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This is a continuation of a previous post, on getting a Motosat F1 (D2 + 6000) system running...
quote:Originally posted by Bill Adams: While I cannot recommend doing the setup yourself, you most likely can. After your get it all connected the dealer will need to walk you through the Advanced screens in the modem to register the product. The biggest difficulty may be getting locked onto the satellite the first time so that you can do the registration. The Datastorm will not do it by itself until the modems are registered. As to the wireless network, I would say that nearly everyone with a D-2/6000 has a wireless network running.
Thanks for the tips..
I got a F1 system (D2 & 6000), & through my dealer (& Motosat)..via phone, walked me through the menus. (D2 has been upgraded to 3.7.3). It also involved a lot of unplugging to the Linksys 5-sport switch.
A) calibration B) calibration for compass C) search for satellite
A & B, went OK.
C) is where I'm running into problems. It seems to search for a satellite, but not lock onto it (like you pointed out above). Question is: how do I get the dish to lock onto the satellite?
I can see where it begins to get a strong signal. We tried 2 satellites:
99W needs >60 (I get like 51) 117W needs > 80 (I get like 71)
[ I'm in suburban Los Angeles, so I'm a little perplexed at not getting better signal levels. However, it did rain a bit & there were puffy clouds in the sky..still there was blue-sky where I was pointing ]
The Motosat technician was pessimistic, that my signal strengths were adequate to get my modem commissioned. My dealer said, "try it , maybe it would work". I haven't tried this yet, but will give it a try.
This is where I'm at. I could use some advice/pointers from the experienced user-base in DatastormUsers forum.
It's actually cloudy here in suburban Los Angeles, so I guess signal strengths would be slightly attenuated. Maybe I should try during a sunny day?
Someone else recommended, just having a dealer commission my modem:
[ just insert my modem into a working system he has up&running, get it done, give it back to me, & I should be up-running ]
Is it true, that commisioning a modem, requires strict (higher than normal) signal strengths?
Anyone in Los Angeles area, who could assist me? (I drive over, swap modems, get mine comissioned). My budget is too tight, to allow a dealer to charge me X-dollars/hour to get this thing done.
Posts: 13 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Apr 2005
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I am currently in Orange County (Newport Beach to be exact) on 117 with a signal quality of 78. 71 is a little low but I have passed ACP at levels not far above that here.
-------------------- Michael Day F1|D3|7000 5.8.0.72|Currently no Hughes|1 Laptop: XP Home|1 Desktop:Vista, 1 Win7|Cradlepoint 1400|Verizon MiFi 4GLTE| Newell Coach, PT Cruiser Turbo Find Me Here (Map) Donations Help Support This Site Posts: 2815 | From: Everywhere (home is Austin, TX) | Registered: May 2003
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The stronger the signal has nothing to do with being able to commission the modems. There are a few steps you have to do to get the D-2 and 6000 to work properly on a non-commissioned system. I sent you an e-mail with my phone number if you need me to walk you through it. I am also in the Los Angeles.
Posts: 70 | From: So. Cal | Registered: Apr 2004
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Actually the SQ has everything to do with getting the modems commissioned as a weak signal will not allow the required ACP to happen. If you are failing ACP on both satellites you are not getting the antenna pointed correctly. You may need some help manually pointing the antenna as you cannot use the D-2 to point it on its own until you actually have the modems commissioned. Good luck, it sounds like there is help available in your area.
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15694 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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Not trouble, just a bit off the mark. Getting the modem commissioned generally requires a bit more tweaking than getting a commissioned modem on-line. The transponder you choose to do the commissioning on also effects your ability to perform a commissioning successfully. SM5/1070 seems to be the easiest followed by G4R/1250. I have not tried others satellites as I am usually on SM5 and now on G4R as we head into WA. You can commission any modem to any satellite from any other satellite or internet connection as long as you are able to pass ACP and get the registration server to kick in.
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15694 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Bill Adams: Actually the SQ has everything to do with getting the modems commissioned as a weak signal will not allow the required ACP to happen. If you are failing ACP on both satellites you are not getting the antenna pointed correctly. You may need some help manually pointing the antenna as you cannot use the D-2 to point it on its own until you actually have the modems commissioned. Good luck, it sounds like there is help available in your area.
I spent today playing with the F1 (D2/6000),..trying to get the modem commissioned. Unfortunately, because of low-signals, it failed ACP: 1st for 117W & then 99W.
[ I was told 99W could do ACP with signals as low as 55, but I could only get a signal of 49. ]
However, I did make SOME progress & learned a few things:
A) I no longer have the problem of the satellite of not "locking on to a satellite". (I guess I had "Generic" selected, instead of "Direcway"). I simply turn off the D2 (so dish stays on satellite), get my PC talking to the 6000 (http://192.168.0.1/fs/advanced/advanced.html), go into Setup, & try "Installation". Unfortunately, this is where ACP fails (tried both 117W & 99W)
[ however, I think you're right..i'm still not pointed right, to get an optimum signal ]
B) shortened the cable, tried grounding the dish system to car ground (Motosat said this was pointless)
Motosat pointed out to me, that I may want to loosen the 4-star nuts that hold the wave-guide..to see if water drips out. (clients have had this problem). My dish was installed back in February, where there was this *endless* rain in Los Angeles..possibly there is still water in there. The female F-connector (at the base of the dish unit, where the Receive cable plugs into) was left EXPOSED for 2.5 months (to rain & elements). Because the dish unit was put atop my van, WITHOUT a cable connected to the female F-connector. I'm concerned there is some internal corrosion, that's compromising the electrical connection.
I'm trying out some local-help tomorrow, so I think I should have more progress to report.
Thanks to all who replied, this forum is very responsive. I'm planning some live picture-casting, over a WiFi network, with the satellite-DSL as the WAN. See:
[ click on "Real-Time", camera cellphones gave my project (near) real-time webcasting. Turns out my PC laptop with Verizon phone-card..broadband access (download)..was my mainstay for same-hour & same-day uploads. Even though, the uploads were 50k-90k bps. ]
Posts: 13 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Apr 2005
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You don't need to turn off the D-2. You can stop it, then use the manual controls with the D2 to peak the signal better.
You might try the D2 Administrator program (click the articles tab, above left) to use for the manual tweaking, as it is a bit easier and faster to use than the built-in D2 interface.
I've done a lot of manual cross-polling with the D2, and it isn't all that hard once you get the hang of it.
quote:Originally posted by Bill Adams: Actually the SQ has everything to do with getting the modems commissioned as a weak signal will not allow the required ACP to happen. If you are failing ACP on both satellites you are not getting the antenna pointed correctly. You may need some help manually pointing the antenna as you cannot use the D-2 to point it on its own until you actually have the modems commissioned. Good luck, it sounds like there is help available in your area.
Yep, MotoMike got my F1/D2/6000 online!
His/our work was actually posted..near LIVE, on my LiveWebcast site:
[ click on some of the videos, for an video-interview with MotoMike. The satellite-DSL system was actually USED, as the uplink for the picture/video emails..as a near-RealTime webcast! ]
Synopsis:
Modems were commissioned.
Then, we had an issue with the SQ being stuck at 29. MotoMike immediately tossed the "push" male-F connectors & used his xx cable connector (compression type). I had the dish on the roof of my 4x4 van for 2 months..WITHOUT any cable going to it.. Possibly, some corrosion in the female-F connector with all the rain & travel in desert. (plus, I had slid a wire through it, to get rid of any corrosion..but, it may have lost the "friction" fit). Anyway, MotoMike replaced these female-F connectors: both Transmit & Receive. He had a can of dielectric grease nearby..don't recall if he used it
Still had a SQ reading "stuck" at 29 (symptomatic of a Transmit & Receive cable reversed..but ours weren't). MotoMike went to his Birddog strength meter..we locked on to the satellite. Confirmed we could get online, & browsed to CNN.com.
[ we had a SQ of 78..which matches the SQ that FullTime reported from Newport Beach, yesterday. So, I think my dish is OK..cable connections are fine ]
I pulled out my WiFi device, took a picture of MotoMike, & uploaded it to the Web using the satellite-DSL connection (above URL). Yep, we had "live coverage" of getting the F1/D2/6000 online! Tried out some videos with the WiFi device..a 1.6M .avi video took like 25 minutes to upload via Direcway (dialup upload speeds).
We did a compass calibration (did a vehicle 180), & did a Search. Satellite found, we went online to confirm.
I have to thank MotoMike & DatastormUsers forum (active userbase..Networking Pays Off), where it allowed me to tap into some Local Knowledge (hands-on). There's nothing like an expert to help out a newbie:
"Experience is a Great Teacher"
Questions:
A) I'm using a Linksys dual-antenna Wireless G WiFi base station. Is anyone else using WiFi router, & what brand? (I've used Linksys, & am comfortable with it) If you use WiFi, do you engage encryption? (I think I should).
B) I'm in a 4x4 van, no air-conditioning. So, I'm not an RV, with A/C..kinda roughing it in 4WD. I'm concerned about Dust & Heat. It's gonna be Hot & Dusty! I'm worried about the electronics overheating (my Mac Powerbook already shut down in Pahrump, NV..IN THE SHADE!). I notice the 6000 modem has ventilation holes..top & bottom. I'm thinking of mounting it.with gap below & above, & possible putting a fan to get air circulation.
Anyone else try to address heat issues with their electronics?
I'm also concerned about vibration (it can wipe out cameras in a hurry), both highway & offroading. I'm putting the D2 & 6000 on some kind of cushion..as a shock-absorber. Anyone else do the same thing?
Posts: 13 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Apr 2005
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I think a large number of our 6000 users here are using Linksys wireless. I'm using a USR8054 here.
Heat problems with Direcway equipment appear to be primarily when they are enclosed in a cabinet without adequate ventilation. Mine are in a cabinet with a mesh door, and have not had problems. My 6000 lays directly on the controller, with just a strip of velcro between to keep it from moving around. Haven't had any vibration problems.
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