Finally -Intelsat 1R (IS-1R) @ 50° West - a sniff

[aceb]

I've just scanned this one myself and my results are very different, I've attached a CS plot to show what is locking and what isn't. The signals according to Dream are surprising though, AIT National is 86/100SQ, next is the data channel on 4134H at 89/56 and then AIT UK with 83/13. As you can see from the plot there is hardly a blip from SLBC, no sign of anything in the constellation monitor.

 

[Vipersan]

I've just scanned this one myself and my results are very different, I've attached a CS plot to show what is locking and what isn't. The signals according to Dream are surprising though, AIT National is 86/100SQ, next is the data channel on 4134H at 89/56 and then AIT UK with 83/13. As you can see from the plot there is hardly a blip from SLBC, no sign of anything in the constellation monitor.

More confirmation I think ..that the footprints of some if not all the transponders from this bird are critically controlled ...with rapid falloff at the edges..
I've always had issues with receiving this one ..whereas Nelson doesn't ..and he is only really 10s of miles from me as the crow flies ..
rgds
VS

 

[nelson_b]

hi -
just to add that A.I.T. lagos 4091 H 2963-(encrypted channel), is back with me since last night,- locking but weak --
S.L.B.C. drops out during the daytime and returns/strengthens in the evening -- but not to its old/previous level

cheers --

 

[aceb]

They must be upto something at 50W, without measuring them in CS the Dream values today are AIT-National 85/60, AIT-Lagos 85/60, AIT UK 83/01, data 89/55 and SLBC 82/23!

 

[Vipersan]

Finally stopped raining here ...and a few holes in the cloud appeared ...so had another go..
AIT zero ...SLBC Zero ....Data Transponder Zero ..with a very occasional pulse to 0.8 db..
Yep they're up to something ...
Probably trying to work out ..how to shape the footprint around Manchester.

rgds
VS

 

[nelson_b]

More odd results from 50 west --

SLBC has changed/weakened and will not lock under 6.2 db now -----

BUT -- AIT - uk is quite happy to lock and produce unbroken moving pictures at 2.1 db

(please ignore the clock/date/time on the pics below) thats another puzzle as it only seems to happen on some channels ???

cheers ---

 

[Captain Jack]

Channels with very low FEC (1/2) tend to require less signal quality for a lock, which is what AIT is. And SLBC's FEC is 7/8 - not a lot of error correction detail in that.

 

[Vipersan]

..Well ..the mysteries of 50 west remain for me ..
Spent several hours up a tree with a hand-saw
Cut down around 10 branches between 4 inches and 6 inches diameter..
My hands are sore and my back aches ..but I now have almost 100% visibility at 50 west..
SLBC is back at about 5 > 6 db
I also get an AIT feed at 4091H (5.3 db) ...sadly encrypted ..
But AIT and AIT UK 4088 and 4079 H simply are not there ..but for very occasional flickers of life around 0.3 db..
I never could get these ..and probably never will ...
and yet Nelson gets at least one of 'em no probs ..and is less than 70 miles from me..
So that remains a mystery..
Still at least Intelsat 1R is visible again ..and I should also get an improvement from Intelsat 707 ...and maybe even as far as 55 west...which might well have been partly obscured..
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

...just proved myself a liar ..
dropped the frequency from 4086 to 4085 H ..
went outside and moved the scalar feed about 1/4 inch backwards ...and managed an intermittent lock on AIT National ...at about 2db ..
but ..had to wait about 40 seconds for the signal to build ..
most odd behaviour the signals from this sat are very tricky and unpredictable ..
..now to have a nice soak in the bath ...my aching bones have earned that much..

rgds
VS

 

[nelson_b]

hi --
i can only admire your determination

results are poor here for me tonight also -- although the skies are clear

quote - vipersan
"But AIT and AIT UK 4088 and 4079 H simply are not there ..but for very occasional flickers of life around 0.3 db.."

same for me here now ---


the encrypted feed channel is locking at 4.5 --
and SLBC is giving between 4.1 and 6.1 db but will not lock ---

you have better results than me here tonight ----

cheers ---