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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Expat" data-source="post: 1870" data-attributes="member: 175187">----------------------------------- -----------------------------------IMPORTANT!PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EXACT LOCATION, DISH SIZE, LNB TYPE & RECEIVER MODEL. THIS INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT, IF WE AREWE TO HELP OTHERS WITH THEIR RECEPTION PROBLEMS! IF YOU POST INFORMATION ABOUT RECEPTION OF THE OTHER ASTRA BIRDS,PLEASE STATE IF ASTRA 2D IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCATION!THANKSEXPAT ----------------------------------------------------------------------NEWSPETER SATORI IN ITALY WRITES: "I have been contacted by 4 of my friends who live in Italy who have purchased Sky Digiboxes in the UK and who have had them installed in Northern Italy, for less than 125 Euros.They can recieve all the FTA Channels, on Astra 2A & 2B and especialy those on Astra 2D, Inc ITV1 London Region.The Location is 40Km West or Parma, in the Appenine Mountains, and 80Km East of the Ligurian cost of Sestri Levante.The equipment used, is as specified by `ItaliaSat4`2x Panasonic 30 Digiboxs & 2x Grundig 310/2 Digiboxes88Cm Triax solid Satellite Dishes0.6DB Universal LNB`sRT100 CABLEI stronly suggest that a compitent Installer is used, if the installation is only slightly out, this will especialy restrict the reception of Astra 2B & 2D!" TAMAS IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY WRITES:"Hi there, just made a little survey on Astra 2D reception in Hungary, while ITV2 was FTA in the last couple of days.Vertical transponders on 2D can picked up fine with a 1.4m dish in Budapest when the weather is good. Someone with a 1.8m dish reported good reception even in bad weather. On the other hand none so far, have managed to pick up the horizontal transponders, not even with 2m+ dishes." RICHARD IN REYKAVIK, ICELAND WRITES:"EquipmentGrundig 21080 cm mesh offset feed dishStandard 0.7(?) LNB, not sure of the manufacturerI get all the channels I am entitled to with my BBC/ITV viewing card, with the box showing 100% signal and 50% quality. I should be getting card from Sky soon, so I'll see how the rest come in.I have noticed that extreme sports Ch. is the most sensitive, and sometimes breaks up, but the other channels on the same transponder/freq (travel shop etc) seems ok, so I am a little confused...From what I can tell, there are 3 general footprints from the sky digibox channels, and so far I can certainly get the 2A south beam, and the 2D, but I am not sure about the footprint as seen for transponder 19 (sky one) for example, and so far I can't find a channel to test this on...Ah well, I'm still very pleased to get the basics here."ALL IN THE LNB? (SYNTEC 2000 0.3DB LN<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite6" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":cool:" />It is claimed that the expensive Syntec 2000 can greatly improve reception with its low noise level of 0.3db. I have read & received reports that do NOT backupthis claim. The improvement in signal gain is marginal, the only real way to improvesignal gain is to increase dish size.Which LNB is best in fringe areas? Let me know your views on the many LNB's on the market!The Invacom LNB is receiving excellent reports, particularly the Quad, which would appear to have a better noise figure.The MTI also carries a lot of recommendations.CHANNEL HOPPER WRITES:"Theoretically the lowest noise figure obtainable from any device is limited by any components in the signal chain with the highest thermal noise. The first component in the chain would be the detector circuit and on a Universal LNB this would be a pin diode At Ku band the detectors are rated at manufacture to about 40K which converts to a figure of 0.5 dB.Presently the LNB market is active by those selling what appears to be an extraordinarily good device (and good luck to them).Some use the best of the component batch - and end up with good performance overall (rare).Some modify existing LNBs by the use of fancy smoothing circuits to eliminate any further incoming noise from the power supply - there are definite improvements when used with cheaper receivers, especially those with switch mode supplies (few )Some simply take the lowest noise figure during tests at a particular frequency, and then claim that this is the figure of the LNB (so you could have a 0.5dB LNB at 10.8GHz which has a 1.1dB noise figure at 11.6GHz, but it will be rated at 0.5 (depressingly common)Most however will blatantly lie about the noise figure to increase sales, and to hell with the consequences.Rolf is right that the better solution is to look at other components in the system, starting with the dish and its alignment." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PREVIOUSLY REPORTED:RECEPTION PATTERN? Valb in Denmark writes,"After fitting my new 0,4 LNB (Genesis) there hasn't been a clear sky - cloudy and misty every day - which makes it hard to compare the result of the new LNB compared to the old one when the weather was better, but I have started to notice a pattern as to when 2D is available. It seems to go in a four hour cycle 'though I haven't got up in the middle of the night to measure the results.OK from 2pm to 6pmOK from soon after 10pmOK at 6amAll times GMT A report I read recently about tests done in Spain with different dish sizes also mentioned fixed time slots where the signal from 2A and B north beams got weaker. It would be interesting to hear the "scientific" explanation for this. Although I know that the satellites move around a bit I don't think they have a fixed path that they follow each day.Are there any scientists out there who can explain what is going on?" (from Valb in Denmark)--------------------------------------------------------------------ITALIAN SIDESLOBE?From posts, it would seem that Astra 2 D's footprint seems to like the boot of Italy! Suprisingly small dish sizes for the north, 85cm! No positive reports from Rome or further south....yet!---------------------------------------------------------------------SIDELOBE IN SWEDEN?There is a 3dB difference in strength between Horizontal and Vertical (Vertical weaker). There seems to be a sidelobe in Sweden. PUFFIN WRITES, "I remember on Astra 1 there was a sidelobe in South America somewhwere, so it was actually possible to watch Sky in Argentina when Sky was analouge. I seem also to remember another guy in the south of Sweden not being able to pick up anything from 2D with a 1,8m dish. On the other hand almost all the people I have heard about in Stockholm get ITV with 85cm-1m dishes." (From Puffin in Börlange, Sweden)---------------------------------------------------------------------RECEIVERS FOR GOOD FRINGE RECEPTIONPanasonic TU-DSB 20Panasonic TU-DSB 30Amstrad DRX 100Amstrad DRX 200 (newer model, same tuner as the Panasonic 30)Grundig 310/2Pace 2200 (anyone using this model?)Pace mini box NO GOOD IN FRINGE AREASPace 2500sPanasonic TUD 31Sony ReceiversKNOW OF ANY OTHERS?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CroatiaBaska, Island of Krk, Latitude 44.97 Longitude 14.75Dish: Channel Master 1.8mdigibox: Panasonic TU-DSB20also tested with Humax 5400LNB: Samsung 0.6dBNo 2D at allCYPRUS (Eastern)Area unknown4.2 Metre All 2D AYAIA NAPA areaPanasonic TUDSB302.8metre solid dishGenesis 3 prime focus LNB25 metres cabling.Subscribed to SKY family package.Most channels recieved except ITV 1 & 2/Ch4/E4.PAPHOS1.9 Metre Solid Dish Twin LNB (0.7db) feeding two apartments.Pace 2200 FTV BBC etc Amstrad DRX100 giving slightly better signal than the Pace running Sky WorldNo 2D but some Channel 4 during the early evening - disappears at about 10pm BST. Most Sports Channels all day (on Southern Beams) and some Movies Channels. E4 is tuned seperately to the 28.5 Bird !!No weather interference yet------------------------------------------------------------------------DENMARKAarhus85 cm DishCopenhagen (NO ASTRA 2D)1.0m Solid offset dishLNB Digistar 0.6db Panasonic 30 (Silver).Hillerød (No ITV 2 or Disney)1.2 Offset dishLNB Genesis 0.4dbOdense Good reception (BBC, ITV etc)120cm parabolic dish (i.e. no off-set), Grundig GDS300 box and AP8-T2 Manhattan MTI LNB -----------------------------------------------------------------------EGYPTCairo,Panasonic TUDSB303.1 meter mesh dish.Most channels but no ITV or channell 4 etc----------------------------------------------------------------------FRANCEMontpellier60cm DishPace 2500b OK on 2DMontpelier Area60cmNew Thompson receiverAll 2DChartre60cmAmstrad 100All Channels including 2D 80x80 percentPerpignanclose to the border with Spain. 80cm All BBC channels absolutely fine.PauSouth West, Nr Pyrenees 60cm dish/Sedea Universal LNB (no model number)AMSTRAD DRX 200Astra 2D available- reception good no problems.ToulousePanasonic 30Channel master 85cmAlps 0.7 lnbAll channels fine-----------------------------------------------------------------------GERMANYAachen80 cm DishSignal strength 50/60 (10.891), 80/90 for 10.832 & 10906.Husum, North Germany appr. 50Km from danish border.1 Metre dish, Invacom .03db LNB Alll BBC and ITV channels 24/7 and also during bad weather.Herford in Nordrhine Westfalia85cm Panasonic TUDSB31 All ChannelsBerlin1.2m DishLNB 0.6dB Signal 30% quality readingBrunsbüttel (Western Schleswig Holstein)80 cm DishDortmund & Cologne (Köln)85cm DishPanasonic 30LNB 0.6db.Frankfurt am Main60cm DishFrankfurt am Main90cm DishKaiserslautern60cm Dish LNB TechnisatThomson DSR330TA (in pc: Hauppauge DVB-sat)Signal 60-65%Lower Rhine60cm & 75cm Dish No recpetion during rain or snow, with 75cm dish even with heavy rain/snow perfect reception.Munich (München) just north of (All 2D)1 m Dish Genesis 0.4dbMunich, Holzkirchen, (40 kms south east of)1M GilbertiniInvacom LNBAll 2d, good strong signalMunich (München)90cm Philips Gregorian Amstrad receiver65-70% signal (measured on a Echostar AD 3000 IPVA)Salzburg (70 miles east of) .1 meter Dish, Invacom 0.3 db lnb.I can recieve BBC1 most of the time but it becomes a bit blocky in the Evenings.Same with ITV--------------------------------------------------------------------HUNGARYBudapest1.4m - 1.8mNo H transpoders, which is very unusual, ITV2 can be picked up in good weather. Someone with a 1.8m dish has reported good reception even in bad weather. On the other, nobody has managed to pick up the horizontal transponders, not even with 2m+ dishes. This is the opposite to western & southern Europe, where H transponders seem to be around 3db stronger than V transponders. ----------------------------------------------------------------------ICELANDReykjavik80cm mesh offset feed dishGrundig 210LNB 0.7db 100% signal and 50% quality----------------------------------------------------------------------ITALYAbruzzo (NO ASTRA 2D)1.2m Dish Panasonic 30LNB Mti 0.6db Blue Line Also problems with Astra 2A North Beam.Bologna1.2m Dish Amstrad DRX 100LNB Sharp 0.7db & Syntec 2000 0.3db.25 metres of cable between receiver and dish. ITV London and South good all the time, ITV central areas, Disney, Hallmark watchable most of the time, ITV north areas and ITV 2, problems most of the time. The Syntec 2000 LNB performed better with the 85 cm dish!(From L.L. Ugania)Cassino, Lazio region (NO ASTRA 2D)1.2m DishPace receiverMilan (Milano)85cm DishSome 2D Lose, Anglia transponder.Parma Area80cm DishPanasonic 20 Astra 2D in good weather.Parma Area, 40km west of, in the Appenine Mountains - 88cm Triax dishPanasonic 30LNB 0.6db UniversalCable RT 10080km East of the Ligurian cost of Sestri Levante88cm Triax dishGrundig 310/2LNB 0.6db UniversalCable RT 100Rome (Roma) (NO ASTRA 2D)1.2m DishRome Area - 100 km South of Rome Nokia Mediamaster 9200 with DVB 200Prodeline 240CM offset VSAT professional uplink/downlink dish (With built-in autoskew and anti-ice features) - F/D 0.8LNB: MTI 0.6 (C120 flange).FEEDHORN: Dedicated Prodeline 4 inch diameter 39° feedhorn (F/D 0.8)Posted 23-09-03All Astra 2D - ALL BBC + 60-70% signal on ITV, 4, 5 & RTE (I don't have a card), but signals are constant 24 hrs/day.A Dubliner near RomeSondrio, 70 miles N.E.of Milan60cm Dish LNB 0.7db.Vasto, Chieti, 50km south of Pescara (NO ASTRA 2D)2.4m DishPanasonic 30LNB MTI 0.6db,Also problems with Astra 2A.Verona90cm DishDish Sizes: Northern Italy, down as far as Parma: 90cm Dish ( 1.0CM) best).(NO VARIFICATION FOR ASTRA 2D SIGNALS, MAY HAVE TO BE LARGER!)Central Italy down as far as Rome: 1.2m Dish ( 1.5m) best.Southern Italy, down as far as R / Calabria: 1.8m (2.0m) best.----------------------------------------------------------------------NORWAYOslo1.2 m - 1.8m DishesThe Horisontal transponders are about 3dB stronger as compared tothe Vertical ones. A 1.8m dish should bring in all transponders.----------------------------------------------------------------------POLANDKrakow By IggyI dont know what is the manufacturer of my 1.8m dish, but it seems to be very good of quality, LNB iis Grundig C-120 0,6 db, not the best one, but does the job.Good news guys, i receive all V transponders with signal strenght of 75%. It's 22 20 cet and picture is still perfect, it appears that V signals can be watched 24/7. With regard to H transponders, unfortunately nothing can be picked - shame----------------------------------------------------------------------PORTUGALAlbufeira, Algarve1.3m Dish Panasonic 30 & Grundig 310LNB 0.7db.Silves1.2m Dish Panasonic 31LNB Televes 0.7dbSignal strength 90%,Signal quality 20-30%Silves1.3m DishPanasonic 30Signal quality 50%----------------------------------------------------------------------SPAINAlicante (NO ASTRA 2D)1.2 m DishPanasonic 30LNB 0.7dbAlicante1.2m Channel Master dishLNB Cambridge 0.7dbAstra 2A north beam lose in the afternoon.Ibiza1.3m DishLose of Astra 2D from 7pm til morning.Astepona Costa Del Sol1.2 Metre Dish, LNB unknown, Panasonic DSB30 , All 2D channelsMalaga (70K East of)1.2 Metre Dish, Panasonic DSB30, All 2D channels Salou spainreceiver panasonic db3080cm dishCan confirm that sky full package north beam (full 2d) is easily availablein la pineda near salou spain.80cm dish on top of motorhome.99% signal on meter 50% qualitySan Pedro, West of Mabella1.3m Dish, Panasonic 30 (Silver), LNB 0.7dbIn normal weather 2D is there with no problems, signal strenghth and quality are both in the 65-80 region and lock indicator is not locked. (Not quite sure why this is!)In medium rain, cloud and wind things are still fine, no loss of picture and sound.In heavy rain and wind there is some blocking, but that also happens on non 2d channels.Mallorca, Eastside of the island1.8m Dish----------------------------------------------------------------------SWEDENBörlange (WNW of Stockholm)1.0 m Lenson Heath dishPanasonic TU-DSB 30 LNB 0.5dbLose of Astra 2D in bad weather, no V transponders.Lund ITV1, all the other H transponders, between approx 05.00 and 18.30 (CET) with a very good, stable picture (quality 90%, sig. strength 80%).At about 18.30 (depending on the weather conditions) the signal starts to fade and by about 19.00 it's gone completely. For the last couple of nights, it's made a reappearance at about 23.00 and has then lasted until about 02.00.Eqpt:Panasonic TUDSB30Gibertini 1.5 dish (OP150)Eurostar 0.5 LNB12 m cable run (basic quality coax)Stockholm1.0m Gilbertini dishInterstar 0.3 LNBAll Channels, slight fade on BBC in rainy weather.----------------------------------------------------------------------SWITZERLANDBasle45cm Digidish.Geneva50cm glass optical dishSky+ receiverZürich53cm Arcon Sweetey dishLose of Astra 2D in really bad weather.Zürich60cm DishPanasonic 31LNB 0.7dbSignal strength and quality 90%ZurichSky+ V2 with Invacom Quad connected to Gilbertini 100cm dishNormal Strength/Quality90%/90% & 90%/90%Manual tune to BBC transponder80%/70% & 90%/80%----------------------------------------------------------------------PLEASE INCLUDE LOCATION & THE EQUIPMENT BEING USED!THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE INFORMATION, KEEP IT COMING! ----------------------------------------------------------------------</blockquote>

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