Problems with TP 12597 on Hot Bird 13E

[obninsk]

for about 6 months the signal chaotically jumps in between 0% and 99% on TP 12597, Hot Bird 13E, therefore the receiver cannot display channels from this transponder. I tried to replace LNB and changed the dish from 60cm to 90cm but no change. I use a hight quality cable about 15 meters long with no intermediate connections. Other channels (from other TPs) seems to be ok. Receiver about 3 years old, Optex 9540.

I start thinking that up North I am close to the edge of footprint for this TP. Is it possible?

Could be interference from neighbours WiFi HomeHubs?

Any suggestions how do I approach for solving the issue?

thanks in advance.

 

[Lazarus]

Well if it's an interference problem, the offending emitter appears to be chucking out 1997 MHz, which is a bit high for DECT phones. So, as you say, something like a Home Hub could be in the frame. Can't think specifically what else, so you'll have to be logical and turn off all possible emitters (Easy for your stuff, maybe not for your neighbour's!!) before turning them back on one at a time.

Are you having difficulties with 11747 MHz (The corresponding Low Band TP) ie Dubai Sports 3, Dubai TV Europe, Al Arabiya etc.

Are you having problems with 12581/12604 or 11739/11758 on 19.2E? (Encrypted Packages, but you'll still get Signal readings of course)?

 

[Robbo]

Could be interference, but it seems that you have not yet made sure that its not a problem your end.

Could you try another receiver?
Could you take the receiver to the dish and connect via a very short length and test.
Is the cable kinked or damaged in any way.
What cable are you using?
Is the signal quality on all the other TPs up to scratch? perhaps they are all a bit marginal, and this one is just that liitle bit worse?

 

[obninsk]

Could be interference, but it seems that you have not yet made sure that its not a problem your end.

Could you try another receiver?
Could you take the receiver to the dish and connect via a very short length and test.
Is the cable kinked or damaged in any way.
What cable are you using?
Is the signal quality on all the other TPs up to scratch? perhaps they are all a bit marginal, and this one is just that liitle bit worse?

eah, that what I am thinking at first to try another receiver. I would love to try a short run of cable, but it is quite hard at the moment. I checked all length of the current cable, it is smooth and straight, no visual damage, I cut 20-30 cm from each end and reinstall F-connectors... The cable has no marking but it is thick inner copper wire with air-gapped plastic tube, shielded with aluminium foil and copper net on top + outer jacket. On other TPs I do have some channels with marginal quality but stable picture. The majority though are at 85-90% range. Strange thing that if I point the dish away from a satellite, the signal strength is still showing 65%, obviously with zero quality. It stays at strength 65% if I point to the satellite and gain 90% in quality. For me this looks weird. It is not easy to find a satellite with such an indication

 

[obninsk]

Well if it's an interference problem, the offending emitter appears to be chucking out 1997 MHz, which is a bit high for DECT phones. So, as you say, something like a Home Hub could be in the frame. Can't think specifically what else, so you'll have to be logical and turn off all possible emitters (Easy for your stuff, maybe not for your neighbour's!!) before turning them back on one at a time.

right, easy to switch off all my equipment, but cannot do anything about neighbour's ;( Looks like in-house the equipment is clean.

Are you having difficulties with 11747 MHz (The corresponding Low Band TP) ie Dubai Sports 3, Dubai TV Europe, Al Arabiya etc.

No problems with this TP, 90% quality!

Are you having problems with 12581/12604 or 11739/11758 on 19.2E? (Encrypted Packages, but you'll still get Signal readings of course)?

Zero quality signal (no signal) on 12581-V, if I switch to H then I see variable quality from 0 to 50%. On 12604 variable quality signal from 0 to 60. No problems with 11739/11758.

There is an aluminium telephone wire going not too far away from my dish outside the building, about 2 meters higher but not at the exact direction where the dish is pointed to. Could ADSL signal be interfering?

 

[Lazarus]

Well one of my motorised dish points straight through a cluster of four overhead phone cables, at a distance of two to fifteen feet and I have never had any issues.

This is a real head-scratcher

 

[hexah]

Try peaking the elevation specifically on this frequency.

Some Hotbird 6 transponders have narrower peak signals compared to the newer Hotbird satellites. Hotbird 6 is due to be replaced by Hotbird 10 sometime in the next 6 months as she is getting on a bit, and is the worst performer of all the satellites at 13e. Hotbird 10 is essentially the same as the satellites currently at 13e.

If there is local interference across the dish face this will maximize the wanted signal.

 

[obninsk]

Problem solved.

I purchased a new receiver (SilverCrest SL 45 HDMI for £35 on eBay) and the signal strength indicator is over 90%, quality over 80% on all channels. Looks like my old receiver started to die. Thank you everyone for suggestions. Unfortunately for me, I first replaced LNB, then the dish, removed and checked the cable, tried to realign the dish, and only after all that I replaced the receiver. Should be doing the checking in reverse order

 

[Lazarus]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

But glad you have resolved the problem and thankyou for letting us know.

 

[hexah]

Nice price.