Monaco : mixed results DISH pointing

[wraymond]

Hello
Sorry if my question has been answered several times in other threads (that I haven't managed to find !)
I've set up a dish on my balcony in Monaco. I am getting an excellent signal from EuroBird 1 (28.5E) and with the same pointing a strong signal from Eutelsat Sesat (36.0E), but VERY POOR signal from the Astra 2 satellites (28.2 E).
Am I correct in thinking that the dish is pointed correctly (because I am getting SKY FTA channels from Eurobird) ?

I have an 85 cm new transparent dish.

Any ideas on how I might improve the reception of signals from Astra 2 ???

Many thanks!
Walter

 

[Analoguesat]

The satellites reuse the same frequencies right round the arc, so if your dish is pointing to 28E you will not actually be getting anything off Sesat 36E - you will just be getting signals where the transmission frequencies of the 2 satellites coincide.

If you are getting the fta signals off Eurobird (NOT from Sky as fta channels are nothing to do with sky - they just pay for their epg listing) then you probably just need to add in some of the other frequencies.

 

[wraymond]

Many thanks,

All of the frequencies are there (I'm trying to get BBC and ITV) ... but a scan comes up empty.

But still not clear, if I am getting Eurobird 1 does this mean the dish is pointed correctly for Astra 2 as well ?

(I've tried nudging the dish a tad to the south ... how much a swing is 0.3 degrees ? Not have had no luck finding any other signals.)

 

[rolfw]

Can you list some of the channels you are receiving?

 

[Yorks]

Many thanks,

All of the frequencies are there (I'm trying to get BBC and ITV) ... but a scan comes up empty.

But still not clear, if I am getting Eurobird 1 does this mean the dish is pointed correctly for Astra 2 as well ?

(I've tried nudging the dish a tad to the south ... how much a swing is 0.3 degrees ? Not have had no luck finding any other signals.)

As Eurobird 1 and the Astra 2 satellites are all grouped roughly in the same location they are deemed to be together and all receivable if your dish is pointing towards them at 28E, footprint/your location permitting.

Yorks

 

[Robbo]

Your dish may be a touch too small for Astra2D in your location as you are just outside the footprint.

_http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2d.html

A dish size of 90cm to 120cm is suggested for just inside.
However if you can confirm actual channels names you can get from Eurobird1 as already suggested, then it can be confirmed if your dish is pointing the right direction at least.

Robbo

 

[wraymond]

Hello ... sorry to take so long to reply.
Here is a sampling of channels received

Channel Name MHz
Video Application 11565
B4 11642 (several channels)
Islam Channel 11681
Al Jazeera Eng 11681
National Geo. App. 12285
1697 12382
Movies Active 12382
Sky News 12207
Shell DAL 12246
Stream - 0 (etc.) 12441
CNN 12051
S4C 12129
Teachers 12031 (broken reception)
France 24 11488
ITVi Stream 3/36 12402

many thanks

 

[wraymond]

Your dish may be a touch too small for Astra2D in your location as you are just outside the footprint.

Thank you, and yes. Looks as though 90-120 is needed for AStra2D, but smaller should work for Astra2A or am I missing something here ?

http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2a_north.html

 

[Yorks]

Hello ... sorry to take so long to reply.
Here is a sampling of channels received

Channel Name MHz
Video Application 11565
B4 11642 (several channels)
Islam Channel 11681
Al Jazeera Eng 11681
National Geo. App. 12285
1697 12382
Movies Active 12382
Sky News 12207
Shell DAL 12246
Stream - 0 (etc.) 12441
CNN 12051
S4C 12129
Teachers 12031 (broken reception)
France 24 11488
ITVi Stream 3/36 12402

many thanks

You are receiving from Eurobird 1 and Astra 2.

ie. Islam Channel is on Eurobird 1, Teachers TV is on Astra 2B (South beam)

 

[wraymond]

Many thanks,

You are receiving from Eurobird 1 and Astra 2.

ie. Islam Channel is on Eurobird 1, Teachers TV is on Astra 2B (South beam)

The reception from Astra 2B, then is crackly and disintegrates almost entirely on a day like today (rain) or after dark. Any solution for this ?

Best

 

[rolfw]

You may be able to fine tune the dish alignment a little, plus have you adjusted the skew of the LNB? You can download the Swedish microwave calculator http://www.smw.se/res/smwlink/smwlink31.zip to work out what the angle should be, but trial and error also works.

 

[Robbo]

Thank you, and yes. Looks as though 90-120 is needed for AStra2D, but smaller should work for Astra2A or am I missing something here ?

http://www.lyngsat-maps.com/maps/astra2a_north.html

Thats right, 2A north, you will be able to get with a small dish, but the BBC,ITV channels are on 2D. BBC news 24 is on 2A though.

 

[wraymond]

Many thanks one and all (Thank yous sent)

Now I am beginning to get the picture (figuratively anyway) ... Was wondering why some Astra2 channels came in loud and clear and others crackly (in rain and after night fall) ... So the clear channels are Astra2B and the crackly ones Astra2D ... and a larger dish might solve the problem.

Then of course there is Freesat coming this spring! Does anyone know whether I will I be able to get Freesat here (Monaco) ... or will a larger dish be required then as well ?

 

[Robbo]

Nothing much will change as far as channels and transponders are concerned.

Freesat is basically just a name and a new EPG, coupled with the supply of dedicated boxes for it.

Astra 2B and 2D are different satellites at the same nominal position.