loss of signal quality at night?

dannyboy42 · 05-12-2008

Hi Guys
I recently ditched sky Italia on hotbird & I managed to keep the same 80cm dish & now I pick up Astra ,sky uk with a uk sky digibox. I am in central Italy so cant get 2d without a 3m dish. However I get 45% signal quality & 90% signal strength with a good picture on north & south beams most of the time. The problem is at about 7pm the signal strength decreases to about 15 percent & I loose channels that are on the north beam on astra 2A.
I wondered if anyone could explain this & advise how best to cure it.
Many Thanks in advance.

**satelliteman** · 05-12-2008

In simple terms a combination of satellite footprint drift which is more noticable in fringe areas at different times of the day. Loss of solar power at night as the satellite switch over to battery power during spring & autumn equinoxes.

The cure is to upgrade to a bigger dish and use a receiver with a better tuner.

**denis1501** · 05-12-2008

Your dish is too small m8, that's all there is to it.
In Central Italy, to be absolutely sure of a constant signal from 2A North, you need at least a 1.2m. And then you also need a decent lnb (e.g Invacom) and a sky receiver with a decent tuner in it (eg Pace 2600).
regards
D.

p.s snap satelliteman!

***snap*** · 05-12-2008

Originally Posted by satelliteman

... loss of solar power at night as the satellite switch over to battery power.

This only happens when a satellite goes into eclipse at the spring & autumn equinoxes.

dannyboy42 · 05-12-2008

Many thanks chaps
Never would have thought that them billion dollar satellites could not have been given batteries to do the job properly during the night ( - :
But I take your word for it.
I guess I better go buy bigger dish. The footprint on the astra web site shows my home position as being ok with my existing size dish but I spose the proof is in the eating.
Thanks again

dannyboy42 · 05-12-2008

Sorry guys, last query. Im not sure if existing LNB should be re-used. The existing dish is a kind of square shape & I dont know if the LNB is a good one? is there any way of knowing if its any good. Otherwise, could you tell me what I should expect to pay for a decent one & what to look for in the shop, i.e make & noise level. I think my receiver is fine as its one that works well on low signals.
Cheers chaps

**denis1501** · 05-12-2008

Where exactly are you Danny???
Regards
D

dannyboy42 · 05-12-2008

I am in porto san giorgio, it is on the east coast of Italy, about 90 miles south of Rimini

***snap*** · 05-12-2008

You'll need to ditch both dish and LNB. Which Pace do you have? If it is the Pace 440 or 445, ditch this as well.
If you have a look at:
_http://www.astra2d.com/italy.htm
there are some reports from Italy. Some are using quite poor receivers and LNBs, and most reports are some years old. But you attempt a guess that a good 1.8m dish in your location should get Astra 2D, with a good C120 Invacom LNB.

**denis1501** · 05-12-2008

I have this dish but the 1.25m version. I would recommend you this one based on your location.

h**p://www.mondotec.it/product.asp?ProdID=2131&CtgID=1022

I would recommend also an Invacom 0.3db lnb, I bought mine on E*bay.

regards
D.

dannyboy42 · 05-12-2008

Hi Snap,
I have nowhere on the grd to mount a 1.8M due to trees & a steep bank. I think wall mounting is out the question, expecially with big winds we get here. Might end up with half a house. I suppose I could put it a 100 metres from the house, but am prepared to accept loosing astra 2D inplace of major work/outlay. Provided I can get north & south beam OK. Thanks for the input M8, Oh I have a ds430N reciever

dannyboy42 · 05-12-2008

Hi Dennis, I notice u r in Italy too, I will check multi map & see where I am in relation 2 u. In hope that I too might get Astra 2D. But I think the dish you mention may be floor mount (which I cant do)
Kind Regards Danny

dannyboy42 · 05-12-2008

Hi Dennis,
I notice u r actually further south then me, do u get astra 2D? If so im wondering whats the largest dish that I could safely mount on the chimney & whether it would get astra 2D,
Regards D

**satelliteman** · 05-12-2008

Originally Posted by snap

This only happens when a satellite goes into eclipse at the spring & autumn equinoxes.

well spotted

**denis1501** · 05-12-2008

Originally Posted by dannyboy42

Hi Dennis,
I notice u r actually further south then me, do u get astra 2D? If so im wondering whats the largest dish that I could safely mount on the chimney & whether it would get astra 2D,
Regards D

No Astra 2D here Danny, even with a 3m monster!
South of Rome is a no-go zone for 2D.
regards
D.

**denis1501** · 06-12-2008

Originally Posted by dannyboy42

Hi Dennis, I notice u r in Italy too, I will check multi map & see where I am in relation 2 u. In hope that I too might get Astra 2D. But I think the dish you mention may be floor mount (which I cant do)
Kind Regards Danny

You can attach this dish to a pole, no problem.
regards
D.

dannyboy42 · 06-12-2008

Hi Den, I got wrong end of stick, I thought u meant u were picking up everything. So if I have interpreted everyones advice correctly, I guess the biggest I should go on a chimney mount, bearing in mind big winds we seem to get is 1.5M. After which I will expect to get only north & south beams without any problem. I think I will try it with existing LNB & if there is any lack of picture quality etc, then I will change the LNB. I appreciate all your input.
Regards D

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loss of signal quality at night? Sky digital support forum at Sats UK, Everything involved on the hardware and software side of reception of the channels from 28.2/28.5 East BskyB, special focus on fringe reception of Astra 2D for UK free to air channels

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