The DirecTV SL3K4NR1-03

scopus

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..and to give an idea how much variation in signal levels over the day there can be ..
The Newsnet office feed was a solid lock here at 8:0AM this morning..
Showing 9.3db on the F15 ..
Gradually the signal level dropped to its current level ..below lock at noon 6.8db (F15)
I expect it will be back to lock level later..
The Dish has not been moved even a fraction ...so ..
As I've said many times ...this is not an exact science ..and signal levels from Newsnet vary one helluva lot..
rgds
VS


I always found the Newsnet feed on Ku on 24w was up and down like a tarts knickers too.
Most odd it's the same on Ka.
 

Vipersan

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Well ..for the moment at least ...the signal from the Newsroom is fairly predictable ..
Apart from when it rains that is.
Currently around 9.4 db ..
can get as low as 7.5db around tea time ...and peaks around 9.5db ..with varying levels in between
Rarely does it go below 7db currently...unless the weather intervenes.
Levels read from the F15.
rgds
VS
 

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The magic 10db barrier was briefly broken around 7:30 this morning ..
current level on the F15 8.5db..
Which again shows how variable this signal is without any intervention lnb or dish wise..

rgds
VS
 

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Llew

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Exactly. My levels are lower on my dish, but at 8:00 8.5dB and clearing, but at 10:00 down 1.5dB, no lock.
Same cloud cover both times.
 

Vipersan

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Hmm ..
one for your meter Llew ?..
the Newsroom feed is currently chucking out a signal in the region of 8.5 to 9db ..but refused to lock on the TBS card..
powered up the F15 ..and no picture here ..
No signal level showing ..
ie zero ..
Therte IS somethimg still at 18556/7 but nothing lockable ..at least for me that is.
?
rgds
VS
 

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scopus

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What LOF are you guys using on the card and receiver?
 

Llew

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Same here VS. I'm showing a 7.2dB signal on the TBS, which usually locks, but nothing happening ATM.

Something definitely odd about the Newsnet office carrier.
 

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What LOF are you guys using on the card and receiver?
Receiver (F15) LOF isn't relevant really as the scale is inverted ..so I tend to blind scan using 20250..
Newsnet office appears during the scan around 22145 ..which of course is total bollox.
For accurate readouts I use the TBS card and modified version 1.0.1.88 crazyscan ...which Crazycat kindly modified for me to allow this Ka band A scale.
With this I use LOF of 20451...(20450 is close enough).
rgds
VS
 

Llew

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Locking now at 6.5dB.
 

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Vipersan

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Same here VS. I'm showing a 7.2dB signal on the TBS, which usually locks, but nothing happening ATM.

Something definitely odd about the Newsnet office carrier.
Thanks for checking Llew ..
Glad I haven't had an equipment failure.
lol
...here come the viagra jokes..
;)
 

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scopus

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Receiver LOF isn't relevant really as the scale is inverted ..so I tend to blind scan using 20250..
Newsnet office appears during the scan around 22145 ..which of course is total bollox.
For accurate readouts I use the TBS card and a modified version 1.0.1.88 crazyscan ...which Crazycat kindly modified for me to allow this Ka band A scale.
With this I use LOF of 20451...(20450 is close enough).
rgds
VS


Thanks VS. Can't wait to get cracking as soon as the LNB arrives.
 

scopus

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Like I said gents, Newsnet was the same on 24w, most of the time it would lock, but on occasions it wouldn't, even on the 1.8. Signal levels would vary so much too. Whether that was and is something to do with the uplink? I take it the Unrine feed is fairly stable as regards to signal?
 

Llew

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I take it the Unrine feed is fairly stable as regards to signal?
Yes, always locks for me on the Triax 1M dish, but can vary between 8dB and 13 dB.
 

Llew

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A check with the Promax around the Newsnet carriers to confirm the spot frequencies used.

11556V ITV Newsnet
11561V Data
11567V Data
11538 SIS Feed

Spectrum is inverted with the Promax, frequencies scan left to right = high to low. LOF 20449.
 

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Vipersan

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My Satellite Setup
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2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
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A check with the Promax around the Newsnet carriers to confirm the spot frequencies used.

11556V ITV Newsnet
11561V Data
11567V Data
11538 SIS Feed

Spectrum is inverted with the Promax, frequencies scan left to right = high to low. LOF 20449.
Still useful info Llew as we have a reference point with the Newsroom frequency ..thus the OBs can be calculated.
Busy-ish atm this part of the spectrum.
rgds
VS
 

Llew

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Just ground out the chamber on the other port VS, I would say Newsnet's 1db - 1.5dB better than with the unmodded port.
Haven't tried the brass ring trick yet, don't know if it works with this port.

So well worth the effort, thanks for the tip :D
 

Vipersan

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Roughly what I predicted ..
about 1.5 db returned to you ..
:D
In an ideal world ..
the removal of the septum and removal of that partition ..should.. in theory yield a 3db improvement in exchange for the taking away the SL3s ability to resolve Horizontal ..
In practice it appears to be more like 2 to 2.5 db ..
But then ..the chambers and waveguides are square section ..not round ..
and I suspect this is where we are losing out ..
..ie the chambers have corners ..
But ..I'm happy you got something back for your efforts.
rgds
VS
 

Vipersan

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I may also pluck up the courage to remove the section of pcb that bisects the chamber at some point ..
This carrys a grounded strip of copper which is mimicked in brass above it ..
this also would have to be removed ...
as to improvement ...
No idea if the extra modding would yield anything at all.
If I had an endless supply of these lnbs ..I'd not be so hesitant

All in all tho' Llew ..
I feel somewhat vindicated and reading your results makes me feel less like I bullied you into damaging ..err ..modding your SL3.
Perhaps I'm not so daft afterall..
lol
 

Llew

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Definitely not daft VS, an inquiring mind more likely.

Yes, I'm not sure what that strip does, we've taken out the bisection from the chamber which was in line with the strip, maybe removal would give a better clearance for the vertical signals perhaps?
Probably talking nonsense. Can't take a chance with my unit though. Over to you if you have the courage :-doh
 
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