Zone 1 dish in Scotland

[Jimmy H]

We're off in the charabanc to Scotland next week, am I right in assuming that with the 'new' UK spot beams that my zone 1 dish will receive all the Freesat stuff?

 

[Lazarus]

Should do. Although the newer birds do have spot beams, those beams do (for now) include Scotland.

Also, they are somewhat stronger, within their intended footprint, than their predecessors, so a carefully aligned Zone 1 dish should be tickety-boo.

 

[Jimmy H]

That's good news, thanks for your speedy reply.

 

[Fisty McB]

Those services on the Astra 2G Euro beam might be a bit iffy on a Zone 1 dish in the north & north west of Scotland for rain fade if a downpour came down (especially if it's slightly off beam). The major services that are on the UK spot beams should be fine though, I'm using a 45cm standard dish with "narrow" LNB for 28 East and everything comes in fine in a location where Zone 2 dishes are still recommended for installing by Sky.

 

[Channel Hopper]

I wouldn't chance it. The quality of the metal and fixings of a modern small dish will withstand the excesses of UK weather thrown at it, but small changes in final positioning on the satellite will occur following installation, dish sag/distortion and degredation, plus the signal fall off during the winter as a result of rain, sleet, snow and subzero conditions cannot be offset with such a small reflector.

Fit a good design zone 2 dish as a minimum, the difference in price is roughly a tenner, which will alarm the average Scotsman, but the additional cost does ensure reception is stable over the year.

 

[Ghostleader]

In Paisley area the $ky guys install Zone 1 dishes (I still refer to them as the new ones, i.e. there larger) I personally would tell them to bolt if they tried to install a Zone 1 here.

 

[Analoguesat]

There is plenty of power pumping out of the satellites these days, so for travelling a zone 1 will do fine in Scotland. For a permanent install Id personally prefer a zone 2 or a 60cm circular dish just because of the extra rain fade capabilities of the bigger dish.

In the Scottish monsoon like conditions we get occasionally or when its been snowing heavily you are still going to lose signal even with the z2.

 

[Channel Hopper]

The forecast for Monday onwards for the latitudes of Livingston and above, all is fine and dandy.

 

[Jimmy H]

Thanks for all your comments and advice, we'll take our chances and hopefully avoid any sleet and snow, scrabble's always an alternative.

 

[Lazarus]

Ah, Scrabble: A night on the tiles ..........

 

[Jimmy H]

I wouldn't chance it. The quality of the metal and fixings of a modern small dish will withstand the excesses of UK weather thrown at it, but small changes in final positioning on the satellite will occur following installation, dish sag/distortion and degredation, plus the signal fall off during the winter as a result of rain, sleet, snow and subzero conditions cannot be offset with such a small reflector.

Fit a good design zone 2 dish as a minimum, the difference in price is roughly a tenner, which will alarm the average Scotsman, but the additional cost does ensure reception is stable over the year.

It's on a tripod and will be set up on each campsite we stay at, weather permitting, I'll report back with my experiences in a fortnight.

 

[Jimmy H]

The wind finally dropped enough today to enable me to set it up here in Rosemarkie on the Black Isle and it worked well in partially cloudy conditions.

 

[Analoguesat]

Raise the legs up slightly & hang a bucket of water under it - that will stop it blowing over so easily

 

[Jimmy H]

Thanks I'll remember that for future reference, I've taken it down now as we have a strong Freeview signal here.