Hi everyone, just registered to the site and in desperate need of some help here.  I am currently in Afghanistan and I bought a new Linkstar system from TS2.  Well, I cannot get it pointed right.  I have tried pointing it manually using a magnetic compass and digital protractor to measure elevation as well as a Horizon signal strength meter pointing to the NSS-6 95E satellite but my BER doesn't change at all.  When I used the Horizon meter my strongest reading was 86 with no lock.  Also the dish is pointed in a slightly different AZ when compared to just manually pointing the dish.  Please we are going on 3 months since we bought this system and we can't get it to work.  LNB is brand new! What am I doing wrong?  As far as customer support from my provider....that's another story.  Please someone help us!  Our QPSKBER has not changed from -1.000000

Thanks,
Chris

Sorry to hear about your problems with TS2.  We will do what we can to help you.

In view of the 3 months delay, it is possible that TS2's service has changed in some way, so get up to date information as follows from them:

Satellite name and orbit position.
Downlink polarisation name ( Horizontal or Vertical ).
Downlink carrier frequency and symbol rate.( e.g. -f 1554410 -s 27500000 )

The configuration text line that needs to be typed into the modem.  This may have been done prior to delivery to you, but you may update it.
e.g. savebootparms -pop 0x011e0001 -c 0x530 -pcr 0x365 -f 1554410 -s 27500000 -o 1 -t –20

Please tell us the model number of your LNB or the local oscillator frequency marked on it, e.g. 10 GHz, 11.3 GHz.  For example, a NJR2784 LNB has a local oscillator frequency of 10GHz  (10000 MHz) and is intended for receiving satellite carriers in the range 10950 - 11700 MHz. Modem tuning will be in the range 950 - 1700 MHz.   The example configuration line above shows a tuning frequency: -f 1554410 which means 1554.410 MHz.

Regarding pointing angles for the dish.  Go to dish pointing Afghanistan to get your azimuth, elevation and polarisation adjustment angles.  The 95E satellite is to the south east from Afghanistan.  If you find any satellite then the other satellites are in a curved sloping line from lower left (east) to upper right (south).

Connect the small LNB module to the LinkStar modem receive input. WARNING: You must never get the coax cables crossed over as this will permanently damage the modem.

First set the nominal (i.e. name) feed polarisation. Vertical means that the broad faces of the LNB rectangular waveguide are on top and underneath. Do it.  If the LNB is on the end of a filter arm, the arm is probably now sticking out at one side or the other. Which side does not matter.  If Horizontal is required polarisation name, then the LNB arm will be upwards or downwards.

Second, apply the polarisation adjustment angle.  A negative adjustment angle (e.g. -32.5) requires an anti-clockwise movement, while facing towards the satellite. Put your inclinometer sideways across the LNB or BUC, then tilt the whole feed/BUC/LNB assembly in its yoke, by the exact adjustment angle.

Set the beam elevation using the elevation scale on the bracket behind the dish.

Swing the dish boldly sideways around the approx compass azimuth and the RX LED will lock up on the satellite on the first sweep, unless the dish is sagging down a bit in which case add a couple of elevation degrees.   Initially the RX LED will go to slow green flashing.

Spend at least 30 minutes peaking up.  The centre is half way between the points where the LED drops out.

As you tighten the antenna, keep readjusting to the peak.  Read the QPSK BER by typing tcmp at least 30 times (possibly 50 times !).  Get it down below 0.00009 if you can.

Power off at the mains wall switch and connect up the TX cable.  RX LED will go slow flashing green, fast flashing green and solid green.  Don't interrupt this process.  Talk to the hub while they test your x-pol.  You may have to get yourself under the feed arm and reach up to rotate your feed polarisation a degree or two either way.  Be patient between movements; it takes the hub time to test for your x-pol null.

Your modem will reboot and end up with new gateway IP address and subnet mask, as told to you by TS2.

Best regards, Eric.

Satellite: NSS6 95 East

CENTER FREQUENCY: 11642MHZ
SYMBOL RATE :16923
FEC:7/8
RECEIVE POLARITY:HORIZONTAL +52

LNB:  NJR2784H
BUC: NJT5037F

Here are the boot parameters that were given to me by my provider:

-s 16923000 -f 1642000 -t -24 -pop 0x11e0001 -c 0x1029 -pcr 0x365 -o 1

If the receive polarisation name is Horizontal you need to start with the LNB arm at the top.

Then (for Afghanistan and 95E orbit satellite) adjust it anticlockwise, while facing towards the satellite using the exact polarisation adjustment angle from here:  dish pointing Afghanistan
e.g. Herat or Lashkar Gar about -39 deg, Mazar Sharif or Kabul about -32 deg.

TS2s say +52 polarisation adjustment.  There may be confusion about polarisations and viewpoints.   So I suggest you try both ways until it works.  

One polarisation (Horizontal name) is with the LNB about -35 deg to the left, anti-clockwise from the top, the other (Vertical Name) is with the LNB about -35 deg anti-clockwise from the right hand side, all as viewed from behind the dish with you facing towards the satellite.  The two polarisations are at right angles to one another.

The teleport hub needs to be told your lat and long (phone call or email).

Best regards, Eric

I tried again to point the dish to no avail.  Have a question, which lights should be on?  I only have 1 light on the modem the PWR.  No ODU, ALM or SAT.  Help please.....

PWR should be on.

SAT will start slow flashing green when you find the satellite.  After a while, then fast flashing green, then solid green.

I suggest you do pconf and check that the config parameters have gone in successfully.

Once you have slow flashing green do tcmp at least 30 times (get someone to help with the keyboard) while you minimise the BER. e.g. 0.00009 or less if possible.

I think ODU should be on (power being supplied to the BUC).  Check that -o 1. (pconf ODU status on internal power)  Very carefully check for DC volts on end of BUC cable.  Always power off at mains wall switch before working on the coax cable.  Never get the cables shorted or crossed over.

In case you still don't find the satellite contact TS2 and ask them to verify that you are using the correct configuration parameters and ask them to clarify the downlink polarisation name and how to set up the polarisation name starting position.  Verify also the polarisation adjustment angle and the viewpoint to be used and clockwise or anticlockwise when applying the polarisation adjustment angle. Try to get them to follow the convention that when you stand behind the dish, facing forwards to the satellite in the sky, then clockwise is positive and anticlockwise adjustment negative.  There are two possible starting positions, LNB at the top (Horizontal name receive pol) or LNB at the side (Vertical name receive pol).

Best regards, Eric.

I have seen your postings and your pain trying to get the TS2 Linkstar up and running, if you would like to swap out your modem and Radio to Hughes HX we are on better and more powerful satellites with high elevation I am sure you can be on line without any issues, we also have added advantage of installers as well if you get stuck.  Please contact me for a FREE upgrade and get on line.

anthony@bentleywalker.com