BUD question

[lee635]

Hey, I'm sure some of you have experience with these beasts. I'm getting a problem where some channels come in crystal clear, but many won't tune in at all. It seems to be an odd/even channel problem, but in some cases two channels back-to-back come in good, or they both come in with lots of sparkles, even unrecognizable. I thought it was the little blue rotator on the feedhorn, so I replaced it, but it's still giving trouble. Is it possible I have two bad rotators?

One thing is that before the problems started, when I pressed the "skew" button, the screen would say "skewing". Now it doesn't say that when I hit the skew button. In fact it looks like hitting the skew button does the same thing as changing the polarity.

So one question is, if some channels come in clear, can I rule out a bad lnb and focus on the rotator.

Also, when I put the new rotator in I had to take out the metal "spike" in the feedhorn, is there a particular orientation that that thing needs to be in to work properly?

[Scott Greczkowski]

I would check your alignment as well. If you moved the "spike" there could be a good chance you are just slightly out of alignment, one way to tell is to have someone watch a channel that is not coming in well and lean or press on the dish a bit, if the picture comes iin better then you are just a hair off alignment.

[Richard King]

Also, when I put the new rotator in I had to take out the metal "spike" in the feedhornThe "spike" is the actual antenna for c-band signals and that is what is rotated when you adjust your polarity. I have never seen a feed horn where the "spike" (actually a probe) has to be removed to replace the polarmotor. The first thing I would do is check the wiring on the back of the receiver and make sure the wiring for the polarotor is still hooked up properly. Also, do a voltage check at the polor rotor output of the receiver. You should see 5 volts between the red and black and white and black wires. Do this same check at the dish if the voltage at the receiver is good. If the voltage is good and the wiring is still ok and the new polarmotor doesn't fix the problem I would look into a new feed horn. It could be that the probe is somehow jammed and that the motor is not turning it. Feedhorns are not that expensive and not too hard to replace. This would take care of replacing the "spike" and the polor motor in one shot. If you are getting a good picture on some channels your LNB is probably ok. Typically if you have an odd/even problem like you mention, you will receive the odd channels ok on one satellite, and on the satellite "next door" you will receive the even channels ok. That's a sure sign of the probe not turning.

[boba]

From your lack of knowledge in what you are doing on your "C" band system stop now and contact a dealer in your area that still does "C" band repairs it will cost you less than your ruining the system before you contact a dealer. The other recommendation is switch to the small dish you can get both brands installed free which is going to save you money.

[Scott Greczkowski]

I am not sure if the "Spike" he is talking about is the arm holding on the LNB, or if he is talking about the reed inside the LNB.

I am assuming the "Spike" is the arm holding the LNB. Which is why I suggesting checking the alignment.

[Richard King]

From your lack of knowledge in what you are doing on your "C" band system stop now and contact a dealer in your area that still does "C" band repairs it will cost you less than your ruining the system before you contact a dealer. Not a bad idea at all.

[lee635]

Thanks all. The spike is actually the probe that is rotated by the polorotator. I suspect that it's not moving freely as when I took it out, there was no lube the plastic end that fits into the rotator. And it was a little sticky when I tried to move it freely (a bunch of wasps and spiders got up in there too and gummed up the works. Going to take it apart again, clean it again and put a dab of grease on the contact parts.

I'm going to check the old and new rotators and see if perhaps both are ok. The Chaparral website has a nice troubleshooting section that walks you through checking this stuff.

One lingering question is that the probe is not a straight "spike" but rather has a bend in it. When I reinstall the probe, should the "bulge" point toward the lnb or away from it, or does the rotator automatically orient the probe properly, or does it not matter? I suppose I can just take it out and reposition it and see which orientation gives a better picture. ;)

I already have E* and the BUD is more of a hobby -- lots of good feeds during the invasion. Heavens no, I don't want to call in someone, then how would I learn anything? The old BUD is a great learning experience, every middle and high school should have a BUD and a required project in geometry class should be orienting each axis so you can tune in the entire satellite arc....

[Cheyenne]

Ahhh... good old days...
Peaked on a side node? Crosspole ??