why do I lose bbc/itv for 15 mintes

[bashwell]

Can someone explain why I get good bbc and itv signal until 09:45 GMT, and then the picture breaks up for 10 to 15 minutes, then comes back ok?
Missus hasn't seen the end of Torchwood for weeks now, and I'm getting a sore lug"ole for it !
No wind, dish hasn't moved, so does someone at Astra HQ switch the power down to annoy me ?
Also, how come bbc/itv ( ie the ones with pots of money) don't have a stronger signal than Chan 4 and Chan 5 ?
Thanks, rant over, but its annoying having paid 3500 euros for this lot, just to miss the last bit of a programme you're watching.

 

[rolfw]

Could be one of several reasons, have moved your post to a more suitable section.

The reason that the BBC and ITV channels are weaker than the others for you, is that they are meant to be, have a little read through this section, it is dedicated to the reception of these channels in non-targeted areas.

 

[bashwell]

Can you tell me where the post has been redirected to, and the article that I should read?
Bit new to all this !

 

[rolfw]

This is the new location for the post, this section is dedicated to reception of Astra 28.2, but particularly Astra 2D, where the BBC and ITV channels are.

When in this section, do a search with the word Fuerteventura, it brings up a whole raft of posts. Particularly this one http://www.satellites.co.uk/satelli...nute-bbc1-itv-loss-@-21-40gmt.html#post574834

 

[Robbiewright]

Bushwell,
I am no expert and I might be completely wrong but from time to time I lose almost everything for about 15 mints, when I do my dish inspection I find every time the sun has moved right behind the satellite, I can tell because the shadow of the LNB is smack bang in the middle of my 2.4 prime focus dish, so the dish would be reflecting not only what the satellite is transmitting but what ever comes out of the sun into the LNB. As I said I might be wrong and more experienced people might think I'm a loony but it could be worth a look.

Cheers, Robbie
Cairo. Egypt.

 

[irart]

A total eclipse of the LNB! If this is true, I would have thought that as the sun moves in a higher arc in the sky as the year goes by, the problem should disappear.

 

[dxsat]

I'm guessing that your original post was made a couple of weeks ago, in which case the problem will have disappeared, as it will have been caused by solar outage, which occurs around 10 hours GMT at this time of year, for between 5 and 15 minutes.
This is when the satellite passes very close to the sun twice a year near the equinoxes and the sun's radiation overwhelms the weak signals from Astra 2D.
The problem is worse and lasts longer the further out from the UK the receiving dish is. This means that in Egypt or the Canaries the effect is more pronounced.
As the sun, satellite and earth are in a straight line, the satellite passes through the Earth's shadow at night. During this eclipse period of about one hour, batteries are switched on to maintain power output.

 

[trigger]

Yes spot on. Its called the spring solstice and it will happen again late September. It´s directly in between the longest and shortest day twice a year.
If you had a smaller dish you would probably loose most channels but as you have a larger dish you only notice the loss on BBC ITV etc.

Triggs