Finally caught something on BBC Africa 1West

[Vipersan]

Maybe it is active occasionally ..but the first time I've seen anything other than the repeating loop ..

..However ..The Pentagon channel is a no go for me atm ..
Has the signal level dropped dramatically ..or have there been changes as yet unannounced ?
Maybe a problem at my end ..but as I say ..BBC Africa unchanged here.
Still a signal present (TPC) ..but very low less than 3.5 db ..
anyone ?

 

[Vipersan]

..Must have been a technical fault their end ..
Back now at 6.7db..

 

[Lazarus]

Phew! Saw the Title and thought for one awful moment you'd contracted Dengue Fever.

 

[Vipersan]

Phew! Saw the Title and thought for one awful moment you'd contracted Dengue Fever.

Love your sense of humour G ...
I think I've got enough ailments for now ..lol

 

[nelson_b]

hi - vipersan
seem to remember seeing something other than the loop once -
- soon after the channel first appeared --

Pentagon channel --ok here for me -
showing 6.9 db that,s maybe even slightly better than normal -- not been here for a while

cheers --

edit - just noticed post 2 lol

 

[Vipersan]

..Hmm ..just dropped again in the last few minutes Nelson ..
Is TPC still ok for you ..or do I have a fault in my system ?

 

[nelson_b]

..Hmm ..just dropped again in the last few minutes Nelson ..
Is TPC still ok for you ..or do I have a fault in my system ?

6.6 --- 6.7db here at the moment -- raining

 

[Vipersan]

Curiouser and curiouser ..as it's the only channel affected on any bird..
I'll go see if I can get to the bottom of it ..unless it an external influence of course..
Cheers buddy.

 

[Vipersan]

No ..can't get to the bottom of this ..
Bypassed all switching and took the LNB straight into the F15 ..and still only getting around 4.3 db ..
Signal is definately low here ..but there are some nasty storm clouds brewing even though not raining yet.
I'll leave everything as is ..and check again tomorrow.
That will at least eliminate weather from the equation.
thanks again Nelson

 

[nelson_b]

hi -
just monitored the TPC transponder during the torrential downpour that lasted about 1/2 an hour here - and it slowly faded to 5.0 db at the worst of the downpour -- it has now climbed back to 6.6 db now the skies are clearing -
so its about what you would expect really -- no sudden drops throughout.

cheers --

 

[Vipersan]

Just climbed a little to 5.1 db ..(still directly connected) ..but still low on what it usually is ..
Footprint tweaking ?
I'm probably on the edge of it as usual..so any variation would be noticeable..
lol

 

[Huevos]

Right on the limit with the 1.5m here.

 

[Vipersan]

Right on the limit with the 1.5m here.

Cheers buddy ..
The more info the better..
Either they are tweaking deliberately ..it being a forces broadcast ..
Or the bird has simple wobbled ..
Or it's weather or some local phenomena..
Nothing changed here in the last few hours ..except the signal level it'self.
I'll just keep checking periodically.

 

[pride21]

hi VS TPS transponder about the same but the BBC Africa is lower than i used to get since its been on a loop,RTS is showing again.

 

[Vipersan]

..I'm putting it down to weather ..
Signal levels after dish tweaking to maximise signal ..
7.3 db
I have noticed some play when approaching the same spot on the arc ..either from East or West..
So ..it's brought to my attention the need for a new actuator ..
My word these things get sloppy quickly...when shunting a heavy dish like Christina.
I suspect I'll try and get a heavy duty one this time ..
Double the price but in view of the winds we are now getting (climate change ?) ...it might be a good investment.
I guess it'll be even longer before I can afford that ka band lnb..
If ever...!!!

 

[Kveys]

Quite same situation was here yesterday. Rainy day and very low signals from all (TPC, RTS1 and BBC feed). Today summer again and channels back with "normal" signal levels.

 

[Kveys]

Same kind of boring "lines on screen" feed channel can found on 76.5E 4071H 13020. Maybe here also sometimes something but never seen yet