SatSig topic:

Dish alignment for Direcway 6000

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Oct 9^th, 2005 at 4:19am

I am trying for the first time to align the dish for direcway 6000. I have mounted it on a tripod and I think I have the right azimuth and elevation on the dish. When I go to the computer to start the align pointing I get a response "not connected to internet". The OPI is connected and the readout is 8H8. Does this mean that I have made an error in my initial dish pointing?

Oct 9^th, 2005 at 5:36am

You mentioned AZ and EL angles, but what about the POL angle? Also, I'm pretty sure you can't have a DW6000 and an OPI on the cable at the same time. The OPI is used to align the antennal angles, then is removed in favor of the DW6000.

How did you determine which satellite to point at, and which transponder to tune to?

And finally, you will not technically be "connected to the internet" until the modem is properly commissioned.

//greg//

Oct 9^th, 2005 at 6:12am

I already have a direcway dish on my house and I purchased another one for the tripod. I will be useing the same modem for both. Info from the house sat is -
Longitude 117 west
Receive Freq 1230 MHZ
I used the sat chart and determined it is the Sat Mex 5.

I set the azimuth at 207 and elevation 46.
The directions on the OPI said to make all connections and power on the modem. It supplies the voltage for the OPI.

I'm confused now because the next step is to go to URL 192.168.0.1 and select OPI--but if I'm not receiving a signal???

Oct 9^th, 2005 at 11:44am

Make sure you have DC power going to the LNB and any form of signal detector. Then try to find the satellite by setting the elevation really accurately and swinging the dish boldly, but slowly, in the general azimuth direction. You will find the satellite on the first swing if the elevation was set correctly. Verify that it is the correct carrier on the correct satellite using the modem and the web style modem control pages. Then spend an hour or two peaking up in azimuth, elevation and polarisation angles.
Best regards, Eric.

Oct 9^th, 2005 at 4:24pm

Once again, the OPI is an installation tool. Yes, it derives power from the modem - as does the LNB. But once the OPI has done it's job, you remove it from the cable. There's no way to connect THROUGH an OPI.

It sounds like you're just test driving a new tripod outfit to take it and the modem on the road with you. If so, you're on the right track. If not, be advised that you CANNOT share one modem among/between multiple sets of outdoor equipment simultaneously.

//greg//

Oct 10^th, 2005 at 6:58am

I appreciate the help..Now I also have to admitt my mistakes----
I was finally able to get the computer to talk to the modem and that made it possible to run the dish pointing software. I used the same values that I had printed out when I had the first sat installed but through the years they had changed. It is still sat 117 but the freq changed from 1230 to 1250 and the receive pol had changed from vert to horiz.
I was able to find the sat and had a sig of 81 and it passed the cross pol test, however when I try to go to the web I get a transmit failure. The system light on the front of the modem never does light up.
I looked at the direcway status page and it shows that I have a trans and a TCP error.
Any ideas on what I need to check.
again appreciate the help

Oct 10^th, 2005 at 1:50pm

Did you follow the ACP/manual test with an ACP/auto? It's my understanding that - for commissioning purposes - they must be performed (and pass) in that sequence. If no, it might complete your network timing loop and turn on that blue LED. If yes, you may have only passed ACP marginally, to the point where a threshold transmitter isolation situation is preventing solid lock with network timing.

To help narrow it down, I'd like to know which TX/RX Error code is being displayed in your Status. And if you give me your location, I can supply the Direcway-predicted RSL and ACP numbers.

//greg//

Oct 22^nd, 2005 at 6:42pm

While the OPI is an installation tool and it is recommended that it be removed during operation of the dish (it is not designed to be weatherproof), I know several people who leave it in-line most of the time. Shouldn't cause a problem. The 192.168.0.1 address is modem itself, so no internet connectivity need be available to reach that address. You're using a browser to talk to the modem's firmware.

For a free, complete manual on how to set your dish up, look at: https://www.businesswebsupport.com

Feb 17^th, 2006 at 7:26am

I have 1.2 VSAT Ku band 1143 series my problem is that SQF changes during the day time it comes down from 92 to 81 and their is problem of connecting internat during this flactuation period ,we have to switch off the DW7000 and restart then only internet works,one more thing can i see the net browsing speed at customer end pls help

Feb 17^th, 2006 at 10:42am

A gradual decrease and increase in signal quality during a few hours each day may be due to mispointing, such that the satellite is on the sloping side of the beam.

I suggest you peak up the dish pointing. Make adjustments of 1/6th turn of the nuts and measure and record the signal quality at each position. Then count back and rewind the nut back to the start, and start again and turn the exact number of flats forward to get you to beam centre. Do this in both azimuth and elevation.

The transmit beam is narrower than the receive beam so peaking the receive to the exact centre is important, even if you don't notice much improvement on receive.

Other local possibilities are moisture in the connectors which dries out when the sun shines. Dish movement when the wind blows in a particular direction. Water drops, snow, ice on the feed window or dish evaporating in dryer, warmer air. Water inside the feed/transmit waveguide.

Note that data thoughput (but not signal strength) will vary according to how busy is the network with other customers.

Best regards, Eric.