Problem getting FTA from Astra 3A 23.5

My Satellite Setup
Sky+
60cm Dish
Octagon SF818 PVR
My Location
Surrey, UK
Gentlemen, good afternoon!

I have a very confusing issue and will attempt to briefly explain it and hope that you might be able to help me! :confused:

I have an standard 60cm dish (high up, clear line of sight) with a single universal LNB) which was installed by a profi guy and when he showed me the sat meter it showed Astra 23.5E (75% pic q) - I then received the sat box Octagon SF818 - plugged it in, found Astra 3A 23.5 in the list in the menu, selected to search and found a number of channels but not the one I am looking for (FTA: 'CT24' - 12525 V 27500 3/4 on 23.5E). NB: the singnal strenght in the Octagon menu also shows good signal but only for that TP on 23.5 the other TP have no pic quality only signal strenght!

I have a card for CS Link Packet to get scrambled channels in CRW, however, even if there was some issue with the card I should be able to get the FTAs such as CT24 or Noe TV or OCKO all on the same TP on the SAT according to lyngsat and cs link provider.

So, I am puzzled....is my dish slightly misaligned, is my box software not right (box purchased from UK retailer who claims to have uploaded firmware that enables the CONAX reader to read CRW as well - but that should still have no impact on getting the FTAs, right?!

Any help appreciated....please. :confused:

Thanks,

Lukas
 
Don't think you'll pick up that transponder with a 60cm dish, most people in the South East use a 1m or better.
 
Yes for Astra3 12.525v 100cm to 120cm for reliable reception.
 
When I searched for the satelite I selected Astra 3A 23.5 and then the appropriate transponder 12525 V 27500 which showed Strenght about 70% and Pic Quality alos around 75% on that transponder - is there something I am missing - if I have good signal on that transponder what else would stop me from getting that channel CT24?

Thanks for your replies.
 
Its possible you are aligned onto 19E or 28E instead of 23.5E
 
Yep both satellites have active transponders around the same freq/polar.

Are you receiving any channels after a scan and if so what are they ?
 
Well, the sat meter was showing 23.5E so it is unlikely that he got the wrong sat.

I am now more convinced that it is the size of the dish. I have checked the footprint of 3A V it just touches South East.

can you just confirm that you are not thinking that could be anything else before I go and get another dish please?

Thanks
 
Common frequencies are used with these high powered satellites listed.
Are you receiving any channels at all after a scan ?
 
yes i get a variety of channels from Astra 3A but quite oddly when I cross check the channel address on lyngsat it tells me that I get it on Hotbird and not astra 3a even though I have searched only on Astra 23.5.

At one point I suspected that the box might have an incorrect list of satellites! How can I check what Satelite I am receiving the channels, I am getting, from?
 
Scan a few selected transponders, cross check with kingofsat.

Regardless of that, a 60cm will be no good for the Astra3, as mentioned above several times.
 
Right - the satellites use the same frequencies right round the arc.

Thus if you scan satellite A whilst your dish is actually pointing at satellite B then you will scan some channels in where the active frequencies coincide across the two satellites.

Sounds like you are getting 13E instead of 23.5E, but list half a dozen channels and we will identify where you are pointing
 
Channels I crossed-checked earlier:
Patio Tv
RFBF Sat
ESP Czech
France 24
MOHABAT TV
NICK POLSKA
VIVA POLSKA
 
also do I understand this right...

I want to receive CS LINK Packet which is here :
_http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/cslink.html

there is difference in coverage 1G and 3A beams but the important channels for me are on this TP "12525 V tp 14 SR 27500 FEC 3/4" which is on 3A

so the solution would be to get a bigger dish - I then don't understand while I can get 75% on Astra 3A (according to the engineers meter) but get no channel which are 3A albeit on various Transponders - should I automatically get all TPs once I point at the right satellite? or would some TP freq be better then other on one particular satellite?

Thanks for your help guys!
 
Your NOT getting 75% on Astra 3A - you are getting 75% from one of the Hotbird satellites!

If you want that channel where you are then you need a 1.0 - 1.2m dish where you are as already posted.
.
 
Thanks guys - so even though I saw the engineer's meter showing Astra 23.5 it is not pointing at the right one!

do you still think that getting a bigger dish will improve my chances of getting this CS Link Packet:
_http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/cslink.html

I only really need this TP "12525 V tp 14 SR 27500 FEC 3/4" to get CT1 and CT2.

Also little bit puzzled, when I looked at the Astra 1G and 3A footprints they are completely covering different area - so if I am pointing at one satellite I am still getting differnt signal strenghts because of differnt beams coming from this one satellite? If so, is it also true that diffent TP frequencies will have different picture quality even though they are coming from the one satellite?

Thanks a lot for your help so far - it's making things a bit clearer!
 
yeah, I will speak to the engineer, there is no point trying to align this 60cm dish - I'll ask him for 1m dish and the we will see!

It's a pain in the neck and it aint' very cheap either!

Thanks guys, especially to Analoguesat for checking his email and finding this thread!

Many thanks,

Lukas
 
aah, my bad didn't notice I am getting moderated!
will let you know the outcome later.

cheers for now! and sorry if I have repeated myself, I thought I lost the message....it was only being moderated.

L
 
If you want to align your little dish onto 23.5E use the Dutch regionals on 11914 - they are nice and strong.

There are 3 birds parked at 23.5E, each with different transmission areas. 3A has a tight footprint centred on Germany and is a difficult one to get in much of the UK.
 
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