I was looking at a terrestrial repeater, not the satellite. No satellite dish here. I can look at that next time I have it set up. Doesn't seem to try to decode. I also noticed it locking up with a great QPSK constellation on a CW carrier. That's can't be right.
Here is a rare example of it properly locked
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4Msymbols. It locks fine. I just doesn't decode the data.
This is not on the satellite. It's DVB-S local repeater. Line of sight, 20 dB C/N. No multipath. Rarely it gets a frame but soon loses sync. I have given up as I don't think the package is able to do this at the moment. Something is probably broken so I will wait for the next version.
4Msymbols. It locks fine. I just doesn't decode the data.
I just can't get this last version to work in DVB-S. It locks to the signal, nice clean constellation, but it refuses sync. Does anyone know if this actually works in DVB-S? 4Ms?
The question was : when I adjust the POTY for optimum SWR moving plates does the circulation affected?
Yes. PLEASE DO NOT ADJUST LIKE THIS FOR MINIMUM VSWR. HOW MANY TIMES MUST I REPEAT THIS ? The same point comes up again and again and again. If you tune like that the chances are you will produce a linear antenna. HF DXCC types old antenna lore does not apply! POTY is a complex antenna.
Now to get those resonances right build accurately. Exactly 3.00 mm spacing. No deviations in sizes, correct connector type. To tune if required use a vector network analyser and look and what's happening on a Smith Chart. If that's too difficult, perhaps ask someone for help. Really it needs the proper tools. If you really can't find a VNWA find where it is matching. If it's high gently bend all four corners towards the reflector just a little. Do it evenly and symmetrically. See what happens. If it's really far off frequency the dimensions are not correct.
Here is mine - before and after.
Mike
Does this also include the H264/5 encoder fix?
I would suggest doing some research on the Lime boards. It strongly depends which frequency band output you have selected. Perhaps the newer one is detecting differently. It could also be broken or the match makes it appear so. But does it really matter that they are different as long as you know? I would not run the lime anywhere near peak output.
Google LimeSDR Calibration. You get to https://wiki.myriadrf.org/Gett…eSDR-USB_and_LimeSuiteGUI
Here you can calibrate RX and TX, DC offsets etc. See section 11. The values can be saved for power cycling.
Mike
It looks well made. A ruler will not be accurate enough. Do you have a 3mm drill bit for example?
What you need to do is find something 3mm thick (exactly, not approximately) and put it between the plates to measure the spacing. A metal shim is good for this. If it is not 3mm then you need to make it 3mm by resoldering the patch with a blowtorch or hot air gun. If you use a damp cloth behind you can prevent the reflector and connector from unsoldering while you melt the solder on the patch.
Some people found a slightly under 3mm (say 2.9mm) aluminium shim between the plates is a good way to get a 3mm spacing. The difference allows for it not being easy to ensure it is tightly compressed together when at 350c. When that's done you should have a good match but if not it is possible to adjust be very slightly bending the patch. However you really need to have access test equipment to do this. They are only $60 for a Nanovna working to 3 GHz, but I recognise that unlike in the UK, you can buy a lot of beer for $60 in OM, so perhaps the local radio club has something they can lend?
Hi Bill
The POTY spacing and dimensions are critical for it to work. 4mm spacing is a 25% error so far to far out. I would suggest re-soldering it with a temporary 3mm spacer to get it correct. Then you might need to bend a little to get best match. Starting from 4mm spacing would not be good. Perhaps you can show a more detailed image ? The critical spacing is the gap between the plates but also the way the connector is mounted matters. There should be no screws coming into the gap.
Mike
Calibration is key.
I expect it will be OK. POTY might get a bit bent, bend it back if it was. You need a much larger base than that for a dish, wind is surprisingly strong sometimes.
Mike
Yes and yes.
Here is what I came up with last night. With this setup, I could hear the beacon and some QSOs, but signals were weak. On TX, I could not see my signal on the waterfall. So more work needed.
My guess is that the problem is the position of the feed. The feed is now the same distance from the feed as it was in the original, where it was working well, but in the original the bottom of the reflector was touching the mount, now it is about 2 cm above, so it is not pointing to the same spot on the dish. Any way to fix this?
73, bill
The simple way to fix the height change to grab one side of the mount firmly with one hand, the end of the boom with the other and bend the boom to the right spot. Most LNB supports for inexpensive dishes are suitably flexible to do this.
Mike
Oh dear - there is usually a much simpler way to make it fit on a standard holder Just replace the top plastic part with a much thinner bit of metal. Done. Not this but hopefully you get the idea.
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But really think it is plumbing so use readily available fittings. One of these mounted on the boom.
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Mike
Just connect them together and it will work well enough.
Mike
I can't afford it simulink, it's thousands of Euro. Sounds like a network bandwidth issue though. Perhaps try Gnuradio.
Instead you could use a non-LNB solution based on a 10 GHz receive converter. It might be cheaper to spend 40 Euro on a POTY kit.
DB6NT ? Several people have re-tuned transverters I believe. Of course the cost is quite high but there must be thousands of old 10 GHz receive converters lying around that are no longer used after the OM upgraded or lost interest in microwaves. You can of course also just modify the LNB with an SMA rather than the probe but that's quite advanced and needs skill.
Mike
So this time I caught it and the sun was out. I see a tree shadow at the base of the dish so some tree-trimming is going to be needed. At the moment it's just a little blockage but trees grow. A little over 10 dB of noise uplift was noted. This is with a 2.4m dish and a POTY feed.
Instead you could use a non-LNB solution based on a 10 GHz receive converter. It might be cheaper to spend 40 Euro on a POTY kit.
