Atlantic Bird 7

[Analoguesat]

0.2 degrees difference shouldnt make any difference. However its always worth nudging the dish round a fraction too see if things improve. Dont expect miracles though - the AB7 signals are much stronger than the Nilesats in the UK.

 

[Captain Jack]

The 0.2 degree difference is quite profound on my 1.2m Channel Master. A difference between a marginal signal on MBC (Nilesat) when peaked on AB7 and a strong solid locked signal when peaked on MBC itself.

 

[Zorch]

Hi all,

According to n2yo.com... the orbital positions of the satellites at 7.0°W were...

@ 9.00am this morning Atlantic Bird 7 was at 7.34°W

-http://www.n2yo.com/?s=37816

@ 9.03am this morning Nilesat 101 was at 6.98°W

-http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25311

@ 9.05am this morning Nilesat 102 was at 7.05°W

-http://www.n2yo.com/?s=26470

@ 9.08am this morning Nilesat 201 was at 7.02°W

-http://www.n2yo.com/?s=36830

Best Wishes,
Zorch

 

[Zorch]

Hi again all,

I experience exactly the same reception problem as Captain Jack... my Fibo 1.2m has to be positioned spot-on to Nilesat 101/102 to get decent reception... it is almost impossible to get a lock on any transponder on Nilesat 101/102 when I am on Atlantic Bird 7

I think the theory behind this is... the larger the dish size... the greater the need for more accurate dish alignment... the smaller the dish lessens the need for such accurate dish alignment... I believe it is all to do with beam-width... (please correct me if I'm wrong)...

Small Satellite Dishes = Wide Beam-width (therefore lessening the need for accuracy of dish alignment when aimed at a satellite)

Large Satellite Dishes = Narrow Beam-width (therefore increasing the need for accuracy of dish alignment when aimed at a satellite)

I split all satellite clusters into single/individual satellite positions on my Technomate receivers... it makes optimum reception much easier...

Best Wishes,
Zorch

 

[Lazarus]

Essentially you are correct.

So for those punters well within the stronger part of the footprint(s), not only is a modest dish all that is required, but it can cope happily with two contributing Birds a few tenths of a degree apart.

On the fringe, the weaker the signal, large dish sizes require precision alignment and hence potential difficulty with contributing Birds that are displaced.

Same same with Astra 2 and Eurobird 1.

 

[Huevos]

I experience exactly the same reception problem as Captain Jack. [...] I think the theory behind this is... the larger the dish size... the greater the need for more accurate dish alignment.

Yes but a 1.2m is not a large dish. 0.2º equates to less than 0.3dB on that dish and if your margin is that small it means your dish isn't big enough in the first place. My personal opinion is a dish face 50% bigger than where the signal gets flaky. So if you are close to the threshold with your 1.2m you really need a 1.5m, or preferably a 1.8m.

 

[Huevos]

same with Astra 2 and Eurobird 1.

A much bigger problem for those two is the 8º skew difference.

 

[alanko]

The 0.2 degree difference is quite profound on my 1.2m Channel Master. A difference between a marginal signal on MBC (Nilesat) when peaked on AB7 and a strong solid locked signal when peaked on MBC itself.

actually some says it is 0.3 and that i agree with you this is what I think too. but didn't try it yet.. will try it and report back when have the time in a sunny day which is not that often

 

[alanko]

Essentially you are correct.

So for those punters well within the stronger part of the footprint(s), not only is a modest dish all that is required, but it can cope happily with two contributing Birds a few tenths of a degree apart.

On the fringe, the weaker the signal, large dish sizes require precision alignment and hence potential difficulty with contributing Birds that are displaced.

Same same with Astra 2 and Eurobird 1.

dose that mean if I point it to 101 & 102 .. i will lose AB7 if am in 120cm dish? ..................i hope not .. i will be gutted

 

[Lazarus]

Probably not - 1.2m is not large.

By large we generally mean at least 1.8m and upwards.

 

[sonnetpete]

I would have thought that because AB7 is relatively strong you wouldn't lose it's signal. I've got both AB7 & 101/2 with the 120cm dish focused on 7°W. I'm not so sure that the positions are 'gospel', as I believed AB7 had been stationed with 101/2.

 

[alanko]

I would have thought that because AB7 is relatively strong you wouldn't lose it's signal. I've got both AB7 & 101/2 with the 120cm dish focused on 7°W. I'm not so sure that the positions are 'gospel', as I believed AB7 had been stationed with 101/2.

that is what am hoping too

 

[remlap]

If you have a motorised dish definitely have Nilesat and Atlantic Bird 7 as separate satellite locations, I notice a huge different in AB7 signal if I tuned the frequencies at 7w and not 7.2w.

 

[alanko]

If you have a motorised dish definitely have Nilesat and Atlantic Bird 7 as separate satellite locations, I notice a huge different in AB7 signal if I tuned the frequencies at 7w and not 7.2w.

dose that mean you can't get both ? or just a drop in quality which is expected?

 

[remlap]

dose that mean you can't get both ? or just a drop in quality which is expected?

I can both fine, I see better signals if I have them as separate positions fine tuned to either.

 

[alanko]

I can both fine, I see better signals if I have them as separate positions fine tuned to either.

cheers, that is a great news
but what Dish size you are using please?

 

[remlap]

cheers, that is a great news
but what Dish size you are using please?

104cm Gibertini.

 

[alanko]

104cm Gibertini.

i see , thanks so my 120cm should really get both.. i will try when weather is fine again (GOD knows when)
thanks for help

 

[Llew]

The 11679H TP on this bird is proving impossible for me to receive owing to a whacking great 8PSK data channel coming in from Atlantic Bird 3 on 11676H. Fine tuning the dish makes no difference, it's ever present.

(The 11,679V TP on AB3 is also present as can be seen in the scan screenshot)

I would be interested to know if anyone able to receive AB7 is getting interference from AB3 on the 11679H?

 

[sonnetpete]

Llew, I don't know if this helps, but I blind scanned AB7 this morning and picked up 11680H. I've included a couple of screenshots though I'm not sure that the one of the spectrum display from the DrHD will be of any use. I tried with the VU+ on the 1M Gibi but couldn't resolve anything from 11680H.