Daveh75 - sky & freesat guru

[davejberry]

Here's one for you Dave! I have installed a few sky and freesat dishes over the last 10 years but on a recent installation found it impossible to lock onto a satellite.

With two different receivers, and two brand new LNBs (universals) I could find the satellites at 13, 16, 19 and 28 degrees with signal strength of around 80% but in not one case could I achieve any quality. I used a compass and a sat meter to fine tune the 80cm dish and the cable is brand new and re-terminated 3 times....after 4 hours of faffing about, I am at a loss and have booked a professional installer (not cheap out here in Spain)

I am no expert, just (what i thought was) a competent DIY-er so would appreciate your input

thanks

Dave

 

[daveh75]

My first thought is, is an 80cm big enough for your part of Spain?

I thought a 1.2m was the minimum required (for northern spain) and upto 2.4m(southern spain).

The fact your pulling in signals ok from 13E,16E and 19.2E suggests all the equipment is ok, the fact your getting 100% strength but 0% quality on 28.2E suggests either a dish alignment problem or that dish is too small for reliable reception.

What type of meter are you using for dish alignment btw?

 

[davejberry]

the meter is a 10 quid one from amazon which has served me well in the past.

Here in Catalunya, 80cm is sufficient for all but the worst of thunderstorms, the channels going first are those on freesat which are focused on the UK . 120cm or larger dishes are expensive and the building owners do not allow large dishes to be fixed to the wall or chimneys.

I've never had this issue before and although there is a building south - east of the installation site, the info on the ses-astra site suggests it is too low to influence reception. there are also several neighbours who are using astra 19 from the same building and at a lower height above ground,

 

[daveh75]

Think i misread your OP Dave! Just to clarify, you got around 80% strength on all satellites but no quality on any of them?

 

[davejberry]

That's right, i can identify four different satellites with the meter from east to west just about where they should be between 30 east and 10 east but cannot lock onto any of them!

 

[daveh75]

Without the use of pro sat meter/spectrum analyser it'ss going to be a process of elimination.

You'd have to be fairly unlucky to get two faulty receivers in a row (discounting Sky boxes), but have you tried them on another known to be ok dish to be sure?

Same with the LNBs-Though if they're the same make/model and from the same supplier,there is a small possibility that there from a faulty batch.

Cable is quite easily damaged if it's kinked or clipped too tightly-try running a temporary/loose lead.

I assume the cheap maplins meter is one of those that gives an audible tone/has gain needle/adjustable gain control. If so i'd try another one or try aligning the dish using the receivers signal meter, as they're easily damaged/ common for them to go faulty and give false results.