Thor 1w (0.8W) loss of signal bad weather

cfphoenix

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Hi m8s,

I was watching kiosk on Thor 2 and all of a sudden the signal started to break and now the channels are black! When I looked outside, it was raining and the sky was dark.

Previously the signal to noise ratio SNR was 72-73 and now it is fluctuating between 55 to 65 for Thor 1W. I am using an 80CM dish which I bought from liddl and I live in Belfast. On my other liddl dish, the SNR is 80 for Hotbird, despite the bad weather.

My question:
What dish size do you use for Thor 1W (and Hispasat 30W) ? Do you face the loss of signal problem for Thor during bad weather? And what is your SNR for Thor (and your location if you don't mind) ?

I am considering getting a 90cm Triax dish (Are they good?). My Lnb is 0.3db MTI blue line.

Cheers and thanks for the advice/replies.
 

Rod Hulls Aerial

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Hello there.. I have an 80cm solid dish and am on the East coast of the UK mainland, I generally get about 70% signal on Thor on a good day and in adverse weather this can drop to about 50% but I have never lost picture yet.
You are I believe likely to suffer a bit more signal loss in NI due to being classed in a fringe reception area for 1 west, a bigger dish would certainly help your situation.
Unfortunately it's very common for the weather to affect radio signals, Hotbird is a satellite with a strong footprint covering the British Isles comfortably so signal loss is less common in my experience.
 

gameboy

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cfphoenix said:
I was watching kiosk on Thor 2 and all of a sudden the signal started to break and now the channels are black! When I looked outside, it was raining and the sky was dark.

Fine tuning your dish may help.

The Lidl dishes are very good - best way to fine tune is to wait for better weather they move dish until you get the best signal

Place a damp cloth over lnb and set the best signal level again.

That way you will receive the best signal in bad weather.
 

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97cm 0.6 LNB 88-91% on the strong ones 45-57% on the weak ones.


L
 

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I have the Triax 90 (88) cm dish for 1W, and it's excellent. In fact it's so good, I just bought a Triax 1.1M dish for 30W!
 

cfphoenix

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Thanks m8s for these excellent replies.

In the meanwhile, I will fine tune my 80cm liddl dish when the weather clears for Thor 1W. I agree it is very good as I could put 3 LNBs on my other 80CM liddl dish for Hotbird13, Astra19 and Astra28.

But I will consider getting a Triax 90cm or even 1.1 for Hispasat 30W and if it does not work, I will use it for Thor 1W. I have to find the funds now and maybe I will include a motor if I am getting a 1.1M dish, as I am tired of seeing so many dishes.

I am a bit confused about motors in terms of which one to go for. Any idea on this? I am considering to go for a Moteck H to H DiseqC 1.2 motor or should I just get an actuator arm :confused I am confused when it comes to motor.

Thanks again
 

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1.1M is a bit big for a diseqc motor IMO, but it's been done plenty of times.

I have an SG2100 motor on my 88cm Triax no probs at all.

I just got my 1.1m from the same place as my 88cm.

_http://www.parabolic.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=57

£50 delivered for the 88cm. £60 for the 1.1m.
 

cfphoenix

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Stick,

What do you think of the Moteck Digipower Diseqc 1.2 Motor from _h**p://ww.creativesatellite.co.uk/

I guess it will work with the Triax 1.1M (I want to point at Hispasat and Thor with that).

Cheers.
 

rolfw

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Cracking little motor, have installed several and use one myself. A 1.1m dish is as big as you would want to use though and not in an exposed position.
 

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Yeah, that IS the SG-2100, and it's my choice of motor (not that I've personally tried any others!).

That's also not a bad price for the UK, but you can get them quite a bit cheaper from the continent.

_http://www.videowinkel.nl/winkels/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29_44&products_id=40

for example. My m8 had one from there no probs.

As I said, I think the 88cm dish on that motor is fine, but the 1.1m is too big.

Others will disagree.

STICK
 

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Hi m8s,

This motor from the htpp/www.parabolic.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=106

DiSEqC H-H 120

...costs £90 but is also for 1.2m max dish.

And the SG-2100 description also says it supports 1.2m max dish (Costs £70). So, the £90 is better than £70, or both are the same?

@Stick, what motor are you going to use with your 1.1M triax dish??? I will buy the same :) to be on the safer side.

Cheers.
 

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Most of the 'top end' diseqc motors say they will take a 1.2m dish, but in reality that's very optimistic.

My 1.1m will be fixed. If I were to motorize it, I would use a polar mount and actuator, with a VBOX in between.

_http://www.parabolic.co.uk/catalog/images/triax%20polarmount.jpg

_http://www.parabolic.co.uk/catalog/images/Actuator%2012-18.jpg

but maybe not from that shop, as it looks a bit expensive?
 

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Doesn't matter what they say they (DiseqC motors) can handle, install over 1m and an exposed position will knacker them. The SG-2100 will handle as much as any of the others.
 

cfphoenix

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I will buy the SG-2100 from Ebay (Germany) for 50 Euros plus postage (I have to ask the seller how much it will be, he accepts Paypal).
ht))p://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=85437&item=5733520907&rd=1&ssPageName=WD3V

I will also go for the triax 1.1M for £60 delivered, and I will just pray that the wind won't spoil the motor :). The dish will be exposed, I have very limited option of where to put it.

This thread is very very informative and has helped me a lot.

Thanks a million m8s.
 

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NP.

The ebay motor looks good.

Try turning your dish side-on to the wind in storm-force conditions.
 

gameboy

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BGonaSTICK said:
The ebay motor looks good.
Try turning your dish side-on to the wind in storm-force conditions.

Paid about that for my motor from Germany (no problems), has a 1m Tele(something) dish attached.

Good advice from BGonaSTICK, I point mine 1 deg West in bad weather which puts the dish flush with the wall, inline of the wind.

Thank goodness I still get some good viewing on 1 West!
 

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Kiosk is black m8s :-ohmy . Two days joy only???

I hope Kiosk and Kanal 5 will be back on in the next couple of days (or weeks) and just a key update is required (Unlike Sly Italy for e.g.). Anyway, I will have more choice with the 1.1m dish and motor now.

Cheers.
 

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Yep. Choice is the answer.

Don't stress, MOTORIZE!

AFAIK, just the usual key swap (to 22 today).
 

cfphoenix

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Yes m8. Agree a motor is going to be much better for searching light, in this dark age ;)
 
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