Investigating my Dead Zone....

[Vipersan]

Ok ..last night I managed to get approx 5.3db from a couple of data transponders from Yamal @49E (C band) ...using the Cband add-on for Carl ..who technically can peak around the troublesome tree being a couple of yards futher forward than Christina..
Sadly no TV channels as these remain below threshold on Carl ...
So why can't I get even ahint of these transponders on Christina ??
Well the simple answer is the tree even though it currently has no leaves.
Today I have decided to map out exactly where my total dead zone extends using Christinas 'eye' and 'the mouse' ..which is my cut down Ku lnb that fits inside the feed of a standard C band LNB ..
So far I have managed to lock the Telemedia Mux 10976H (Yamal 402 55E) @ 4.3 db with mouse and the first photo will show this position Physically ..
The second Photo shows Christina @ Express AM22 53 East where the ONLY transponder which will penetrate the edge of the dead zone is an AOL data transponder 11540H SR6000 3.9db
Nothing else is strong enough..
Time for a brew ..then deeper into the dead zone ..until I emerge the other side..
rgds
VS

 

[Channel Hopper]

Time for a brew ..then deeper into the dead zone ..until I emerge the other side..
rgds
VS

And then an axe.

 

[Captain Jack]

Yes, chop the bloody thing down!

 

[Vipersan]

Yes, chop the bloody thing down!

It aint mine to chop ..
I wish I could ..but couldn't handle the consequences..
So I'll continue to map my limitations.
;)

 

[Vipersan]

Well it seems my dead zone is approx 8 degrees westward from 53 East..
So since the rain had abated ..I took the F15 outside with a monitor ..
Some extreme tweaking on the Cband lnb and adapter on Carl ...dish pointing at Yamal 49E(My curse cos I've never seen a broadcast picture from this bird) ....
Using the ESX lnb ...and a T plate I managed to up the data transponder I was getting at 5.3db last night to 6.5 db ...
Still no lock on a single bloody broadcast channel ..
I hate Yamal ...
The most I've ever had ..and it still isn't enough..
Bahhhh..
the mux at 4101L is showing 3db now on the F15..
There are just no low SR QPSKs to go at..

 

[Vipersan]

Perhaps one our UK C banders would do me the kindness of pointing at 49E ..moving the dish off target (reducing signal) and finding out which channel might possibly lock at the lowest signal level ...and I can then target this one specifically..
??

 

[hvdh]

Well I told you already elsewhere about the few transponders I could lock... it will just be a little harder over there !

 

[Vipersan]

Well I told you already elsewhere about the few transponders I could lock... it will just be a little harder over there !

A little .....????
Make that a near impossibility on a 1.5
lol
Still at least I can see it now ...data transponders that is.

 

[Costactc]

Just need an addy bud, I'm getting my chain saw ready.

 

[Vipersan]

..Hope you get here faster than overland post mate ..
;)

 

[Vipersan]

I guess it was worth the effort as Azerspace (Cband) is also much stronger now ...
Sadly still not strong enough for a lock on anything ...
but you never know what may open on this one in the future..
rgds
VS

 

[Channel Hopper]

It aint mine to chop ..
I wish I could ..but couldn't handle the consequences..
;)

Borrow one of these from the local zoo

 

[Vipersan]

In a desperate attempt to squeeze the pips on this ...and in light of such good reports of the C1W-PLL
on smaller offset dishes ..I've splashed out on the wideband edition as well ..
Maybe foolish ..but I am obsessive when it comes to DXing.
rgds
VS

 

[nelson_b]

Still waiting for mine to get here from U.S.A.-- its reached Preston, where its being held by Parcelforce - just had to pay £10.49 import duty +£8.00 clearance fee - to get it on the move again -- l.o.l.

 

[Lazarus]

Oh? Has Preston declared Independence, then?

 

[Vipersan]

Still waiting for mine to get here from U.S.A.-- its reached Preston, where its being held by Parcelforce - just had to pay £10.49 import duty +£8.00 clearance fee - to get it on the move again -- l.o.l.

Seriously Nelson ..
That's taking the Piss ..
The whole parcel including postage is less than £50 ...and they are charging you a further £18 ..
No wonder this country is in such a ferkin mess ..
The actual lnb is $45 = £28 ..so HTF can they justify £10.49 import duty ???
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Just copied this from HMRC ..

Minimum thresholds

For imports into the UK, there are minimum thresholds below which duty and VAT are waived.

Duty is not charged if either:

the FOB value, i.e. the value of the goods excluding shipping and insurance cost, does not exceed £135
the amount of duty payable on a commodity does not exceed £9

 

[pontiend]

Calm down Vipersan.Or you won't get to sleep tonight.

 

[Vipersan]

Calm down Vipersan.Or you won't get to sleep tonight.

It just infuriates me is all ..
I've shipped 2x SL3s from the states and paid no import duty ...and I buy parts and components all the time from Japan ,China and HK ...and only once paid import duty ..and that was on an item valued over £250..
This is just wrong and unjust..
Have you queried it Nelson ?

Do we have any members on the group who work or have worked for HMRC ?

 

[nelson_b]

There seems to be no logic to the way they charge,??
out of 6 items i,v bought from the USA in the last 3 years - i,v paid import duty plus clearance on 2 of them and nothing on the other 4 ? -- purchase price has been similar on them all -- around the £30.00 --£70.00 mark
i,v never paid any duty at all so far on anything from japan - china etc.
Cant be bothered to query it - i,v waited long enough -- after the German company let me down on delivery dates - and i cancelled -- and re, ordered from the USA.

 

[Vipersan]

There seems to be no logic to the way they charge,??
out of 6 items i,v bought from the USA in the last 3 years - i,v paid import duty plus clearance on 2 of them and nothing on the other 4 ? -- purchase price has been similar on them all -- around the £30.00 --£70.00 mark
i,v never paid any duty at all so far on anything from japan - china etc.
Cant be bothered to query it - i,v waited long enough -- after the German company let me down on delivery dates - and i cancelled -- and re, ordered from the USA.

Fair enough Nelson ..
Just out of interest I've just been in touch with Brian at Titanium ..and asked if the lnb could be sent as a gift ..
less likely to attract their interest ..

This was his reply :
I am sorry, but we would not be able to mark the product as a gift. We are a volume import/export and cannot jeopardize our business with this incorrect information. We do mark the shipments as exempt to duty due to the value of less than $2500. Thank you for your understanding.
>>>
So ..they clearly mark the item as Import Duty Exempt ...as I would expect on a £28 item ..
HMRC or more likely the courier are trying it on ..
Thieving bstds