Astra 2E: Iberia & Balearics Reports

[RichardinSpain]

Very weak signals tonight at 23.30, can't recieve any itv hd, the only itv's i can receive are on 10994 and 11053, ch4hd is low but receivable, bbc1 non existent except 11023

 

[Archive4]

I think my sagemcom dtr is a rogue box, but in a very good way. Have been monitoring various txps for the last hour and a half and have seen quality drop on most sd txps for BBC ITV etc. However, HD txps for BBC1 uk, ITV etc have stayed at 100% quality throughout, with no strenght drop either. At strong signal times it always shows the HD higher than SD as well.

I did put another HD box on the same feed earlier today and it showed HD txps lower than SD, so it must be this particular dtr has a better HD reception than SD. I don´t think I will be parting with it for some time (I hope)

 

[Huevos]

Very weak signals tonight at 23.30, can't recieve any itv hd, the only itv's i can receive are on 10994 and 11053, ch4hd is low but receivable, bbc1 non existent except 11023

On what dish size?

 

[terryashbyash]

Despite overcast and light rain signal quality on 10818 10803 and 10788 now appear closer to normal again. Maybe 1-2% drop in signal quality is due to weather. On a 1.1m dish aligned with a crappy digital 1200 which still get used when the latest new ones die.

 

[RichardinSpain]

On what dish size?

on my old 1.2 tecatel dish (i think origionally sold as 1.35)

 

[Tururu]

Has anyone else noticed a significant drop in signal strenghth today - both 2E and s2F beams? Atmospheric conditions I guess but the weather hasn't changed much over the past few days.

Si tienes un barometro incorporado lo notas.
Menos señal en general, estos son los niveles de la mañana.
----------------
If you have a barometer incorporated the notes.
Less overall signal, these are the levels of the morning.

Madrid north (Spain) 40.5458°N, 3.612°W near Ikea.
94cm=98x90cm=0'692m² dish, DB800S-HD, (23-3-2014 9:00-10:00 GMT+1).

10714 =2E  8.50dB Señal/SNR53% AGC99% BER36 Channel4 (c4l)
10729 =2E  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 4 Channel 4 +1
10744 =2E  8.50dB Señal/SNR53% AGC99% BER28 RTE One
10758 =2E  9.50dB Señal/SNR59% AGC99% BER 0 ITV
10773 =2E  8.00dB Señal/SNR50% AGC99% BER37 BBC 1 London
10788 =2E  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0 BBC 1 Wales
10803 =2E  8.50dB Señal/SNR53% AGC99% BER27 BBC 1 Scotland
10817 =2E  9.50dB Señal/SNR59% AGC99% BER 0 BBC 1 Oxford
10832 =2E  8.50dB Señal/SNR53% AGC99% BER21 ITV HD
10847 =2E  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0 BBC One HD
10862 =2E  7.00dB Señal/SNR43% AGC99% BER 0 [/b] Sky Sports1 HD (Tarde)
10876 =2E  9.50dB Señal/SNR59% AGC99% BER 0 Nickelodeon
10891 =2E  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 2 ITV +1
10906 =2E  10.50dB Señal/SNR65% AGC99% BER 0 STV
10921 =2E  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 2 TCM
10935 =2E  10.00dB Señal/SNR62% AGC99% BER 0 ITV HD
10964 =2F  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0 Channel 5
10994 =2F  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 2 ITV HD
11023 =2F  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0 BBC 1 Scot HD
11053 =2F  9.50dB Señal/SNR59% AGC99% BER 0 ITV +1
11067 =2F  9.50dB Señal/SNR59% AGC99% BER 0 20800/810 y 21000 (ITV HD)
11097 =2F  10.00dB Señal/SNR62% AGC99% BER 0 21000/10/20/30 (ITV HD)
11126 =2F  10.50dB Señal/SNR65% AGC99% BER 0 Channel 4 HD
11222H=28  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0 Magic, Greatest,  Hits
11224V=28  11.50dB Señal/SNR71% AGC99% BER 0 NHK World HD, RT HD
11260V=28  12.50dB Señal/SNR78% AGC99% BER 0 B4U Music
11261H=28  10.50dB Señal/SNR65% AGC99% BER 0 horror channel
11307 =28  11.00dB Señal/SNR68% AGC99% BER 0 Flava Bliss Scuzz
11343V=28  11.50dB Señal/SNR71% AGC99% BER 0 CBS Reality
11344H=28  12.00dB Señal/SNR75% AGC99% BER 0 CBS Drama
11426 =28  10.50dB Señal/SNR65% AGC99% BER 0 FRANCE 24 eng
11428 =28  10.50dB Señal/SNR65% AGC99% BER 0 Fashion One/LBP TV
11719 =2E  19.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Lifetime HD
11739 =
11758 =2E  19.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Animal Plnt HD
11778 =2E  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
11797 =2E  18.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
11817 =2A  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
11836 =2E  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Sky Action
11856 =2E  17.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 E4 HD
11875 =2A  18.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
11895 =2A  17.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
11914 =2E  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Pick, cambio=>Disney
11934 =2E  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Sky Intro
11992 =2A  8.00dB Señal/SNR50% AGC99% BER 0 Dave
12012 =2E  18.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Sky Family HD
12031 =2A  19.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12051 =2A  17.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12070 =2A  7.50dB Señal/SNR46% AGC99% BER 0
12090 =2A  6.50dB Señal/SNR37% AGC99% BER 0
12109 =2A  18.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12148 =  8.50dB Señal/SNR53% AGC99% BER 0
12168 =  6.50dB Señal/SNR40% AGC99% BER 0[/b]
12187 =  19.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12207 =  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Pick/Sky News
12226 =  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0
12246 =  6.00dB Señal/SNR37% AGC99% BER 0
12265 =  19.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12285 =  18.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12304 =  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0
12324 =  9.00dB Señal/SNR56% AGC99% BER 0
12343 =2E  19.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12363 =2E  18.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12382 =2E  19.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Dave HD
12460 =2E  18.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Sky 3D
12480 =2A  6.50dB Señal/SNR40% AGC99% BER17 The Box/Kiss/Kerrang
12515 =2F  18.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 MOTORS TV UK
12520 =2F  18.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Heart Capital Clubland PlanetPop
12545 =2F  18.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12551 =2F  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12574 =2F  18.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12580 =2F  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12604 =2F  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12610 =2F  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Kiss Magic RT
12633 =2F  18.00dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 Al Jazeera
12640 =2F  17.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0
12663 =2F  17.00dB Señal/SNR96% AGC99% BER 0 Euronews
12669 =2F  16.50dB Señal/SNR100 AGC99% BER 0 CH NINE UK

DreamBox800S-HD.

 

[sinbadmarino]

Actually it won't be that useful as near to his location there is only myself - about 60 kms to the north-west of Pamplona. I'm getting all the spot-beam channels on a Gibertini 1.5m dish (when there's no rain). I know of someone in San Sebastian who is getting the SD channels on a Gibertini 1.25. The only report from Pamplona is from someone with a 80cm dish which doesn't pick up anything. Unfortunately Pamplona is possibly just in the null area which stretches across from Barcelona parallel to the Pyrenees.
Here is a great explanation of the whole topic: http://www.a516digital.com/2014/02/special-what-changed-in-european.html.

Hi,
This is Sinbad, from Pamplona. I live exactly 20 kms southern Pamplona. I have bought a 1.2 m dish and I cannot get Astra 2E, no way of obtaining enough signal. For a short period of time the receiver displays 5.4 db but one second later it goes downs. That is what it happenned with the old dish.

I am thinking about buying 1.5 m dish, but I would like to have some chance of succeding.

Until now, 0.9 m dish was enough.

Some help would be appreciate.

 

[Nagusia]

We need some help here. Sinbad lives about 60 kms to the south-east from me. With my Gibby 150 I get signal strengths as follows (between 16.00 and 20.00 24 April) which barring rain allow me to see SD channels all the time and HD 90% of the time.

TX 10714H 10818V 10847V 10964H 11068V
Min 7 7.7 7.7 6 7
Max 9.5 9.5 9 8.4 7.7

Sinbad is getting 5.4 db some of the time with a 120 dish. I think I saw a very rough formula somewhere which was X db for Y cms of dish diametre. Sinbad's question is whether with a 150 dish he is likely to get a good enough signal for viewing spotbeam channels. I reckon 180 would be a safer bet but it's hard to say because where he lives may be on the edge of a null area. We don't know because there are no reports from anyone with that size dish in the area, so spending money on a 180 dish is a bit of a punt.

 

[Captain Jack]

Well, a 1.8m is definitely a safer bet. I can try and relate to your situation with my upgrade from a 1.2m Channel Master to a 1.5m Gibertini and a certain Amos 4W transponder. One of them (11389H) was barely locking on my 1.2m dish and certainly not watchable, unless I was very lucky with TOD and atmospherics. I can't remember the dB reading but it will have been under 5dB and around 30% as seen on Vu+ Uno receiver.

After upgrade my reading is around 6dB/37% and the picture is stable with only very occasional breakups. In fact.. I just checked with my 1.2m Fibo dish and this TP isn't locking at all while it's stable with the 1.5m.

There's absolutely no margin for wet weather...

 

[Huevos]

Sinbad is getting 5.4 db some of the time with a 120 dish.

You can't trust any reading that is taken below lock. It's completely meaningless.

 

[Archive4]

We need some help here.

Have to agree that a 1.8 should be better than a 1.5. Have checked a few websites and tdtprofesional have the Gib 150 for 394€ and a tecatel 180 for 784€.

That said, check out FTE Maximal (based in Barcelona). They make a 1.5 and 1.8 offset steel dish with galvanised paint in their OS range. When I bought my 1.5 offset a couple of years ago the local Alicante shop wanted 400€, when I pointed out tdtprofessional had it online for 230€ they supplied it for 240€, so I picked it up from Alicante. Could be worth a few phone calls and a bit of haggling.

If you PM me I will advise approx trade price of a Famaval 1.8 prime focus from my russian supplier, you will be surprised!

 

[Camping]

We have just installed a 2.40 dish to replace the 1.80 we had previously and have found very little improvement, dropping channels in the evening. Anyone with knowledge of a 3m care to comment?

 

[Archive4]

Best thing is put this measuring back on the bigger dish.

Or the new dish, if you have had time to set it up yet, good luck with it!

 

[joddle]

We have just installed a 2.40 dish to replace the 1.80 we had previously and have found very little improvement, dropping channels in the evening. Anyone with knowledge of a 3m care to comment?

I am surprised there is no real difference in the two dishes - what makes are the 1.8 and 2.4 and are you using the same feedhorn and LNB etc? IF considering a 3m which one? - You need to have a really good dish and matching feedhorn and LNB if its to offer much more than the 2.4 does!

 

[Camping]

The new 2.40 is a Famaval prime focus and the 1.80 is an offset Channel Master. Different LNB (tried several) as the old dish is still being used. There is approx 20% better signal strength but less than 15% improvement in quality. We lose some channels at night (presumably from reading earlier posts at the eclipse). No problem during the day.

 

[RichardinSpain]

The new 2.40 is a Famaval prime focus and the 1.80 is an offset Channel Master. Different LNB (tried several) as the old dish is still being used. There is approx 20% better signal strength but less than 15% improvement in quality. We lose some channels at night (presumably from reading earlier posts at the eclipse). No problem during the day.

Hi Camping
I think 20% signal difference is quite a lot, Have you tried adjusting dish /lnb at night when you get your signal break up. I found the same, i had adjusted lnb for best signals in the day time but when it came to night time i had lost some signal, so i tweaked it at night and now it is fine (although for me around 23.00 - 23.30 the signal does drop considerably)......also i used to align the dish/lnb with one of the stronger transponders like 10818 but by doing this used to lose weaker transponders like itv2 etc so now i try to get the best reception on a weaker transponder at the weakest time of day, may lose a bit of signal on a more powerful TP but it works as have all channels 24/7..Hope this helps

 

[Camping]

Thanks for that RichardinSpain, I will suggest that to our techie.

 

[sinbadmarino]

Well, a 1.8m is definitely a safer bet.

Just a question, a 1.8 m prime focus dish is supposed to be a better option than a 1.5 offset one, isn't it?
I thought offset dishes were better quality receiving signal than prime focus ones, but we got a new component, the size of the dish.
What do you think?
Thanks.
Sinbad

PD: Today I've tried again to point the satellite dish to Astra 2E, but there's no way again.

 

[sinbadmarino]

Sorry this was to correct the previous threat. Now that is done.

 

[joddle]

The new 2.40 is a Famaval prime focus and the 1.80 is an offset Channel Master. Different LNB (tried several) as the old dish is still being used. There is approx 20% better signal strength but less than 15% improvement in quality. We lose some channels at night (presumably from reading earlier posts at the eclipse). No problem during the day.

Thats very interesting - of course the CM 1.6 is a very efficient dish and PF dishes tend not to be quite as good as the best offsets

Just a question, a 1.8 m prime focus dish is supposed to be a better option than a 1.5 offset one, isn't it?
I thought offset dishes were better quality receiving signal than prime focus ones, but we got a new component, the size of the dish.
What do you think?
Thanks.
Sinbad

PD: Today I've tried again to point the satellite dish to Astra 2E, but there's no way again.

This old chestnet of dish sizes comes up quite often. Quality here really is the key. A cheap offset dish will be a lot worse than a good PF dish of similar size and visa versa i.e. a cheap PF will be worse than a good offset. It all comes down to the acuracy and rigidity of the parabolic shape. But size for size and quality for quality there is little difference between types albeit in theory the offset should be slightly better than the PF due to the lack of any "shadow" from the dish components.

To answer the question, a good 1.8 PF should out-perform a good 1.5 offset as the collecting area of the dish is much larger and so should direct more signal to the LNB even though the arms of the PF dish will take a little of that area away wheras in the offset the arms are away from the signal path, but that area on larger PF dishes is so small compared with the actual collecting area that its virtually a non issue.