Tracking Clarke Belt

[Gixxer]

Hi,

I have searched, but can not find an answer to my problem. I have spent today setting up a DG 240 HH motor to my 85CM dish. At present I can only recieve AS4 D2 C1.

I have diagnosed my setup fault as that listed in via the link. I can receive signals from other satellite's by pushing or pulling the top of my dish.

How do I correct such a fault?

Thank You.

[Dave001]

Move the HH mount to the east.

[beer4life]

Hi,

I have searched, but can not find an answer to my problem. I have spent today setting up a DG 240 HH motor to my 85CM dish. At present I can only recieve AS4 D2 C1.

I have diagnosed my setup fault as that listed in via the link. I can receive signals from other satellite's by pushing or pulling the top of my dish.

How do I correct such a fault?

Thank You.

G'Day Cobber,
First make sure that your mast is absolutely PLUMB. Vertical N/S and E/W.
Next, adjust your elevation with azimuth at True North.
Not Magnetic, True North. There is about +6 deg(East) Variation around Sydney.
Use this dogma: Variation West, compass best, Variation east, compass least.
This alone can explain your departure from the best fit curves. (Moved sideways.)
So, before belaboring you with other possibilities that you seem to have well in hand, carefully check the above and let us know your results.

Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".

[beer4life]

Move the HH mount to the east.

G'Day,
Probably very close, but not technically correct.
You may have to juggle the mast mount opposite to the H-H motor shaft mount.
He must be very close anyway, congrats to a Novice.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".

[Gixxer]

Thanks Guys,

Just went and moved the HH mount to the west a little (opposite to the wording in the diagram as we are in the southern hemisphere) and can now receive the following.

AS4, D2, C1, D1, Intelsat 8 and GE23

NSS6 I don't think is possible due to obstacles to the west of me.

Thanks again guys.

[beer4life]

Thanks Guys,

Just went and moved the HH mount to the west a little (opposite to the wording in the diagram as we are in the southern hemisphere) and can now receive the following.

AS4, D2, C1, D1, Intelsat 8 and GE23

NSS6 I don't think is possible due to obstacles to the west of me.

Thanks again guys.

Many thanks for the feedback, always makes the effort worth while.
Beware, the skew on optus sats is +40 deg as opposed to all other normal sats.
There are many ways to overcome this including a variable skew LNB.
The simplest solution for me has been to have two H-H dishes, one for Optus and the other for normal Sats.
I Know it beggars belief, that they have done this to make it difficult for you to view other sats with their gear.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ". to be of service.

[Farmsky]

.....The simplest solution for me has been to have two H-H dishes, one for Optus and the other for normal Sats.

You could try mounting two lnb's (multi-lnb configuration) on say 90cm + dish, one for standard skew and one for Optus skew, with a 4 degree separation (ie one pointing at say 152 and one at 156 using a multi-lnb mount. You should set up the Optus lnb as the 'non-centre or off focal point lnb'; as Optus sats are generally 'stronger' and the non-centre lnb will be 1-2db lower in sensitivity. Both lnb's should track correctly on a polar mount dish.

...... I Know it beggars belief, that they (Optus) have done this to make it difficult for you to view other sats with their gear.

'Standard skew' mounts the spacecraft antennas perpendicular to a radial of the earth at the equator. Optus spacecraft antennas are inclined wrt to this radial.

Whilst conspiracy theories are good for some, I understand the skew is historical and has more to do with the Spacecraft and antenna design of the Aussat A series satellites (Aussat A1 was launched in August 1985) and the shaped Ku beams servicing a large landmass, with a equatorial slots (152-160) somewhat East of Australia.

The A series were ie the whole satellite rotated, with the despun horn antennas mounted on top. The whole satellite spun on an 'inclined' axis to ensure that the antennas pointed correctly.

Once an inclined skew was selected, we're stuck with it.

[LeroyPatrol]

Where's does one find a varible skew lnb?

Leroy

[beer4life]

Where's does one find a varible skew lnb?

Leroy

G'Day Cobber,
I investigated these about 3 years ago, but ended up opting for my current setup. Cheaper, less complex and more versatile. There were others hidden away, probably search for "polarotor". They can be mechanical, electrical, magnetic or electronic.
Actually, fascinating to say the least.
Kindest Regards, " The Druid ".
PS; and "Farmsky", many thanks for your explanation. It's always had me intrigued, to say the least, as I am unaware of any other sats, including Europe, where this is mentioned for installations.