DirecTV International Dish + SG2100

[PSB]

Glad to help.
I would just use the one hole, you will have to also drill the PVC tube!

 

[tradewinds]

sure, no problem. Drilling is my speciality. Got a 19.2 V Porter one for the holidays.

 

[PSB]

As I often say, "I am LICENSED to Drill"

 

[tradewinds]

GOOD LUCK!
now to set up the motor, the elevation on the motor is the same as your latitude. As an example, I am in MN at 45 degrees north so the angle on the motor is 45.

Iceberg,
I don't want to beat this to death, but this is what I had assumed and the SG2100 manual had also stated. However, what Pete has stated seems practical since the dish is facing upwards now and not parallel to the ground had I put the motor elevation guage to 28 deg.

 

[Mr Tony]

Maybe I'm confused as my latitude/elevation is both 45

 

[tradewinds]

interesting. I guess 90/2 = 45 so you both set the same. Funny thing. I was really surprised last night when the dish would have ended up pointing directly into the neighbors house. That gave me an indication something was not right, however the SG2100 manual does say to set the ELEVATION on the motor equal to your latitude so this is what really messed me up. They mention nothing about the latitide side guage.

 

[tradewinds]

ok, I'll be ready to aim in the morning. Been researching but a bit confused on the best approach to use. Can anyone point me to a good resource and how-to on getting this setup aimed to track the arc correctly?

Some say to find the closest south satellite to your location (how?)
some say to find true south by substracting/adding from magnetic south
some say to key in using USALS and fine tune?

Please let me know if you have a good guide to do this using an approach that is less trial and error.

Thanks.

 

[PSB]

I added some links that will help in the set up of the SG2100 in the FAQ area.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=50257

Your true south bird is at the same orbital location as your longitude. (Get that with your zip code and the satfinder software)

 

[tradewinds]

So, that would be:
DirecTV 3 81.8W 180.9 186.5 56.7 0.8?

Will this work for FTA since it is DirecTV

 

[PSB]

If you have a DBS LNB use that and the Nimiq 2 satellite at the same position as above as your true south!

DBS LNBF L.O. = 11250

 

[tradewinds]

ok, thanks Pete. Here is another confusion I am getting:

The link on the FAQ area you provided above:
http://www.dmsiusa.com/documents/Manual SG2100 New1.pdf
states to set it to 40 deg - declination angle for dish elevation however the manual I have as well as another one on the FAQ:

http://www.adventistsat.com/downloads/InstallDiSEqC.pdf
states to set it to 30 deg. - declination angle.

So the question is: Is it 30 deg or 40 deg?

Thanks.

 

[PSB]

Depends where you are in the country, guessing the above is because they are in different parts of the country?


Your zip = 32801

Motor elevation = 62 deg.

Dish elevation = 25 deg.

 

[tradewinds]

ok, will go out there and keep those elevations and see what birds are flying. Thank you.

 

[tradewinds]

Well, I spent all day trying to get this thing to work, trying with Nimiq 2 as Pete suggested but could not get the signal (S) meter to read more that 73 (still red) and the Quality (Q) is at zero. Not sure what is going on. I used USALS to key in my Lat. and Long. and Nimiq 2 at 82.0 W. Then I had USALS move the motor to this sat and tried to peak it, but still would not move off the 73 (still red). Tried adjusting dish elevation and rotating the dish and motor together on the pole. I did not touch the motor latitude and elevation settings.

Any idea what I am doing wrong?

 

[PSB]

You had the L.O. set to 11250 and used the DBS LNBF?

If you think you are close to the satellite try a blind scan!

 

[tradewinds]

ok, yes I had the L.O. at 11250 and port 1 has the DBS LNBF.

Tried blind scan and it failed.

 

[ken2400]

A in line signal meter may help? SF-95 I know you are trying to get the motor to work BUT try without first so you can see where it is pointing.

Good luck

ok, yes I had the L.O. at 11250 and port 1 has the DBS LNBF.
Tried blind scan and it failed.

 

[tradewinds]

Ken,
Not sure how it will help much since without something like a Birddog I would not know which sat it is I am hitting. Would this be any different than using the receiver signal meter? If all else fails tomorrow I will need to order one.

 

[PSB]

Signal meters work great for finding DBS satellites.
As suggested above remove all switch and motor for now, find and store your true south satellite only then add the motor. Add any switches last.

 

[tradewinds]

There are all types of signal meters with prices ranging quite dramatically. Which would be a good one for this application? Thank you.