Receiving program from AMC21 Ku, 125W through double pane window

[polgyver]

This topic was described earlier by some members, but I wanted to complete what was my failed attempt to catch signal from Satmex6. Now I aimed at 125 W and finally got reception.
This bird emits beam more horizontally - for Toronto, the angle is 22.1 degree, and the beam is much less obstructed by overhanging roof.
Another reason was, some tinkering with LNBFs is much more comfortable when done inside...
Seven annotated photos follow

 

[Hockeynut]

That is cool...I have never tried grabbing a signal with the dish in the house before.Just curious why you did this?...You live in one of those HOA that gives you alot of trouble?..

 

[Keystone7]

Pretty neat! Now if you can keep the pets off. .

 

[FaT Air]

You must not have the mosquito's like around here. Metal screens for longevity. Them nylon ones don't stand up to the constant barrage.
Pics like that, here and today, would be snow covered roofs. YAY! the mosquito's are gone.-

 

[toucan-man]

Daystar is on 125W ? What receiver are you using ?

 

[northgeorgia]

Daystar, with those parameters, is on 123W

 

[polgyver]

That is cool...I have never tried grabbing a signal with the dish in the house before.Just curious why you did this?...You live in one of those HOA that gives you alot of trouble?..

No... I got other Ku dishes on this house, neighbours do not complain. I plan to tinker with LNBFs' scalars, and do not like cold outside.

 

[polgyver]

You must not have the mosquito's like around here. Metal screens for longevity. Them nylon ones don't stand up to the constant barrage.
Pics like that, here and today, would be snow covered roofs. YAY! the mosquito's are gone.-

When attempting receiving of Satmex6, 2 weeks ago, (could not get it), I removed the screen, even though it was with nylon mesh. Did not bother to put it back - after all, it is cold season...

 

[Lone Gunman]

Daystar, with those parameters, is on 123W

Yup, you're exactly right!! He's on 123W not 125W! Only 2* off though.

 

[polgyver]

Toucan-man; northgeorgia; of course, I goofed. My apologies for inadvertent misleading all members. This was my first attempt to receive sat further than 120 degree West.
My intention was to get 125 W. This dish was aimed at 101 W, sitting on my backyard post. I calculated that, to move it to azimuth 236 degree (for 125 W), the bracket has to slide 9.5 mm on 42 mm post. As the lowest elevation was 24 degree (V-bar was hitting the post), for quick fix I raised LNBF about 2 cm using metal sleeve under the LNBF holder. So I got a signal, which I scanned, and I named it 125 W.
Good to have expert members on this forum, who find any mistakes right away.
The receiver used is a cheapo from ebay, Sonic, which was about $26 delivered. I use it for pointing dishes. It has Ali processor, separate RCA terminals, LED display, which - in signal strength mode - shows the Q on display. I built into it small speaker, so I can hear when hitting the signal.

 

[polgyver]

Yup, you're exactly right!! He's on 123W not 125W! Only 2* off though.

Right... Essentially, my modest goal (receiving anything, but inside warm house) has been attained. However, I got only one watchable channel, the other 3 are very weak and pixellating. Does true 125 W have stronger transponders than this, 123?

 

[Lone Gunman]

125W (AMC21) has one @ 12180 V 30000 that shows around 80% Q on my Unimesh with the S9 receiver. That's a DVB S2 PBS TP with 7 channels on it. There are others but they are weaker than this one.

 

[northgeorgia]

Still, a great accomplishment for "indoors." Much better than I could do!

 

[FaT Air]

Yeah, the only (available)south facing window here has pine trees either side of it. With luck, could only hit maybe 97 to 91W. Reason for 'em all being 'out front' just off the sidewalk. (The yard is a virtual 'forest')

 

[. Raine]

Right... Essentially, my modest goal (receiving anything, but inside warm house) has been attained. However, I got only one watchable channel, the other 3 are very weak and pixellating. Does true 125 W have stronger transponders than this, 123?

For me here it's much harder to receive 125 W Ku than 123 W. 125 W is sometimes good here and sometimes not. I like your idea of being in the warm house messing with the dish, I have a big picture window on my back porch and it faces south, the idea of being inside playing with a dish and nice and warm is very appealing.

 

[El_Viejo]

The glass must be leaded to cause that much drop. El_Viejo

 

[polgyver]

For me here it's much harder to receive 125 W Ku than 123 W. 125 W is sometimes good here and sometimes not. I like your idea of being in the warm house messing with the dish, I have a big picture window on my back porch and it faces south, the idea of being inside playing with a dish and nice and warm is very appealing.

Hi, Mr. Raine,
As you are in Connecticut, your dish "sees" these sats by 3 degrees lower, than my dish in Toronto. Indeed, it is really comfort to tinker with LNBS' in room temperature. Yesterday evening (Saturday) I tried some LNBF's to see if they work (I did disconnect and connect them "alive", taking care not to short the cable, and everything was fine). Next, I used a LNBF from which I earlier separated its scalar - the "neck" without scalar fetched really low signal (Q=18-20), (complete LNBF supplied Q=34-36). Next, I used copper pipe, 3/4", about 10" long, between LNB and its scalar - no signal loss. Next, I put alum. square tubing, 1", 13" long - negligible signal loss. The most interesting was usage of alum. pipe with 2 ninety-degree bends, total length about 30" - Q was in 26 -27 range, program still watchable. All these extensions had cros-section greater than LNB pipe. But when I put 1/2 " copper pipe as an extension, the signal was completely lost. So, these are my experiments during cold weather. Cheers, polgyver

 

[polgyver]

The glass must be leaded to cause that much drop. El_Viejo

Quite possible. The window is 16 years old, the frame is plastic, but the glass borders are probably metal. Not all dish is illuminated, (top and bottom are obscured), as well vertical path obscured by center frame. Too bad, that there are many months before the Sun could show illuminated area...

 

[cyberham]

Elegant idea that makes a lot of sense with Canadian winter now here. For 125W, my experience is it's a lot easier to aim for the scrambled strong DVB-S2 QPSK Claro tp on 11980 V 30000. It must be strong and is easy to find since it reads SQ 70+% here even though I can't catch the PBS tps.

 

[toucan-man]

I have 10' ceilings. I've thought about setting up a 10' mesh BUD indoors. It sure would look nice, but alas the windows are too small to permit reception of any signals.

I wonder if the inside of one of these on a winter day would make for cozy TV ?