Eutelsat 11 F3

Chris_Lawn

Hi,
I'm new to satellite tv and have just had a 1.1m motorised dish installed with a Televes receiver.
Is it possible to watch the SIS feeds on this satellite? If so, how do I do it?
Cheers,
Chris

Old Satellite

There are a number of problems for you to overcome here,

Firstly the Eutelsat IIF3 has an inclined orbit typically of 2.0 -2.5 Degrees from normal, this requires the ability to change the elevation on your dish mount to follow the path as the satellite drifts out of its normal geo stationary orbit.

Its not practical to try this by having to adjust this manually each time- espically if your dish is on the roof etc, which mount do you have? and where is your dish located?

Also additionally SIS typically has encripted many of its broadcast signals in the past.

The signals are generally around 44 db in the UK for most parts, so as a result you normally need a 1.2 or bigger for good reception, which dish make do you have and which LNB do you have ?


Regards

Old Satellite

Chris_Lawn

Thanks for the reply, Old Satellite.

I have a motorised, 1.1 metre, wall-mounted dish. I don't know the actual make of the dish but it has a universal LNB.

Cheers,
Chris

Old Satellite

Is it possible to identify which dish you have,and also the noise level of your LNB they are normally expressed in DB and a universal is normally around 0.7-1.0 db dependent upon its age?

What type of mount for example do you have a horizon to horizon mount or does it use a jack arm ?. is there a name on the dish and mount and lnb ?

This is important as with out this it is very difficult to provide help as to if you will be able to modify your equipment to receive the SIS transmissions.

regards

Old Satellite

Chris_Lawn

The system is brand new but there aren't any names on the dish, mount or lnb.

It is mounted on a vertical arm
The noise level is 0.7
The mount is horizon to horizon

Cheers,
Chris

Old Satellite

Can you attach a photograph of your system ?

That we we can see if you can modify your system, as I have stated your dish may stuggle due to its size anyway, but there are some 1.10 such as the Triax range of dishes that have a good signal receiving properties.

the question may be would be to to ask your self , how much would you like to recieve SIS .?

regards

Old Satellite

Channel Hopper

It would be possible to view SIS for a few hours each day without modification as the satellite moves through the geostationary arc

__________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Chris_Lawn

Hi Old Satellite,
I've attached a pic of the dish (I've got 4 more if you need different angles).

Hope you can sort it from this - I REALLY want to be able to view these feeds.

Cheers,
Chris

Attached Images

dish4.jpg (19.5 KB, 386 views)

Channel Hopper

Hmmm

A DiSEqc motor on a piece of scaffold between two aerial brackets

Nit much one can do with what youve got, the flexibility of the metalwork behind the gearbox may provide the key with a well positioned broomstick

Looks like you need to change everything unless you can pull the dish from the window with a piece of rope (its been done before !)

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Chris_Lawn

So what exactly do I need and what will it cost? Are you able to tell whether the feeds are encrypted?

Cheers,
Chris

Channel Hopper

Havent looked at this satellite for a while but I do remeber all feeds were in the clear last year, as most people do not bother or cannot track an inclined orbit satellite

Best bet is to stick with what youve got and search the satellite when its passing through the geostationary arc ( I dont know the times but Eutelsat CSC in Paris should be able to )

Once you have this window, scan all frequencies as given on Lyngsat and see if any are live

__________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Chris_Lawn

Thanks for your advice.
Assuming it's in the clear what will I need to see the feeds permanently?

Cheers,
Chris.

Channel Hopper

a dish that moves in the same way as the satellite
Effectively there is a daily (sidereal) movement of the satellite that from earth looks as though its making a figure eight above you.

This is about 4 degrees in the vertical plane and less than 1/4 degree in the horizontal but will get more as the months go by until its decomissioned. Your dish needs to have enough gain to receive the signals correctly and accurate tracking to keep up with the satellite position

__________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Chris_Lawn

Thank you.
Which system do you recommend?

Cheers,
Chris

Channel Hopper

Taking everything into consideration, (cost, complexity, the need to view other geostationary satellites, installer loyalty, and most importantly ease of use), it would be best to keep what you have and install a separate 1.5m dish in the garden that link it to the existing system using a manual IF switch.

The positioning system could be a simple 36 volt actuator driven by a two button controlling box, the signal strength given by the receiver would be a rough but ready way of tracking the satellite.

If the dish is visible from indoors it might even be possible to put a marker stick next to the boom arm and elevate the dish to the right position based on an hourly check of its angle of dangle

Why this sudden interest in E2F3 ?What have I been missing ?

__________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Chris_Lawn

Crikey - that sounds complicated. Do you know any installer in the Tyne & Wear area who would definitely know what he was doing? My installer hadn't a clue?

I have a little hunch about this satellite - which may just be a total waste of money on my part.

Cheers,
Chris








Taking everything into consideration, (cost, complexity, the need to view other geostationary satellites, installer loyalty, and most importantly ease of use), it would be best to keep what you have and install a separate 1.5m dish in the garden that link it to the existing system using a manual IF switch.

The positioning system could be a simple 36 volt actuator driven by a two button controlling box, the signal strength given by the receiver would be a rough but ready way of tracking the satellite.

If the dish is visible from indoors it might even be possible to put a marker stick next to the boom arm and elevate the dish to the right position based on an hourly check of its angle of dangle

Why this sudden interest in E2F3 ?What have I been missing ?

lee32uk

There is a dealer in Newcastle who do motorised systems who deal in Channel master,Funke,Triax etc.There site is pretty impressive and they look like they know what there talking about.

www.satellitesuperstore.com


Lee

Chris_Lawn

Thanks, Lee - I'll give them a ring.

Cheers,
Chris

Channel Hopper

I have a little hunch about this satellite - which may just be a total waste of money on my part.

Thats all part of the fun though, blowing large amounts of time and/or money on something completely whimsical. A word of advice though, dont get bitten by the Ebay bug as its highly addictive, even the mortgage has taken second place to somthing that caught my eye last week

Hope the hunch comes off

__________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Chris_Lawn

Very true - everybody needs a bit of fun now and again.

No chance of that - can't stand the site.

Thanks very much - it will be well worth it if it does.

Cheers,
Chris

Chris_Lawn

I've just been on to satellitesuperstore.com. The chap there certainly knows what he is talking about - wish I'd spoken to him first. I'm now going to start again from scratch.

He understands inclined orbital satellites but is unsure whether a dish such as the high gain channel master 1.2 would be big enough to see this satellite?
Can anybody help?

Cheers,
Chris

Channel Hopper

For most of the UK, a signal strength of 42-44dB equates to a minimum of 1.2 for reasonable digital reception

If Satellite Superstore is willing to install based on returning to change for a larger dish, then go for the 1.2. Otherwise save up for a 1.5m

Next size up from Prodelin or Channel Master is 1.8m. The Prodelin is polarmounted, CM is fixed only.

Irte make a good but expensive 1.5. Precision is similar

__________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

lee32uk

Is the 1.5m Unicorn dish that they sell not suitable ?

Channel Hopper

Unicorn sounds like a trade name rather than a manufacturer. Not knowing what it is I could not tell you.

Do you have a picture ?

__________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

lee32uk

http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/images/unicorn12.jpg

This is the 1.2mtr Prime Focus Unicorn dish that they sell, fitted with 1224 H-H motor.

Description of dish:

There are a number of reasons why the Unicorn dishes are so good. Very high gain due to the dish being accurately machined to a close parabolic shape. The dish works all the way to the edge with no rounding off. The back plate is held on with space age resin so that no bolts go through the reflector hence no distortion of the reflector. Highly matched feedhorn. The dish achieves the highest gain for it's size and type than any other dish. (close to theoretical maximum.)Superb build quality.
Precision made in England.