SatSig topic:

HX-50 pointing at AM22....No idea what I am doing!

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Sep 30^th, 2008 at 6:43pm

Well as you have probably gathered by the title, I am very new at this. I am charged with making this system work for quite a few people. My question is how do I know we have setup everything correctly and actually get a lock on the satellite? We received a satellite signal meter from Bentley Walker and noone has any idea how to start. I can tell you our feed horn has the LNB (the white thing on the top that looks like a snorkel if thats what its called!) on the top not on the side and we used these numbers to try and gain a signal. Our meter wasnt fully charged today so we took a break until tomorrow.

Latitude = 34.9551, Longitude = 69.2583
Lat = 34 degrees, 57.3 minutes North
Long = 69 degrees, 15.5 minutes East
If you want to point a satellite TV dish at the Satellite at = 53 East orbit longitude

Dish elevation= 45.8, Azimuth= 203.4 (magnetic compass), Polarisation= 21.8

This is our exact location in Afghanistan, not a sensitivity issue because we are on the largest base here (Bagram AB). That LAT/LONG is exactly where its located, I zoomed all the way in and found our camp and what hut it was next to.

So give me the setup procedure in very basic terms. Eric, I read your review of the HX50 system and while I understand most of it, this is my first attempt EVER at acquiring a satellite.

Sep 30^th, 2008 at 7:17pm

Don't worry. Beginners welcome. It may take several days of exchanging emails and pictures but it will work Ok in the end.

I need to know what polarisation name (horizontal or vertical) that you have been told to receive.

If possible, forward your configuration sheet to me at eric@satsig.net so I can discuss it with Bentley Walker if necessary.

Please say the model number of the LNB, which is the small module on the end of the side arm.

Please say if you can see the tiny 505 on the feed throat, where the conical part becomes a tube, with a fat lump on the other side, away from the 505.

Best regards, Eric.

Oct 1^st, 2008 at 9:11am

Pending your polarisation name and config details, the following may help.

I am guessing that you have been told to receive horizontal name polarisation and transmit horizontal name polarisation and that you have a co-pol diplexer filter assembly, as shown. My guess may be correct or it may be wrong.

Here is an image below which I hope helps clarify how the feed may be assembled. The image below, as shown, illustrates co-pol, horizontal polarisation operation (i.e. transmit and receive, both horizontal).

The next image, below, shows the beam elevation angle set to 48 deg. The metal plate behind the dish is at right angles to the beam direction if the 4 polarisation plate clamp bolts are tight.

You can make your own inclinometer like this by printing out page https://www.satsig.net/pointing/how-to-make-inclinometer.htm
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Set the polarisation angle by turning the entire dish 21.8 deg clockwise, while facing towards the satellite, using the giant circular scale behind the dish. You need to temporarily loosen the 4 polarisation bolts a little to allow the polarisation plate to be adjusted.

Best regards, Eric.

Oct 1^st, 2008 at 9:29am

Good morning , this is BW reading your posts and gratefully accepting Erics help in parallel we would like to suggest that if you are on a US base we could possibly enquire if anyone local can assist you , can you provide me your location and contact info please ?

A Walker
Bentley Walker Ltd

Oct 3^rd, 2008 at 5:01pm

I tried to make it as simple as possible on another post:

https://www.satsig.net/topics/satsig-topic-num=1217697547.htm

Scroll down to the bottom and read that.

Out