, I'd been thinking that I should ask whether you had received a new arm from HM-sat - but now you have two of them! May be time to get another "bitza" dish kit and fix that as well.

 

[Red alert]

@Red alert

Glad to hear the good news - so the "Left of centre thought" managed to point the way forward!

BTW, I'd been thinking that I should ask whether you had received a new arm from HM-sat - but now you have two of them! May be time to get another "bitza" dish kit and fix that as well.

Yes @jeallen01 , not sure we would have gotten to the bottom of this problem if it wasnt for that left of centre thought.
No more bitza kits for me Next time its only direct from manufacturer.
Thanks again @jeallen01.

 

[a33]

In other news i just received a lnb arm direct from Gibertini today, see attached. Once I emailed them about the issue i was having a few weeks ago they asked for my address. Actually they asked for my address before hm-sat agreed to send me the arm. Anyway this is a great example of how customer service should be and understanding customer problems.

Well, if I recall right (I didn't read the topic back) they first told you to solve it with the vendor?
It would have been good customer service, when they had told you right away that they would send the new arm, hearing your troubles with the vendor.
Saying yes and doing yes, is definitely better than saying no and doing yes, as far as I'm concerned.

But I'm glad it is now solved, though it being solved twice is a bit useless....

greetz,
A33

 

[Red alert]

Well, if I recall right (I didn't read the topic back) they first told you to solve it with the vendor?
It would have been good customer service, when they had told you right away that they would send the new arm, hearing your troubles with the vendor.
Saying yes and doing yes, is definitely better than saying no and doing yes, as far as I'm concerned.

But I'm glad it is now solved, though it being solved twice is a bit useless....

greetz,
A33

I contacted Gibertini after failed attempts with Hm-sat. In my first email to Gibertini I did not mention who the vendor was but what I needed them to confirm was the arm length only. It was only when I mentioned in my 2nd email to Gibertini who the vendor was and that they refuse to acknowledge I have the wrong arm, this is when Gibertini asked for my address. By the way it I had sent over 4 or 5 emails to Hm-sat before you mentioned the contact. I have everything recorded in my email.
@a33, I appreciate you helped things move along with hm-sat. But its all over now and now have a sat system I can finally enjoy.