Astra 28.2 E Reception in Southern Spain

[PaulR]

An analogy.

You want to use some paint but it only comes out in drips from a container. You have a bottle with funnel in it which collects the drips which you can then use. All is well (although why you don't get the drip fixed is another matter. ).

Then one day a big container of paint nearby starts gushing out. It's far enough away that you don't get overwhelmed but there are a few splashes that make it into your funnel and contaminate the paint so that's it's the wrong colour and can no longer be used. The two colours get mixed up in the funnel and no amount of expense will unmix them.

In the UK our drip, drip, drip of paint is a steady flow so the few drops of wrong paint don't make any appreciable difference and we continue to enjoy the colour of the paint as it should be.

If you want to extend the analogy you can minimise the nearby drips by making the funnel taller so that accepts the ones you want and rejects the ones you don't. This would be the same as making the satellite dish larger. I'm not going to press this analogy further as it's bound to fail sooner or later!

 

[Analoguesat]

Ok AS,

I`m not boing to get into an argument with you. All I`m saying is this optical lnb might be able to filter the signal out. If you have never seen, let alone tested one you can`t really comment, no one can.

Cheers.

I cant see why you have such a fath in the optical lnb system - the only difference between them and old style coax lnb's is the transmission of the signal - its done by light instead of electrically. If you have a mixed signal going in you are still going to get cr&p coming out the other end...


Well if you want to go and spend several hundred Eu's for us to be proved right please go ahead. But make sure you come back and tell us we are right

I dont really care if you dont believe me or not - its your money you are throwing away.

And remember it will only be a temporary fix anyway - many expats are going to get a nasty shock when Astra 's 2E - 2F go into service in 2012-14

 

[robt23]

I cant see why you have such a fath in the optical lnb system - the only difference between them and old style coax lnb's is the transmission of the signal - its done by light instead of electrically. If you have a mixed signal going in you are still going to get cr&p coming out the other end...


Well if you want to go and spend several hundred Eu's for us to be proved right please go ahead. But make sure you come back and tell us we are right

I dont really care if you dont believe me or not - its your money you are throwing away.

And remember it will only be a temporary fix anyway - many expats are going to get a nasty shock when Astra 's 2E - 2F go into service in 2012-14

Ok, point taken, so, and I gasp for breath, what size dish and lnb, invacom, invert titanium. Bearing in mind that the dish is installed at the end of the gardenwith a 35 m cable run.

Thanks.

 

[robt23]

I would like to know what Lumpen Computariat thinks about all this, since he does live in Andalucia, Southern Spain , he could probably shed more local ly based knowledge.

If your there Lumpen do you live near Granada and if so are you having the same problem as me, i.e on 10758v ,Itv1,2 and 4 loss strength and picture breaks up late afternoon, early evening.

Your opinion would very much be appreciated .

Thanks.

 

[Huevos]

It's not down to the Badr5 signal, Astra 2 is too powerful down there for that. I'm in a much worse signal area and I can receive that transponder on a 150cm dish. It goes off late at night but that is just due to low signal.

Also since you are having problems on 10758V and there is no competing transponder on that frequency it leads me to believe something else must be wrong.

Things to try to improve reception, in no particular order: A Black Ultra LNB. Take some skew out of it so the LNB cable exits half way between 6 and 7ºclock. Realign the dish using a professional meter (don't use a cowboy with a squawker). Use a receiver with a decent tuner (Pace 2600). Get a bigger dish. If all else fails these channels are available on 12480V with Irish Republic adverts but require an FSFS or subscription card.

you must have heard of a company called Electronic suiza, trading from Lugo. I don`t know whether they sell Inverto ultra black lnb in Quad format. They sell it in Quattro. I have a generic dish and I have read in a similar forum , I think it was Georgum or something like that, that he tested invacom quad all in one and the invacom c120 with Channelmaster feedhorn on a 2.4m dish in Israel.

Forget the feedhorn route, unless you are looking for an expensive paperweight or conversation piece. You can get a Black Ultra quad from TDT Professional in Málaga. It's always been a reliable firm for me.

_http://www.tdtprofesional.com/catalogo-satelite-accesorios/lnbs-conversores/conversor-lnb-quad-black-ultra-02db-9-1597.html

 

[robt23]

Hi Huevos,

Really clear , concise and to the point . Positive feedback is good, we need more people like you on this planet. I should have known by your lat and lon location that your were reasonably near me.

Yes, I have heard of tdtprofessional but have never bought anything from them. I buy from Electronicasuiza, have been for around 8 years now. Very good and speedy on delivery.

So you would suggest the Black ultra quad over both the invacom and Inverto quad ? It`s that noticeable in signal quality ? On 10758 v and 10729 v which is alittle worse a night I get 32-33 % Q. The image you should , well I recorded that film on channel 4 . That has a good signal quality 44-45 %. Stays like that all day , transponder 12.168 v.

The skewing between 6 an 7 I`ll do tomorrow, too dark now. I have a very sensitivty tuners on the Reelbox, gives you things like ber to name one. It`s basically a digital sat meter , without the bars going up and down , which is better, the bars I mean. The dish is mounted and sturdy as a rock . The only thing would be a bigger dish , but in Malaga the standard was the 1.3 m H by 1.25 m W dish, at least it was 9 years ago, so I was told by Antennas Malaga, you should definitely know them.

Anyway, I will be looking _www.tdtprofessional.com right after I finish this.

Thanks .

Unparsed URL - Admin

 

[Lumpen Computariat]

I would like to know what Lumpen Computariat thinks about all this, since he does live in Andalucia, Southern Spain , he could probably shed more local ly based knowledge.

If your there Lumpen do you live near Granada and if so are you having the same problem as me, i.e on 10758v ,Itv1,2 and 4 loss strength and picture breaks up late afternoon, early evening.

Your opinion would very much be appreciated .

Thanks.

I don't live near Granada, but in Sevilla.

No reception problems for me (except in heavy rain).

The three weaker (quality) transponders in my case are (in order from worst to best):

1.- 10729 V (E4+1, E4, Channel 4 + 1, More 4)
2.- 10758 V (ITV1 London, ITV2, ITV4...)
3.- 10906 V (ITV Channel Is, STV, UTV, ITV3, ITV3+1)

So you lose the two weakest.

 

[robt23]

I don't live near Granada, but in Sevilla.

No reception problems for me (except in heavy rain).

The three weaker (quality) transponders in my case are (in order from worst to best):

1.- 10729 V (E4+1, E4, Channel 4 + 1, More 4)
2.- 10758 V (ITV1 London, ITV2, ITV4...)
3.- 10906 V (ITV Channel Is, STV, UTV, ITV3, ITV3
So you lose the two weakest.

Thanks for responding Lumpen,

Yes, that is correct , I lose 1 and 2 but Itv 3 is strong. I think you said you had a 1.1 m dish. I`ve had a look at the footprint and in Sevilla you can just about get away with that dish you have. Is it offset ? and what lnb do you use ? Just curious as you should have a stronger signal than me. However, you probably know by now that the receivers signal graphs are not a true indication of signal.

It does give you some idea , especially if you try out different lnbs using the same receiver !

I have something called a Reelbox, it`s a pc and tele all in one or what is called an htpc.

Final questions when does your 10758 v start breaking up ? the worst by far and you are spot on is 10729 v. When did you notice the drop in signal quality.

Thanks.

 

[Huevos]

So you would suggest the Black ultra quad over both the invacom and Inverto quad ?

Well a Black Ultra is made by Inverto so a Black Ultra quad is also an Inverto quad... but not all Inverto quads are Black Ultra quads. The Invacom is probably the best C120 LNB out of the bunch and I guess that is how it has built it's reputation, but in the LNBF world there is a lot more competition so an LNB really needs to stand out to get a reputation one the Black Ultra has. Anyway it's a really good LNB especially at the low end of lo-band where it really counts for 2D reception.

The only thing would be a bigger dish , but in Malaga the standard was the 1.3 m H by 1.25 m W dish, at least it was 9 years ago, so I was told by Antennas Malaga

Your rain-fade margin would suggest that that has never been the case, but now the satellite is 9 years older. The thing is it's a dog eat dog world with everybody trying to undercut everybody else and the easiest way to save money is to fit under-sized dishes.

 

[robt23]

It's not down to the Badr5 signal, Astra 2 is too powerful down there for that. I'm in a much worse signal area and I can receive that transponder on a 150cm dish. It goes off late at night but that is just due to low signal.

Also since you are having problems on 10758V and there is no competing transponder on that frequency it leads me to believe something else must be wrong.

Things to try to improve reception, in no particular order: A Black Ultra LNB. Take some skew out of it so the LNB cable exits half way between 6 and 7ºclock. Realign the dish using a professional meter (don't use a cowboy with a squawker). Use a receiver with a decent tuner (Pace 2600). Get a bigger dish. If all else fails these channels are available on 12480V with Irish Republic adverts but require an FSFS or subscription card.

Forget the feedhorn route, unless you are looking for an expensive paperweight or conversation piece. You can get a Black Ultra quad from TDT Professional in Málaga. It's always been a reliable firm for me.

_http://www.tdtprofesional.com/catalogo-satelite-accesorios/lnbs-conversores/conversor-lnb-quad-black-ultra-02db-9-1597.html

Hi Huevos,

I placed or should I say tried to place an order with that company in your reply, but it didn`t tramit it the right way. Should have been 50 euros when they showed 11 euros with nothin showing, no item no., no quantity, nothing. I assume being in Spain right now and the day it is, they are probably out partying in the streets because of, "Los Reyes". It`s the night before the big event known as Epiphany in English.

So , i guess they deserve a break. I`ll phone them on the 7th though.

Cheers.

 

[Huevos]

The website has always worked for me. I pay by transfer and email them the confiration.

 

[Lumpen Computariat]

Thanks for responding Lumpen,

Yes, that is correct , I lose 1 and 2 but Itv 3 is strong. I think you said you had a 1.1 m dish. I`ve had a look at the footprint and in Sevilla you can just about get away with that dish you have. Is it offset ? and what lnb do you use ? Just curious as you should have a stronger signal than me. However, you probably know by now that the receivers signal graphs are not a true indication of signal.

It does give you some idea , especially if you try out different lnbs using the same receiver !

I have something called a Reelbox, it`s a pc and tele all in one or what is called an htpc.

Final questions when does your 10758 v start breaking up ? the worst by far and you are spot on is 10729 v. When did you notice the drop in signal quality.

Thanks.

My System Info was not updated. Now it is. Offset with Inverto Black Ultra.

Variations depending on time of day ? I don't know. I only notice drop in signal quality on rainy days and only lose channels with heavy rain.

I think receivers signal graphs are relative indication of signal, only true to compare several transponders on the same receiver.

 

[robt23]

The website has always worked for me. I pay by transfer and email them the confiration.

I don`t think it`s a big thing . One thing though if you do want to cancel the order, where do click to cancel. However, in my case there is nothing in my account !

Just to clarify with you I tried to order the Invert Quad black ultra .2db normal LNBF for the 40 mm clamp. Is this correct. So many people have said that any c120 lnb would outperform an LNBF. Confusing.

I also have a genric dish, and you are right when it rains heavy, can`t see a thing. Thankfully it doesn`t rain that much.

Cheers.

 

[robt23]

My System Info was not updated. Now it is. Offset with Inverto Black Ultra.

Variations depending on time of day ? I don't know. I only notice drop in signal quality on rainy days and only lose channels with heavy rain.

I think receivers signal graphs are relative indication of signal, only true to compare several transponders on the same receiver.

Thanks for that!

 

[Huevos]

Just to clarify with you I tried to order the Invert Quad black ultra .2db normal LNBF for the 40 mm clamp.

Yes it is correct. Forget the C120 LNB unless you are going to use it with a prime focus dish.

 

[robt23]

Hi Huevos,

Received the Inverto on the 11 th and installed it the next day. Fantastic, is what I can say much better not just on low band but high band aswell. Seperation between the strong and weak signal is superb. Channels that were weak , still are, like itv 1, 2,4 and E4 , which is the weakest , do not break up.

When I installed the Inverto it was 2 pm , with 48-49 % SQ on 10758 v and on 10729 v it was 47-48 %. On the Invacom it was 42-43 %. The signal lowered to 39-40 % throughout the evening. It stayed that way until I went to bed. However, no picture break up and it was 00.30 am , 39-40 %.

Very pleased !

Thanks again Huevos.

 

[Huevos]

4 and E4 , which is the weakest , do not break up.

Ok, that's good. It shows there is no significant interaction between the signals from Badr5 and those from Astra 2 at your location.

 

[robt23]

Hi Huevos,

So you were right all along and the critics wrong. Gives you a kinda good feeling doesn`t it !

 

[Huevos]

So you were right all along and the critics wrong

The problem with Badr5 does exist, it's just that it doesn't affect your location.

 

[PaulR]

It's certainly causing problems the other end of the Mediterranean and the symptoms you were describing matched those there.