Slimline 3 Self Install

[ronrose7]

I just installed my fist HD dish (I have done several SD dishes before) and am receiving all of the HD stations I think I should, including the local stations.

I have the Slimline 3 dish.

I am getting 95+ on 101 and around 85+ on the 99c and 103c. I think these are OK?
The 99s and 103s are low except for a couple of transponders.

I used the numbers from dishpointer.com and did not do much fine tuning at all. It was much easier then I was expecting.

Am I good where I am?

101
1-8 97 95 95 97 96 99 95 99
9-16 95 95 95 98 96 100 92 100
17-24 96 0 96 0 95 100 91 100
25-32 95 95 95 0 96 100 94 100

99(c)
1-8 89 85 89 82 86 83 88 80
9-16 86 82 87 78 87 83 na na
17-24 all na
25-32 all na

99(s)
1-8 0 0 0 0 0 0 na na
9-16 na na na na na na 23 98
17-24 0 0 0 98 0 0 30 0
25-32 all na

103(s)
1-8 26 0 25 58 0 50 na na
9-16 na na na na na na 97 16
17-24 58 69 20 32 0 0 94 0
25-32 all na

103(c)
1-8 88 86 88 81 85 83 84 80
9-16 84 82 85 80 84 83 na na
17-24 all na
25-32 all na

[Scott in FL]

Ron,

I'll defer to the experts, but I can tell you that after pointing a Slimline 5 today all of my readings are in the 90's (with the exception of two transponders on 103s which are in the 80's). The real low numbers on the Ka-Band satellites I would ignore. They could be from a neighboring spot beam.

I followed the instructions for the dithering technique to the letter to finally get good results. If you need these instructions let me know.

My gut feeling is you're almost there, but you could improve the 99 and 103 signal strengths a bit.

Scott

[ronrose7]

Thanks Scott

I tried tuning the elevation and azimuth but could not get the 99 and 103 in any better.
One thing I did not try was adjusting the tilt. Maybe a tweak there would bring them up?
I will let it go for now and maybe try some adjustments next weekend.

[Grentz]

Looks pretty good to me, getting a bit higher will make little difference.

High 80s/low 90s on the Ka sats (99/103) is what I generally shoot for.

Also note that on the (s) spot beams some low numbers are normal.

[br408408]

I installed my own dish, and with some time fine tuning I was able to get most of the 99/103 up into the mid 90's...but I live in Florida, the so called "Sunshine State". I sure Scott in FL would back me up when I say that many times the "Downpour State" would be more accurate. If you don't get heavy rain often, those numbers should be fine. You will not see an inprovement in picture quality by getting them higher, just a slightly higher margin against rain fade

[BUCKMEISTER]

Thanks Scott

I tried tuning the elevation and azimuth but could not get the 99 and 103 in any better.
One thing I did not try was adjusting the tilt. Maybe a tweak there would bring them up?
I will let it go for now and maybe try some adjustments next weekend.

Tweaking the tilt usually helps. I just laid the 5LNB version, and the tilt tweak added four ticks to the signals.

[joe diamond]

Ron,

Welcome to the club. Those numbers are fine. The little secret is that 70 is the specification number. No activation for numbers below 70 because there is a good chance of signal loss.

To ring the bell again..........those numbers change all the time....don't make yourself crazy watching them and trying to tweak them....... until you note a missing channel.

Enjoy!.....golf.......have a beer.

Joe

[Afergy]

Ron,

I'll defer to the experts, but I can tell you that after pointing a Slimline 5 today all of my readings are in the 90's (with the exception of two transponders on 103s which are in the 80's). The real low numbers on the Ka-Band satellites I would ignore. They could be from a neighboring spot beam.

I followed the instructions for the dithering technique to the letter to finally get good results. If you need these instructions let me know.

My gut feeling is you're almost there, but you could improve the 99 and 103 signal strengths a bit.

Scott

Can you post the instructions? Thanks!

[cjever19]

Scott in FL,Yes! Please share the "dithering technique" instructions.

[David MacLeod]

http://www.solidsignal.com/manuals/Slimline_Dish_Installation_Manual.pdf
page 13 IIRC

this is for au9s slimline, you say slimline 3 dish so I don't know if its the same.

[joe diamond]

If you guys insist on playing DO make marks on the settings with a sharpie to give you a starting point. Mark az. al and tilt where they are set before you tweak.

Good luck, report success.

Joe

[David MacLeod]

If you guys insist on playing DO make marks on the settings with a sharpie to give you a starting point. Mark az. al and tilt where they are set before you tweak.

Good luck, report success.

Joe
this has served me well, and if following the manual dither also be VERY certain about the amount of turns you do. the marks allow you to return to a known safe start point if you mess up.
I brought my 99c and 103c from 75 to 95 in 10 minutes and in HEAVY rain and 40mph winds signal stays ~85 with no noticed loss of viewing.

[abooch]

I'm still a bit confused about how to do this..Right now im getting mid upper 90s signal on 101 but like lowers 70s to 80s on 99 and 103. Do I need a signal meter? Do i use my receiver as a guide?

[clb4g9]

I'm still a bit confused about how to do this..Right now im getting mid upper 90s signal on 101 but like lowers 70s to 80s on 99 and 103. Do I need a signal meter? Do i use my receiver as a guide?

I used my receiver to lock in 101 and then I used the manual procedure along with a receiver and small tv outside to get to my final reading...it did improve the signals on 99 and 103 quite a bit. Just be careful and read the directions quite clearly.