[Stephen123]

Does anyone know why all the channels that were on Eurobird Transponder C5H have now either moved to, or been duplicated (twice) on 2 new transponders, F2L and F2U? Since the change all the channels are breaking up: Performance, Channel U, Gems TV 2, Bonanza, The Golf Channel, You TV 2, Travel Channel UK +1, Pokerzone TV, Majestic TV.

Has C5H failed, or been bought by another user? Are F2L and F2U not up to strength? Is this group of channels being transmitted in triplicate on all 3 transponders as shown on Lyngsat, or has one of the F2 ones replaced C5? Is the dodgy signal I'm getting from C5H, F2L, or F2U?

Why the change, and what were F1L, F2L and F2U doing until a couple of months ago? Have they been asleep since Eurobird's launch in 2001? These new "F" transponders are on higher frequencies than have ever been used by Sky Digital before: 12,523 to 12,560 MHz, above the top frequencies used by Astra 2A/2B. Since this new "F" group of transponders appeared I get constant problems with picture breakup or "no satellite signal is being received" on the "F" channels, which I have never had with the normal transponders (1 to 40 on Astra 2A/B/D, or the lower frequency Eurobird 1 groups C and D).

The change does not appear to have anything to do with Sky HD since the channels that have appeared on F2U etc. were all on Eurobird in the first place, and there is no HD on Eurobird.

I wonder why that is? Is it because they realise Eurobird 1 is rubbish? It's funny how every major channel is on an Astra satellite and doesn't breakup when it rains, while most of the rubbish channels are on Eurobird and do. Now we have a new group of even dodgier Eurobird "F" channels that breakup even when it's dry.

[Analoguesat]

The redistribution of channels is probably due to the fact that 28E is creaking at the seams, and all capacity needs to be switched into use. The easiest way to check a new transponder is to duplicate an existing transponder which gives the engineers a direct comparison between an existing tp and the new tp.

As to what used the high frequencies before - it was Czechs, Slovaks and a whole host of feeds.

Theres nothing wrong with Eurobird 1, although some of the F series tp are on S2 steerable beam which is a little weaker in the uk than the fixed beam and the S1 beam. HOWEVER - a correctly aligned dish in the UK shouldnt have too many problames with S2 - its stonger than it used to be. I have a carefully aligned 60cm dish and have never had any breakup on any of the 28E channels - not even when the Czechs & Slovaks were on the S2 beam when it was pointing out over central Europe.

You dont state your location or dish sizes in your profile, so any suggestions as to where the fault lies could only be guesswork.

[benidormgary]

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

You dont state your location or dish sizes in your profile, so any suggestions as to where the fault lies could only be guesswork.

Hear hear! I have asked the mods to make the location a mandatory field in members profiles.We dont need to know the exact location,but a tiny clue would be very helpful!

[rai uno]

Surely that's just so you ex-Pats can gloat over us rain-soaked, freezing, impoverished yokels?

[snorbs]

I am in South of Spain and lots of these channels have started to break up for hours during the day
BBC, ITV and other channels on fixed beam

[KianD]

BBC & ITV aren't on Eurobird Fixed, they're on 2D (which only has one beam)...

[Vashta Nerada]

Originally Posted by Stephen123

Does anyone know why all the channels that were on Eurobird Transponder C5H have now either moved to, or been duplicated (twice) on 2 new transponders, F2L and F2U? Since the change all the channels are breaking up: Performance, Channel U, Gems TV 2, Bonanza, The Golf Channel, You TV 2, Travel Channel UK +1, Pokerzone TV, Majestic TV.

Has C5H failed, or been bought by another user? Are F2L and F2U not up to strength? Is this group of channels being transmitted in triplicate on all 3 transponders as shown on Lyngsat, or has one of the F2 ones replaced C5? Is the dodgy signal I'm getting from C5H, F2L, or F2U?

Why the change, and what were F1L, F2L and F2U doing until a couple of months ago? Have they been asleep since Eurobird's launch in 2001? These new "F" transponders are on higher frequencies than have ever been used by Sky Digital before: 12,523 to 12,560 MHz, above the top frequencies used by Astra 2A/2B. Since this new "F" group of transponders appeared I get constant problems with picture breakup or "no satellite signal is being received" on the "F" channels, which I have never had with the normal transponders (1 to 40 on Astra 2A/B/D, or the lower frequency Eurobird 1 groups C and D).

The change does not appear to have anything to do with Sky HD since the channels that have appeared on F2U etc. were all on Eurobird in the first place, and there is no HD on Eurobird.

I wonder why that is? Is it because they realise Eurobird 1 is rubbish? It's funny how every major channel is on an Astra satellite and doesn't breakup when it rains, while most of the rubbish channels are on Eurobird and do. Now we have a new group of even dodgier Eurobird "F" channels that breakup even when it's dry.

Before blaming Astra & Eutelsat have you thought about checking your dish is aligned properly or your equipment cables etc?

[snorbs]

sorry meant to say I had problems with BBC & ITV as well as fixed beam channels
but both of these problems only from mid morning to mid afternoon which seems strange

[Vashta Nerada]

Originally Posted by snorbs

I am in South of Spain and lots of these channels have started to break up for hours during the day
BBC, ITV and other channels on fixed beam

What size dish do you?

http://www.astra2d.com/

this shows you the footprint of 2d & what size dish you need for the area your in.

[snorbs]

1.3m
no problems with C5 or C4 which are normally weakest signal in this area

[Vashta Nerada]

Originally Posted by snorbs

1.3m
no problems with C5 or C4 which are normally weakest signal in this area

Your dish is to small thats the problem.

[snorbs]

seems strange as everything was working ok till a few days ago

[rhubarbe]

Originally Posted by rai due

Surely that's just so you ex-Pats can gloat over us rain-soaked, freezing, impoverished yokels?

Oh come now, rd. We got to seven Celsius briefly this afternoon.

I've had Golf Channel and Eurosport freezing out all afternoon. Wife trying to watch French Open. Pas un lapin contente.

[rai uno]

Bonnet de douche, rhubarbe

[rhubarbe]

Oh Ar! Where was that thread again?

[Stephen123]

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

You dont state your location or dish sizes in your profile, so any suggestions as to where the fault lies could only be guesswork.

Just added my location in London, UK. I don't know my dish size because I had to get a satellite installer to put it 250 feet away on an adjacent property to which I have no access, and I have never seen it. That's the trouble with living in a Flat in London, and one with a North facing windows! But I guess it's a standard mini-dish.

My signal level on the Sky Digibox is about 3, and the signal quality is 2, which is perhaps not surpising down 250 feet of cable. I suggested using an inline amplifier to my satellite installer but he thought it was unnecessary.

[benidormgary]

Originally Posted by Stephen123

My signal level on the Sky Digibox is about 3, and the signal quality is 2, which is perhaps not surpising down 250 feet of cable. I suggested using an inline amplifier to my satellite installer but he thought it was unnecessary.

250 ft is a loooooooooong cable,even if it is the best quality.Im sure your judgement is correct.I would try the Amplifier rather than a bigger dish in your situation,as they dont cost too much.I have never tried one myself,but they are usually recommended for runs of over 100ft. And the other downside for you is that these amplifiers are best placed as near as possible to the dish end.

[benidormgary]

Originally Posted by rai due

Surely that's just so you ex-Pats can gloat over us rain-soaked, freezing, impoverished yokels?

It was raining here this morning-and temp down to a chilly 24c

[rai uno]

Good - Not long before our Hol. via Girona

[Ignite]

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

Theres nothing wrong with Eurobird 1, although some of the F series tp are on S2 steerable beam which is a little weaker in the uk than the fixed beam and the S1 beam. HOWEVER - a correctly aligned dish in the UK shouldnt have too many problames with S2 - its stonger than it used to be. I have a carefully aligned 60cm dish and have never had any breakup on any of the 28E channels - not even when the Czechs & Slovaks were on the S2 beam when it was pointing out over central Europe.

Looking at the documents on Eutelsats website, they have 2 sets of transponders at the top end of the Eurobird frequency range. In the past, they have been using the sterable beams over central Europe and this was rather low powered over the UK. However, they also have a set of fixed beams that cover the UK. These are the ones that are in use for the opening up of the 12.5 - 12.7 gig range. http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/fp/eb1_fp.html

[Ignite]

Originally Posted by Stephen123

Just added my location in London, UK. I don't know my dish size because I had to get a satellite installer to put it 250 feet away on an adjacent property to which I have no access, and I have never seen it. That's the trouble with living in a Flat in London, and one with a North facing windows! But I guess it's a standard mini-dish.

My signal level on the Sky Digibox is about 3, and the signal quality is 2, which is perhaps not surpising down 250 feet of cable. I suggested using an inline amplifier to my satellite installer but he thought it was unnecessary.

It almost certainly will be a standard minidish. As far as I know, installers in the London area don't carry any Zone 2 dishes and a Zone 1 is very much on the edge of being too small to do the job.

250 feet works out at 75m approx. Most installs are with about 10m of cable at the most. The loss rating for CT100 or equivalent BSkyB Endorsed cable is worked out over a 100m length. At the bottom end of the frequency range it is about 21dB/100m (1000MHz for the technical people). At 1750MHz this rises to about 28.5dB/100m and at the top end 32dB/100m (2150MHz). The transponders in use on Eurobird end up traveling down the cable at just under 2000MHz so the loss in the cable is more significant at the top end. Adding an amplifier in line at the dish end should sort out a lot of the problems, but also the run should have been done in what is called CT125 which is a lower loss cable.

Andy