Astra 1N - made it to geostationary orbit, now the fun starts

[M60]

Cheers for the info Blueplatinum, looks like it's quite tricky then and a 2.4mtr alone won't cut the mustard. Is there interference on the Vertically polarised services at 2D's frequencies hence why the VP ones don't come in?

Topper; thanks too for the info there, seems pretty straightforward then. Realised too at 0.76E/day that would mean at the point the orbit raising burn is carried out (if 12hrs or half an orbit), then it would be within 0.38 degrees of final location so not a lot in terms of distance left to travel.

 

[BLUEPLATINUM]

The only major problem is the lack of BBC in HD. All the other Verticals are compensated for by other regions or HD versions or +1 versions. No one here expects to receive the verticals and we got used to it long ago. A 2.4 m Channel Master performs just as well as the cheaper 3.1m offsets. Given our location, I think we are extremely lucky to get what we do.

Obviously for Sky+ it is important to choose your region carefully. I have "London" and so get BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 HD, Channel 4 HD (and Channel 5 HD) all on EPG and so recordable. For BBC1 we normally use BBC1 Scotland though as it is the strongest.

 

[timo_w2s]

In Helsinki I only get the 2D Horizontals with a 1.8m dish and even some of those are a bit flaky. Not a sniff from the Verticals. Seems the verticals are slightly skewed to the south and the horizontals slightly to the north.

Edit: I'm talking rubbish, it's the verticals I get, not the horizontals.

 

[Huevos]

Seems the verticals are slightly skewed to the south and the horizontals slightly to the north.

The Canaries are in the south and only receive horizontals, so bang goes that theory.

 

[timo_w2s]

The Canaries are in the south and only receive horizontals, so bang goes that theory.

Ha, bang indeed. Don't you just love fringe reception...

 

[BLUEPLATINUM]

I think it might be and EAST - WEST thing. I thought I read somewhere that in Cyprus they can only get the verticals.

 

[timo_w2s]

Oh wait, damn, I get just the verticals in Finland too. Not the horizontals. Aargh, confusing!

 

[Huevos]

Cyprus only gets horizontals (like the Canaries). I only get verticals. 100km south of me (and 300km north) they get horizontals and verticals just fine on a 1.2m dish.

 

[M60]

Cyprus only gets horizontals (like the Canaries). I only get verticals. 100km south of me (and 300km north) they get horizontals and verticals just fine on a 1.2m dish.

I never realised there were issues with receiving services on differing polarisations outside the official footprint. I presume the 2A/2B transponders come in both H&V ok?

 

[Huevos]

I presume the 2A/2B transponders come in both H&V ok?

Well they are not fringe satellites here; they can be received on a 60cm dish.

 

[woborny]

Well they are not fringe satellites here; they can be received on a 60cm dish.

Well the south beams on 2a and 2b may not exactly be described as "fringe" (as you say easy on a 60cm dish)- but the north beams on 2a and 2b could be - and even then 2b north is better to receive than 2a north...proven by c4 ireland on 2bnorth is available 24/7 on my 80cm dish, but 11778 (sky epg) on 2anorth is not

 

[solly]

the astra 2a/2b it inc orbit ?

 

[M60]

the astra 2a/2b it inc orbit ?

No, it's in DTH use at 28.2E so not inclined!

 

[timo_w2s]

On an 80cm dish a couple of 2A/2B south beams are OK in Helsinki for 24/7 reception (strongest is 11.817GHz/V) and some are only visible at night, but some others need a 1.3m dish or better (weakest is 12.422GHz/H). No problems with a 1.8m.

 

[Huevos]

south beams on 2a and 2b may not [...] be "fringe" [...]- but the north beams on 2a and 2b could be

They have a 2/3 FEC so in comparison to 2D are pretty easy to get. The main impediment for receiving the north beam transponders is the high power adjacent south beam transponders just a few MHz away overwhelming the receiver. With 2D there are no high power signals in the whole of low band. First EB1 transponder is 300MHz away and that satellite is pretty weak anyway (only 7dB-ish SNR on an 80cm dish, similar strength to north beams).

 

[M60]

On an 80cm dish a couple of 2A/2B south beams are OK in Helsinki for 24/7 reception (strongest is 11.817GHz/V) and some are only visible at night, but some others need a 1.3m dish or better (weakest is 12.422GHz/H). No problems with a 1.8m.

What's the reason for certain transponders being receivable at night?? Seems odd to me unless there's ionospheric activity which attenuates the RF?

 

[Lazarus]

There are many factors which affect the propagation of Ku band signals - One is varying power output due to varying illumination of the solar panels throughout the day. The craft attempt to maintain not only position, but also attitude, but cannot do so absolutely - they move around in a "box". Small changes in TWT power will have a significant effect at the fringe.

 

[Huevos]

What's the reason for certain transponders being receivable at night?? Seems odd to me unless there's ionospheric activity which attenuates the RF?

It's got nothing to do with night and the atmosphere. Some satellite get stronger at night and others stronger by day... it's a lottery.

 

[dvdfilm]

When were the latest tle's updated regarding 1N?

 

[A nonymous]

Actually Huevos on that bit your wrong. The atmosphere can play as huge role in how the signal is effected.

Satellite signals suffer with absorbtion fading. Its caused by the variations in the degree of absortion of the waves energy as it passes through the Ionosphere. There is a high tendency of absorbtion attenuation to affect microwave transmissions (satellite) due to the presence of water vapour droplets in the atmosphere.

Or in laymens term its the same sort of thing as when chucks down with rain. Its going to affect the signal. The more water vapour in the atmosphere the weaker the signal

I'll get off my soap box now