Satellite TV Forum

[DeepDishPie]

Hey All

I can't seem to get anything with my Dish setup.

I have a Starchoice 27 inch oval dish with the Standard dual output LNBF - I know it's a touch small for FTA, that's why I am trying to tune in G10r, it being fairly close to me, and with some strong signals. For a receiver I have a Twinhan VP1020a in my computer, and DvbTV as the software, (and MyTheatre).

Now I used Eric's calculator and it says that for my location, to point the dish at Azimuth 136.2 (Magnetic), and Elevation at 30.58, and use a polarization tilt of negative 16.56.

Anyways I scan and get nothing....?

So let's run through these. I set the azimuth using a compass to 160.5 I set the elevation to 33.8 using the scale on the dish mount. I set my LNB Freq1 to 10750 for the LNBF. - are there other settings I need to do for the LNB? DvbTV also wants a LNB freq 2 setting, what's that about?

And what's a polarization tilt? Does that mean I should turn the LNB in it's holder to that value? And is this LNB internally switched? If so what setting do I do for that?

By the way, the signal meter in DvbTV hovers around 30 no matter where I point the dish, unless I choose another sat from list then it goes down to 27ish or if I switch the LNBF power off in which case it goes down to 5.   My Location is: 217e by 49n   After a couple days of turning the damn dish a little this way, and little that way, my patience is running out. Not to mention the sky dance with the ladder is killing my knees.

Man I sound like a newbee. That's cause I am.

Any help you all can give me would be great... ...  

[USN - Retired]

The POL angle is ordinarily achieved by rotating the entire reflector (dish) on its horizontal axis - like turning a steering wheel.
 
Not familiar with the Starchoice, I'd be surprised if the LNB is NOT "internally switched". The standard method is that the receiver responds to your channel select input, and sends either 13v or 18v DC to the LNB to switch between vertically and horizontally polarized transponders. I see though that the TwinHan is a PC card, and not a conventional receiver. You might have to switch the 22 MHz control signal off. The other question I'd have is whether its 400ma output is enough to adequately power a pair of LNBs. How long is the cable run? Is it a single cable to the dish, or twinned?
 
A signal strength of 30 and below generally indicates "no usable signal detected". My guess is that you've just got to work a little harder on your antenna angles, starting by setting in the POL. OtherwiseShort of that, there may simply be technical limitations to what that Twinham card can do for you. Perhaps you should "tune in" your desired signal on a conventional receiver, then switch the signal over to the PC card.
 
//greg//

[tosin]

Firstly,I will like you to give us your actual location.There is no where that is 217E,49N. I can then calculate if and what you can get from your location,type of LNB(C or Ku).  
You talked about a ladder and so I assume the dish is mounted on a Pole which means you have to make extra adjustments.Use www.satsig.net/sf.htm to get the necessary angles and also check http://www.satsig.net/polar-mount-5.htm to get extra ideas .  
I think the problem is with the LNB setting.I havent used a DVB Card before but get the manual or pack for the LNB and see if you can try some things like
1. For a C-Band LNB,set the LNB type which you formerly set to 10750 to 5150 or whatever the Local OSCI freq. is written on the LNB manual/pack. For a KU band LNB set it to UNI. Ensure the LNB power is on.
2.Instead of scanning ,try inputing any of the frequencies you see on http://satcodx6.com/2370/eng/ directly.
By the way the polarisation angle is angle to turn the LNB to in its holder.
I dont know much about DvbTv but after seeing that you have setup the dish properly and got good signals,you can try reinstalling DvBTv.
Does anyone have better ideas, pls
Hope that helps though.

[DeepDishPie]

Hey All...
 
217e is actually 143 degrees west which adds up to 360 yes?  So my location is 143 degrees west by 49 degrees north.
 
The LNBF I am told is a Linear - 11.7 to 12.2, not a circular LNB and I was told to use a lo of 10750.  
 
I don't know if it is swithed but it is a dual output for 2 receivers supposedly, and must have some kind of switch in it to go from horz to vert I would imagine.  I just don't know for sure though since this was second hand.
 
I have 100 feet of RG6 running to the dish with no interruptions in the line so there should be enough juice to toggle the switch I think.
 
Does this help any?

[DeepDishPie]

"217e is actually 143 degrees west which adds up to 360 yes?  So my location is 143 degrees west by 49 degrees north. "
 
Wait a sec that can't be right..   Stby I will check again......

[DeepDishPie]

Update: I'm at 123 degrees west by 49 degrees north.
 
Sorry about that slip.
 
So my settings are Azimuth (Magnetic) 160.54, Elevation 33.78, Polarization 0. - glad I didn't turn the LNB
 
Now what about those LNBF Settings...?

[Eric Johnston]

Try looking for the carrier which is vertical polarisation at 11.800 GHz, Symbol rate 26660 ksps
 
Your LNB voltage should be low, 13 volts for vertical polarisation, assuming you have mounted your LNB upright.
 
If your 22 kHz tone is OFF the LNB LO freq may be 9.75 GHz.  In which case L band IF frequency is 2050 Mhz which is rather high (does your card go as far as this)
 
If your 22 kHz tone is ON the LNB LO freq may be 10.6 GHz.  In which case L band IF frequency is 1200 MHz which is good for all types of TV receiver card.
 
If you know the LNB LO is 10.75 then the L band IF is 11.8 - 10.75 = 1050 MHz.
 
Does LNB have any type/model number so a specification of its LO frequencies and polarisation control options can be sought ?
 
Best regards, Eric.
 

[USN - Retired]

Since this is a satellite internet forum, I can't help but wonder if you couldn't get more specific assistance on one of the StarChoice and Twinham forums.
 
At any rate, 143W would put you feet wet in the Pacific. I make 123N/49W to be right on the border, just southeast of Vancouver. Since G10R is coincidentally at 123W, the POL angle of zero is appropriate. 160.5 Az (mag) and 33.8 El will get you in the ballpark.  
 
The LNB is in fact linear (H/V), switched by the receiver - in your case the PC card. By the way, is your video card and monitor NTSC/PAL capable? The LOF is in fact 10750 MHz, but is fixed within the LNB. No user settings or options.
 
The Starchoice LNB is only capable of processing received Ku-band signals. Forget C-band. The LNBs only power source is the Twinham card. That 400ma output (0.4 amps) must not only drive switching voltage, but it must power both LNBs as well as push the received signal back to the PC card. Done via twinned cable just complicates the issue.  
 
The usual method is to compare signal strengths on both ends of the cable to see if line amps may be in order. But that's putting the cart in front of the horse - until you actually GET a signal.
 
Again, I've no first-hand experience with this specific hardware, but you might just be asking the equipment to perform tasks for which it is simply not capable.
 
//greg//

[DeepDishPie]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a "L band IF ".
 
The settings I have available to me in "MyTheatre" are called:
 
-LOF1:
-SW:
-LOF2:
 
The settings I have available to me in "Dvb-TV" are called:
 
LNB Freq1
LNB Freq2
 
And then 4 types of switch settings in this also:
 
1. 22Khz Tone - on or off
2. Tone Burst - on or off
3. Data Burst - on or off
4. DiSeQc - on or off
 
 
Does this help more?
Wish I could show you some screen shots, can we post pics here?
 
Thanks Eric and All
 

[tosin]

From the location you gave me, I used a Satcodx Dishtrack to find out what you can get.
I am still trying to acertain the accuracy of its computation because your location is fully within its coverage but it states that you need a 3.0m dish to get good signals from G10R and your dish is abt 0.7m.  
I tried to find out what the smallest dish (0.6m) can get. Nimiq 1and 2, AMC 6, Rainbow 1. You can calculate it and try if it works.
As for the Ku LNB settings.If your technician has given you specifications, then use it.I am telling you what works over here with me as mine is similar to yours.
Men,you got a lot of tweaking to do.

[DeepDishPie]

on 06. Oct 2005 at 16:06, USN - Retired wrote:

Since this is a satellite internet forum, I can't help but wonder if you couldn't get more specific assistance on one of the StarChoice and Twinham forums. //greg//

 
No I think that I picked the right forum, that was a great answer USN, and I figure that anyone who can get Satellite Internet going properly has the grey matter I need.  
 
The VisionPlus 1020a got alot of rave reviews, especially from the FTA gangs, which is why I bought it. I hope I was not in error...
 
FYI:  The LNB's label is gone, gone, gone,  or I would not be in this mess....

[USN - Retired]

on 06. Oct 2005 at 16:29, DeepDishPie wrote:

FYI:  The LNB's label is gone, gone, gone,  or I would not be in this mess....

You got that right. I found the (meager) StarChoice tech specs, and they're essentially devoid of any info on the outdoor hardware. The Twinhan specs are better, but are such that they can be used with at least four different kinds of LNBs.  
 
I see that the StarChoice basic receiver has only one Sat Input. That would suggest 22 KHz tone shifting. But the Twinhan graphic suggests two inputs. That usually means two receivers, which further suggests individual control signals - in which case you wouldn't use 22 KHz at all.  
 
So, it's either trial and error on the four different control options you're given. Or come up with tech specs on whatever LNB that StarChoice stuck on the end of that feedarm.  
 
Anyway. L-band refers to the frequency range of the signals riding your coaxial cable; 950-2150 MHz. And we still haven't resolved the issue of whether or not you're actually receiving a G10R signal yet
 
//greg//

[DeepDishPie]

The two Fconnectors are not for two inputs, one is Signal In, and the other is to slave another receiver to the card.
 
And yes the specs for Starchoice stuff are almost non-existant!  I will research some more and come back to this board later in the day....
 
Thanks for the help all.
See you soon maybe with the LNB specs.

[Eric Johnston]

I found these instructions somewhere "LOF1/2 and SW settings: Those 3 values are used for a potentially available DiSEqC switch, allowing you to switch between different satellites you can receive. Set them to the following values: LOF1 = 9750000 , SW = 11700000 and LOF2 = 112500000"   I don't think you have a DiSEqC switch.
 
LNB Freq1 , LNB Freq2: These, I would guess, are the low and high LNB LO frequencies that are related to 22kHz tone OFF or ON. My so called universal (Cambridge, UK) LNB has 9.750 GHz and 1.600 GHz - but since LNBs have assorted LO frequencies that is why we need the make and model number of the LNB if possible.
 
Best regards, Eric

[tosin]

I dont know if anyone as used a Satcodx CD o ny other similar program before but as I said earlier,I inputed the location parameters using the copy I have and the verdict was that Galaxy 10R can only be got reliably from that location with a 3m dish which yours falls far short of.
I have used it to compute my own and the margin of error was very low. I recieve a satellite which was said to be only recievable on a 2m dish on my 1.85m dish. Its has been quite faultless.
Could it be wrong in this instance?It only recommended the satellites I earlier listed for that dish size at that location.Deepdishpie,I will like you to try checkin the other satellites I told you or else you know somone with asimilar size dish recieving G10R.
If not , this could be a wild goose chase with that your dish