Time to tune your antennas

[RimaNTSS]

Hi folks! Just a friendly reminder, that in couple of weeks real possibility is coming to check whether your antenna installed on correct place. That also could be good opportunity to look for good place for new installation. Approximately from 8 to 15th October (depending on location) sun outage effects will be present. One of those effects will be drop of signal level up to full "Malevich" on TV screen Do not afraid of this, it is normal.
Of course, to check installation place of antenna you need some blue sky.
Before those critical days come it is enough time to prepare yourself. I like this site for time calculations. It is better to make print-outs for each day of the outage, and especially for 11th and 12th October (Saturday and Sunday).

 

[Riverblue]

Would anyone like to elaborate as to exactly what outage is, how it affects satellite signals and how we can check if our dishes are in the correct place! (as per discussions about focal point etc) to expand my technical understanding of this hobby.

 

[satelliteman]

Would anyone like to elaborate as to exactly what outage is, how it affects satellite signals...

Try this page _radio-electronics.com/info/satellite/solar-effects/sun-solar-outages-basics-tutorial.php

 

[RimaNTSS]

nd how we can check if our dishes are in the correct place!

This is simple: If calculator says that at 11:40:25 you have Peak Interference, that means sun is shining exactly from behind your chosen satellite. And if at that time you dish has no shadows from obstacles like houses and trees, than your dish can receive signals from that particular satellite. So, if you find place for antenna's installation where all satellites are visible, than it would be best position.

 

[RimaNTSS]

For example:
Today it was little bit early, but also possible. First of all - Saturday, secondly- perfect sunny day and thirdly I completely forgot about dentist appointment (and now is too late).
So, inserted my exact location in calculator and just in case checked my watch here. Perhaps such a precision is not always needed, but why not do it as precise as possible if we have possibility.
Calculator said to me that October 4th I will experience peak interference on 4*W at 14:08:15 and at 14:22:51 peak will be at 7,3*W. Took picture of antenna pointed at 4*W at 14:08:15 then turned antenna to 7,3*W and at 14:22:51 took another picture. I can see that at this antenna location starting from 4*W and more East I will never use full surface of it. I actually knew that my antenna is not located to perfectly catch sats, but did not want to go out of balcony and have problems with local commune.

 

[hexah]

drop of signal level up to full "Malevich" on TV screen.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Bumping up this topic as SUN OUTAGE starts those days. If you are lucky to really see some sun. But, even if it is overcast you still can experience drop of sat signals at certain period of times.

 

[Channel Hopper]

The sun in these parts is a tabloid nightmare, an outage would be a blessing.

 

[RimaNTSS]

It is good I did not go fishing today (however I would love to go), we've got son and I took picture of my CM120 at 13:46:39, and I found out that dish is not working as 120cm but much less (maybe as 100cm). Of course, in such conditions it is not possible to make fair testing of antenna. Therefore, I stop experiments on LNB placement till I get antenna properly installed. It is interesting that Fibo 120 did not had problems any getting 7,3*W without being influenced by balcony's infrastructure. That is probably because of difference in mounts.
My way ahead could be: moving antenna closer to the window some 5-7 sm, but that will not change situation dramatically. Another option is to make pole 25-30cm higher. Second option is doable but can ignite problems with local council (I already got some signals about overantenning my balcony). In fact, visible from outside SAT-antennas are not welcome here at all. Maroons! That is the dilemma of mine. Still opened to constructive critics.
Sun interference will be at it's maximum tomorrow and day after tomorrow (depending on your location).

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hey, I hope we do not have such a criticizers here who would question sun interference, as it happens with periodically more less often than 3 days (actually twice per year). That would be funny again.

 

[BM300]

As we all know, the geosynchronous satellites are located at what is known as Clark belt (called after Arthur C Clark) who thought about stationing satellites at 36,000 kilometers above earth equator to move at the same speed as that of earth rotation. These satellites can bounce the signal transmitted to them back to earth.
So the satellites appear fixed from any geographical location on earth.
When the sun occupies a slot behind a satellite (on certain dates), the electromagnetic noise from the sun masks the signal reflected to earth from the satellite.
It is useful to know when is the sun outage occurs for a particular satellite when installing it.
As the signal from that satellite will be reduced or not detectable.
(very much like having a flood light behind a candle.
The light from the candle will be almost impossible to see).
Few hours later and all is back to normal and the installation is easy.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Took another picture today at 11:09:55 when it was peak interference for 28,2*E at my location. No problem with toroidal dish at all. CM120 now turned to 7*W, if I point it to 28,2*E it would be covered at lest 1/2. And thic dish has too long feedarms for my balcony, maximum what I can get is 19,2*E - more East LNB touches glass.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Another perfect day...perhaps last day this spring to experience sun outage. So, I tuned CM120 to 4,8*E, which is actually my due-south satellite. Took picture at exactly 12:51:28 , and I see that balcony's rail is not a problem here. But, I also see that side-feedarms obstruct signal. Perhaps some 300 sq.cm is not so much but, anyway it would be better to have nothing between dish and satellite. Will try to catch some arc, I mean make polar-mount working. Arc will not be so great, something between 11*W and 23,5*E (not sure yet about most eastern satellite).

 

[RimaNTSS]

As users started to speak about Sun, that means Sun-outage period is almost arrived. Will not repeat , but agree with everything everithing i have said in this thread after "Hi folks".

 

[timo_w2s]

Funnily enough I was just looking at the sun starting to reflect onto one of my LNBs today and was thinking it's getting close to that time of year.

 

[Captain Jack]

Hardly a helpful and objective comment... You're the one using little mirrors and Sun light to check the shape of your dishes [emoji14]. One might argue that you could just use string or other countless methods.

This time of the year is really quite useful, Martin. Phones and compasses are just best guesses. Accurate enough but when you want to see exactly what parts of the dish are being obstructed by various objects, there's no better way than using the Sun and shadows.

So don't agree with your stone age comment at all.

 

[Trust]

Here 2 pictures from a member of sat4all , a Dutch board , posted by Sprietje
He found this pic on the net , the maker took pictures every time the sun was between a satellite and his dish .
View attachment 85331
With the sun at the right time and a stripe of tape from the top of your dish strait to the lnb , you find the right direction . The shadow line should be on the middle of the feedarm .
View attachment 85332

 

[Trust]

Edit :
Must be : the sun is behind the satellites

 

[RimaNTSS]

Today at exactly 13:27:27 (at peak interference time) took a picture of my Frankenstein Gregory antenna. This is just to remind that we have outage days.

 

[RimaNTSS]

And this is the bad guy, the spider which obstructs reception! Will let him stay though, winter is coming, nature will let him go.