Huston, We have a problem

[CaptainCretin]

I am probably being very dumb - trying to set up my first sat system.

The problem is, it doesnt matter where I point the dish, I get 45% signal strength, 10% signal quality, and no transponders or channels found.

I am trying to point it at Eurobird 9 East, but ..... nothing.

I'm using an old SKY dish with Mk4 quad LNB and a brand new Skybox F3 and decent cable.

Could the LNB be toast?? It has been up, unused for several years; or is the old oval SKY dish just not up to it??

Signal meter and F3 show unvarying signal strengths, even when I point the dish North!!!

[termiantor]

I am probably being very dumb - trying to set up my first sat system.

The problem is, it doesnt matter where I point the dish, I get 45% signal strength, 10% signal quality, and no transponders or channels found.

I am trying to point it at Eurobird 9 East, but ..... nothing.

I'm using an old SKY dish with Mk4 quad LNB and a brand new Skybox F3 and decent cable.

Could the LNB be toast?? It has been up, unused for several years; or is the old oval SKY dish just not up to it??

Signal meter and F3 show unvarying signal strengths, even when I point the dish North!!!

45% signal and 10% quality means your getting no signal atall
check all connections mate

[CaptainCretin]

Unless the lnb is duff, the only other possible is the brand new sat cable.
Or am I missing something??

I also tried a different output on the quad lnb, no change.

I have re-done the terminations on the cable, just in case - no change.

Should I just buy a cheap single LNB to try??

[Nutsandbolts]

Hi. I may be wrong but your dish may be too small for 9/10 east. To eliminate LNB/cable problems try to find FREESAT satellite at 28.2 east. Make sure you have valid TP(frequency) and start by having the dish in the middle of the mount and move slowly left (eastwards) and up and down until you find signal/picture. It should be easy to find 28.2 east. Remember when looking for satellites make sure you have correct dish size plus valid TP's otherwise you wont find anything.
Regards

[CaptainCretin]

Problem, my house sits at an awkward angle, I cannot "see" 9 and 28.8 without remounting the dish; upto 13E is the limit one way and down to 19E the limit the other way.
I thought 9 was supposed to be a strong signal??

Got to got out to a dinner invite, I will check in later tonight for suggestions.

Thanks for everything so far

[ramjet]

you didnt state the size of dish being used but if its a zone 1 39cm dish then it may be too small, but I would have thought you may get ANN on 11727V 27500 which is fta and a strong signal too

alternatively , try and get hotbird to see if it works ok

[Nutsandbolts]

Hi. If you cannot see 9 east why you trying to get it?? You be better off checking 13/19 east to see if LNB/cables working to begin with. Enjoy your dinner date. Speak later.
Regards.

[CaptainCretin]

It is a standard Zone 1 Sky oval dish.

I can get everything west of 13 East with the dish on my back wall, or everything east of 19 East by mounting on my front wall, however some of the lower angle sats further west may be blocked by the dirty great big hills directly west and south west of me. Currently the dish is on the back wall as 13 and 9 east are the sats I want.

"ANN on 11727V 27500" where do I point to try that??

According to the footprint maps, I should easily be able to pick up Eurobird 9 with a zone 1 dish; but if I need a larger dish, so be it, I just want to be sure it is not the LNB before going through the rigmarole of mounting and aligning a new dish.

[ramjet]

It is a standard Zone 1 Sky oval dish.

I can get everything west of 13 East with the dish on my back wall, or everything east of 19 East by mounting on my front wall, however some of the lower angle sats further west may be blocked by the dirty great big hills directly west and south west of me. Currently the dish is on the back wall as 13 and 9 east are the sats I want.

"ANN on 11727V 27500" where do I point to try that??

According to the footprint maps, I should easily be able to pick up Eurobird 9 with a zone 1 dish; but if I need a larger dish, so be it, I just want to be sure it is not the LNB before going through the rigmarole of mounting and aligning a new dish.

at 9e which you asked about

[CaptainCretin]

at 9e which you asked about

I have tried H and V searches, including blind and on every setting combination I can think of - and I am getting nothing, not a squeak.

As the signal strength and quality does not alter I am going to assume the LNB is buggered and order a cheap single to test with, if THAT doesnt work .

Or do I bite the bullet and order a bigger dish - if so, what size 60 - 70 - 80 ??
There is a "80cm Satgear" (no LNB) for ?27 on Play, or a
"Technomate 80cm Dish + Wall Bracket + LNB" for ?60 delivered on Tech Digital

[seamouse]

4e? u wont get a signal on a mini dish?
as too small?

[nibblitz]

Get at least an 80cm dish, a Motor, T&K Brackets and 3 foot length of scaffold pole, then you'll really start to have some fun with your F3..

[Nutsandbolts]

I have tried H and V searches, including blind and on every setting combination I can think of - and I am getting nothing, not a squeak.

As the signal strength and quality does not alter I am going to assume the LNB is buggered and order a cheap single to test with, if THAT doesnt work .

Or do I bite the bullet and order a bigger dish - if so, what size 60 - 70 - 80 ??
There is a "80cm Satgear" (no LNB) for ?27 on Play, or a
"Technomate 80cm Dish + Wall Bracket + LNB" for ?60 delivered on Tech Digital

Hi. I would go for 80 cm. Its no good doing a blind scan or any scan if dish is not aligned or LNB is faulty. Can you not test the LNB at a relatives or friends house?? Also is cable from receiver to LNB connected properly?? You can check if cable is working by disconnecting cable from LNB end and put it in a sat meter and see if meter beeps. If it does not beep then you have a cable problem. If it beeps then problem is either LNB or dish alignment or incorrect TP's(frequencies). Also to be honest if you got hills in the long distance it should not stop you getting satellite signals.
Regards.

[CaptainCretin]

Thanks for that N&B - the meter bleeps when connected and the cable is brand new - I re-did the connectors myself as I wasnt happy with the originals (signal strength went from 30% to 45%) I know how to do connectors, I spent a few years doing Panel Wiring.
I tried the old cable as well and got the same meter readings, again using 2 different LNB outputs. Is it worth trying one of the outer connections on the Quad - SKY appeared to have slightly buggered the threads on both though, do you know what the thread pitch is? I might have a suitable tap set lying around.

[Nutsandbolts]

Hi. A couple of points worth considering.
a) Is receiver set up properly ie set to UNIVERSAL LNB?
b) Do you have a faulty patch/software installed? I say this because i remember this type of problem happening on a TM5400 due to faulty patch which was blocking signals from being picked up.
c) Try all 4 LNB connections you may be lucky one may work
d) Has water got into LNB or is there a spiders web inside?. It may sound funny but beleive me this use to be a common problem with old type LNB's.
e) have you tried to shake the LNB to see if anything has broken inside??.

Regards