Dish setup in Octagon SF918 menu - LNB High / Low?

[Gizbo]

Appologies for if this has been asked before. It is the first time I setup a dish.

Just got my Octagon SF918 and I'm configuring the menu.

I assume I need to configure all LNB settings according to my LNB specs.

This is the Dish and LNB's I use:
- Toroidal Dish (T90) with 4 LNB's. All LNB's have the same specs:
10700, Dual polarity, horizontal and vertical.
- All LNB's are connected to DiSEqC 2.0 4x1 switches

When I select the Satellites in the STB menu the LNB High/Low, gives me the option to choose between 10750/9750 and others.
I can edit the High value to 10700 but what should I configure for the Low value?

Should I configure anything for DiSEqC as mine are 2.0?

Can I leave all other menu settings as default?
(Not sure about LNB Voltage 13/18V)

Many thanks.

[LeroyPatrol]

Appologies for if this has been asked before. It is the first time I setup a dish.

Just got my Octagon SF918 and I'm configuring the menu.

I assume I need to configure all LNB settings according to my LNB specs.

This is the Dish and LNB's I use:
- Toroidal Dish (T90) with 4 LNB's. All LNB's have the same specs:
10700, Dual polarity, horizontal and vertical.
- All LNB's are connected to DiSEqC 2.0 4x1 switches

When I select the Satellites in the STB menu the LNB High/Low, gives me the option to choose between 10750/9750 and others.
I can edit the High value to 10700 but what should I configure for the Low value?

Should I configure anything for DiSEqC as mine are 2.0?

Can I leave all other menu settings as default?
(Not sure about LNB Voltage 13/18V)

Many thanks.

I haven't got my box plugged in at the moment but from memory you select the single lnb option and then you can enter 10700 or press the yellow button to edit and enter 10700. I used the 1.2 diseqc. LNB voltage is on 13/18. That should be it.

Leroy

[Gizbo]

I haven't got my box plugged in at the moment but from memory you select the single lnb option and then you can enter 10700 or press the yellow button to edit and enter 10700. I used the 1.2 diseqc. LNB voltage is on 13/18. That should be it.

Leroy

Thanks Leroy,

Do you know if you need to change the LNB Low value as wel when you select edit or can you leave that as default?

Cheers

[hoe]

gizbo, with the single lnb setting there is no high/low setting.

just manually enter 10700, as it is not one of the default lnb frequencies.

you will need to enter appropriate diseq settings to suit your switch.

[Gizbo]

Configured the 4 Satellites with:
- Single LNB 10700
- diseqc 1.2

Put my T90 dish on the roof.
Set the elevation (50).
Connected the 4 LNB's in their postion.
Set the Skew (82).
Conneted my STB to the dish.

All 4 satellites showed 65% signal strength even if I moved the dish. The quality bar stayed at 10%. When I did a channal scan the STB didn't find any channels on any of the 4 LNBs.

What does the quality bar mean and should it chnge if I move the disk?


P.S
I also had a satellite meter but didn't really understand how to use it from the instructions that came with it :-).

[beer4life]

Configured the 4 Satellites with:
- Single LNB 10700
- diseqc 1.2

Put my T90 dish on the roof.
Set the elevation (50).
Connected the 4 LNB's in their postion.
Set the Skew (82).
Conneted my STB to the dish.

All 4 satellites showed 65% signal strength even if I moved the dish. The quality bar stayed at 10%. When I did a channal scan the STB didn't find any channels on any of the 4 LNBs.

What does the quality bar mean and should it chnge if I move the disk?


P.S
I also had a satellite meter but didn't really understand how to use it from the instructions that came with it :-).

G'Day Cobber,
If you've never set up a dish before, you are realy going in the deep end.
No matter what sort of dish, you have to follow certain guidelines. They are not magical in that you need to point them in the right direction, in elevation as well as azimuth( East to West ) and Skew.
To begin with a Toroidal, you must initially decide on setting up one LNB on either of the two centre ones.
There is a cross over of beams in that( looking into the dish) you focus the left LNB on the Western Sat & Vise Versa.
These are the four Sats of interest to you;
152 E... D2
156 E... C1
160 E... D1
Gap
166 E... Pas8
There may be other ways to do this but this way may help you to understand
Setup one LNB in the centre and do a setup on D1. Forget all about the others for now.
What is your location so that I can work out some figures for your Elevation, Azimuth and Skew.
When you can get one Sat setup, then, and only then, we can proceed to the others.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".

[Gizbo]

Thanks Beer4life,

Really appriciate your help.
I will definitly follow your advice and set up on lnb first.
I tried to use this program:
However this program only has an imaginairy center satellite.
I have send you my loction details (Mona Vale) that I used in the program above. I also used the same satellites you mentioned.

Cheers.

[LeroyPatrol]

I reckon if this is your first dish install then you may be better off buying a single lnb dish. You will then get familiar with your signal meter and with how to get one dish aligned and then put what you learn towards getting the Toroidal setup. I don't know that I would of coped with a Toridal as a first off.

Leroy

[beer4life]

Thanks Beer4life,

Really appriciate your help.
I will definitly follow your advice and set up on lnb first.
I tried to use this program:
However this program only has an imaginairy center satellite.
I have send you my loction details (Mona Vale) that I used in the program above. I also used the same satellites you mentioned.

Cheers.

G'Day Cobber,
It's vitally important that you do not skip any steps as "Ho Hum, done that".
1: Make sure your mast is plumb vertical in all directions.
2: Put a mast U clamp on your mast, tighten, so that it will support the dish bracket loose enough to turn for azimuth adjustment.
One of these:


Here is what we intend to do, but only after we have set up one Satellite.
Latitude: -33.°
Longitude: 151.°

Name: 160.0E Optus D1

Distance: 37099km

Elevation: 49.7°
Azimuth (true): 15.4°
Azimuth (magn.): 2.8°
LNB Skew: 12.8°


This will show how we need to cross over from E to W.


Now While you do that I'll get the rest ready.

[beer4life]

3: Put your Sat Meter in line with the LNB and STB.(Direct without the switch. Will save any confusion until we are all setup.)
Make sure you connect to the IF input on your box not the feedthru F6.
Another view how we crossover:



4: Set your Elevation. 50 Degrees.
5: Set your Azimuth to D1. 03 Degrees Magnetic. (Swing the whole dish and mount on the mast)
6: Make sure your STB is set to D1 on an active valid TransPonder.
7: Set your Skew(Twist LNB in bracket) so that the Co-Ax is coming away at 7 O'Clock as viewed from the rear of the LNB.
With the Sat meter, once you get it screaming and on the meter, reduce the reading and repeak until you get maximum reading.
If you're lucky, you should be close and just a matter of peaking with small increments in Azimuth, Elevation and Skew.
So far, so good, tighten up all mounts.

Let me know if any problems so far.

[Frank Drebin]

What a top guide!! That should be a sticky on its own.

Thanks beer!

[Gizbo]

Really appriciated Beer4life. I just got home from work. I might have to wait a few days before I can get on the roof again. But will definitly follow your advice.

[z80]

Wooshh...

I might have another go at the toroidal thats been sitting in the shed for 3 years...

Excellent work B4L....truly concise and plain speaking.

[beer4life]

Really appriciated Beer4life. I just got home from work. I might have to wait a few days before I can get on the roof again. But will definitly follow your advice.

OK, let me know when you're ready. I don't want to spell it all out until I am sure that you have it all working in a logical order.
If you get too far ahead of me, and there is a problem, will be very hard to unravell.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".....

[beer4life]

G'Day all Toreadors,
You should have this, but in case it's lost or you got your dish second hand.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".

[Gizbo]

3: Put your Sat Meter in line with the LNB and STB.(Direct without the switch. Will save any confusion until we are all setup.)
Make sure you connect to the IF input on your box not the feedthru F6.
Another view how we crossover:



4: Set your Elevation. 50 Degrees.
5: Set your Azimuth to D1. 03 Degrees Magnetic. (Swing the whole dish and mount on the mast)
6: Make sure your STB is set to D1 on an active valid TransPonder.
7: Set your Skew(Twist LNB in bracket) so that the Co-Ax is coming away at 7 O'Clock as viewed from the rear of the LNB.
With the Sat meter, once you get it screaming and on the meter, reduce the reading and repeak until you get maximum reading.
If you're lucky, you should be close and just a matter of peaking with small increments in Azimuth, Elevation and Skew.
So far, so good, tighten up all mounts.

Let me know if any problems so far.

Hi B4L, I had a quick look on the roof this morning. At what position do you recommend me to put the LNB on the LNB reel? The program I used (see above) recommended me to put it at "R 1.5" for D1.

[beer4life]

Hi B4L, I had a quick look on the roof this morning. At what position do you recommend me to put the LNB on the LNB reel? The program I used (see above) recommended me to put it at "R 1.5" for D1.

Hi,
It doesn't really matter, but I would prefer you follow what I say as it will make it easier for any fault finding. I think you have room for 16. You'll get the right data if you make D1 the centre one instead of an imaginary one.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".


NB: Note there is a gap between D1 and PAS8. Just ignore the ones with a cross.

[beer4life]

G'Day Everyone,
If you go to this site, you can input your own data, essentially same setup, but slightly different figures to suit your location.


These are the data for Gizbo:



I must repeat, "Get the centre LNB setup and locked in FIRST."
Then the others will be so much easier to do.
If you have any questions relating these to the instruction manual, feel free to ask.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid "....

[beer4life]

Hi again,
Are you sure you've got the centre LNB locked on D1 ?
Just check, if you can get Al Jazeera on 12367V / 27800, then you are on C1.

Set the other LNBs at their correct rail positions.

Standing behind the dish, tilt the dish to the West by 8.2 degrees (81.8 on scale).
Now re-adjust the centre LNB Skew in it's holder.

On either outer LNBs adjust Skew in holder for maximum, and then the other outer one.

Then check and fine tune dish tilt for best signal on both outer LNBs.

Now you can adjust the last LNB (C1) for Skew in the holder.

FINE TUNING.
In the same order, you can very carefully TWEAK all the above settings.
Bear in mind that they interact one on the others.
Also to be noted is that the Skew on PAS8 will look totally different to the three Optus Satellites.
Also recommended that you use the 10700 LNB for D3 at least when used.
No advantage using for current Satellites whatsoever.

If you follow the spacing that I have outlined, there should be room for D3 when it is launched.

I'll leave the switching up to your requirements, a 4x1 DiSEqC switch is the simplest and probably all most will need or want.
Feel free to ask questions.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".

[Gizbo]

Hi Druid,
Put the LNB on 0.0 position as you described above.
Pointed the satellite in the right direction.
Put skew on about 80.1 degrees and elevation on 50 degrees.
Connected the SatFinder between STB and LNB.
The first Satellite I found was the C1. When I tried to watch a channel it looked good :-).
The second one Intelsat 8.
The thirth one was D1. I configured it in the position the SatFinder showed the highest channel (by changing azimuth and elevation).
When looking at the SBS channels it didn't look too good. It showed blocks on the screen.

It was getting dark outside so I have to continue this weekend.

To be continued .... :-)

Regard, Gizbo

P.S. Do they already know what postion of D3, so I can put an empty LNB holder in place?