Astra 2E: Iberia & Balearics Reports

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Is it possible to tell from your figures whether that's an actual power reduction or signal loss between the sats and the earth?
 
About 3db I understand
 
Just noticed signal breaking up on everything, quite windy so I thought I would check the state of the mount in ( what passes for in modern spanish houses ) the wall. All OK but cable tie to lnb arm broke and flapping about, LNB F connector almost completely unscrewed, fixed just in time for chelsea flower. Panic over and happy wife.
 
PaulR said:
Is it possible to tell from your figures whether that's an actual power reduction or signal loss between the sats and the earth?
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How could I tell? Both satellites down in power by very similar amounts, possibly indicating a transmission path event. Or maybe due to a different illumination angle of the solar panels. Or the third possibility is a conspiracy.

Camping said:
About 3db I understand
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Nothing like that. Down about 0.4dB SNR currently, but a lot of badly set up dishes in the south Costa Blanca don't have even that small amount in reserve.
 
and he has a multiswitch system, I think measurements only matter on the LNB outputs, 3db drop on a multiswitch might be caused by someone plugging a damaged receiver on another output.

Camping, on one of your photos, you showed the old 1.8m still installed, it could be used as a comparison, to acess health on the main dish, if performance goes down in both, its not a problem with installation, if only one goes down, its a fault somewhere in the affected system
 
Yes good idea. We use the 1.8 on one set of channels and the 2.3 on another. Must admit I didn't know anyone watched ITV 2, 3 and 4 but we get a lot of complaints when they go off!
 
terryashbyash said:
LNB F connector almost completely unscrewed.
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Terry, no amount of wind should be able to cause that. I but most of my F type connectors from my main supplier which are correct for their cable, however, I do buy some other connectors from local ferreterias and even chino bazar shops so I have slightly different sizes. You might wish to try this and get a very tight fit that no wind will unscrew.
 
Brian Philpotts said:
Terry, no amount of wind should be able to cause that. I but most of my F type connectors from my main supplier which are correct for their cable, however, I do buy some other connectors from local ferreterias and even chino bazar shops so I have slightly different sizes. You might wish to try this and get a very tight fit that no wind will unscrew.
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To be fair if you used proper self amalgamating tape and sealed the f connector it wouldn't unwind itself either. I know you guys don't get much rain in Spain but even so it's good to keep the moisture out when it does rain. It does surprise me the number of LNBs that are left exposed in warmer countries...
 
timo_w2s said:
To be fair if you used proper self amalgamating tape and sealed the f connector it wouldn't unwind itself either. I know you guys don't get much rain in Spain but even so it's good to keep the moisture out when it does rain. It does surprise me the number of LNBs that are left exposed in warmer countries...
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Timo, I agree with you 100% on joints in cable, but to connect to the LNB sat is a pain in the A***, especially when most LNB´s have drop weather covers, or the old type rubber cover to keep the wet out. I do use sat on all external joints, once I managed to find it in a chandlers shop, but can now get it from local ironmongers
 
timo_w2s said:
proper self amalgamating tape [...] you guys don't get much rain in Spain but even so it's good to keep the moisture out when it does rain
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Isn't that what the o-ring is for?
 
I don't think I've ever seen an o-ring on a screw-on type F plug. Theyy only seem to be on the crimp-on type.
 
Brian Philpotts said:
Terry, no amount of wind should be able to cause that. I but most of my F type connectors from my main supplier which are correct for their cable, however, I do buy some other connectors from local ferreterias and even chino bazar shops so I have slightly different sizes. You might wish to try this and get a very tight fit that no wind will unscrew.
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Thanks for the info, will get some F connectors from cpc sent over from the UK and also get some self amalgamating tape from good old leroy merlin( other DIY stores are available) on my next visit.
 
Here you go Paul,
Code: 
http://www.satelliteandaerialsupplies.com/product/?s=quality-f-type-plug-screw-wf100-sac100-ct100-etc
and providing it is normal size RG6 and not the thin crap, these connectors are very difficult to get back off the cable, as they have a locking thread.

I use a lot of these now on indoor installations, no need for a tool and lock onto the cable extremely securely, plus can be nipped up with an 11mm spanner. Good for external use, but would recommend using self amalgamating tape as well, as they have no O Ring.
Code: 
http://www.satelliteandaerialsupplies.com/product/?s=cabelcon-metal-self-install-f-type-compression-connector-1mm
 
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rolfw said:
Here you go Paul,
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Bugger. Well, at least I was right - I've never seen (until now) a screw-on plug with an o-ring! :-rofl2
 
These aren't bad. Iberosat. About 15€ a bag. And they don't fall apart like some similar priced ones.

connector1.webp connector2.webp
 
Some weird event here. Dropped power on both satellites (across all transponders) for a few minutes earlier. Not weather related.

last-24-hours-graph.php.webp

Pity no one else is keeping records to compare with this. Maybe we should set one of these up at your place Brian.
 
And here is the same data superimposed over February 2014 data for comparison purposes.

deviation-from-the-mean.php.webp
 
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