nilesat 7w north midlands

[NeroAer]

SM, when I skewed the LNB, the signal came up on the Horizontal channels, Not sure whether you are conversant with a Rover st4, but when I then checked the Mpeg settings which gives you a list of the channels on that TP, it was exactly the same as T16 which is a Vertical TP. This is why I am pretty confident it is the LNB.

[BoSSpak]

Wooow !!! thats some risk you taking having it fixed to the wall. I just hope that doesn't pull the wall off during high winds!.Plate or no plate m8, andrews 2.4m dish is bloody darn heavy.

[rolfw]

I would perhaps consider putting an acroprop underneath it and guy wires to both sides from the mast.

[CROSSBONES]

Yes the 1.8m is heavy enough, I would be very concerned with a dish of that weight, and its over the flat roof!

[satelliteman]

SM, when I skewed the LNB, the signal came up on the Horizontal channels, Not sure whether you are conversant with a Rover st4, but when I then checked the Mpeg settings which gives you a list of the channels on that TP, it was exactly the same as T16 which is a Vertical TP. This is why I am pretty confident it is the LNB.

I have and use a Rover ST-4 daily.
You can switch V & H by holding down the 'barscan' button for more than 2 seconds. Change to H whilst still on Tp 15. Go back to trace screen and you should see just noise if the LNb is at fault.

[pedro2000uk]

SM, when I skewed the LNB, the signal came up on the Horizontal channels, Not sure whether you are conversant with a Rover st4, but when I then checked the Mpeg settings which gives you a list of the channels on that TP, it was exactly the same as T16 which is a Vertical TP. This is why I am pretty confident it is the LNB.

have you tried it without the meter .. just on the tm's on screen meters and do the h to v swap on 11919h?

[Robbo]

I think a better way to test the LNB would be to go for a VERTICAL transponder, like 11862V for example. Then rotate the LNB 90º, and change the V to H in the tuner.

Either that or stick the LNB on the nearby minidish.


As at this point, we don't know that the dish and LNB combination and alignment are good enough for the horizontal transponders.

[charly20]

I just wanted to share my experience with Nilesat here in Belgium, near Brussels.

I started with a 180cm PFA Jonsa. I got good results with the vertical transponders, but weak signals on the horizontal ones.

Then I bought a 150cm Gibertini, thinking it might outperform the 180cm Jonsa, due to better build quality. Well, reception with the Gibertini was weaker than with the Jonsa...

Then I bought a 240cm PFA from Aerial Oy (Finland). There I got excellent results with very strong reception on the horizontal transponders.

Then, at the end of August, I had the chance to test Nilesat with a 110 Triax. Location: just 20km from the first location.

Results: better reception than the 150cm Gibertini and the 180cm Jonsa, even though receiver, lnb, multiswitch and cables were the same!!!

Conclusion: Nilesat really seems to have hotspots and coldspots with its out-of-footprint reception. Just 20km difference can make a big difference.

My results were posted in the German forum dxtv dot de, under the section "Extrem-DX > Inmarsat, Space-Station, SeeSat, Sat-Spionage". You will find there a map and all measurements.

[pedro2000uk]

I just wanted to share my experience with Nilesat here in Belgium, near Brussels.

I started with a 180cm PFA Jonsa. I got good results with the vertical transponders, but weak signals on the horizontal ones.

Then I bought a 150cm Gibertini, thinking it might outperform the 180cm Jonsa, due to better build quality. Well, reception with the Gibertini was weaker than with the Jonsa...

Then I bought a 240cm PFA from Aerial Oy (Finland). There I got excellent results with very strong reception on the horizontal transponders.

Then, at the end of August, I had the chance to test Nilesat with a 110 Triax. Location: just 20km from the first location.

Results: better reception than the 150cm Gibertini and the 180cm Jonsa, even though receiver, lnb, multiswitch and cables were the same!!!

Conclusion: Nilesat really seems to have hotspots and coldspots with its out-of-footprint reception. Just 20km difference can make a big difference.

My results were posted in the German forum dxtv dot de, under the section "Extrem-DX > Inmarsat, Space-Station, SeeSat, Sat-Spionage". You will find there a map and all measurements.

Thanks for that excellent post there, 7w signal hotspots & coldspots are a major issue that make it difficult to predict .. local interference from a city can alter reception too.

... was that 20km nearer?

[charly20]

yes, I know it is crazy such differences in reception of Nilesat with such small difference in location.

Here is the map of the 2 locations, just out of Brussels. Green dot is the first location with the 240cm dish; red dot is the location with the 110cm Triax.

Of course, the 110cm does not get a as good reception as the 240cm, but netherless it outperforms the 180cm Jonsa and 150cm Gibertini just 20km away.

The second location with better results is just a bit further away from Brussels, with more green / nature around. Is this the case of the difference of reception, or simply an issue of hotspots and coldspots with out-of-footprint reception?

In any case, it is very hard to predict in advance the strength of reception with out-of-footprint reception. Only first hand experience pays off. And, yes, it can be costly to gain such experience.

[pedro2000uk]

Was the Jonsa 180cm the 6 panel prime focus petal dish and made from 'quite thin' steel.

[charly20]

unfortunately, yes.

[pedro2000uk]

It is branded Fortec Star here .. well known to be very difficult to align (for KU band) and in need of some strengthening before you leave it out in a draft but very, very cheap and performs OK in KU band once it's setup really well.

Did you find it difficult to setup to get full performance out of it?

[charly20]

oh yes, it took me a long time to fine tune it in order to get the best reception out of it.

[riproaring]

any idea how to tell how good the signal is or if its a cold spot, still no joy with horizontals the verticals are pulling 90% and between 65-70 qualty so, would it be that good for verticals if it was a coldspot

[pedro2000uk]

What satellite box is that?

[riproaring]

its a tecnomate 5400+ how do they rate

[satelliteman]

I would of thought you'd be up and running by now.
Wasn't it just an LNb replacement for the Horz for 7W ???

[riproaring]

yeb its coming tomorrow so fingers crossed

[pedro2000uk]

its a tecnomate 5400+ how do they rate

I think they are one of the most sensitive about- a couple of others beat them.

What I see is a lower quality level for the verts than I'd expect although the power is there ..

You had an LNBf on it in the picture didn't you, how did that do and did you look at other sats or take the LNB off and hold it in offset to another sat to just check the H's on that lnb? (nick that Sky lnb)..

btw... lousy weather for it eh? can't always choose but it's been a paperwork day today... new energy efficiency regs & er.. planning regs funnily enough he he ...

[riproaring]

its finally up and running thanks for advice chaps

[satelliteman]

Assume the LNb replacement has got you working, both V & H transponders.

[riproaring]

yep although the horizontals are still a little low around th 50 mark

[keano]

Not been around here for a while and just had a look at this thread.

Firstly I can not believe where you have put the dish, the weight of the dish and the size of it if we get a storm then it will take the wall down, i would be sh*tting myself evey night in bed.

When I put mine up last year it tooks two of us just to lift one of the sections up into postion.

OK I see you have it working now but just to let you know that I found the narrow band feedhorn better than the standard feedorn.

See the pictures below.

[riproaring]

can anyone give any tips on improving the H signals only around the 50 mark and if a cloud parks up next to me it drops out or even goes off