Astra 2F Testing Reception Reports

[park_gate]

Something strange going on. Solly can see 12422 and I am struggling. But I had a good signal on 10754 but Solly couldnt see it. So either the orientation of the satellite has changed or there are multiple spot beams being tested.

If memory serves me right doesn’t 2F have a steer-able beam? Could 10754 be when they are testing it?

If you look at the published UK beam it shows energy in the Atlantic being diverted east over the UK. So could 12422 be the UK beam and you are seeing what will be the signal in the Atlantic when it is in the final position?

Terry

 

[Huevos]

I certainly can’t imagine a satellite being so inflexible that it can’t work properly at more than one position.

This satellite has beam shaping which is also inflexible as it tie one beam to one specific job, although it can be shoehorned into other roles, for example 1N that doesn't seem to fit the UK role properly.

I’m no expert, but I’m having a really hard time understanding the notion that because a satellite is testing at a position 15 degrees east of its intended position, its footprint would be shifted by the same amount.

Would there be any reason to do this deliberately?

This is just one theory put forward to explain, among other things, why the beam carrying 12422 is being received in Asia and eastern Europe, and not very well in south west Europe. The other theory is this is not the UK beam, but something that is currently biased to north central Europe, possibly steerable. The reason for this theory is there are some transmission that are receivable in western Europe that can be seen from Asia.

 

[Huevos]

So could 12422 be the UK beam and you are seeing what will be the signal in the Atlantic when it is in the final position?

The thing is we don't know the orientation of the satellite, i.e. where it is currently pointing, so any conclusions we come to are only theoretical. What is obvious though is there is more than one directional beam.

Also, even if the satellite is currently pointing straight at the UK things will still improve for us when it moves to 28E. Let's say you take central UK (for example Birmingham) as the beam centre, my location with the satellite at 28.2E is 1.5º off axis. Move the satellite to 43.5E and I am then 1.8º off axis. And even worse, if the beam is currently 15º further east than where it will be when it slots at 28.2E, I would currently be 2.7º off axis.

But for someone in the UK (say the south east) that 15º, which sounds a lot only amounts to 0.9º off axis so is still well within the footprint. And for BlindFaith in the Netherlands only 0.7º off axis.

 

[solly]

how the signal today i cant check bicose fast wind here

 

[Llew]

One of the BBC transponders for example. And what the noise floor is next to that transponder. I'm just trying to get a sense of how powerful that transponder is at your location.

1N 10802H RF Level -44dBm S/N 20.3dB

 

[joddle]

Its about time this bird started moving towards its new home - if it doesn't happen soon there won't be time for deployment before the Christmas "hands off everything" period which means in turn we won't get anything "real"before January. How many weeks before Christmas do they "lock down"? I thought it was about 4 weeks before but I could be wrong on that. Anyway whatever, they are leaving only a smallish time slot to get everthing changed over, bedded down and working properly! Maybe all this current testing will mean it will then be a simple switch over - i.e. all on 1N one evening and the next morning all on 2F? - Lets hope so!

 

[PaulR]

Its about time this bird started moving towards its new home - if it doesn't happen soon there won't be time for deployment before the Christmas "hands off everything" period...

The exact thought had occured to me as well. OTOH if they DO work close up to Christmas then that would tell us how urgent the need for replacement is felt at SES.

 

[Huevos]

how the signal today i cant check bicose fast wind here

Still testing. Activity between 11630-11670V +18dB.

 

[Huevos]

Also 12498H +10dB.

 

[BlindFaith]

@Llew, could you check 12300V? There's a very weak signal like the one in the low band at 11357H

False alarm! This small peak is not stemming from 2F but is home made ;) Kind of RF-birdie from inside the pc or coming from outside

 

[M60]

Its about time this bird started moving towards its new home - if it doesn't happen soon there won't be time for deployment before the Christmas "hands off everything" period which means in turn we won't get anything "real"before January. How many weeks before Christmas do they "lock down"? I thought it was about 4 weeks before but I could be wrong on that. Anyway whatever, they are leaving only a smallish time slot to get everthing changed over, bedded down and working properly! Maybe all this current testing will mean it will then be a simple switch over - i.e. all on 1N one evening and the next morning all on 2F? - Lets hope so!

The Christmas lock-down period for most broadcasters runs from the middle of Dec until 3rd /4th Jan usually, not sure what SES do though. I have every faith the satellite will arrive by December if my sources are correct.

 

[Llew]

False alarm! This small peak is not stemming from 2F but is home made ;) Kind of RF-birdie from inside the pc or coming from outside

Yes, usually too much RF hash competing for bandspace when checking low signals 2

 

[ralphmagno]

Hello to all,
As far as i heard this new satellite should be at the 28.2 arround the 15 th of this month.
it is or has been moving 1.5 degrees every day from the 42 spot.
so if its moving it will be hard to get any real singnal tests with a big dish. Once you set it up the next day it has moved.
You would be moving the dish every 24 hours and make more tests.I think once it reaches the 28.2 it will be a better test.
everyone was not sure about the 2f and then cypress went off the air and naples came up with a 1.25 meter dish.
perhaps it will be the same or cypress will come back up and naples and malta will go out again.
Its anybody's guess for now.
Ralph

 

[skomedal]

Where did you hear this?

According to satflare ( realtime tracking ) 1 minute ago was still at 43.54 east location

Skomedal

 

[Huevos]

As far as i heard this new satellite should be at the 28.2 arround the 15 th of this month.
it is or has been moving 1.5 degrees every day from the 42 spot.
so if its moving it will be hard to get any real singnal tests with a big dish. Once you set it up the next day it has moved.
You would be moving the dish every 24 hours and make more tests.

The satellite is at 43.5E and has been for a month. It is still at 43.5E right now as is proved by the signal test reports here.

I have every faith the satellite will arrive by December if my sources are correct.

Me too. So far I have consulted my tarot cards, crystal ball, ouija board, Mystic Meg...

 

[Hixxy1]

According to some web sites 2f won't be at 28.2 for over a month.

(site reference removed A/S)

 

[M60]

The satellite is at 43.5E and has been for a month. It is still at 43.5E right now as is proved by the signal test reports here.

Me too. So far I have consulted my tarot cards, crystal ball, ouija board, Mystic Meg...

Admin edit --- Comment about RSS removed.

Please - no more references to THAT site on this forum

 

[M60]

Admin edit --- Comment about RSS removed.

Please - no more references to THAT site on this forum

No worries A/S, was just correcting Huevos.

 

[Analoguesat]

You posted your reply just as I was editing the earlier posts

 

[zeeteefje]

In the SES-press release of November 9 among many other, financial, statements:

"SES' 52nd satellite, ASTRA 2F, was successfully launched on an Ariane 5 rocket on 29 September and is presently undergoing in-orbit testing. The satellite carries Ku- and Ka-band payloads for the delivery of high-performance Direct-to-Home (DTH) and next generation broadband services. It is the first of a three-satellite investment program (ASTRA 2E, 2F and 2G), that provides replacement and growth capacity for the UK and Ireland at the 28.2/28.5 degrees East neighbourhood. The new satellites in this neighbourhood will, as of October 2013, use additional frequency spectrum granted to SES by Media Broadcast. The new ASTRA 2F spacecraft provides Ku-band capacity for UK / Ireland DTH as well as for pan-European services and for Sub-Saharan Africa. Its Ka-band payload will allow SES Broadband Services to support download speeds of up to 20 Mbps. The spacecraft is expected to enter commercial service later this month."

So the craft is now officially expected to be in position before December, making a fast transition before xmas possible.