Turksat with a Minidish from UK !

GrahamM

Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2009
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
54
My Satellite Setup
Topfield FTA box
120cm Motorised Dish
My Location
UK South coast
Hello All

Go easy on me, first post and new to the forum!

I just thought I'd post my findings recently and await comments from other users. I am not sure if what I have done is unusual, but based on what I was told by experts when buying my equipment, I was quite surprised!

My wife is Turkish, so a couple of years ago I invested in a Topfield FTA sat box and a 120cm dish. I was told that this dish would be required to get a good picture from Turksat 1C. I stuck the dish on a home made mount on our flat garage roof. After some messing about I got the dish aligned and "She who must be obeyed (!)" was V happy :) I subsequently added a motor so she could pick up Spanish FTA channels to practice whilst learning Spanish. I should add that we live on the south coast of UK, near the New Forest.

Just the other day I was messing about with the set up and I was testing a Sky minidish setup I plan to use for receiving BBC, ITV etc whilst traveling in our motor home. All worked well. I then pointed the minidish towards Turksat 1C and was amazed to lock it in and get a fantastic picture, good signal strength (from the Topfield on screen display meter) and all the channels I got from the 1.2m dish. So.........

1. Is this normal or was it freak weather conditions etc?

2. Are dish sizes generally specified to ensure reception in all weather conditions?

3. Whilst we are traveling through Europe and the UK I will be taking this minidish / Topfield set up and running it and the TV off an invertor. What coverage of BBC / ITV etc should I expect on the continent?

3. Will I be able to get other FTA UK channels such as Dave?


Many Thanks for all those who persevered with my ramblings!


Graham.
 

GrahamM

Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2009
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
54
My Satellite Setup
Topfield FTA box
120cm Motorised Dish
My Location
UK South coast
Hello All

Go easy on me, first post and new to the forum!

I just thought I'd post my findings recently and await comments from other users. I am not sure if what I have done is unusual, but based on what I was told by experts when buying my equipment, I was quite surprised!

My wife is Turkish, so a couple of years ago I invested in a Topfield FTA sat box and a 120cm dish. I was told that this dish would be required to get a good picture from Turksat 1C. I stuck the dish on a home made mount on our flat garage roof. After some messing about I got the dish aligned and "She who must be obeyed (!)" was V happy :) I subsequently added a motor so she could pick up Spanish FTA channels to practice whilst learning Spanish. I should add that we live on the south coast of UK, near the New Forest.

Just the other day I was messing about with the set up and I was testing a Sky minidish setup I plan to use for receiving BBC, ITV etc whilst traveling in our motor home. All worked well. I then pointed the minidish towards Turksat 1C and was amazed to lock it in and get a fantastic picture, good signal strength (from the Topfield on screen display meter) and all the channels I got from the 1.2m dish. So.........

1. Is this normal or was it freak weather conditions etc?

2. Are dish sizes generally specified to ensure reception in all weather conditions?

3. Whilst we are traveling through Europe and the UK I will be taking this minidish / Topfield set up and running it and the TV off an invertor. What coverage of BBC / ITV etc should I expect on the continent?

3. Will I be able to get other FTA UK channels such as Dave?


Many Thanks for all those who persevered with my ramblings!


Graham.
 

satelliteman

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
12,039
Reaction score
387
Points
83
My Satellite Setup
See signature
My Location
Northants, Midlands UK & Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Graham.

It's possible to get a lock on the majority of transponders from the 42e slot using a minidish (even the smaller zone1/43cm) but with a noticeable reduction of signal/noise ratio and bit error. This will most certainly drop out in bad weather.

BBC/ITV programming is transmitted on the Astra2 UK spot beam and will require a larger dish the further South you go.
 

satelliteman

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
12,039
Reaction score
387
Points
83
My Satellite Setup
See signature
My Location
Northants, Midlands UK & Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Graham.

It's possible to get a lock on the majority of transponders from the 42e slot using a minidish (even the smaller zone1/43cm) but with a noticeable reduction of signal/noise ratio and bit error. This will most certainly drop out in bad weather.

BBC/ITV programming is transmitted on the Astra2 UK spot beam and will require a larger dish the further South you go.
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
Oddly enough, having yet another go at getting Turksat is on my project list.

Owing to line of sight restrictions, there is only one place a dish (another Dish .....) can go and because of neighbour sensitivity it will have to be a Sky Zone 1 Minidish.

But the restrictions on LNB skew adjustment may mean I'll have to mount the dish pre-skewed to some extent.

I'm glad you have confirmed it's possible in practice - as SM suggests, it certainly is in theory (but the twain sometimes fail to coincide!)

As for Dave, no you can't, not without a Sky Subscription, as it is only Free on Freeview, not on Digital Satellite.
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
Oddly enough, having yet another go at getting Turksat is on my project list.

Owing to line of sight restrictions, there is only one place a dish (another Dish .....) can go and because of neighbour sensitivity it will have to be a Sky Zone 1 Minidish.

But the restrictions on LNB skew adjustment may mean I'll have to mount the dish pre-skewed to some extent.

I'm glad you have confirmed it's possible in practice - as SM suggests, it certainly is in theory (but the twain sometimes fail to coincide!)

As for Dave, no you can't, not without a Sky Subscription, as it is only Free on Freeview, not on Digital Satellite.
 

Analoguesat

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Messages
50,739
Reaction score
11,220
Points
113
Location
Scottish Borders
My Satellite Setup
TM 5402HD
Sky+ UK.
My Location
Scottish Borders
Ive had some of the Turksat 1C channels on a z1 minidish before now - shes a powerful old bird.

Since she was slotted at 31E there have also been occasional reports of the channels being picked up on a slightly misaligned Sky dish at the same time as getting the uk channels :D
 

Analoguesat

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Messages
50,739
Reaction score
11,220
Points
113
Location
Scottish Borders
My Satellite Setup
TM 5402HD
Sky+ UK.
My Location
Scottish Borders
Ive had some of the Turksat 1C channels on a z1 minidish before now - shes a powerful old bird.

Since she was slotted at 31E there have also been occasional reports of the channels being picked up on a slightly misaligned Sky dish at the same time as getting the uk channels :D
 

hexah

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
2,838
Reaction score
680
Points
113
Age
17
My Satellite Setup
motorized Gibertini 85cm, fixed dishes from 1m to 64cm, generic FTA HD RX, TBS DVB-S2 PC card, a pile of bits and pieces
My Location
Hadrians Wall
I used to know some nice Turkish ladies (I have to confess I know some Greeks as well). They told me they thought Turkish TV was a bit crap. Well, I have to say they care more about their viewers than the BBC.

TRT and others broadcast from a number of satellites with different footprints to ensure good coverage for their viewers across all of Europe and the Black and Caspian Sea regions. Unlike those cretins at the BBC :mad: :-Nooo

If you print out the footprint maps and make a note of the frequencies you will be well covered for a huge area from one satellite or another, not just Turksat, and they are higher in the sky so less likely to be obscured by trees. You can also get BBC Radio 4 over most of Europe if you can't get television.

I recommend the Technisat DigiDish 45cm. Performs a bit better than a 60cm mesh dish, small easily packable rectangular shape, lightweight but strong aluminium, comes with 10m cable and LNB, pole mount has to be bought seperatly for a few quid. Works well to 51-50dBW on the footprint map. Very popular on the continent for portable use due to the size and effectiveness. The 33cm has even been reported to be good for the German public channels in Croatia in the rain, but its too small for the UK channels sadly, so the 45cm is the one. This is what I would take. Don't forget to get the pole mount as it is supplied with its own wall mount.

Or an 80cm round 'mesh' perforated dish. Light weight but bulky, may extend your coverage of BBC etc channels, to about 47dBW. If windy, may act as a sail due to its size and relative lightness. Crump! May be difficult to pack away so make very sure there will be space once underway. I wouldn't fancy a solid 80cm, if you really want to get one, get one with an LNB cheap in France in the big hardware stores, though you may be swearing at it after a few days.

I don't recommend the Sky Zone 1 or 2 dishes, the pole mount is off axis and wonky on a tripod (the round mesh dishes have central mounts), it needs a particular V bolt size for pole mounting, has an odd LNB holder, LNB skew is a joke (you WILL need good skew) and if any bits fail it will be impossible to find a replacement LNB or LNB holder on the continent and it would go in the bin! Where it belongs. With much swearing!

If you are out of range of the BBC you can always get your wife to translate anyway...or watch the ladies on Russian Music Box :-rofl2

Get some practice in before you go and it will be easy.

Don't forget the footprint maps and frequencies :)
 

hexah

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
2,838
Reaction score
680
Points
113
Age
17
My Satellite Setup
motorized Gibertini 85cm, fixed dishes from 1m to 64cm, generic FTA HD RX, TBS DVB-S2 PC card, a pile of bits and pieces
My Location
Hadrians Wall
I used to know some nice Turkish ladies (I have to confess I know some Greeks as well). They told me they thought Turkish TV was a bit crap. Well, I have to say they care more about their viewers than the BBC.

TRT and others broadcast from a number of satellites with different footprints to ensure good coverage for their viewers across all of Europe and the Black and Caspian Sea regions. Unlike those cretins at the BBC :mad: :-Nooo

If you print out the footprint maps and make a note of the frequencies you will be well covered for a huge area from one satellite or another, not just Turksat, and they are higher in the sky so less likely to be obscured by trees. You can also get BBC Radio 4 over most of Europe if you can't get television.

I recommend the Technisat DigiDish 45cm. Performs a bit better than a 60cm mesh dish, small easily packable rectangular shape, lightweight but strong aluminium, comes with 10m cable and LNB, pole mount has to be bought seperatly for a few quid. Works well to 51-50dBW on the footprint map. Very popular on the continent for portable use due to the size and effectiveness. The 33cm has even been reported to be good for the German public channels in Croatia in the rain, but its too small for the UK channels sadly, so the 45cm is the one. This is what I would take. Don't forget to get the pole mount as it is supplied with its own wall mount.

Or an 80cm round 'mesh' perforated dish. Light weight but bulky, may extend your coverage of BBC etc channels, to about 47dBW. If windy, may act as a sail due to its size and relative lightness. Crump! May be difficult to pack away so make very sure there will be space once underway. I wouldn't fancy a solid 80cm, if you really want to get one, get one with an LNB cheap in France in the big hardware stores, though you may be swearing at it after a few days.

I don't recommend the Sky Zone 1 or 2 dishes, the pole mount is off axis and wonky on a tripod (the round mesh dishes have central mounts), it needs a particular V bolt size for pole mounting, has an odd LNB holder, LNB skew is a joke (you WILL need good skew) and if any bits fail it will be impossible to find a replacement LNB or LNB holder on the continent and it would go in the bin! Where it belongs. With much swearing!

If you are out of range of the BBC you can always get your wife to translate anyway...or watch the ladies on Russian Music Box :-rofl2

Get some practice in before you go and it will be easy.

Don't forget the footprint maps and frequencies :)
 

hexah

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
2,838
Reaction score
680
Points
113
Age
17
My Satellite Setup
motorized Gibertini 85cm, fixed dishes from 1m to 64cm, generic FTA HD RX, TBS DVB-S2 PC card, a pile of bits and pieces
My Location
Hadrians Wall
Hotbird 13e is also very useful, it has a powerful signal all over Europe. So if you are stuck, you should always be able to get this sat.

It carries BBC World News, a number of news channels in English, TRT Turk, and a Turkish music channel. Plus some other music channels. Radio channels include BBC World Service Europe radio.

_http://en.kingofsat.net/pos-13.0E_eng.php
 

Godmaster

Member
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
37
My Satellite Setup
1.1m Dish on Turksat, Triax 88 on Eutelsat 7A, Minidish pointing at Turksat
My Location
London, UK
Greetings and a happy new year to everyone. I have a Zone 2 Minidish pointed to the 42" orbital slot as I am Turkish myself. I get pretty much all the channels with only signal dropping on some of the lower SR channels. Turksat has recently switched to collating smaller channels within a large SR bouquet to improve signal and reduce rain fade dropout with very good results!

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has only recently launched all their channels via a Turksat uplink station on 3A.

A Zone 1 will pick up most of the channels too but I have not tried the new bird under a Zone 1. With 2A, all of the channels on the west beam I would pick up but nothing off the S1 beam (no longer in use).
 

RdMin

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2009
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
54
My Satellite Setup
Fixed 80cm on 28.2 deg,80cm Motorised 76.5E -58W
My Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Hi Hexah,couldnt help noticing your set-up,similar to mine and your latitude aint too far from me either.What sort of reception do you have with 16E,in particular I have problems receiving the Capri bouquet,any joy at your end?
 

hexah

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
2,838
Reaction score
680
Points
113
Age
17
My Satellite Setup
motorized Gibertini 85cm, fixed dishes from 1m to 64cm, generic FTA HD RX, TBS DVB-S2 PC card, a pile of bits and pieces
My Location
Hadrians Wall
RdMin said:
Hi Hexah,couldnt help noticing your set-up,similar to mine and your latitude aint too far from me either.What sort of reception do you have with 16E,in particular I have problems receiving the Capri bouquet,any joy at your end?


I get the Capri channels fine. The signal is not as strong as signals on 13e or 19e but the quality is good and the signal will survive medium rain.

If you are not picking it up when you scan it is possible that your receiver does not like low symbol rates. In that case manually scan the transponder 12626 V and enter the symbol rate with a leading zero "04520".

If it is coming up when you scan but is a very weak signal, it is possible that the pole is not quite vertical, or has moved in the wind. A quick check would be a good idea. The strong satellites would not really be affected but the weaker ones like 16e would be off.

If you intend watching these channels a lot, then perhaps you should adjust the dish elevation on this transponder instead of adjusting elevation on a satellite close to the top of the arc. This should be easy with USALs. This way you will get a good signal for most of the time in most weather, and you should also have no problem with the other satellites, especially the strong ones.
 

hexah

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
2,838
Reaction score
680
Points
113
Age
17
My Satellite Setup
motorized Gibertini 85cm, fixed dishes from 1m to 64cm, generic FTA HD RX, TBS DVB-S2 PC card, a pile of bits and pieces
My Location
Hadrians Wall
Godmaster said:
Greetings and a happy new year to everyone. I have a Zone 2 Minidish pointed to the 42" orbital slot as I am Turkish myself. I get pretty much all the channels with only signal dropping on some of the lower SR channels. Turksat has recently switched to collating smaller channels within a large SR bouquet to improve signal and reduce rain fade dropout with very good results!

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has only recently launched all their channels via a Turksat uplink station on 3A.

A Zone 1 will pick up most of the channels too but I have not tried the new bird under a Zone 1. With 2A, all of the channels on the west beam I would pick up but nothing off the S1 beam (no longer in use).

Thanks for your report, it is very helpful. :)
 
Top