Astra 2E: Scandinavia & Baltics Reports

[Captain Jack]

That's some good aiming there!

What make is the 2.4m and what do you get with it?

 

[timo_w2s]

That's some good aiming there!

What make is the 2.4m and what do you get with it?

Looks like an Aerial Oy AS24 2.4m, am I right satiwi? I have the 1.8m version.

Edit: Doh, I was right, it's in his profile.

Is that a homemade heating element on the back?

 

[satiwi]

Yep its the aerial Oy AS24, I'm enjoying 28.2E on it, even in blizzardly conditons (thanks 2e), except UK spot for which I hope 27.5w will fill. Hopeful plan is to integrate both feeds to the Dbox with seamless switching from the bouquets. ..and yes its a homemade heating element, actually a gutter drain defrosting element. I have 240v avilable at the antenna (underground feed for signl and power) and its switched on with a modified wireless mains switcher, thats the antenna mounted on top of the dish. Keeps the lower half of the dish clear as thats where the snow collects.

 

[Analoguesat]

Map updated to here, with the Stockholm report added

 

[satiwi]

Mission completed!, Both Astra 2E and IS907 now working on the DM800se here in Finland w/ transparent switching of antennas and cam modes between 2E and 907 on channel changes.

 

[la9thjohn]

Mission completed!, Both Astra 2E and IS907 now working on the DM800se here in Finland w/ transparent switching of antennas and cam modes between 2E and 907 on channel changes.

I would like to get in contact with the member in Trondheim Norway who has given report good signals on 180cm dish. See Google maps. Can anyone tell me??

 

[Analoguesat]

If the report was made on this forum it will probably be on this thread somewhere.

 

[dmaavrigdo]

Received and installed my Laminas OFC-1200 today here in Vansbro Sweden and now get all spot beam channels including HD even in the evening!

 

[Fredrik M]

I gave a reception report in February about reception of the UK spot beam with a Triax 110 in my location 15 km east of Gothenburg. At the time, the reception of the HD channels on Astra 2E was intermittent. However everything else (all transponders on Astra 2f and the SD channels on Astra 2e) worked. I saw some improvements of the signal from Astra 2E in early March, confirming reports and measurement results from "bema". I have also adjusted the skew of the LNB and I now have reception of all channels 24/7. The weather margin is limited for some of the channels at lunch time.

 

[mr420]

Getting ITV 1 SD at eveving with 6.5 - 7 db . Had only sunny days since got new Triax 110cm dish.

I live in Drammen area

 

[bema]

Received and installed my Laminas OFC-1200 today here in Vansbro Sweden and now get all spot beam channels including HD even in the evening!

Nice !
You are on the "right" side of the 1st side lobe ? Lower signal in the evening. I have not seen so many reports from "that side". I 'm still wondering where the "maximum (24h average) power level" from the 1st side lobe is in Sweden...

Where did you buy the dish, from Poland ?

 

[bema]

Getting ITV 1 SD at eveving with 6.5 - 7 db . Had only sunny days since got new Triax 110cm dish.

I live in Drammen area

I think you can improve your system. Check the position of the LNB arm. My was too low. I have improved it with some aluminum bars (10x3 mm) "Twist" them slightly with a pair of clamps. It's then easy to adjust the arm into correct position and the stability increase a lot..

 

[Lazarus]

There's a far quicker, easier and cost-free solution to the droopy arm on the TD110: Where it passes through the dish face, simply raise it with your fingers and insert a spacer/shim of matchsticks, coins, whatever is lying around.

Highly effective.

 

[bema]

There's a far quicker, easier and cost-free solution to the droopy arm on the TD110: Where it passes through the dish face, simply raise it with your fingers and insert a spacer of matchsticks, coins, whatever is lying around.

Highly effective.

I did that first but it's only stable for some time. The LNB umbrella added some weight and the wind also pushes it out of position. No more adjustments since I added the bars....

 

[dmaavrigdo]

Nice !
You are on the "right" side of the 1st side lobe ? Lower signal in the evening. I have not seen so many reports from "that side". I 'm still wondering where the "maximum (24h average) power level" from the 1st side lobe is in Sweden...

Where did you buy the dish, from Poland ?

Yes,direct from Laminas.
"OFC1200.............113.16 €
OFZ1200...............35.67 €
Shipping..................69 €
--------------------------------
Total .....................217.83 €
Retail prices, 23% VAT included.
Prepaiment by bank transfer on proforma invoice."

Used Europay / Swedbank only costs 10kr.

 

[Fredrik M]

I did that first but it's only stable for some time. The LNB umbrella added some weight and the wind also pushes it out of position. No more adjustments since I added the bars....

I also noticed that I got a better signal if I raised the lnb arm slightly. However, instead of adjusting the arm, I managed to improve reception by pushing the lnb a couple of cm forward through its holder. I guess there is some room for further improvements...

 

[archive10]

I also noticed that I got a better signal if I raised the lnb arm slightly. However, instead of adjusting the arm, I managed to improve reception by pushing the lnb a couple of cm forward through its holder. I guess there is some room for further improvements...

You probably need to do both. On massproduced steel dish assemblies, the feedhorn of the LNB is not always in the centre of the beam focus point. This applies both to up/down and in/out. On some very questionable designs, it even applies to tipping the LNB slightly to get more focus on the antennas in the LNB. Fine tuning best done with meter and weak transponders. And remember 28.5 is skewed differently from 28.2 sats (so dont use 28.5 transponders).
Also, it depends on LNB/feedhorn design where the sweet spot is. And many lnbs have a short neck that give very little room for adjustment. Your black ultra is one of the better ones in this respect.

 

[archive10]

Reception report
Location: Nordsjælland, Denmark
Conditions: Clear skies
Dish: Swedish Microwave OA-1050 (105 cm)

LNB: Inverto Black Multi-connect Quad
Result: Negative. 2A comes in fine (Sky News), carrier is detected, but no TS decoded on either 2E or 2F. Signal strength around 71.5 dBuV, and C/N just around 4.7 dB (needs to be roughly above 8 for anything to decode).

LNB: Black Ultra Quad
Result: Negative. 2A again comes in fine, but only slightly better 2E/F. Strength at 75 dBuV, and C/N at 6 dB.
Will try SMW feed-horn in the coming days (F/D 0.5 compared to F/D 0.6 for standard LNBs), but clearly dish is not big enough for Eastern Denmark.

 

[mr420]

Thx I will try that but how much better signal i will get ? 1 2 db or more ?

I think you can improve your system. Check the position of the LNB arm. My was too low. I have improved it with some aluminum bars (10x3 mm) "Twist" them slightly with a pair of clamps. It's then easy to adjust the arm into correct position and the stability increase a lot..

View attachment 64043 View attachment 64044

 

[mr420]

Thx I will try that but how much better signal i will get ? 1 2 db or more ?

I tried with a 1kr coin Got 0,20 - 0,30 db better signals I have 0.3db lnb planning to change it with inverto ultra black maybe that will help more. I have a Maximum 0.1 db lnb bought from Germany by a friend woundringer if its big difference between Maximum and Inverto ?