EIRP vs Dish Size - What does it all mean?

[BGonaSTICK]

The EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) is a measure of the transmission power of a given satellite beam, though in reality it's more a function of the individual transponders.

It's often mapped geographically by the satellite providers in the form of a 'contour' style map - a map which has points of equal 'reception signal strength' joined in a line.

In this way it's possible to see quickly and easily which 'band' your location falls within, and also gives clues about how near the fringe of the footprint you are.

If the lines are close together, it indicates a 'fringe' area - an area within which you will need to increase your dish size dramatically to ensure good reception.

But how do you know what dish size to choose?

Well, that's the 64 million dollar question. The lower the EIRP and the further from the centre of the footprint your reception location is, the larger the dish required. Just how big that is, is partly science and partly experience.

The science is handled pretty easily by looking up the required dish size in the table below, and this is a relatively straightforward process if you are well 'within the footprint' - i.e. in the central 'contours'.

This works well for dish sizes up to around 80cm, maybe even a metre. Beyond that, you need some help. The best source of help with this (by far) are reception reports from similar locations.

Local enthusiasts are usually more than happy to share their reception experiences and to give chapter and verse on their own reception equipment - too much so sometimes! Within the fringe area, localised reception conditions can vary dramatically. Beware - if in doubt, just go bigger!

Check out our very own Reception Reports section for many such reports, or post your own findings once you're up and running. You'll be helping the next person with their tricky (and possibly expensive) decision.

The figures given in the attached table relate to Ku-band reception.

Ku-band can be defined as:

The frequency range from 10.5 to 17 GHz; in satellite communications, the frequency band 13.75 to 14.50 GHz for transmission, and 10.7 to 12.75 GHz for reception

..and this, in fact, covers the vast majority of satellite reception across Europe.

Hope this helps!

STICK

[satsid]

Hi stick,this should also help members.Just by tel satellite international mag,it comes with a disk for your pc.With this disk there is a tool called dish track init,once setup on your pc.then all you have to do is click where you live,& bingo it loads what size dish you need for all satellites.It will say things like a 70cm or 80cm for hotbird,& tell you what size is needed for all satellites.when you get use to this you can learn what size is needs for c-band to.Also this mag is worth bying for what receivers is good & whats cr*p.On one of the dr dish shows there was a pc card,this is what thay did.Thay tested it once setup,& guess what it never worked.So thay phoned up who made it,from there advice spent another 2 hours on its setup.Then it never worked again,so thay walked outside & chucked it in the bin :roflmao: all veiwers who watched from satellite could see this.
sid

[$ly]

Local enthusiasts are usually more than happy to share their reception experiences and to give chapter and verse on their own reception equipment - too much so sometimes!

LOL - anyone in mind mate ?



L.