SC in Alaska?

[icstephen]

ok I am considering a job in Alaska and am wondering how well SC would work up there (62N 155W). I am currently using a 2 dish system (36" fortec dishes) would I need a larger dish there or do you think that would work. The elevation is pretty low I think like 11deg.

 

[Mr Tony]

Honestly I would shoot Mike Kohl at global (global-cm.net) an e-mail. He's been to Alaska and should have some info.

I know ti should work there as people in the Yukon and NW Territories have SC.

 

[mikekohl]

The answer would hinge up the exact location.
Star Choice's signal is rather strong east of the Parks Highway (main route
between just north of Anchorage and Fairbanks). It gets weak to the south
and west...although for some unknown explanation it does not drop off as
fast to the northwest (until it hits the horizon).

Would generally recommend a pair of 4 foot offset antennas, or to get a
six foot offset type and rig up a multifeed to get 2 satellites (107 and 111).
If you need a six footer (1.8 meter), contact John at Satellite Alaska in
Anchorage---he generally has reflectors that large in stock, bringing them
in from Seattle in containers by ocean freight. Otherwise you will pay a mint
in shipping fees on a single antenna shipment between the Lower 48 and
Alaska. (Anchorage to the villages is bad enough; if you can arrange delivery
on a summer barge, it might make sense; otherwise it's air freight all the way).

 

[icstephen]

thanks Mike I appreciate the info, if I get/take the job that is what I'll try (summer barge) its in the town of Mcgrath about 250 miles north west of Anchorage accessable by plane and summer barge only. would like to have the SC for those long winter evenings...although if I can get my hands on a large C-band dish I might be interested in seeing what I can DX with that.

 

[mikekohl]

Many people are using Ku-band only offset antennas for Galaxy 10R,
which has a relatively strong signal and better elevation angles in Alaska.
90 cm may be on the small side; I would suggest probably a 1.2 meter.
And you'll definitely want to put in a motorized C-band system. McGrath
has a small cable system, but I would suggest a knockdown mesh antenna
such as the CKD-10, which can be sent in via UPS or other air carrier and not
break the bank. Some of the boxes can go via the Post Office, and be treated
as PRIORITY MAIL...a real price break compared to Air Freight. Add your FTA
receiver to the motorized C-band, and there will be a greater variety of things
to look at.

 

[icstephen]

Hey Mike do you have John at Satellite alaska's number? Does he have a web site.
BTW its -20F right now

 

[mikekohl]

(907) 243-7475
E-mail satellite@alaska.net
Don't know a web address, if any.

We had temperatures like that this morning!
I'm checking the weather across Siberia, and there was one location north and west of Magadan that expected temps as low as -74 F this week. It would appear that winter's icy grip may be for an extended period of time. McGrath has had weather in the minus 60 to 70 range in the past; rare but it can happen. Not the best conditions for tuning in a satellite antenna.
Rather than freeze yourself fighting with a SC receiver, you might want to do a combination of an MPEG-2 receiver with in-line satellite tuning meter. Check my transponder lists for the Ku-band side of 111.1 and 107.3, and use that to align your system....many MPEG-2 boxes are faster reacting than Motorola's and this is not the time of the year to be spending extra minutes outside.
Go to the MPEG-2 section at www.global-cm.net