Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

Andap · 15-09-06, 11:03 AM

I'm trying to fine tune a newly installed FTA system. I have a fixed dish with 3 LNBs - for Hotbird, Astra 1 & Astra 2. I can get all the channels without problems on Astra 1.

On Astra 2 however, when tuning in the BBC & ITV channels, I can get those from the vertical transponders (e.g. ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, BBC1 North West, Film 4), but not those from the horizontal transponders (e.g. BBC3, BBC4, BBC News 24, BBC radio stations). What does this suggest? Should I be looking at moving the LNB, rotating the LNB, moving the dish, etc?

I also have problems with some of the Hotbird transponders, but I haven't spotted a similar pattern there yet.

BGonaSTICK · 15-09-06, 11:33 AM

Hello m8.

What dish make/model/size do you have? What LNBs, and which receiver?

I take it you're in the North West UK?

What sort of signal strength and quality are you getting, particularly on the Astra 2 verticals?

And you thought you came here to ask us questions!

Seriously, the extra info will give us a better chance to diagnose your problem

Mickha · 15-09-06, 11:37 AM

Hi Andap,
how have you got your LNB's linked, are you using disecq switches to one receiver? This could be a problem with your set up or could be a faulty LNB, if possible check each LNB seperately, starting with the Astra 2 LNB, just to ensure it is working corectly, link it directly to your receiver and check if you can then get Horizontal and Vertical channels, once the LNB's have been proved to be working correctly you will have to post more information on your set up.
Best wishes
Mickha

Andap · 15-09-06, 11:43 AM

The dish is 80cm (don't know what make) and the receiver is a German made FTA one (Smart Rapido II). Don't know anything about the LNBs except that they're quad LNBs. I'm not at home now so can't check further at the moment.

Earlier I was getting signal on the horizontal transponders as well but it was not so good (e.g. signal level 75%, signal quality 20%). The vertical transponders had similar signal level but maybe 25-30% quality. But I didn't twig the horizontal / vertical difference at that time. So I tried moving the LNB to improve all the transponders as the picture would break up in the rain. Now I'm still getting the vertical transponders (level 75%, quality 30%), but the horizontal ones are showing level 75% and quality 0% - and there's no picture on the TV for these channels!

Andap · 15-09-06, 11:44 AM

The cable from each LNB goes to a switch at the back of the dish and then there's just one cable going from there to the receiver.

Mickha · 15-09-06, 01:11 PM

Hi Andap,
as you were receiving both horizontal and vertical channels, even at a poor signal strength, the problem sounds more like an alignment one than a hardware fault. Did you fit the dish and LNB's yourself?
There are a couple of threads on fitting a monoblock LNB, a specially designed LNB to receive Hotbird and Astra 1, and the problems that were experienced, here is one of them:
http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...p?topic=1619.0
Setting up multiple LNB's is a matter of patience and gentle adjustments, to get the LNB in the right place, to receive the strongest signal. It would help greatly if you can provide more information concerning the bracket holding the LNB's, is it one where you can slide the LNB's into position or is it fixed?
If the problem isn't alignment then it's a matter of going through the hardware, one by one, to eliminate the problem, starting with the LNB, then the cable run, from LNB to disecq switch, and finally the disecq switch, if all of these are working fine then it must be a setting in your receiver.
If possible can you please post some pictures of your Dish, LNB's and bracket, hopefully then a member might spot the problem. Also try and get more detailed information regarding your set up.
Best wishes
Mickha

BGonaSTICK · 15-09-06, 01:53 PM

Your signal strength seems reasonable for a multi-LNB setup, it's just the quality that's awful.

Have a read of these two recent threads on quality improvement too. Most suggestions we could come up with are covered in them.

http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...p?topic=1537.0

http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...p?topic=1465.0

Interference or a poor connection somewhere could also give you quality problems.

Have a read, check your setup for those types of problems and get back with your findings.

15-09-06, 11:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
Andap Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 I'm trying to fine tune a newly installed FTA system. I have a fixed dish with 3 LNBs - for Hotbird, Astra 1 & Astra 2. I can get all the channels without problems on Astra 1. On Astra 2 however, when tuning in the BBC & ITV channels, I can get those from the vertical transponders (e.g. ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, BBC1 North West, Film 4), but not those from the horizontal transponders (e.g. BBC3, BBC4, BBC News 24, BBC radio stations). What does this suggest? Should I be looking at moving the LNB, rotating the LNB, moving the dish, etc? I also have problems with some of the Hotbird transponders, but I haven't spotted a similar pattern there yet.

15-09-06, 11:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Super Murderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 10,633 Thanks: 3 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 Hello m8. What dish make/model/size do you have? What LNBs, and which receiver? I take it you're in the North West UK? What sort of signal strength and quality are you getting, particularly on the Astra 2 verticals? And you thought you came here to ask us questions! Seriously, the extra info will give us a better chance to diagnose your problem __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

15-09-06, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mickha Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,710 Thanks: 5 Thanked 276 Times in 218 Posts	Re: Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 Hi Andap, how have you got your LNB's linked, are you using disecq switches to one receiver? This could be a problem with your set up or could be a faulty LNB, if possible check each LNB seperately, starting with the Astra 2 LNB, just to ensure it is working corectly, link it directly to your receiver and check if you can then get Horizontal and Vertical channels, once the LNB's have been proved to be working correctly you will have to post more information on your set up. Best wishes Mickha

15-09-06, 11:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Andap Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 The dish is 80cm (don't know what make) and the receiver is a German made FTA one (Smart Rapido II). Don't know anything about the LNBs except that they're quad LNBs. I'm not at home now so can't check further at the moment. Earlier I was getting signal on the horizontal transponders as well but it was not so good (e.g. signal level 75%, signal quality 20%). The vertical transponders had similar signal level but maybe 25-30% quality. But I didn't twig the horizontal / vertical difference at that time. So I tried moving the LNB to improve all the transponders as the picture would break up in the rain. Now I'm still getting the vertical transponders (level 75%, quality 30%), but the horizontal ones are showing level 75% and quality 0% - and there's no picture on the TV for these channels!

15-09-06, 11:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Andap Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 The cable from each LNB goes to a switch at the back of the dish and then there's just one cable going from there to the receiver.


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15-09-06, 01:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mickha Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,710 Thanks: 5 Thanked 276 Times in 218 Posts	Re: Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 Hi Andap, as you were receiving both horizontal and vertical channels, even at a poor signal strength, the problem sounds more like an alignment one than a hardware fault. Did you fit the dish and LNB's yourself? There are a couple of threads on fitting a monoblock LNB, a specially designed LNB to receive Hotbird and Astra 1, and the problems that were experienced, here is one of them: http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...p?topic=1619.0 Setting up multiple LNB's is a matter of patience and gentle adjustments, to get the LNB in the right place, to receive the strongest signal. It would help greatly if you can provide more information concerning the bracket holding the LNB's, is it one where you can slide the LNB's into position or is it fixed? If the problem isn't alignment then it's a matter of going through the hardware, one by one, to eliminate the problem, starting with the LNB, then the cable run, from LNB to disecq switch, and finally the disecq switch, if all of these are working fine then it must be a setting in your receiver. If possible can you please post some pictures of your Dish, LNB's and bracket, hopefully then a member might spot the problem. Also try and get more detailed information regarding your set up. Best wishes Mickha

15-09-06, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Super Murderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 10,633 Thanks: 3 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Vertical & horizontal transponders on Astra 2 Your signal strength seems reasonable for a multi-LNB setup, it's just the quality that's awful. Have a read of these two recent threads on quality improvement too. Most suggestions we could come up with are covered in them. http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...p?topic=1537.0 http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...p?topic=1465.0 Interference or a poor connection somewhere could also give you quality problems. Have a read, check your setup for those types of problems and get back with your findings. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W