reasonable Satellite system

[dependencies]

Installed and working, now....

Firstly, thanks you lot, your help is appreciated which is why I'm back.

Dish siteing? the supplied sucker mounting base is (as mentioned) rubbish, so its mounted off the roof rack/steps, but that wont' offer 360 degree in the event I'm obliged to park back to front.

Now I could mount it on a pole from same place and have it raised above roof-line, or I could go for the popular tripod stand thing,
which is best and why do you think so.

Direction finding?
do you all carry a compass, and what tips for picking up (what is it) Astra something or other,

in fact all tips will be noted


cheers everyone

 

[maingate]

I would use a tripod personally but others will prefer something else.

If you go to a caravan shop, they sell pegs with a big plastic head. They are what I use but I also made up some heavier duty wooden ones (taken from a tree on a CC site).

I also have 2 small, short bungees which will hold it down in a force 9 gale. That is why I was cutting lumps off trees on site. In fact, everybody else had given up and we were the only ones watching TV that night.

The satellite direction is 28 degrees East of South. There is more than one satellite and you need the correct one. So, you start off by pointing East and slowly bring the dish around towards the South. That way, you get the right one first.

If you are passing by, I can give you a rotary clothes drier I converted into a tripod. It is quite a tall thing, so no good if you are limited for space.

It would be easier if you got a signal finder. I have one now but I managed OK without one for long enough. Practice in your back garden as you look a wally after trying to set it up in public for 3 hours.

My advantage (as barryd pointed out) is that I was a big Blue Peter fan as a kid. Forty odd years in Mechanical Engineering probably helped a bit as well.

 

[dependencies]

Oh I might have mentioned they sold me a finder at the same time which means another question actually,

After the initial setting up by that satellite, could I switch on everything,
move dish (from Easterly direction) and would the TV just begin picking up the last channel selected, and can I leave an in-line finder attached in use.

Is the problem with tripods, just the fact they can be nicked too easilly?

 

[barryd]

If you are passing by, I can give you a rotary clothes drier I converted into a tripod. It is quite a tall thing, so no good if you are limited for space.
.

Sounds like you should get that on Dragons Den Mainswaste. Now that we know your a mechanical engineer we know where to get stuff fixed. Bet you have string in your pocket, a shed and one of those brown coats that people used to wear in hardware shops.

 

[maingate]

Well dependencies, I have not used my satfinder yet but as far as I know, you plug the finder into the LNB on the dish. Move the dish until you get the strongest signal, remove the finder and fit the co-ax cable.

As I say, this is just theory as I have yet to do the practical.

Sorry barryd but I do not have a brown dust coat. If you can picture Scotty out of Star Trek, thats me.

Sorry got to go, my Lithium crystals are overheating. If I do not see to them, they`re gonna blow.