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

[Pride Of Cucamonga]

Checked my table and compared to 3 days ago there is absolutely no change on those transponders. If this is causing you problems you need to check the LNB skew.

Thanks for the info. Just went on roof and adjusted the skew - it was way out! All good now.

Fringe viewers without meters should make the most of these 2C tests and use transponder 11023H to adjust skew.

 

[Archive4]

Have had a call from a friend in Quesada who has started losing signal from 2e during the evening from about 7pm till after midnight, back ok this moring. Apparently this has happened for the last three nights.
I have just done a quick check on the Sagemcom box and signal does appear down on previous checks about a week ago, but not enough to cause loss on my box.

Has anyone else noticed a drop in signal? Huevos, does your record show any variance?

Will try and get to my friend´s house later today or tomorrow to check signal there as I know dish has not been moved since 2E went live and my be slightly out of alignment.

 

[Huevos]

Signal level better now than at any time in the last 5 months.

 

[Archive4]

Signal level better now than at any time in the last 5 months.

Figured that, having put the S1 on my lh110 earlier. Think the Sagemcom reading is down due to skew adjustment to avoid 2C (and the fact I don't trust the Sagemcom readings). S1 shows all ok

Checked 1.45 prime in Quesada for my friend, 10 dB plus on most txps. May be a bug problem in the evening. Have covered feed horn with clingfilm to stop any unwanted visitors, will know tomorrow.

 

[Huevos]

Checked 1.45 prime in Quesada for my friend, 10 dB plus on most txps. May be a bug problem in the evening. Have covered feed horn with clingfilm to stop any unwanted visitors, will know tomorrow.

Could be a bug or local interference.

 

[Archive4]

Could be a bug or local interference.

Did think could be local interference, but house 3 doors up has no problem. If it is local, it´s very local!
Other option is LNB failure after excessive heat which I will check by changing LNB if "Bug Stop" fails!

 

[Archive4]

Could be a bug or local interference.

Must have been a bug, no problem for last 3 days.

Anyone know where to buy the plastic inserts to stop bugs, if not will use polystyrene blocks, or extra clingfilm!

 

[Huevos]

Anyone know where to buy the plastic inserts to stop bugs, if not will use polystyrene blocks, or extra clingfilm!

DSS does them. If not just squeeze up a bit of expanded polystyrene and push it in there. Or an Evian lid also does the job.

 

[Archive4]

DSS does them. If not just squeeze up a bit of expanded polystyrene and push it in there. Or an Evian lid also does the job.

Cannot afford Evian, so will stick with poly or cling film!

 

[Huevos]

Cannot afford Evian, so will stick with poly or cling film!

Poly is best. Clingfilm is not going to last long. But I've seen all sorts. Bits of mosquito net, even someone's wife's stockings.

 

[joddle]

I have had a piece of polystyrene in my feed horn for many years - stops the spiders but not the signal. Before I had the proper Invacom cap but that kept falling off so all in all the polystyrene is the cheapest and the best!

 

[joddle]

Just got back to Valencia from a 2 month visit to the UK - whilst there took the opportunity to have the Humax power supply upgraded and bought another Humax box as a spare. Normally when I return after the summer we notice the signal is a bit down although usually recovers later in September - this time it is way up and I am getting 100% on SS and SQ on most transponders on the Hmax whereas in the UK I was only getting about 75% SS and 80% SQ with my 60cm dish in Sussex. I know my big dish and this location are the main reasons for this but I don't think I have ever seen 100% on both meters for so many transponders before - even from 1N!

 

[Archive4]

I know my big dish and this location are the main reasons for this but I don't think I have ever seen 100% on both meters for so many transponders before - even from 1N!

Were you awake when 1N was operational, or having an after UK snooze!

Different boxes have different ways of displaying signal, quality or strength. My Sagemcom records HD much higher than SD txp´s. We all know SD is better here than HD, but the box would argue the point to the end of time.

 

[joddle]

Ha Ha - like it - but yes I was here from 2D to now - so have seen all the changes year on year using the same dish at the same location mainly with the using the same LNB (or a direct like for like replacement and for the most part the same Humax box. - and yes I do realise the box meters are crap but nevertheless 100% on most TPS has not been the way of things here until now!

 

[Huevos]

We all know SD is better here than HD, but the box would argue the point to the end of time. It would take a Time Lord or Darlek to make it change it´s mind.

Not SD v HD, it's QPSK v 8PSK. For example C4 HD is on a QPSK transponder so has exactly the same reliability as BBC SD transponders.

 

[Huevos]

First eclipse of the season, last night (00:06). Continues until October 15th.

 

[Archive4]

First eclipse of the season, last night (00:06). Continues until October 15th.

View attachment 67514

Having reviewed previous data, I would assume worst "dip" would be round about 20th September with a drop of approx 1dB in deepest shadow (for our area), lasting up to 12 mins.

(Total guess. No idea whatsoever)

 

[Huevos]

Having reviewed previous data, I would assume worst "dip" would be round about 20th September with a drop of approx 1dB in deepest shadow (for our area), lasting up to 12 mins.

Lasts more than one hour at the centre of the cycle. Here's a graph from the spring equinox.

 

[Archive4]

But, how do we explain 2E being much lower than 2F. We all know the number of transponders on 2E is larger, but don´t the bird builder´s write that into the equation.

I WOULD

Anyway, I´m out by 48 mins on the time, anywhere near the date?

 

[mickwig]

Sun outage prediction tool from SES:

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

Good for getting the date.