Costa Blanca, 2E/2F, seasonal signal fluctuation.

[Archive4]

Sun outage prediction tool from SES:

https://skyline.ses-worldskies.com/Tools/Enterprise Portal/NSS_SunOutageTool.aspx?WCMP=new

Good for getting the date.

Nice tool, when updated. Could not see 2E or 2F on the list at the moment, could use 2D, but how accurate?

 

[Huevos]

how do we explain 2E being much lower than 2F.

Was the same when all transponders were on 1N. Transponders below 10950 were always worse SNR.

 

[Archive4]

Was the same when all transponders were on 1N. Transponders below 10950 were always worse SNR.

Why?

 

[Huevos]

how do we explain 2E being much lower than 2F.

Why?

We're at cross purposes here.I guess you asking about the eclipse down-spike, but my answer was just a general statement. On 1N transponders below 10950 were always weaker than those above. Nothing to do with the eclipse. No idea why the eclipse down-spike is so much more noticeable on 2E, than 2F. Probably because 2E is consuming more power as it has more transponders switched on. But that is just a guess.

 

[mickwig]

It is not eclipse time yet. At 40 deg N and 1 deg E the sun outages will occur from beginning of october through to middle of october.

If you use any of the Astra 2 sats the tool will tell you WHEN the sun outages occur. Obviously the durations will be off because 2E and 2F are a lot weaker than the others. But nevertheless the dates will be accurate. It worked this spring for me

 

[Huevos]

It is not eclipse time yet. At 40 deg N and 1 deg E the sun outages will occur from beginning of october through to middle of october.

That has got nothing to do with this. This is when the satellite goes into the earth's shadow and runs on batteries every night. What latitude you live at is irrelevant as this is something happening at the satellite. This is completely different from sun outage which occurs during the day.

 

[Archive4]

We're at cross purposes here.I guess you asking about the eclipse down-spike, but my answer was just a general statement. On 1N transponders below 10950 were always weaker than those above. Nothing to do with the eclipse. No idea why the eclipse down-spike is so much more noticeable on 2E, than 2F. Probably because 2E is consuming more power as it has more transponders switched on. But that is just a guess.

Yep, I think our wires were crossed.

Also think power drain on batteries is caused by more txp´s being in use, but we are mere mortals, and I would have thought the immortals at SES would have put more thought into the design to allow for power drain caused by more transmission.
That said, guess it doesn´t affect Birmingham too much!

 

[Huevos]

I would have thought the immortals at SES would have put more thought into the design to allow for power drain caused by more transmission.

We're only talking about 0.5-0.75dB shift in output which is just a small voltage change. Only way to lessen that voltage drop is more batteries and that means more launch mass. And anyway no need because the satellite is putting plenty of power down in its desired coverage area. Also 2F down-spike is bigger this time than in the spring as it now has more active transponders. Plus a few more that people are unwilling to accept are coming from 2F even though their fingerprint proves it.

 

[Archive4]

We're only talking about 0.5-0.75dB shift in output which is just a small voltage change. Only way to lessen that voltage drop is more batteries and that means more launch mass. And anyway no need because the satellite is putting plenty of power down in its desired coverage area. Also 2F down-spike is bigger this time than in the spring as it now has more active transponders. Plus a few more that people are unwilling to accept are coming from 2F even though their fingerprint proves it.

OK Huevos I agree totally, hence the "Birmingham" comment. But, "Belt and Braces" rules should have made us safe and only cost an extra few million euros, ( sorry Costa del Sol, that would have been a few more million)!

 

[joddle]

This high signal level is really something else - Last night I could not watch PICK on my Humax - too much signal - even a 10DB attenuator was not enough to get the picture back but 25DB did it in the end and still showing 100% on both SS and SQ for that channel. Have now swapped the box for an old Pace skybox which is not as sensitive and can cope OK and is fine for waht I am doing at the moment. On a much longer lead in another part of the house the same Humax is fine on PICK with the 10DB attenuator.

 

[PaulR]

But surely Pick is on the 2E European beam so no wonder it's strong.

 

[joddle]

Yes I realise that - but I have never had such a storn signal here before fo any of the channels. Pick and the other European beams channels just go over the top now and require severe attenuation whereas in the past all they needed was a little attenuation or a very long cable run - or an insenastive box- eg my little Manhatten is fine!

 

[terryashbyash]

Oh the joy of having to use attenuators, no showing off please

 

[joddle]

Did not mean to show off - just enjoying this high signal level whilst it lasts! - BTW I see you are not too far away - how does your 1M dish perform there? - I am going to put a new system in my villa in Javea and am thinking of re-using an old 1.2M PF Tagra dish that I used to use there some 10 years ago. It's in very good nick and not mis-shapen so hoping it will more than do the job with an decent Invacom LNB and Humax Foxsat box - and the concrete ground mount is still there so I can just bolt up on again! Hope it will work but must be worth a try.

 

[Archive4]

Hi Gentlemen, all that has been posted recently has been related, although slightly off topic to this particular thread, and I would like to continue to discuss our findings, esp with Joddle, having just upgraded my own dish.

If you have no objection, can we move this to "installing dishes chit - chat" and only post significant signal fluctuations here? I also have made off-topic posts here, but do think more "chit-chat" related. If we all agree?

 

[Lazarus]

It would be helpful if you could Post a list of the Post #s you think need to be moved. Its not that easy for a passing Staff Member to correctly identify the relevant ones, especially if not well-versed in the subject matter ;)

 

[Archive4]

It would be helpful if you could Post a list of the Post #s you think need to be moved. Its not that easy for a passing Staff Member to correctly identify the relevant ones, especially if not well-versed in the subject matter ;)

Hi Tivù. There are quite a few mixed up with relevant posts, so not easy to state which to move, suggest leaving all here for now, but perhaps re-locating subsequent posts. Only my opinion though.

 

[Lazarus]

Well hopefully any subsequent Posts of that nature will be posted in "Chit-Chat" anyway once Members read your suggestion, but we'll see how it goes.

 

[Huevos]

But surely Pick is on the 2E European beam so no wonder it's strong.

Pick is on 2A South, which is much stronger than 2E PE beam.

 

[Huevos]

Graph for last 7 days, compared to the same from 90 days ago.