Motors: Get The Max Out Of Your Dish

Satellite Motors can be very intimidating for people just starting with Free to Air but in fact it is very easy to install with the proper equipment and tools. The same principles apply with motorized dishes and stationary dishes. All mounting hardware must be in installed exactly at 90 degrees and pointed west to south west depending on the satellite. Below is a video from YouTube posted by a company from the United Kingdom called HISTA as well as some frequently asked questions.




Frequently Asked Questions


Do I need a separate power line to connect to the HH Motor?
No. The motor gets its power from the receiver using the same coaxial cable running from the receiver to the LNBF on the dish. You simply disconnect the cable from the LNBF. Connect it to the HH Motor. Then run a short coaxial cable between the motor and the LNBF. You are set.



How do I control the motor to move it East / West?

The motor is controlled by the receiver's remote control. All receivers compliant with the DiSEqC 1.2, 1.3, or USALS protocol have the capability to run an HH motor. Once you initially setup the motor on the satellite arc and store the locations of the satellites, you will be able to move between satellites by simply changing the channel.



Does the motor also adjust for variation in elevation on the dish for each satellite?

Yes it does.



Do I need to skew the LNBF on a motorized dish?

No you don't. Just set the skew at 0 and the motor will tilt the whole dish when it moves.



What is the benefit from motorizing my dish?

Well, by adding a motor to your system you will be able to receive satellite channels from several satellites instead from one only. That way you will gain many more channels economically without investing in many dishes and switches.

Which motor goes best with what dish?

We have found out that majourity of dishes on the market do not fit and require modifications to the satellite dish. The 18' dish is the most common dish that requires modification and might require you to grind or cut some pieces off the hardware. The best dish to use that is under 90 cm is the 22" Elliptical Satellite Dish with the one LNB positioned in the center of the bracket.

What Motor is the best to use?

The SG 2100 is the easiest to install and is compatible with most dishes without any modification. The SG 2100 has position buttons right on the motor so you can move the dish east to west without using your receiver. The Stab HH90 and Stabb HH120 are made in Italy and are rated to have the best quality parts. The Stab series uses metal gears while other motors use plastic gears. The disadvantage is Stab motors do not have position buttons on the motor and usually require modifications to dishes when installing.

My LNB is circular but I will like to watch a satellite that requires a linear lnb?

Only the Invacom LNB can offer the option to switch from circular to linear. This is a quad output LNB and has two circular and two linear outputs. To control the LNB any 4x1 or sw 21 switch will work. Most linear signals require dishes to be 33” or bigger.

How many televisions can I hook up?

There is no maximum number but do make sure your multi switch has enough outputs to go to as many receivers as you want. Please note that all receivers will have to view the same satellite at the same time.


Where can I find out what channels are available free to air?

There are many free to air channels available in North America on satellites such as Galaxy 10R, AMC4, IA5, AMC3, etc. There are channels from the USA and from around the world. Visit Lynsat for a complete listing of what is available. Anything with an F designation is FREE TO AIR.