61.5ku dish help needed

[mraroid]

I am going to do a self install. I have decided on Dish Network, a VIP 622, and a D1000 dish. I have one HD TV to feed. Simple enough.

I have been reading about the poor reception of 129. And my interest is mostly HD. So I thought I would buy/build a stand alone dish just for 61.5. I have a few questions.....

1) I will need a switch to marry my feeds from the D1000 and my 61.5 dish, correct? In other words, I can't feed the VIP 622 with a drop from the D1000 and a drop from the 61.5 dish at the same time with out a switch. Right?

2) My neighbor gave me a dead Direct TV dish. It is about 20 inches tall, and about 18 and 1/2 inches wide. Can I use this for my 61.5 dish? It has a LNB in it (which kind I do not know). If this dish is useful, can someone recommend a LNB to me? I don't mind paying for a better quality LNB rather than a cheap one.

3) If this dish is not useful, can someone recommend a dish/LNB combo that might work? I have room to install a larger dish. Well, not one six feet in diameter, but larger than the D1000 dish. Suggestions? All other things being equal, a larger dish means more gain, correct?

Thanks in advance.

Mr Aroid

[ndyclrk]

You'll need a Dish 500 or 300 with a DP Single or Dual LNBF (not a twin). This dish will be pointed at 61.5. You will connect one cable from this dish and all three of the feeds from your Dish 1000 to a DPP44. To give priority to 61.5, connect it to the 3rd satellite port on the DPP44 and 129 to the 4th.

[harsh]

I am going to do a self install. I have decided on Dish Network, a VIP 622, and a D1000 dish.If you want 61.5, don't bother with the Dish1000. It only adds to the wind load.

If you want to do this the cheap and easy way, have Dish do a professional install for you and then cobble it up later. Doing it their way will cost you an 18 month commitment. Doing it your way will cost you around $700 if you go with used antennae, switch and separator (or dual cabling).

The DirecTV dish will work, but you'll likely need to fab up some sort of mounting bracket for the LNBF.

Before you commence any of this, you need to be absolutely certain that you have an unobstructed view of 61.5. There's more to getting a good signal that declaring that it should be so.

[mraroid]

OK. Thanks.

I was trying to use this web program to figure out where to point my dish for 61.5

http://www.hollsco.com/Products/SatCalc/index.asp

But I need to input the correct bird to get it to work. I think Dish Network is using a Echostar satellite, but I can't quite figure out which one. Is it ES #3, or maybe ES # 7? I think if I know the answer, I could get on the roof and look to see if I had a clean shot.

Thoughts??

Thanks all for the many tips and help.

Mr Aroid

[BobaBird]

The LNB on the DirecTV dish is equivalent to Dish legacy so it can't be used with DishPro switches. That's why harsh is talking about a mounting bracket - the base of a D* LNB is rectangular while E* DP (and legacy for that matter) are D-shaped.

E3 and E12 (formerly Rainbow1). See Echostar Satellites and Orbital Slots (http://ekb.dbstalk.com/300).

[mraroid]

E3 and E12 (formerly Rainbow1). See Echostar Satellites and Orbital Slots (http://ekb.dbstalk.com/300).
Thanks for the help. I am still a bit confused. Using the link above, I still can't figure out which Echostar satellite I want to point to for 61.5. Is it ES #3 or ES # 12?

Mr Aroid

[BobaBird]

For of DBS reception, they're essentially the same spot in the sky. There's actually a gap but our dishes aren't large enough to focus on just one (you may be able to do some extra fine tweaking to get more signal from one or the other). For aiming purposes you only need one. I provided both names just to help you with the aiming site you found.

[mraroid]

Ah! Got it. Thank you Charles!

Mr Aroid

[whatchel1]

Ah! Got it. Thank you Charles!

Mr Aroid

With U in the Pac NW I think that would be best for you to either A. have a site survey or B. just have it installed And if it doesn't work then It will be Dish's fault. It may be better for U to have a dish 500 set on 110 & 119 then have either a dish 300 or a diff dish 500 peaked on 129 ( that is if 61.5 is too low). Did U say that tjere may be trees in the way of 129?

[mraroid]

With U in the Pac NW I think that would be best for you to either A. have a site survey
I finally have some satellite location data. As soon as it stops raining, I am going to hop up on the roof and see if I have clear shot at 61.5.

I found a used 500 dish for sale on Craig's List for $40.00. I thought I would use that for my 41.5ku dish. But I am not sure which kind of LNB to buy for it.

Thoughts?

Thanks for your good feedback.

Mr. Aroid.

[ibglowin]

61.5 is going to be hard for you to get up in the PNW. You will need an absolute clear line of site for a long ways looking east. The sat is going to be very, very low on the horizon. If you get the D500 just make sure the lnb is Dish Pro. Doesn't matter if it has the standard dual lnb on it. You would only be hooking up one lead on it for 61.5. I have a dedicated D500 with a dual lnb for 129 (only one laed connected) and going into a DPP44. I also have 61.5 as well so I get 4 SATS.

[cherokeeafton]

If you can see 61.5, a dish 300 or 500 with a DP34 switch will work. This is what I used and the DP34 switch is less expensive than the DP44 switch. Check ebay. They sell for $20 up plus shipping. I bought a new one for $30 delivered.

[harsh]

I found a used 500 dish for sale on Craig's List for $40.00. I thought I would use that for my 41.5ku dish. But I am not sure which kind of LNB to buy for it.If it doesn't already have a DP LNBF on it, you could buy a complete Dish500 with DP Twin LNBF setup with on eBay for $62.98 delivered.

There is a DP twin for sale on eBay for about $37 delivered.

You might try posting a WTB in the "Buy, Sell, Trade" forum here at DBSTalk.

In the future you should contemplate asking the questions before you've committed to something.

[mraroid]

In the future you should contemplate asking the questions before you've committed to something.
I have not bought anything yet. I go over the top asking questions and checking prices before I buy. I don't think I have ever made a impulse purchase in my life.

I found 1.2 meter (48" ) dishes made by Channel Master as well as Fortec. 1.2 meter is probably they way I will go. While on the roof, I found out I *did not* have a shot at the 41.5W bird. So I am back trying to figure out 129.0W reception here in the PNW.

The plan now is to go with a 1.2 meter dish (vendor unknown), and a higher end LNBF with a bit more gain than the one offered by Dish Network.

Any suggestions or feedback?

Thank you for your post.

Mr. Aroid

[harsh]

While on the roof, I found out I *did not* have a shot at the 41.5W bird. So I am back trying to figure out 129.0W reception here in the PNW.That's not the real problem as the slot that you're trying to see is actually 61.5W, not 41.5W. It is still at only 11 degrees or so above horizontal which can be difficult West of the Cascade Range. That being said, I've seen some Sky Angel installations in West Portland (recognized by a small Dish300 pointing East).

Again, I suggest that you begin with a free professional installation and go from there as opposed to trying to build things from scratch entirely at your expense. A lot of the hardware is interchangeable and if it doesn't work, you can put the screws to them for a second dish setup. If you have concerns about the cabling going into the house, you can do that yourself (I did).

A 1m+ dish is going to have to be mounted on a very stout pole or super duty tripod because of wind loading. I'm not sure that even schedule 80 pipe is enough. You'll probably want to use shear bolts.

[mraroid]

That's not the real problem as the slot that you're trying to see is actually 61.5W, not 41.5W.
Sorry. That is what I meant. Typo.

It is still at only 11 degrees or so above horizontal which can be difficult West of the Cascade Range.

Yea, I saw that. The only way I can see it from my home is if I install a 200 ft tower. :nono2:

Again, I suggest that you begin with a free professional installation and go from there.
I have a low voatage license, and taught classes in it. Many folks in my classes were cable TV and satellite TV installers. I have installed repeaters and towers. I have a long, solid background in electronics. I feel like I will do good job in my home. Most installs I have seen look sloppy, and the installers did not have the background or the test equipment to test properly. I am sure many qualitifed installers are around. But I perfer my own handywork.

A 1m+ dish is going to have to be mounted on a very stout pole or super duty tripod because of wind loading. I'm not sure that even schedule 80 pipe is enough. You'll probably want to use shear bolts.
My HAM buddy always accuse me of over kill when we mount an antenna. But that is just the way I am.

Do you have any sources for the Channel Master 1.2 meter or the Fortec 1.2 meter dish? How about a commerical high gain LNBF for 129.0W?

Thank you for your post.

Mr. Aroid

[harsh]

I have installed repeaters and towers. I have a long, solid background in electronics. I feel like I will do good job in my home.As long as you understand the physics of wind loading on a 7100 square inch dish. They tend to put up a much bigger fight than a simple yagi. I figure that the possible wind loading on such a dish in a 50 knot wind is a little over 300lbs!Most installs I have seen look sloppy, and the installers did not have the background or the test equipment to test properly.It isn't rocket science. In the final analysis, the signal is pretty easy to find and you'll fine tune using the receiver's signal meter. You can spend hundreds on equipment that you might use once or twice or you can watch TV.

All this theory being said, I understand that for a HAM, the answer is always about how much hardware you can throw at the problem.Do you have any sources for the Channel Master 1.2 meter or the Fortec 1.2 meter dish? How about a commerical high gain LNBF for 129.0W?I'm not sure how well the receivers can squash a too-hot signal.

Sadoun sells the Fortec 120CM for $175 with a short tripod. The specifications say that it works up to about 55mph and can survive a 110mph wind without coming apart.

http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Products/Fortec-Star/Dishes/FC120CM-48-inch-offset-ku-band-satellite-dish-antenna.htm

They also offer LNBFs.

[PEARLTONE]

just make sure you have the correct transponders as well for HD, like 1, 2,5,6 i think, i have my 61 up for a while getting 14 which is inter trans, and dont get the lower transponders, have no idea what the hell is going on, using dp lnb, swapped lnb's adjuster dish, nothing, went to frinds house he gets the same thing, not lower transp