SATlink WS-6906 DVB-S FTA Data Digital Satellite Signal Finder Meter, If that does not work there will be a very cheap system for sale.

briggspc · Senior Member

RE: VAST SET-UP NOTHING I DO WILL MAKE IT WORK, HELP!

KFT · Guru

I am having another look at what you have stated

"Sat finder tells me I have the strongest sig I can get.

The box tells me I have no signal, MAKE NO SENCE!"

This would be getting close to the problem I reckon. If your box works on his dish and cables, and your dish and cables work his box. Is the problem if the satfinder you use is still in line. My first one of those had a problem with signal through it all ok provided it was out of the circuit.

other than an intermittent cable or not enough volts on your box if it running on 12v.

frank

briggspc · Senior Member

KFT wrote:
I am having another look at what you have stated

"Sat finder tells me I have the strongest sig I can get.

The box tells me I have no signal, MAKE NO SENCE!"

This would be getting close to the problem I reckon. If your box works on his dish and cables, and your dish and cables work his box. Is the problem if the satfinder you use is still in line. My first one of those had a problem with signal through it all ok provided it was out of the circuit.

other than an intermittent cable or not enough volts on your box if it running on 12v.

frank

Well Frank it is a good one, my dish worked on the other box across the road but did not use my cable as his goes through walls and so on, my box runs on 240 volts and worked over the road.

I also the other day did a bypass of the sat finder just in case it was faulty, made no difference.

Bushtrek · Newbie

As a suggestion follow these steps to lock on to satellite;

1. Turn Dish on.

2. Turn on dish controller, and wait till it boots up OK, then press Exit.
3. Change channel number on the display to 0002 or 0003.
4. Turn Off the dish box .
5. Turn back On and allow to search. This may take longer than usual as it is looking for a new transponder.

Once the system memorizes the new transponder frequency, no further adjustment should be necessary.

See how you go, no guarantees but it may just work

Cheers

Graeme

briggspc · Senior Member

Bushtrek wrote:

As a suggestion follow these steps to lock on to satellite;

1. Turn Dish on.
2. Turn on dish controller, and wait till it boots up OK, then press Exit.
3. Change channel number on the display to 0002 or 0003.
4. Turn Off the dish box .
5. Turn back On and allow to search. This may take longer than usual as it is looking for a new transponder.

Once the system memorizes the new transponder frequency, no further adjustment should be necessary.

See how you go, no guarantees but it may just work
Cheers
Graeme

Hi Graeme, how do you turn your dish on? there is no switch.

What is a dish controller? I don't have on.

dorian · Guru

Is the LNB correctly polarised? If you disconnect the cable from the dish, what supply voltage do you measure at the F-connector?

KFT · Guru

Thanks Briggspc

I think then we are back to your cables, try someone else's if all your gear worked on other peoples set ups and the only item you appear to not have substituted is your cables with another set that are proven ok.

I can not think of any other component of your system that will produce the symptoms you have described.

see how you go with that.

frank

dorian · Guru

The LNB needs power. This power is supplied by the box via the same cable as the signal. Measure the voltage at the F-connector on the box. It should be 13 V for vertical polarisation and 18 V for horizontal. Then attach the coax cable and measure the voltage at the dish end.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-noise_block_downconverter

-- Edited by dorian on Friday 16th of August 2013 04:57:40 PM

briggspc · Senior Member

KFT wrote:
Thanks Briggspc

I think then we are back to your cables, try someone else's if all your gear worked on other peoples set ups and the only item you appear to not have substituted is your cables with another set that are proven ok.

I can not think of any other component of your system that will produce the symptoms you have described.

see how you go with that.

frank

Thanks Frank, I am sure cable is ok as it works on my TV and its antenna, but you never know.

briggspc · Senior Member

dorian wrote:
The LNB needs power. This power is supplied by the box via the same cable as the signal. Measure the voltage at the F-connector on the box. It should be 13 V for vertical polarisation and 18 V for horizontal. Then attach the coax cable and measure the voltage at the dish end.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-noise_block_downconverter

-- Edited by dorian on Friday 16th of August 2013 04:57:40 PM

Yes have done that, 12.56V at box and 12.56V at the LNB thanks.

dorian · Guru

Could it be some kind of interference problem?

Earth loop?

You say that you "sent the box away to Vast and they found 5 things wrong and fixed them". What was wrong?

-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 17th of August 2013 05:56:38 PM

milo · Guru

not sure if you are having trouble but look at this post
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t51325012/foolproof-sat-tv-finder/

scroll down to wombats post and click on the ebay link

see if that helps

Plendo · Guru

Hi Peter,

it looks as if you have tried everything, and for me that knows little about setting up a satellite receiver (the last one I did was in China about 8 years ago) it looks as if you have had lots of good advice.

The things you know:

1. Your box works (proven by connecting to neighbours antenna).

2. Your antenna is receiving a signal (evidenced by signal strength meter).

3. You appear to have eliminated LNB polarisation (dish works over the road).

4. You appear to have eliminated LNB supply voltage (measured with multi meter at dish).

After all of the above, I would be having a good look at the connection between YOUR cable, and YOUR box, yes I know that the LNB supply voltage is getting to your dish, but it honestly looks as the connection is not good enough to transfer the much weaker rf signal.

It is about the only thing left.

briggspc · Senior Member

milo wrote:
not sure if you are having trouble but look at this post
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t51325012/foolproof-sat-tv-finder/
scroll down to wombats post and click on the ebay link
see if that helps

Thanks Milo, looks good will have to save up for one of those.

briggspc · Senior Member

Plendo wrote:
Hi Peter,
it looks as if you have tried everything, and for me that knows little about setting up a satellite receiver (the last one I did was in China about 8 years ago) it looks as if you have had lots of good advice.
The things you know:
1. Your box works (proven by connecting to neighbours antenna).
2. Your antenna is receiving a signal (evidenced by signal strength meter).
3. You appear to have eliminated LNB polarisation (dish works over the road).
4. You appear to have eliminated LNB supply voltage (measured with multi meter at dish).

After all of the above, I would be having a good look at the connection between YOUR cable, and YOUR box, yes I know that the LNB supply voltage is getting to your dish, but it honestly looks as the connection is not good enough to transfer the much weaker rf signal.
It is about the only thing left.

yes cable ends are good, put new plugs on both ends.

Plendo · Guru

Hi Peter,

your cables may be perfect, but it may be something with the socket on the back of your box, it might be right on the limit, and your new plugs may be right on the other limit of the tolerances.

Another thought would be power, you say you are running on 240V, but is it mains (power pole), generator, or inverter. If it is either of the last two is it pure sine wave?

Sorry I am probably taking you back over old ground, but just trying to think of anything obscure that could cause the problem.

briggspc · Senior Member

Plendo wrote:
Hi Peter,
your cables may be perfect, but it may be something with the socket on the back of your box, it might be right on the limit, and your new plugs may be right on the other limit of the tolerances.
Another thought would be power, you say you are running on 240V, but is it mains (power pole), generator, or inverter. If it is either of the last two is it pure sine wave?
Sorry I am probably taking you back over old ground, but just trying to think of anything obscure that could cause the problem.

When they repaired the box they replaced the socket on the box as it was hard to put a F connecter on, (and it has worked across the road) am running on mains 240v.

Plendo · Guru

Hi Peter,

I am out of fresh ideas.

I think the best option now is to try someone else's box on your set up.

If it does not work, then you know the problem is with your dish/LNB set up, if it does work then the problem almost has to be that new socket, but hard to see how.

You say you can not bring your neighbours box to your set up, but can you move your set up close enough to your neighbour to connect to his box with a long cable?

Cruising Cruze · Guru

move the caravan across the road it seems to be working there

briggspc · Senior Member

Plendo wrote:
Hi Peter,
I am out of fresh ideas.
I think the best option now is to try someone else's box on your set up.
If it does not work, then you know the problem is with your dish/LNB set up, if it does work then the problem almost has to be that new socket, but hard to see how.
You say you can not bring your neighbours box to your set up, but can you move your set up close enough to your neighbour to connect to his box with a long cable?

unable to move as the van park is full, but am keeping my eyes open to borrow another box if I can.

briggspc · Senior Member

Cruising Cruze wrote:
move the caravan across the road it seems to be working there

Now that's a good idea, NOT!

briggspc · Senior Member

Baz421 wrote:
This is an ongoing saga.
Suggest you borrow another satfinder and recheck - my old analogue was like yours, but new digital with VAST is 100% better.
If you cut the cable and refitted connectors as you have said - borrow another cable and try.

Yes I agree! I don't need to use the sat were I am but am making sure all is working after I got the box back.

don't see why I should try another cable when the 2 I have now are testing 100% on a meter and work on my TV and local channels..

Its all very trying I can tell you.

-- Edited by briggspc on Sunday 18th of August 2013 05:52:34 PM

Baz421 · Guru

This is an ongoing saga.

Suggest you borrow another satfinder and recheck - my old analogue was like yours, but new digital with VAST is 100% better.

If you cut the cable and refitted connectors as you have said - borrow another cable and try.

PeterInSa · Guru

To me, if your cables test out and your box works on another dish/LNB/cable, you are not locked onto the right Sat. In the early days ( over 10 years ago) it once took me 4 hours to lock onto a Sat with the original meter. To me the only Sat finder to have is the one that only locks onto C1 if you do a fair amount of travelling in different locations.

Recently in Northern WA, a fellow traveller took around an hour to lock onto C1 and he used the angle and direction of my dish during his setup and wanted to use his analogue meter.

Peter

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Sunday 18th of August 2013 06:49:45 PM

KFT · Guru

briggspc wrote:
KFT wrote:
If you are using an "Analogue" satfinder (with a needle to show signal strength) this type of meter will indicate signal on ANY satellite it is aimed at. There are many sats up there and at only 2 degrees of azimuth between them it is not hard to be looking at the wrong bird.

I always recommend a satfinder like the SF3239 from Satplus because it will indicate when you are definitely aimed at C1. You not only see signal strength but quality as well which allows you to fine tune your reception easily.

Try to find someone with one of these units and check your aiming point.

sounds to me like this is your problem.

frank
Thanks for that Frank, yes was aware how hard it is to find those sat depending were you are but have been able to for the last 2 years with no problem, plus I did take my set up (dish) over the road and no trouble finding the sat, worked on his vast box ok.

Briggs, I still think this is a big part of the problem as previously stated. The meter you are using will give you a false signal. It will not give a confirmation that you are aimed at C1/D3

This is why you see a full signal on your meter but the box will not recognize it because it is not from the correct bird. Get yourself a SF3239 and you will be certain you are aimed at the correct satellite.

frank

briggspc · Senior Member

PeterInSa wrote:
To me, if your cables test out and your box works on another dish/LNB/cable, you are not locked onto the right Sat. In the early days ( over 10 years ago) it once took me 4 hours to lock onto a Sat with the original meter. To me the only Sat finder to have is the one that only locks onto C1 if you do a fair amount of travelling in different locations.

Recently in Northern WA, a fellow traveller took around an hour to lock onto C1 and he used the angle and direction of my dish during his setup and wanted to use his analogue meter.

Peter

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Sunday 18th of August 2013 06:49:45 PM

Yes I am starting to think that maybe I am looking at the wrong Sat, but have been doing this for 2 years all over Australia with no problems, in saying that I have just bought a super Bute Digital finder and should be here in 6 days, will let all know how it goes.

briggspc · Senior Member

KFT wrote:
briggspc wrote:
KFT wrote:
If you are using an "Analogue" satfinder (with a needle to show signal strength) this type of meter will indicate signal on ANY satellite it is aimed at. There are many sats up there and at only 2 degrees of azimuth between them it is not hard to be looking at the wrong bird.

I always recommend a satfinder like the SF3239 from Satplus because it will indicate when you are definitely aimed at C1. You not only see signal strength but quality as well which allows you to fine tune your reception easily.

Try to find someone with one of these units and check your aiming point.

sounds to me like this is your problem.

frank
Thanks for that Frank, yes was aware how hard it is to find those sat depending were you are but have been able to for the last 2 years with no problem, plus I did take my set up (dish) over the road and no trouble finding the sat, worked on his vast box ok.
Briggs, I still think this is a big part of the problem as previously stated. The meter you are using will give you a false signal. It will not give a confirmation that you are aimed at C1/D3
This is why you see a full signal on your meter but the box will not recognize it because it is not from the correct bird. Get yourself a SF3239 and you will be certain you are aimed at the correct satellite.
frank

Yes have a new meter coming, should be here in 6 days,

SATlink WS-6906 DVB-S FTA Data Digital Satellite Signal Finder Meter, If that does not work there will be a very cheap system for sale.

AL H · Veteran Member

Your sat runs at alot higher frequency to your FTA. FTA fittings/connectors are not to be used for sat. What I'm getting at is just because your TV works fine with your cable, it doesn't necessarily mean your sat will work with a faulty cable assy. Using a multimeter also isn't reliable. What fittings/connectors did you use? Are they consumer grade FTA? Quality grade compression fittings must be used for connections to pass the signal/frequency reliably and they are moisture proof, consumer grade fittings are not and not ideal in an outside environment.

Is your cable quality RG6 preferably quad shield? Any kinks in your cable? Kinks can cause attenuation.

If it's "trying", locate a local ant/sat Tech who uses compression fittings and don't except anything less as some ant Tech's don't use compression fittings or do sat work.

It may not be your cable, but so far I haven't seen enough to warrant an 'OK' for your cable. It may not be, but at times it comes down to a process of elimination and nothing lost as you'll have a better cable to help reduce issues for the future.

I used to install Austar, Foxtel, VAST and I currently do the NBN satellite systems. Under no circumstances are we allowed to use FTA grade parts.

Al.

-- Edited by AL H on Monday 19th of August 2013 09:59:36 PM

Dellalan · Veteran Member

Had a similar problem not long after I got my Vast box. Didn't have any problems finding the satellite, but I found any slight movement with the dish, and I would loose the signal. Another camper suggested that I get my cable checked so I took the cable to a local TV / Antenna store in Geelong and he advised me to change the cable.

He supplied me with 20 mtrs of RG6 Quadshield 75 Ohm Coaxial Cable. Went back to the van, did the set up and everything was perfect.

Regards Alan

P.s. my original cable was supplied by iTech, but I don't have it any more so unable to provide details of what type it was, however the new cable is almost twice as thick as the old one.

briggspc · Senior Member

AL H wrote:
Your sat runs at alot higher frequency to your FTA. FTA fittings/connectors are not to be used for sat. What I'm getting at is just because your TV works fine with your cable, it doesn't necessarily mean your sat will work with a faulty cable assy. Using a multimeter also isn't reliable. What fittings/connectors did you use? Are they consumer grade FTA? Quality grade compression fittings must be used for connections to pass the signal/frequency reliably and they are moisture proof, consumer grade fittings are not and not ideal in an outside environment.
Is your cable quality RG6 preferably quad shield? Any kinks in your cable? Kinks can cause attenuation.

If it's "trying", locate a local ant/sat Tech who uses compression fittings and don't except anything less as some ant Tech's don't use compression fittings or do sat work.

It may not be your cable, but so far I haven't seen enough to warrant an 'OK' for your cable. It may not be, but at times it comes down to a process of elimination and nothing lost as you'll have a better cable to help reduce issues for the future.

I used to install Austar, Foxtel, VAST and I currently do the NBN satellite systems. Under no circumstances are we allowed to use FTA grade parts.

Al.

-- Edited by AL H on Monday 19th of August 2013 09:59:36 PM

Yes thank you for that Al, I agree with what you say, At this time I have not been able to try another cable even though my cable has tested ok to me, the cable came with the Sat dish 2 years ago second-hand and only just changed the ends as the old ones were a bit old and yes they were FTA plugs from Jaycar, The cable I did not like too much looked very cheap the inner core insulation was very soft and pliable not like cable I was use to working on for 20 years but because it tested ok I thought it was good enough, maybe I was wrong.