Satellite Channel Strength

Trapapony

Hello
A few questions regarding satellite channel strength.

My setup:
My Wicklow home has a 60cm dish pointed to the Astra 2 satellite cluster (satellites 2E, 2F & 2G at 28.2 degrees east).
I have an ancient Grundig "Sky Digibox" receiver containing an old UK Sky viewing card.
I pay nothing to Sky and get only what's freely available on Sky and Freeview. (I get Saorview via a roof aerial.)

The problem:
I wondered why some of my channels break up in poor weather (rain, wind) and others don't. (I know a bigger dish would help but that's another issue.)
The "strong" channels include the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 families while the weaklings include Sky News, CNBC, Eurosport, RT, Al Jazeera.
After some hunting around on Google I got my answer on Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28%C2%B0E.
My strong channels are all on Astra 2E and my weak ones (without exception) are on Astra 2F or 2G.

Questions:
Has anyone else experienced this? Anyone know why it would be? It's as if 2F and 2G are pumping out weaker signals but I find that hard to believe.
And their tiny distances apart from each other up in the sky is supposed to make no difference either as they are so far away.
If there was a problem with the receiver then why would it not show up for the 2E channels which are fine?
Any thoughts appreciated.

Trap

Johnboy1951

I would have the dish alignment checked .... it might be slightly 'off'.

Ger Roe

Agreed - dish alignment is the most likely cause.

Any very slight differences between the exact satellite positions at E 28.2, doesn't make a difference to reception...... providing the dish is perfectly aligned in the first place. A dish should be aligned for best results available on both the strong and the weak signals. A slight compromise is required which when done properly, will not make a reception difference to either signals in 'normal' * rain conditions.

I would bet that even your reliable strong stations could give better readings with a bit of a tweak. Rain breakup is also a classic symptom of misalignment.

It sounds like a minor adjustment required, but be careful, it is easy to make matters worse, particularly if you are not experienced in the mystical art of dish positioning....... and always remember the golden rule - don't take any risks if the dish is mounted in a high position

* definition of 'normal' rain may change if the biblical deluge predicted for this weekend comes true.

JIdontknow

Hi, sorry to hijack thread,but I am having issues with my sky reception. for example sky sports work good, discovery etc usually do too (odd time weather affects all channels) however only some of my setanta sports channels work - for example 423 and 424 may work okay) as was the case yesterday evening) but BT Sport (413, 414, 417 etc) would not work, one had sound but no picture just a blue screen, the others had picture and sound but it was jumpy, frames changed every few seconds. I remember the LNB got a knock before a year or two ago, I am wondering would replacing it and the box with the cable glands (multiroom and one sky + so 3 cables) perhaps solve the issue, as signal strength/quality is approx half way on both bars. Perhaps there's water in the LNB system etc?

Johnboy1951

JIdontknow wrote: »

Hi, sorry to hijack thread,but I am having issues with my sky reception. for example sky sports work good, discovery etc usually do too (odd time weather affects all channels) however only some of my setanta sports channels work - for example 423 and 424 may work okay) as was the case yesterday evening) but BT Sport (413, 414, 417 etc) would not work, one had sound but no picture just a blue screen, the others had picture and sound but it was jumpy, frames changed every few seconds. I remember the LNB got a knock before a year or two ago, I am wondering would replacing it and the box with the cable glands (multiroom and one sky + so 3 cables) perhaps solve the issue, as signal strength/quality is approx half way on both bars. Perhaps there's water in the LNB system etc?

Same answer as above ...... check the dish alignment and the LNB fixing and alignment.

It might be all that is wrong.

JIdontknow

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Same answer as above ...... check the dish alignment and the LNB fixing and alignment.

It might be all that is wrong.

Thanks, after some research (google) setanta/bt has known issues with this, seemingly sky and them use different satellites, so I need a happy medium! Just wondered as I have it with a few years but its only probably the last 6 months or so that BT Sport is unwatchable at times.

Is it difficult to check the alignment / adjust accordingly? I understand I will need a satellite finder / meter? Can it be done DIY or do you need to get a professional to do it?

Johnboy1951

JIdontknow wrote: »

Thanks, after some research (google) setanta/bt has known issues with this, seemingly sky and them use different satellites, so I need a happy medium! Just wondered as I have it with a few years but its only probably the last 6 months or so that BT Sport is unwatchable at times.

Is it difficult to check the alignment / adjust accordingly? I understand I will need a satellite finder / meter? Can it be done DIY or do you need to get a professional to do it?

My opinion - and just that - is that if you are not very familiar with doing this then get in someone who is.

The cost is worth it as it saves a lot of aggravation and failed attempts to get it right.

Also if some component such as LNB needs to be replaced it can be done for the one call out.


On the other hand, if it is very convenient and you have the time and patience then do it yourself.

JIdontknow

Think I will chance it myself first, what can possibly go wrong? lol. Are them alignment meters expensive? I will mark it someway before I adjust anything so I have a reference point. A call out may take a week or more, Conor Mcgregor fights tomorrow night!

Elvis Hammond

JIdontknow wrote: »

Thanks, after some research (google) setanta/bt has known issues with this

You shouldn't be having signal issus in Ireland or UK.

Gerry Wicklow

JIdontknow wrote: »

Think I will chance it myself first, what can possibly go wrong? lol. Are them alignment meters expensive? I will mark it someway before I adjust anything so I have a reference point. A call out may take a week or more, Conor Mcgregor fights tomorrow night!

You'll get a very basic meter in the likes of Woodies or Argos for €10~20. You only move the dish a couple of mm at a time. Properly set you should only get breakup (rain fade) in monsoon conditions.

JIdontknow

Got a meter and also remembered that the knock before broke the top curve of the LNB bracket, so the LNB was taped onto the bracket, got a bracket for it today. Thinking back the LNB itself must be working correectly as some / most channels are okay, bbc sky sport etc, so I presume it is just alignment. Will try realign / check alignment tomorrow. Also there is some type of "junction box" I believe coming from the dish / LNB, what is this used for? There is a few small single wires connected in there, what's this for? Not at home so can't post a picture.

The Cush

JIdontknow wrote: »

Also there is some type of "junction box" I believe coming from the dish / LNB, what is this used for? There is a few small single wires connected in there, what's this for? Not at home so can't post a picture.

Maybe a DiSEqC switch for another LNB or a sat/terrestrial aerial combiner? Difficult to know without a pic or some identifying name or number.

Trapapony

JIdontknow wrote: »

Hi, sorry to hijack thread...

Dear JIdontknow,
It is against the spirit of this forum to hijack someone else's post. It kills stone dead the conversation the OP was trying to encourage. It does not matter if the new topic is related to the old topic. My thread was not even a day old before it was hijacked. In future please create your own post for your own issues.

Thanks to Johnboy1951 and Ger Roe for their answers to my problem (better reception for Astra 2E than 2F/2G). If anyone thinks it is to do with something other than dish alignment then please add your piece.

Thanks
Trap

Johnboy1951

Trapapony wrote: »

........

If anyone thinks it is to do with something other than dish alignment then please add your piece.

Thanks
Trap

As I mentioned to the other poster it might also be the dish is perfect and the LNB is off-kilter ...... particularly as you mentioned the bracket being damaged .... or a combination of both!

Thurston?

Trapapony wrote: »

... If anyone thinks it is to do with something other than dish alignment then please add your piece.

What length is the cable run from dish to receiver? (Although TBH it would have to be really long, or poor quality, to cause troublesome signal losses.)

Ger Roe

The taped LNB bracket disclosure is a new variable - a strong possibility also. I would try fitting a new bracket then, before trying to move the dish. As Johnny has mentioned, it could now be that the dish is OK (position) but the LNB has slipped from the central focal point because of the tape job.

Try fixing the LNB first, but remember the 'skew position' - LNB centre mark is turned to the right of the top centre of the dish, to about the ten past the hour position. (do a google search on LNB skew - dishpointer.com will specify the extent of the twist in the positioning data that it calculates).

Good luck - it's all a learning process and a great confidence boost when you get it to work

Trapapony

Hi Thurston,
The cable length is about 15 meters so not too long. Also the fact that the Astra 2E channels are fine suggests it's not a cable problem.
Thanks
Trap