Cyprus: I need a GOOD installer in Peyia/Paphos

[Mark Falsebeard]

try 101/974(bbc london depends where your card came from),104,180 178 and 131(and while your at it, 321 true movies, at around 9pm Cyprus time and see which ones are working or breaking up.

I got my Dad to check the channels you mentioned this evening...

101 = Nothing
974 = OK
104 = OK
180 = OK
178 = Nothing
131 = Badly pixelated/breaking up or Nothing

Does this shed any light on anything?

Thanks,

Mark.

[Zorba]

Well, this is how a 3m works in Limassol in peak summer humidity . So maybe its how a 2.7m might work in Peyia in the same conditions, if not installed perfectly.
Don't forget your tape measure (metric).

[Mark Falsebeard]

Well, this is how a 3m works in Limassol in peak summer humidity . So maybe its how a 2.7m might work in Peyia in the same conditions, if not installed perfectly.
Don't forget your tape measure (metric).

I'm in Cyprus now and have checked the setup.

It definitely is a 3M Dish and there's 2 x 47M run of RG6U 75 Ohms cable to the set top box.

The dish is definitely securely mounted and is braced to the frame behind.

We used to be able to get more channels, but there's no usable ITV at all in the evening (even using 'Additional Channels' option on the Sky box).

No movie channels seem to work either, but Sky sports 1 & 2 seem ok.

I'm wondering whether a re-calibration may be all that's needed, but someone who knows exactly what they're doing and with the correct equipment.

I'm going to try and upload some pics (I got in trouble for linking to them in my webspace last time.

Thanks,

Mark.

[satelliteman]

47Mts (155 feet) is still a fairly long cable run, critical for reception of weak satellites. Signal loss over this length will be approx 15dB @ 2Ghz. Need to get the dish performing well first and then look at the cable run, maybe changing it for a quality type (an option).

[Mark Falsebeard]

47Mts (155 feet) is still a fairly long cable run, critical for reception of weak satellites. Signal loss over this length will be approx 15dB @ 2Ghz. Need to get the dish performing well first and then look at the cable run, maybe changing it for a quality type (an option).

Is that quality CABLE? or Dish? < hopes cable >

What would be a quality cable for this purpose?

Thanks,

Mark.

[satelliteman]

That maybe the norm over there but without seeing the cable it's hard to say as there are many variants of RG6U quality. Double screened copper to copper is the better type.

[Mark Falsebeard]

That maybe the norm over there but without seeing the cable it's hard to say as there are many variants of RG6U quality. Double screened copper to copper is the better type.

I didn't realise there was more than 1 type of RG6U.

All this says on it is RG6U Coaxial Cable 75 OHMS - DEAS - CE - Best Quality and the length markers. The cable is white which is probably better in the heat over here. Much shorter routes are possible, but requires a channel & conduit to be created across the drive. This is what I originally instructed they did. The shorter run would also have less turns.

Without un-terminating the end I can't tell what the screening is.

I'll see about getting the dish re-aligned & go from there.

If better cable is an option it'll need to be a significantly better cable than is there at the moment.

Mark.

[satelliteman]

As said, an option.

[shane77]

Maybe take a small tv up to the dish, make a small cable run 5m and see if the signal improves?

[Mark Falsebeard]

Maybe take a small tv up to the dish, make a small cable run 5m and see if the signal improves?

Today I arranged for a local guy to come on Tuesday so I'll post back after that if I need any more help

Thanks,

Mark.

[Zorba]

Hi Mark I just got back from my holiday and to my computer. the rg6u that some installers use is just standard uhf cable and its possible you might be losing some signal .Also I see you have what we call an astrotwat dish. See how the mount is wider than the pole it sits on. You can get your fingers in that gap,might just need alignment.And it looks like the dish is facing the house.
Coincidentally I have been asked to check a dish at Coral Bay that is having BBC/ITV problems and might be going this week. Let us know what your man says or does.

[Mark Falsebeard]

Hi Mark I just got back from my holiday and to my computer. the rg6u that some installers use is just standard uhf cable and its possible you might be losing some signal .Also I see you have what we call an astrotwat dish. See how the mount is wider than the pole it sits on. You can get your fingers in that gap,might just need alignment.And it looks like the dish is facing the house.
Coincidentally I have been asked to check a dish at Coral Bay that is having BBC/ITV problems and might be going this week. Let us know what your man says or does.

I thought I was going to miss you because you were away fro 2 weeks? I've arranged to have someone else pop over tomorrow to see what he can achieve. If that doesn't work out I'll be in touch, but the guy seems to know what he's talking about and will be using a Trimax 2500 professional meter.

I'm off home Thursday so not a lot of time to get anything else sorted before then.

I'll keep you informed

Thanks,

Mark.

[Zorba]

I thought I was going to miss you because you were away fro 2 weeks? I've arranged to have someone else pop over tomorrow to see what he can achieve. If that doesn't work out I'll be in touch, but the guy seems to know what he's talking about and will be using a Trimax 2500 professional meter.

I'm off home Thursday so not a lot of time to get anything else sorted before then.

I'll keep you informed

Thanks,

Mark.

So,are you watching weakest link now ?

[Mark Falsebeard]

Sorry so late in replying, being on holiday means I'm sometimes off doing stuff with family as well as sorting out my Dad's TV.

Yes, all fixed & happy, got a 20%ish signal strength improvement over the originally bad alignment.

I'm getting ITV Meridian on 103 even later at night and a whole load of channels are back

Wanann from these forums popped over from Paphos and sorted out the alignment. That was all that was needed.

Even though the original installer didn't do as we asked it does appear than there wasn't too much problem with signal loss due to the additional cable run. The original alignment was apparently not very good at all though, and Adrian had that sorted fairly quickly.

Thanks for everyone's help here, I'm off home tomorrow leaving my Dad with all his channels back.

Mark.

[Tivù]

Excellent news - I've been following this story over the weeks and am really pleased it is all sorted out.

I hope you had a good holiday, too!

[satelliteman]

Nice result Mark