I wrote a small program, to help identify, which satellite you managed to lock on.

***BombedOne*** · 15-09-2008

This program will be useful for begginers and sat dx-ers. How many times, you've pointed dish somewhere, set receiver to blind scan, found some frequencies, but have no idea which satellite is that? Now this program will help you. Just type in received transponders frequency, and it will tell you satellite name and orbital position. You can increase precision by typing in polarisation and symbol rate.

I designed program main window in such way, to be clearly visible on small screened netbooks, like asus eee. Of course it also runs ok on any PC, running Windows XP or Vista.

Usage instructions:

Unzip all content of zip file info single folder, run the executable. Type in the frequency and you've done.

***compufunk*** · 16-09-2008

Where is the file?

EDIT: Thanks

***BombedOne*** · 16-09-2008

Very interesting, I've attached it, but it get lost. here it is on rapidshare:

_ttp://rapidshare.com/files/145686381/identifier.rar

**HB13DISH** · 16-09-2008

Originally Posted by BombedOne

Very interesting, I've attached it, but it get lost. here it is on rapidshare:

_ttp://rapidshare.com/files/145686381/identifier.rar

Try attaching it again. It is only a small file.
Thanks for sharing.

**rolfw** · 16-09-2008

Very good, have added it for you.

**Analoguesat** · 16-09-2008

Ive broken it

If you put 10744 into it you only get 23.5E and 28E come up. That frequency is also used by 19E

11727 & 11747 ignores 9E......

Nice bit of coding although the tp database is well out of date.

***BombedOne*** · 16-09-2008

Yes, database is quite old - If anyone will provide more recent TP listing - this will be great. Now I'm adding search history & export - program will record which frequency you entered, to which sat it belongs, and will allow to save this data into file, so you will know, which satellites you've captured, while sitting on the roof

Also, you can throw in your .ini files - program will index all of them, just keep them in format as default ones are.

P.S. I wrote this software, due to limitations of ASUS EEE PC. I bought 2G SURF model quite cheaply, for $120, and my idea was to download complete lyngsat satellite database, put it into eee, and install google desktop search, to quickly find required satellite. But after I installed Windows XP on it, I discovered that I have not much free space left, so lyngsat won't fit there in any way. So I had to wrote this program

pedro2000uk · 18-09-2008

Thanks for publishing the program..!!

There is quite an up to date list of just the strongest TPs for the (UK's) arc.. it only needs a lttle update and is easier to keep up to date in the future and each of the TPs are not duplicated on other satellites so there's no mistake with duplicates.

http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellit...34-post39.html

You could use that in your program and include the list to view. We just use the strongest TPs to line up satellites and if you are on the wrong one it works to find out which one too.

***BombedOne*** · 18-09-2008

We should note one thing.

For example, when I run my receiver in blind scan mode, and if SR is low and LNB cheap, frequency will be different from real one by 1-2mhz up or down. For example, Channel Rustavi 2, broadcasts on 42E with parameters of: FREQ: 12595, SR 2500. This is officially declared data. And lyngsat has same info for it. But flysat lists frequency - 12596. And due to my cheap "HD2" LNB, my receiver shows it as 12594 (So which one I should add to .ini file, my own data, flysat data, or broadcasters data?). So problem of hobbyst added data is always lack of accuracy. You always need to check official chanel parameters data, given by it's broadcaster, which often is quite hard to do.

**HB13DISH** · 19-09-2008

Originally Posted by BombedOne

We should note one thing.

For example, when I run my receiver in blind scan mode, and if SR is low and LNB cheap, frequency will be different from real one by 1-2mhz up or down. For example, Channel Rustavi 2, broadcasts on 42E with parameters of: FREQ: 12595, SR 2500. This is officially declared data. And lyngsat has same info for it. But flysat lists frequency - 12596. And due to my cheap "HD2" LNB, my receiver shows it as 12594 (So which one I should add to .ini file, my own data, flysat data, or broadcasters data?). So problem of hobbyst added data is always lack of accuracy. You always need to check official chanel parameters data, given by it's broadcaster, which often is quite hard to do.

I think that it would be better to use the official satellite data, for example download the latest Eutelsat channels list covering Hot Bird 13E, etc and the Astra list.
Here are the links:
_http://www.eutelsat.com/products/pdf/tvlineup.pdf
_http://www.ses-astra.com for the home page
_http://www.ses-astra.com/consumer/en/channel-guide/index.php
Click on download for the list in Excel.

Also look for the transponders and channels list for other satellites that you need to add to your programme.
Good Luck

***BombedOne*** · 19-09-2008

Yes I know where to find broadcaster's data. Problem is in the different thing, what if program user also has cheap LNB, so his results are also frequency offset, so he can't find it, using this program? I think I'll have to add some mode, which will increase search narrowness by +1-1mhz, and show these results as POSSIBLE ones.

**HB13DISH** · 19-09-2008

Originally Posted by BombedOne

Yes I know where to find broadcaster's data. Problem is in the different thing, what if program user also has cheap LNB, so his results are also frequency offset, so he can't find it, using this program? I think I'll have to add some mode, which will increase search narrowness by +1-1mhz, and show these results as POSSIBLE ones.

Well, I don't know what do you mean by cheap LNB.
If a user wants to save money buying such an LNB, then he will need to spend more time on his setting up his system.
You can always give a list of recommended LNBs instead.

**T_G** · 19-09-2008

Hi Bombed
You explained that you wanted to do a thing where it downloads the databse to ones computer - I still think this would be the best thing to have. I know that the Dreamboxes for instance have a facility to download all the transponder data for all the satellites - that would also be a possibility, and the file can't be that large?

**Low Profile** · 19-09-2008

If it's 1 or 2 MHz out then I think that you can tweak (or offset) your LNB IF by 1 or 2 Mhz to give the 'right' results.

***BombedOne*** · 19-09-2008

Yes, currently this program uses same transponder format as dreambox does. And file size is not so large (1-10k), the problem is, I'm not a software developer for last 15 years, and this program I wrote, using Sinclair Basic (from ZX Spectrum), just added visual basic specific commands

So integrating live update will be a bit hard for me, but I'll try.

Regarding cheap LNBs, here we have all sort of them, including fake invacom (labeled as inwacom), prices start just as low as 2 bucks per single output one.

**rolfw** · 19-09-2008

I'd like to see a picture of the fake invacom.

***BombedOne*** · 19-09-2008

It doesn't looks much like a real one - only feedhorn design and cap are copied, other parts look more like Inverto LNB. I'll try to take a picture, as I've got one (it is quite "expensive" LNB, about $9 per single output one).

**divibi** · 19-09-2008

Hi BombedOne,

What dish size do you need to get Astra 2D in Georgia?

***BombedOne*** · 19-09-2008

There is no such dish I think

There are some RUMOURS, someone managing to pick up Astra 1KR using 5 meter dish, but these are only rumours, no one ever seen it.

**divibi** · 19-09-2008

Originally Posted by BombedOne

There is no such dish I think
There are some RUMOURS, someone managing to pick up Astra 1KR using 5 meter dish, but these are only rumours, no one ever seen it.

Hi,

Thanks for that info. Have you used that stadium projector lens as a mould for a 60 cm self-built dish? Once you've made one, make a 100 more and connect them. You will then have a 12 METRE dish !!! You have programming skills so you could make a phased array.

**Topper** · 20-09-2008

Originally Posted by divibi

Hi,

Thanks for that info. Have you used that stadium projector lens as a mould for a 60 cm self-built dish? Once you've made one, make a 100 more and connect them. You will then have a 12 METRE dish !!! You have programming skills so you could make a phased array.

Not possible even on a Friday night, how will you synchronise the different signals into one?, they will all be slightly out of phase with each other unless you build some very sophisticated equipment that will add a sync pulse to each signal thus allowing you to mix them accurately.

***BombedOne*** · 20-09-2008

Theoretically that is possible, needs matched and adjusted waveguides, and will work for single frequency only. But absolutelly impossible to do at home.

**divibi** · 20-09-2008

Originally Posted by BombedOne

Theoretically that is possible, needs matched and adjusted waveguides, and will work for single frequency only. But absolutelly impossible to do at home.

Hi BombedOne,

Nowadays 'single frequency only' could give, what, 12 or more TV CHANNELS, so for some it may be worth trying

. Is it possible to self build your own old school 'lnb' (LNA?) ? As you wrote you can buy an lnb for $2; can they be modified? How do you mean it's absolutely impossible to do it at home, why? I would like to try with four 60cm dishes. I know it can be done, but I don't know how to do it.

***BombedOne*** · 20-09-2008

You need very expensive materials, very precise machinery and way too expensive tools to adjust signal

I'm not speaking of theoretical math work, which you'll need to acomplanish that task.

Btw, if you really interested, we should stop off topic here, and we can talk by skype.

**divibi** · 20-09-2008

Originally Posted by Topper

Not possible even on a Friday night, how will you synchronise the different signals into one?, they will all be slightly out of phase with each other unless you build some very sophisticated equipment that will add a sync pulse to each signal thus allowing you to mix them accurately.

Sometimes sophisticated equipment need not translate into expensive. Once you know what's going on you can build things yourself, sometimes

I have no idea even where to begin but others did it . It was reported in Tele-Satellite magazine around 15 years ago, but not described in detail??? I want to learn.

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I wrote a small program, to help identify, which satellite you managed to lock on. Information exchange on LNBs, Single satellite, motorised and multi-satellite systems. DiSEqC switches, positioners, motors, actuators, dish-alignment etc.