Dish size Germany

yeomen0001

Hi,
I've been reading the threads on receiving Freesat abroad and it set me thinking. Is there a way to work out the dish size you need before you go out and buy? Or do you just make an educated guess and hope for the best? (seems it could be quite expensive). I live between Dresden and the Polish border in Eastern Germany. My wife and I moved here from the UK 12 months ago. We currently have an 85cm dish pointed at Astra 19.2 but would like to receive Freesat. Is there some device that can tell you what reception you can get from various satellites and then a way to work out dish size from signal strength (Can you tell I was a Maths teacher?)

Thanks

Analoguesat

The Freesat service is transmitted from the 28E orbital slot. There are 5 satellites using at least 10 different footprint coverage areas. However there is only one satellite that causes problems - the infamous Astra 2D which has a footprint centred on the UK.

Astra 2D carries the BBC ITV & from a few days ago the C4 channels so without those you are missing a lot of the free stuff.

This map illustrates nicely how the 2D signal strength falls off eastwards across Europe, and also shows that you will need at least a 1.5m dish:

http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellit...2d_germany-jpg

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Analoguesat's message to the world Analogue forever! RIP BBC2 analogue on all Scottish Borders transmitters, switched off 0031GMT November 6th 2008 Final analogue switch off from all Scottish Borders transmitters - BBC1 ITV C4 & C5 - 0010GMT November 20th 2008.

Robbo

It may be possible to make the measurement with your current dish using a spectrum analyser, to give you the carrier to noise ratio. The gain of the dish is proportional to its area as seen by the satellite(usually circular). Not sure what the minimum acceptable CNR is though for reliable reception.

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yeomen0001

Thanks for both of those.
I may be able to use the spectrum analysis idea if I can get hold of one (I have a friend who may help)