PicoTuner v3 help please - signal input

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g0mjw
Posts: 2488
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: PicoTuner v3 help please - signal input

Post by g0mjw » Fri Dec 13, 2024 6:47 pm

Change your reference frequency very slightly and see.

Basil
Posts: 358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:28 pm

Re: PicoTuner v3 help please - signal input

Post by Basil » Fri Dec 13, 2024 7:01 pm

What am I looking for when I change it? It also locks the Pluto, but the Pluto is locked to 40MHz, and the LNB to 25MHz, the LNB reference has a band pass filter in line.The source is a dual output Leo Bodnar. How much is a "slight" change? A few Hz? Thanks.
Best regards,

Chris, 2E0ILY in rural Shropshire.

It was a lot more fun being 20 in the 70's than being 70 in the 20's

g0mjw
Posts: 2488
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: PicoTuner v3 help please - signal input

Post by g0mjw » Fri Dec 13, 2024 7:12 pm

Monitor the beacon MER. Adjust by a few Hz, see if it changes. I have my LO at 9.5 GHz for a while as it allowed me to receive on a standard satellite RX.

Basil
Posts: 358
Joined: Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:28 pm

Re: PicoTuner v3 help please - signal input

Post by Basil » Fri Dec 13, 2024 7:46 pm

OK Mike, I'll give it a go when I am feeling bold. The problem with the Leo Bodnars are that some frequency settings demand you are a mathematical genius or that you phone or e-mail them for the settings. It's the only downside I have found. However their support is superb. They did say they were working on making it easier for *any* frequency possible to be dialled in. Thanks again.

EDIT: The mathematics only come into play I think with dual output ones for some frequency combinations. I think single output ones are not so demanding of the user.
Best regards,

Chris, 2E0ILY in rural Shropshire.

It was a lot more fun being 20 in the 70's than being 70 in the 20's

g1tzc
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2024 12:14 pm

Re: PicoTuner v3 help please - signal input

Post by g1tzc » Sat Dec 14, 2024 11:10 am

Thank you everyone for your input on this one. I think I will go with the plan that I get two dishes running and everything proved, then merge everything in to one, bigger dish.

Bullseye is on order and should arrive later this week.

I'll give it all a go and then post any conclusions here to round things off.

Thank you again everyone, it really is appreciated.

Neil - G1TZC
Birmingham.

g1tzc
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2024 12:14 pm

Re: PicoTuner v3 help please - signal input

Post by g1tzc » Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:20 am

I finally got most of this sorted. For now I have gone for the two dish solution.

After connecting the bullseye, I went from the quoted figures of signal to nothing.Not sure how, but I managed to kill the bias-T. For safety, I remade the ends and replaced the bias-T, turning the bullseye through 90 degrees.

Now glad to report that the beacon is giving -51dB and MER of 8.2!

Things I learned along the way;

Not all LNB's are equal
Ask lots of questions
Accept help when needed

Now to just sort the LNB voltages out, to complete the project.

Thanks again to everyone.

Neil - G1TZC

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