SatSig topic:

Problem pointing to PAS 10 with 1.2m KU band Kit

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Oct 16^th, 2008 at 3:58pm

Hello all, I am located in beira mozambique at
Latitude 19°50'48.57"S
Longitude 34°51'58.27"E

I am trying to locate PAS 10 Satellite, I received a 1.2m KU band kit. After playing around with the kit I manage to get a signal strength of 5v (isite) but my provider insists that the signal has to be above 16v at least. I have tried everything but this is as far as I can reach.

At the calculated elevation of 45.484 I do not get any signal but at 68 I get the signal somewhat facing North East. Thank you for your help, I am starting to believe that I may be having the wrong size of antenna.

Oct 16^th, 2008 at 5:18pm

Please say:

What name downlink polarisation you have been told to use - horizontal or vertical ?.

Best regards, Eric.

Oct 16^th, 2008 at 6:19pm

polarization is +56.96 nothing else was said in the manual.The modem is an Idirect 3100 infinity

Oct 16^th, 2008 at 7:04pm

There are two possible polarisations so you will need to search first with one and if that fails, then try with the other.

To try horizontal polarisation rotate the Feed/LNB/BUC assembly so as to set the LNB side arm at the top. Then turn the Feed/LNB/BUC assembly by 57 deg clockwise, as viewing towards the satellite.

To try vertical polarisation rotate the Feed/LNB/BUC assembly so as to set the LNB side arm at the left side, as viewing towards the satellite. Then turn the Feed/LNB/BUC assembly by 57 deg clockwise, as viewing towards the satellite.

Your azimuth direction should be about 10 deg to the left of due east.

If you can set the elevation to 45.5 deg you should find the satellite on the first bold swing. If not try up and down a couple of degrees. If no luck try the opposite polarisation.

It sounds to me that you are presently pointed at a wrong satellite, higher up and further to the left (north east)

It is quite possible that you will get small readings to peak up on with several satellites. Only when you find the correct satellite will you get the big voltages. This assumes you have the correct model number LNB and that your modem is tuned to the correct carrier frequency and symbol rate. This information and the polarisation that you are supposed to use will be in an email or similar instruction from your service provider - not in the antenna or modem manual.

The antenna and modem manuals will tell you how to point the dish and how to configure the modem but won't tell you what numbers to use for your particular site.

Best regards, Eric.

Oct 16^th, 2008 at 10:25pm

Thank you Eric,

I will try at first light.

Regards

Oct 17^th, 2008 at 7:08am

Hi Eric, I am still puzzled, I have emailed you <eric@satsig.net> the picture of the isite settings I was sent, probably I miss something. Thank you again in advance.

Oct 17^th, 2008 at 9:52am

This iSite Antenna Pointing screen looks OK to me.

The azimuth angle shown is the true bearing, about 27 deg to the left of East. East is where the sun rises at this time of year. If you have a magnetic compass the magnetic bearing angle is about 80 deg, 10 deg to the left of east on the compass.

Regarding beam elevation angle. You probably have an offset fed dish. This means that when the front face is vertical that the beam goes upwards somewhat, for example 17.5, 22.5 deg. etc, depending on the dish manufacturer. Use the elevation scale on the rear bracket if there is a scale. If no elevation scale, read the antenna manual and find the offset angle for your particular dish. Subtract from the wanted elevation angle (45.5 deg) and that will give you the amount by which the front face needs tilting backwards. Use a strip of wood up the front face to determine the slope. This inclinometer may help.

You seem to have not been told by your service provider the name of the downlink polarisation - either vertical or horizontal. It is a nuisance for you to have to possibly repeat the search process twice over (see my instructions earlier about how to set the two alternative feed polarisation angles - one will work perfectly, the other not at all).

Also, has your service provider either pre-configured your modem with all the configuration information, which includes the modem receive frequency and symbol rate?. This information may be loaded into the modem via text file called an "Options file". If your modem has not been preconfigured by your service provider then your service provider must send you this file plus instructions as to how to load it (example instructions https://www.constellationnetcorp.com/Downloads/Quick%20Reference%20iDirect.pdf)

Best regards, Eric.

Oct 22^nd, 2008 at 3:51pm

Hie Eric,

Thank you very much for the pointers, it worked out just great; The site is up. I will try to setup the second site although it is pointing to a different satellite. Will in form you on how that turns out. Thank you once more.

Regards

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