weak signal on english tv channels in S france.

[peapod1]

Hello peapod1..So the lnb HAS to SEE see the entire dish all the way to the rim.Yes ?
if so The full cover type that Clown Man suggested ?at the right price is a good way to go !!...many thanks again ..hayley

Yes, but the commercial version looks a bit of an overkill, and judging from the image it looks as though the cover itself would block some of the satellite signal from reaching the dish - which rather defeats the object.

 

[bim]

Or, a used 33cl bottle of water from Super U, a pair of scissors and voila....

View attachment 69932

Do these really make a difference, I always thought it was the signal not being able to pass through the falling rain or being deflected by the drops of rain (mirror affect) before it gets to the dish. But if people say it works I will give it a go(any comments).

 

[timo_w2s]

Do these really make a difference, I always thought it was the signal not being able to pass through the falling rain or being deflected by the drops of rain (mirror affect) before it gets to the dish. But if people say it works I will give it a go(any comments).

Most of the rain fade is from the moisture in the air but a part of the problem is also rain drops on the LNB's feedhorn. I've found some LNBs seem more sensitive to this problem than others (the 23mm type seem worse). Then of course in some places when it snows often there is the build up of snow sitting on the LNB arm in front of the LNB blocking the signal too.

 

[Clown man]

A LNB rainhood will help .....if you are right on the edge of reception in poor weather..........you can easily test this yourself.........before buying or making one.............Just spray the LNB face with water...you will see a reduction in signal...........

The rainhood don't do miracles.....but just helps a bit.........And that might be the difference between reception or not...!

Good Luck.......Cheers ...Steve......

 

[bim]

Most of the rain fade is from the moisture in the air but a part of the problem is also rain drops on the LNB's feedhorn. I've found some LNBs seem more sensitive to this problem than others (the 23mm type seem worse). Then of course in some places when it snows often there is the build up of snow sitting on the LNB arm in front of the LNB blocking the signal too.

What really did amaze us, one winter we had a real downfall of snow here half a metre with blowing wind so I decided to go and have a look at the dish in the dark. I couldn't see the dish as it was completely covered in snow and with the wind it was actually a mound over the entire dish but we were still receiving the PE beam - no problem. That lasted another half hour when I did have to go and clean the snow off.

 

[timo_w2s]

What really did amaze us, one winter we had a real downfall of snow here half a metre with blowing wind so I decided to go and have a look at the dish in the dark. I couldn't see the dish as it was completely covered in snow and with the wind it was actually a mound over the entire dish but we were still receiving the PE beam - no problem. That lasted another half hour when I did have to go and clean the snow off.

I've noticed a similar thing once with a dish in Lapland but the snow was very dry and fluffy and not the wet type so I assume it contained more air than water. Astra 2A/2B North beam was OK but signal levels where down. Great camouflage though. ;) I've since moved the dishes elsewhere so the snow can't build up against it so easily.

 

[bim]

I've noticed a similar thing once with a dish in Lapland but the snow was very dry and fluffy and not the wet type so I assume it contained more air than water. Astra 2A/2B North beam was OK but signal levels where down. Great camouflage though. ;) I've since moved the dishes elsewhere so the snow can't build up against it so easily.

Yes this was really powdery snow and it is definately right what you are saying because if we just have a small amount of wet snow or ice on the dish the signal goes straight away; so how is this possible? Even with the LMB in the dry snow we were receiving a signal. At the time I thought why do I need a dish!!

 

[hayley]

A LNB rainhood will help .....if you are right on the edge of reception in poor weather..........you can easily test this yourself.........before buying or making one.............Just spray the LNB face with water...you will see a reduction in signal...........

The rainhood don't do miracles.....but just helps a bit.........And that might be the difference between reception or not...!

Good Luck.......Cheers ...Steve......

hello Clown man.. I like the idea of spraying the LNB face with water to test the system ? we have come up with a good cover idea ! soon to be sorted ....
many thanks again .. hayley

 

[hayley]

Just noticed this bit. The 1m limit is the size of the dish, not its height above ground (actually I thought it was 90cm but maybe this is old news?). In the UK the limit is measured along the longest axis but France may work on the effective size, i.e. the horizontal axis.

Putting the dish at ground level will just make life too easy if they come round with a tape measure! At least at a height it's difficult to tell the difference between a 1m and a 1.2m at first glance.

Hello PaulR..Thanks for your input ,on a previous post i had said that we had put the dish just above ground level for ease of maintenance etc etc ,would going 1ft higher better the signal ........the dish size is 110cm & to big to mount on the side of the house !!
re the Marie !! to get things into their system ??? they would hire a helicopter to view it if they felt so !!...............thanks again ...hayley

 

[rolfw]

Hi Hayley, height of dish will make no difference, provided there is an uninterupted line of sight.

 

[hayley]

Hi Hayley, height of dish will make no difference, provided there is an uninterupted line of sight.

Rolfw...Great news ..my man ..jewells has been agonising over this ,So much to learn !! So little time !!..jewells......................................thanks Hayley

 

[PaulR]

re the Marie !! to get things into their system ??? they would hire a helicopter to view it if they felt so !!..

Not for a satellite dish, no. But "they" do operate planes that go out looking for swimming pools that haven't been declared (implication with the Taxes Foncieres there) and might pick up a satellite dish. Highly unlikely that they could tell the size though.

 

[sonnetpete]

But "they" do operate planes that go out looking for swimming pools that haven't been declared (implication with the Taxes Foncieres there) and might pick up a satellite dish.

Must dust off my anti aircraft gun..........

 

[hayley]

Not for a satellite dish, no. But "they" do operate planes that go out looking for swimming pools that haven't been declared (implication with the Taxes Foncieres there) and might pick up a satellite dish. Highly unlikely that they could tell the size though.

hello PaulR !! yes !! we had madam!!! at the gate at 8am ? requiring info on the pool !! when i questioned her of not making a rendezvous ?...she was not happy !! Further questioning !& my reply was that the pool contractor should inform the required dept / not the poor English soul Who had no Idea of their rules & regs are !!..I suggested she should not leave France !! Otherwise she would be in for a shock !!..I never saw her again ............LNB cover on Now waiting for the rain !! will report later ..thanks.. jewells Hayleys man !!

 

[4wd]

Just spray the LNB face with water...you will see a reduction in signal...........
The rainhood don't do miracles.....but just helps a bit.........And that might be the difference between reception or not...!

Tested this, spraying lnb front = some immediate %'s drop, would have no impact on any strong signal, but indeed "might be the difference between reception or not" on some fringy, rainy night.

Off to buy some weather protection, which i formerly believed to only help against snow build-up.