Help Correctly Aligning My 1.2M Channel Master Dish and moteck H-H180 motor

Quote from supwiddiss

I'll have to make a few statements and then step aside until positive progress is made here. Sorry.

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Banjo has posted photos that show a working setup. A great place to start.

If all of his angles were in fact setup properly then there is no reason at all receiving satellites in the Clarke Belt was not possible.

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I looked at the specs for this dish. They started out as Andrews, then either Raven or Channel master.

And the look angle (offset angle) are all stated as being 22.5 - 22.6 degrees.

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I cropped one of the photos Banjo posted.

If everything was setup properly then the black line through the centerline of the motor shaft will be equal to his latitude.

Without a doubt.

The yellow line would represent a straight edge, initially extended from the absolute top of the dish to the center of the bottom LNBF support arm.
The yellow line would be his latitude angle.

And the offset angle of the dish added so that satellite signal reflects correctly into the LNBF throat.
Then. We add the proper declination angle. Which is illustrated by the final black line across the front of the dish reflector.

Banjo.jpg

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Because I do not have a Raven dish like this. My assumption would be that if you measured the angle of the dish face (black line).

And the flat part of the dish mounting plate.

They will be the exact same. Parallel to each other.

Correct me. Banjo?

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A polar mount is much less tolerant of even the slightest movement.
A wood pallet just won't hack it. At the very least a flat, compacted sand and gravel base on the ground and then a precast concrete slab with cable extensions at 3 corners to the support pole.
But I think we haven't reached that point yet.
If the most important thing of your dish mount is being able to string trim around it. Wrong approach.

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An inclinometer was just fine for setting up stationary dishes.
But in this day and age a digital version is just a no-brainer.

Especially for setting up a polar mount. You will be able to better keep track of the exact and miniscule changes you are making.

You will not see 0.10 degree changes with an analog gauge.
For awhile I was using my phone app. But steel, iron close to it made for measurement errors.
There are many versions of these. Very inexpensive to the sky's the limit.
I have this. It has been used for many upgrades to the type of dishes in my area that sat for years.
They are an invaluable tool.

Klein.jpg

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If for some reason the interfering points of the mount that were shown keep from getting the angles setup.
A solution needs to be found. I would unbolt the dish from the mounting plate.
I see the lower slotted bolt holes. Wondering if lifting the whole bracket would allow more adjustment.
So instead of the bracket resting the bottom bolts. Lift the whole bracket?
Drill a few holes? We need to find something that will allow us to get the proper geometry.
Grind or cut off off the interfering part of the motor bracket?
Something must be done.

But then again. Banjo was able to get his working.
Was he able to track the entire satellite arc? Or just a few at the top?

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Figure it out. Do what is needed.
Make it work. Then make it pretty.
Mock it up without the dish bolted on.
Get that mounting base 100% solid. It cannot wobble at all.
I know without a doubt I could do it.

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I'm seeing a lot of worrying and not enough doing here.

It is really time to also look at and digest the satellite arc error chart I posted earlier.
As mentioned. Getting a few satellites close together in the arc.
Errors in mounting angles are less noticeable.
Knowing why and being able to figure out how signal starts to decrease, why you cannot get a signal.
Figuring out that pushing/pulling on the bottom of the dish. Grabbing the outer rim to move it East or West a little bit.
A combination of both.
Making 0.10 degree adjustments.

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Tapping out. But not dropping out.

It's all here. It's up to you now.

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Er? U not replied to my posts!!

Lastnight u said to use wire to link the faceplate to the brackets i couldnt find the wire i have so i used cable ties instead, now if u look 👀👀 at my pics and posts you will see what i have done today!!!! PLEASE READ

Quote from supwiddiss

Dan. I see what you have done. Zippie ties are okay.
Did you get an idea on how far your angles are off.
As I said. Do you think raising the mounting bracket so that the bottom slotted holes are higher would allow you to get the required angle?
That would be your latitude angle. And then another 22.5 degrees more.
Maybe cut or bevel off the corner of the motor bracket so the plate could tilt back more?

And. Are you following me on exactly why it is important to get the elevation angle of the motor set to precisely to your latitude?
Understand that your dish. If the back mounting plate and the front of the dish rim (vertically) were the same angle as your elevation angle.
Will be "looking" 22.5 degrees too high in the sky?
It's cool. Just reply yes or no. And if no. Why.

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Ok

Quote from BanjoXo71

This might be helpful.

will take a look thnks

OK GUYS LISTEN UP!!

I'm going to start setting it all up from the very beginning (when the weather isn't too bad, possibly next week) fingers crossed, i will do it by the steps below:

1. i will start dismantling it bit by bit and laying it all out on the ground (on a large matt so i know where all the parts are).
2. i will then remove the wooden pallet.
3. i will then use a spirit level to make sure the Concrete base is still 100% level < will take pics and post here <
4. i will then move the metal base (with its pole) back onto the Concrete and make sure its still 100% Straight and level. < will take pics and post here
5. i will then reassemble the motor back onto the metal pole & set the correct elevation and dinclination angles < will take pics and post here <
6. i will then reattach the dish to the motor < will take pics and post here <
7. Hopefully by this point i will have a signal and be able to track the arc correctly < will take pics and post here <

GOD HELP ME THIS TIME!!

Quote from jenseneverest

Yes i like that plan very much indeed

I will add that you have been given the angles things should be at.

You have an inclinometer and so can measure things fairly accurately now.

Dont do like this:

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Gotta start again due to something not going right

i found this setup on Channel master 1.2m | SatelliteGuys.US thread bit similar to mine just without the same motor, and thats very very low to the ground & another pic of another dish with a older model of the same type of motor

UPDATE: 21/1/24:

Hey Guys a Quick Update from this afternoon,

1. i have taken my dish off the motor and laid it on the ground (taken LNB OFF & put in shed until i reattach everything)
2. i removed the dish mount from the wooden pallet and put sprit level on the concrete base (seems like its sunk in places, possible due to all the rain we have been having over past few months), so i moved the base onto the grass now, put spirit level on 2 of the sides (it was unlevel by small amount so i put some wood under the left side and the back side, now its level on those 2 sides, but not on the right hand side :(,
3. anyways once i done that i set the latitude on the motor to 56 degrees (well by the angle on the side of the motor - see pic 1)
4. i then moved the 2 black brackets to the upright position and tightened them up (see pics 3,4,5,6)
5. i then made sure the motor Latitude was set to 0 & made sure bolts where tight see pic 6 {also tightened the nuts at the bottom of that aswell after i took the pic}
6. i then took pictures of my progress and uploaded them hear and posted this update
7. ps its cold and windy here now so this is all will do for today,
8. next update should be sometime in the next week hopefully (weather dependent) :)
9. i hope this update will prove to you guys how 100% committed to setting up & Aligning my dish CORRECTLY,

What should i do next??

1. turn the motor slightly to the right so its looking straight ahead as at the min its not. < just done that <
2. put the new slabs on the base. < waiting for them to be delivered <
3. Reattach the Dish to the motor. < GOD HELP ME DO THAT <
   
4. Realign dish to Thor 0.8w < GOD HELP ME DO THAT <
5. Chill and hope its aligned correctly :) < CANT WAIT FOR THIS DAY!! <

SO THESE ARE THE SATELLITES I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP WITH MY DISH IS THERE ANY OTHERS THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECIEVE ASWELL?

Please Post Reply's below thanks :)

1. thor 0.8w < Channels & Feeds <
2. ABS 3w < Channels & Feeds <
3. eutelsat 7e < Channels & Feeds <
4. eutelsat 9e < Channels & Feeds <
5. eutelsat 10e < Channels & Feeds <
6. eutelsat 16e < Channels & Feeds <
7. eutelsat 33e < Channels & Feeds <
8. hotbird 13e< Channels & Feeds <
9. astra 19.2e < Channels & Feeds <
10. astra 28.2e < Channels & Feeds <
11. astra 23.5e < Channels & Feeds <

POSSIBLE NEXT REBUILD UPDATES WILL BE BETWEEN THE 24/1 & 28/1 WEATHER & WORK DEPENDING!! :)

Did i do GOOD? :)

@supwiddiss

@jenseneverest

@BanjoXo71