Nimiq 82W contour map, a first take

[alebowgm]

After a week of collecting data and working with nelson61 to try and reproduce the information, attached is a projected contour map of the Nimiq 4 satellite located at 82w.

Note that this map is based soley on user reports of reception (I collected over 70 different reception reports). If you have a reading for Nimiq 4 that you see is not placed on the map, please report it and hopefully nelson61 can find some time to make some additions. The elements that we looked at were satellite size, highest peaking TP (excluding TP 3 & 4 which may still be broadcasting from another Nimiq satellite) and lowest peaking TP, as well as location of the user.

Here is his notes in the last message he sent me on it...

Green = good
Red = none
Yellow = some

A definite footprint.

Hope this helps some out, and maybe we can slip this into the Uplink Report

 

[alebowgm]

I believe it is SmithP who was saying in the Signal Strength Thread how there was no mention of Dish Size and such. So I figured I could post the raw data so people can get an idea of what size dish they need. Note that I skip the 2 TPs from the readings that are not from all accounts broadcasting from Nimiq 4.

 

[2k1Toaster]

Can we get some more readings in from southern US folks.

In the raw data on the first page, there are 2 Dallas, TX, US locations. The 3m dish has no signal, and the 90cm dish has 50-60... That can't be right.

 

[OnlineLC]

Since 8PSK, I lost a couple of transponders on 82W with my 76 cm here in Nashville. I upgraded to a Fortec 100 cms and now get the following results in Nashville on my 9242.

All come in but I do lose a couple at night (TP's 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31 can sometimes not lock or take a few seconds).

TP Signal

1 71
2 58
3 65
4 65
5 67
6 56
7 62
8 65
9 68
10 53
11 57
12 63
13 66
14 53
15 64
16 65
17 64
18 52
19 58
20 61
21 64
22 52
23 54
24 62
25 61
26 51
27 53
28 64
29 62
30 53
31 55
32 66

 

[alebowgm]

lol, go bigger than 1m and see what happens... a 1.2m may solve that problem...

 

[bigrich]

This is what I have in Indianapolis, IN with a 90cm Dish:

TP 1: 62
TP 2: 62
TP 3: 66
TP 4: 70
TP 5: 70
TP 6: 60
TP 7: 67
TP 8: 70
TP 9: 71
TP 10: 60
TP 11: 63
TP 12: 69
TP 13: 72
TP 14: 61
TP 15: 71
TP 16: 71
TP 17: 73
TP 18: 63
TP 19: 69
TP 20: 70
TP 21: 74
TP 22: 64
TP 23: 69
TP 24: 72
TP 25: 74
TP 26: 62
TP 27: 69
TP 28: 73
TP 29: 73
TP 30: 64
TP 31: 68
TP 32: 74

 

[OnlineLC]

I decided to go the 120 cm Fortec here in Nashville and now find I have pretty solid signals all round. Here are the results in signal strength on the 9242 for the 120 cms. (Note from all my experimentation I have concluded that each dB translates to approx 7 percentage points)

TP 120 cm
1 78
2 69
3 73
4 76
5 76
6 67
7 74
8 75
9 77
10 66
11 70
12 74
13 77
14 66
15 74
16 79
17 76
18 66
19 69
20 74
21 75
22 64
23 66
24 74
25 73
26 64
27 67
28 75
29 73
30 65
31 69
32 77

 

[Smith P.]

I'm doubt in the relation '1 dB ~ 7 points' as receivers taking in account signal level and signal quality, we don't know what weight added to each one to get the Dish/Bell scale.

 

[VO1ONE]

I'm surprised no one has posted this yet...

 

[alebowgm]

where did that one come from?

 

[QCK]

+1 ^^^ ?? It looks like it is pretty much spot on.

 

[VO1ONE]

where did that one come from?

From a filing Telesat made with Industry Canada about 3 years ago.
Link

 

[Mr Tony]

yeah it looks pretty spot on

there is a pretty big cutoff near Minneapolis which is true. 20" dish has issues the 30" works fine

 

[Freedom55]

no signal from 82W

I am spending my winter in Florida(32082) and while I can get a great signal strength on 91W I am getting no signal for 82W at all. I have a 20 inch Dish 500 with dishpro twin lnbf. I am assuming footprint does not come this far south since I have tried everything in fine tuning and tweaking dish.

If I'm wrong and it is a dish pointing issue let me know.

 

[Mr Tony]

the footprint does not reach florida

 

[2k1Toaster]

Are the numbers signal strength in dBs?

 

[QCK]

Are the numbers signal strength in dBs?

Yes dBW, the ratio of the power to one Watt expressed in decibels.

 

[Trikeman]

Present Bell sub, vacationing long term (a few months) in Myrtle Beach, SC area in the coming fall/winter season.....So is it going to be possible to get 82w in South Carolina.... if possible what size dish??

 

[QCK]

Trikeman, not a chance for 82W in SC. Take a look at post #9. The good news is that 91W is still fine with a standard 20" Bell dish though.

 

[jrn989]

Do you think the footprint would cover Philadelphia with a bigger dish? Obviously I'm guessing 18 wont work anymore on NIMIQ 4