Astra 2E: Scandinavia & Baltics Reports

[samoloko]

Thanks for the update @4wd. 150 now firmly on the shopping list, hope to source one in the next few weeks.

Maybe not appropriate to this thread but I will be getting a new receiver too. Had decided on a Vu+ Duo2 but I see that Technomate receivers have a good following. Does anybody have any recommendations AGAINST the Vu+ ?

you can Investigate Technomate nano 3T linux 2 x DVBS + 1 teristial or cable receiver 2 core 1.3 GHz
BTW can you please tell what Is your choice for 150 dish

 

[Brits in Bergen]

Probably going to get the Gibertini 150. I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to this kind of thing but the Gibertinis seem to have a good reputation on the various forums I've looked at.

Just looked at the Nano T3. Looks interesting and a much better price than the Vu+ however I want 4 tuners (2 for UK TV and 2 for Norwegian) and the only receiver I've found capable of having 4 tuners installed is the Vu+ so it doesn't seem that I have any other choice...

 

[samoloko]

Brits,
you can Install additional usb stick DVBT or cable tuner to Technomate
but there are other 4 tuner box than Vu brands - Gigablue Quad Plus, Xtrend, Mut@nt, Golden Interstar

 

[cazhh]

and the new very expensive dreambox 7080. Be careful though, some have bad tuners which have problems with locking weak 8psk signals. I had to send back the Xtrend et10000 because of that (which is otherwise a really nice box)

But why don't you use a diseqc switch ?

 

[Brits in Bergen]

I see, it looks like there are more options for a receiver than i thought... time for more research!

A diseqc switch with a twin tuner was my first thought. The problem with that is if i want to record two things on one sat and watch something on the other. The likelihood of that happening is vanishingly small but the day it does happen i'll be kicking myself (or more likely ordering another receiver!)

 

[Tururu]

.................
Maybe not appropriate to this thread but I will be getting a new receiver too. Had decided on a Vu+ Duo2 but I see that Technomate receivers have a good following. Does anybody have any recommendations AGAINST the Vu+ ?

Apart from the problems when wanting to record 2 things at different satellites, if we have good signal is no problem, but if you go right, that loss of 2dB and 5dB (16x1) convert antenna 100cm in antenna 60cm, it is important that the main satellite is not in a switching/DiSEqC for losses you have.

Nothing against DUO2, very happy the truth.
The Vu + DUO2 has good tuners (2xdoble sat), checked the dual and single.
If you then add a PS3 PlayTV tuner (DVB-T USB.) is very complete.

4 satellite tuner and 2 USB DVB-T tuner.

See prices Alternate.de now 404€ + 9€ postage, save more than 100€ uros when you buy earlier this year at another store cheaper then.
With an internal 3TB drive 3'5 "is a very compact and functional machine.
The network card 1GMHz is important.

In my case.
A.- 19'2ºE Astra 130cm
B.- Monoblock 19'2ºE Astra + Hot Bird 13ºE 80cm.
C.- Motorised dishe 57ºE to 61ºW, 94cm.
D.- Astra 19'2ºE (pending install WaveFrontierT90 bad weather).
E.- TDT (PlayTV USB.)
F.- TDT (PlayTV USB.)

Anyway, buy what you want, good luck.
---------------------------
Aparte de los problemas al querer grabar 2 cosas en distintos satelites, Si tenemos buena señal no es problema, pero si vas justo, esa perdida de 2dB o 5dB (16x1) convierten la antena de 100cm en una antena de 60cm, es importante que el satelite principal no este en un conmutador/DiSEqC por las perdidas que tiene.

Nada en contra del DUO2, muy contento la verdad.
El Vu+DUO2 tiene muy buenos sintonizadores (2xdoble sat), verificado los dual y el sencillo.
Si luego añades un sintonizador PlayTV de la PS3 (TDT-USB.) queda muy completo.

4 tuner de satelite y 2 tuner de TDT-USB.

Mira los precios en Alternate.de, ahora 404€uros+9€ de portes, ahorras mas de 100€uros de cuando lo compre a primeros de año en otra tienda mas barata entonces.
Con un disco de 3TB interno de 3'5" queda un equipo muy muy compacto y funcional.
La tarjeta de red a 1GMhz, es importante.

En mi caso.
A.- Astra 19'2ºE 130cm
B.- Monoblock Astra 19'2ºE + Hot Bird 13ºE cm.
C.- Antena con motor 61ºOeste a 57ºEste de 94cm.
D.- Astra 19'2ºE (pendiente instalar por mal tiempo WaveFrontierT90).
E.- TDT (PlayTV-USB.)
F.- TDT (PlayTV-USB.)

De todas formas, compra lo que quieras, suerte.


To get the 100% to Inverto Black Ultra 0'2dB
Required cable low loss 28dB / 100metres at 2150MHz.
Very important to get those extra dB.
---------------
Para sacar el 100% al Inverto Black Ultra 0'2dB
Necesario cable de bajas perdidas 28dB/100metros en 2150Mhz.
Muy importante para sacar esos dB extras.

PS: Sorry translations/Disculpas por la traduccion.

 

[Brits in Bergen]

Thanks for the excellent information Tururu!

 

[popolon]

Currently it seem quite good reception of 2E/2F in SW of Finland with 5m dish (Dish pointed to 28.2E, not to 28.35) Here is 24h SNR valuegraph from some 2E UK spot and 2F UK spot frequencies:

 

[archive10]

I see, it looks like there are more options for a receiver than i thought... time for more research!

A diseqc switch with a twin tuner was my first thought. The problem with that is if i want to record two things on one sat and watch something on the other. The likelihood of that happening is vanishingly small but the day it does happen i'll be kicking myself (or more likely ordering another receiver!)

I have one box for Freesat, and others for other sats...
I always have two tuners for UK TV, and other tuners for whatever else the household wish to see.
And dedicated HDD storage for each type of tv, one per box.
Switching is on the TV via input select.
Works great. Only major downsides was the amount of cabling to install, and the increasing count of remote controls.
Don't have to make it more complicated than necessary.

(To be really frank, I have 5 dishes, 10+ STBs and a jumble of DiSEqC- and multi-switches, as well as cable and DTT TV feeds. But to the rest of the household, there is the UK TV box, and the Other TV box to switch between using the TV remote).

 

[4wd]

Update: done lot's of fine adjustments on the 125x135, all nuts and bolts are finally (?) tightened up. & picked up a sh Vantage 8000S twin pvr, seemingly better sensitivity than my previous tuner.

Result, all 2E UK 24\24 (and as a byproduct, 2F UK approx 20+\24) for over a week now (and looks like some margin for weather\sat movement). Very happy with this, and thanks for all the good info available on this forum.

 

[Captain Jack]

I like the graphics on that receiver

 

[4wd]

Update: going very well for 2E uk, improved the reception during low level evening + bad weather + rain: tried a MTI lnb I had laying unused, gained some %'s, and made a test rain cover (hacksaw blade, water bottle, strips & tape :O) Keeping the lnb front cap free from raindrops made a serious difference during 2E's evening signal drop.

2E uk on the 125x135 now stable even during stormy evenings. 2F uk managing approx 22\24. All 2E\2F eu strong under any conditions.

 

[Captain Jack]

Great stuff!

No waterproofing of the LNB connector, though?

 

[Clown man]

Nice DIY rainhood........how much difference on a rainy evening..?......with my basic signal measuring gear I gained about 5%...(maybe a bit more).. with my rainhood......but...the hood keeping the LNB dry.....certainly does helps a weak signal on a rainy evening.....

CJ......Looks like that MTI LNB has a little pull down type of connector rain shield.........

 

[4wd]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, that lnb got a shield, see picture. Everything still not finalized, may try some more lnb's, also vulc-tape + a MK2 version of the test rain hood is on it's way. And the fixings\dish\alignment has survived some major storms lately, am very happy with all this.

About the rainhood, a dry lnb front gives only a few %'s improvement, but some very critical %'s to keep a picture when 2E uk is at it's lowest and rain pours down. Tells me my dish is the absolute minimum for the 2E low-level evening period, a 150 is the better size for this region, and would probably make alignment, lnb, weather etc less critical (and a must for 2F uk).

 

[4wd]

...was too good to last. Enjoyed perfect 2E UK reception for a good while, then after whatever changes someone\something did to the sat\beam\power am back to losing reception in the evening, channels fade away around 19.30 and fades back in from approx 23.30. Like the days when I used a 90cm dish.

As I write everything on 2E UK is back. 2F UK completely gone. But nice to see 2E still alive somehow. Ftm can only accept. Larger dish only known cure, will see how it all looks during the coming weeks.

 

[samoloko]

try Technomate 2T / 3T or solo2 or Gigablue Quad plus for Increased tuner sensitivity If you don't want to buy a larger dish

 

[Brits in Bergen]

That's sad news @4wd

I'm still using my 90cm dish and have also noticed a change recently, cutting off earlier in the evening than previously. I haven't ordered the 150 yet since I already have too many home projects but I have ordered a quad-tuner VU+ Duo2, more for fun than anything else but if the tuners are as good as people say then they might squeeze a little more out of the I already have. I'm not expecting 24/7 from this dish but it will be interesting to see if the tuners make any significant difference. I will report any improvements once it's arrived and set up.

 

[skomedal]

Think 2E uk spot beam is returning after itS brief disappearance BBC1 NI 10818 V ( my strongest Tp ) now locking @ 60Q 0750cet.
Hope it lasts

Regards

Central southern norway gibby 125 and techno 5402 mk2 light snow weather.

 

[skomedal]

Now risen too 63Q heavy snow clouds but stopped snowing.
View attachment 72221

Regards