Satellite reception in the past week

NY

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Nov 8, 2021, 3:56:15 PM11/8/21

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I know there's been a solar storm recently and that its effect reached the
earth a couple of days ago, and that this would cause satellite TV reception
problems. I've certainly seen a lot more errors on satellite and have
temporarily switched to watching/recording terrestrial instead.

But I thought that was past now and satellite reception was back to normal
again. So why would my satellite reception still be worse than normal:
probably about 50 continuity errors per hour? There hasn't been torrential
rain - or (on some days) any rain at all.

As a matter of interest, are all the multiplexes on Astra 28.2 roughly the
same power or are there some which are lower power and therefore may be
subject to more errors (for the same dish, LNB, cable, tuner)?

The stats that my USB satellite tuner reports (PCTV 491e) are about the same
as always: -25 dBm strength and 15 dB SNR.

alan_m

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Nov 8, 2021, 8:20:25 PM11/8/21

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On 08/11/2021 20:55, NY wrote:
> I know there's been a solar storm recently and that its effect reached
> the earth a couple of days ago, and that this would cause satellite TV
> reception problems. I've certainly seen a lot more errors on satellite
> and have temporarily switched to watching/recording terrestrial instead.

I've not seen any problem in the past week or so. Zone 2 mini-dish in a
zone 1 reception area

>
> But I thought that was past now and satellite reception was back to
> normal again. So why would my satellite reception still be worse than
> normal: probably about 50 continuity errors per hour? There hasn't been
> torrential rain - or (on some days) any rain at all.

Dish has moved??
Water in the cable??

>
> As a matter of interest, are all the multiplexes on Astra 28.2 roughly
> the same power or are there some which are lower power and therefore may
> be subject to more errors (for the same dish, LNB, cable, tuner)?

It's a cluster of satellites so if you dish is slightly off the
reception from one satellite may be slightly worse than from another

Sites such as
https://en.satexpat.com/sat/east/28.2/
show from which of the Astra satellites at 28.2E the signal originates

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SH

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Nov 9, 2021, 3:28:15 AM11/9/21

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> As a matter of interest, are all the multiplexes on Astra 28.2 roughly
> the same power or are there some which are lower power and therefore may
> be subject to more errors (for the same dish, LNB, cable, tuner)?

They are transmitted with the same ERP from the satellite itself but
atmospheric attenuation varies over frequency and it is after all
something like 22,000 miles away.

What is more important is the signal to noise. The required minimum
signal to noise ratio actually depends on the modulation scheme used,
i.e. qpsk or 8psk along with symbol rate and FEC (Forward error correction).

The symbol rate, FEC and modulation scheme does vary across the
satellite's transponders.

So some transponders have a higher signal to noise requirement than
others and it is these that will degrade more before the others.

Brian Gaff (Sofa)

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Nov 9, 2021, 4:34:50 AM11/9/21

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I get the impression at the moment that those actually controlling and
replacing these sats are thinking in the long term to do away with them for
the average user, and use internet delivery instead. I personally think it
dangerous to rely on systems not directly under your control, I have to say.

I've not heard of anyone round here suffering errors, so maybe its been
there since the last big wind or torrential rain.
Brian

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Brian Gaff (Sofa)

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Nov 9, 2021, 4:38:01 AM11/9/21

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That was always the case with even UHF tv, as I recall the high channels
were much more absorbed than the lower ones.
Also and few consider this. The more north or south of the equator you are
the more atmosphere is going to be in the way.
So it can be affected by goings on far from where you are at different
heights.

Brian

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Tweed

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Nov 9, 2021, 5:17:40 AM11/9/21

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Brian Gaff $Sofa$ <bri...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> I get the impression at the moment that those actually controlling and
> replacing these sats are thinking in the long term to do away with them for
> the average user, and use internet delivery instead. I personally think it
> dangerous to rely on systems not directly under your control, I have to say.
>

How are DBS satellites under the broadcasters’ direct control? They rent
space from a firm based in Luxembourg.

Woody

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Nov 9, 2021, 5:47:39 AM11/9/21

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The up-linking is done by Arqiva (formerly by BT) from several UK sites.
Since that is likely part of the broadcast contract it could be said to
be under the broadcasters control?

MB

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Nov 9, 2021, 6:23:13 AM11/9/21

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On 09/11/2021 10:17, Tweed wrote:
> How are DBS satellites under the broadcasters’ direct control? They rent
> space from a firm based in Luxembourg.

And the Internet itself can hardly be considered to be under their
control. Some kid in his bedroom can wipe out with a DoS attack.

Andy Burns

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Nov 10, 2021, 5:56:12 AM11/10/21

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Martin wrote:

> "NY" wrote:
>
>> why would my satellite reception still be worse than normal:
>

> We have not had any problems using FREESAT.

Nor me, but I don't claim to have watched many channels, or for very long ...