Receiving beacon but nothing else

[M0DHP]

I'm using a 1m dish with Octagon OSLSO (DRO) LNB. Can receive the WB beacon no problem at MER 4dB. Small changes to azimuth and elevation don't improve this, so I think the dish is pointed as well I can manage.

The problem is I can't receive any other transmissions. I have tried for two days on a range of signals from 250kS up to 2.4MS. Most of the time I get no green lights at all. The best result has been on 1MS and 2.4MS signals where I get three greens, but no hint of TS lock.

I've attached some screenshots of my MT settings and what the signals look like on SDR - they seem to be decently strong signals that lots of people in the chat are able to receive fine.

Any suggestions on what to try next, before I turn the dish into a birdbath

73 and many thanks
Ray M0DHP

MT-beacon.png (493.23 KiB) Viewed 5997 times

MT-500.png (373.76 KiB) Viewed 5997 times

SDR-500.png (37.25 KiB) Viewed 5997 times

MT-2400.png (371.07 KiB) Viewed 5997 times

SDR-2400.png (34.98 KiB) Viewed 5997 times

[g0uhy]

Hi Ray,

I'm using a similar setup to you with a 1m dish and I'm receiving most signals ok. The only thing that I can see different on your setup is that I always tick the Low SR box. It seems to help on signals below 4Ms. Also you might try ticking all of the FEC options because people are using some strange ones...hi.


Hope that helps?

73

Malcolm G0UHY

[M0DHP]

Thanks, Malcolm. Tried that on a couple more signals, but no change unfortunately.

[g0uhy]

Hi Ray,

very strange. I'm receiving Rolf F9ZG MER 4dB 250ks with great picture and sound. The only difference between our setups is I'm using a PLL Octagon. Have you got a good 18V to the LNB? It must be a setting on MT but can't see any difference to mine.


Perhaps others have some ideas?

73

Malcolm

[g0uhy]

Hi Ray,

another thought just struck me when I had another look at your screenshots. The Rx frequency is in blue, until you hit the return key the previous frequency is still stored. Just a thought...hi
.

73

Malcolm

[M0DHP]

That was down to me tabbing between fields after entering ST and frequency. Tested with more signals and still no change.

When I get a bias tee, I'm going to test on the commercial and NB beacons, to make sure I've got LNB position and skew optimised. Then I'll try WB again.

[M0DHP]

The only difference between our setups is I'm using a PLL Octagon. Have you got a good 18V to the LNB? It must be a setting on MT but can't see any difference to mine.

I've got the LNB mounted horizontal with 12V supplied via MT. I've tried two power sources: a linear power supply and a 12V battery pack - no difference.

[g8vpg]

Ray,
Anything under 6ms/s, you must tick the low SR box. I have a nominal 1m dish (97x87cm) and after careful optimising, the beacon is 6-7dB MER. This is using the Octagon OTLSO PLL LNB. I think the LNB makes the difference. Hopefully new stocks will arrive next month.
73 Shaun.

[M0DHP]

Thanks, Shaun. I did try ticking the Low SR box on some tests earlier this morning but did not screenshot them. Sounds like I'll need to swap to the PLL LNB.

[M0NRD]

You say the LNB is mounted horizontal, but have you added the slight clockwise (looking at dish) skew needed? I know looking on the SDR I optimised for the WB transponder by adjusting to get the strongest beacon and noise floor.