Strongest Satellite Signal

[JFOK]

Hi All,

I'm not sure if this topic has ever been covered, but I was wondering what satellite is your consistent strongest and what the signal strength is. Be sure to note your dish size, your equipment and whether its a C or Ku signal.
For me, I'm only working with C Band presently and Anik F1 is my strongest with an average signal strength between 74-77 on most channels.
My equipment is noted in my signature.

John

 

[Lone Gunman]

I have several TPs on several different satellites that will show me 85% Quality on a regular basis on both my Winegard and Raydx systems using a Micro HD and an Openbox S9. When I use the AZBox Ultra on either of those dishes I get TPs that register a full 100% Quality. These are for Cband signals.

 

[JFOK]

Lone Gunman,

Thanks for your reply. Maybe I should rephrase my question.
What I was looking for was...if someone asked you what one satellite for you, has the greatest amount of strong TPs overall, which one would it be ?
Like you, I have found strong TPs on different satellites. For example, I had the ABC mux on 99W last week with a signal strength between 76-79 (my highest reading ever) and have also had EXTV on 97W boom in sometimes as high as 78. However, all other transponders on these two satellites were more in the 67-74 range. Anik F1 for me, has the most amount of consistently high TP signals averaging between 74-77.

John

 

[Magic Static]

Signal strength is arbitrary. There is no consistency to it. Many factors influence the signal strength on satellites. Primarily the "Link budget" Signal power costs more the stronger it gets. If the intended recipients of the signal all have 30' dishes the power requirement is low. Weather affects signal and there fore power is adjusted to compensate at times. The satellites themselves move around a little bit in there designated spot and when at the edge of their area can be noticeably weaker. And finally the location you are at on the planet will offer differences in signal. DTH satellite services are the strongest signals and of course encrypted.

 

[armadillo_115]

A lot depends on the satellite footprint. Anik F1R/107W C band is a bit low for me...It's stronger farther north. Also depends on how well your dish is aligned.

Simon Bol/78W C has always been very low for me.Don't know if I'm slightly off the arc,transponders are just weaker there,or not in the footprint very well.

Edit: I meant to add that on my 9000I receiver it is hard to know which transponders are the strongest.Anything about about 80% shows as 98%. Which makes it slightly a challenge to peak the signal unless I use a weaker transponder.A strong transponder will show 98% SQ for several clicks of the positioner.

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

I guess my question is a difficult one to answer and maybe I still wasn't making myself clear enough.
I know a lot depends on one's location, equipment being used, etc, but taking all that into consideration, I just wondered if any of you had a "go to" satellite. One that consistently had the largest amount of strong TPs for you (at your location and with your equipment) on C Band. Again, for me that would be Anik F1.

John

 

[KE4EST]

I don't really have a "go to". On C-Band there are so many choices on so many different birds. My wife usually gives the dish a work out every evening going to different birds to watch what she wants, or to just surf around.

 

[Magic Static]

I guess the largest number of strong transponders for me is 99.0W. My wife's setup spends most of its time on that sat and 97.0W and 101.0W. A 10' Winegard Pinnacle outfitted with a modded Chaparral Bullseye II feed horn and four Norsat DRO LNBs. Powered by a modded WNC SW48 multi-switch. Mounted on an AJAK H180 outfitted with a high resolution sensor of my own design. I love to tinker

 

[RT-Cat]

Signal strength is arbitrary. There is no consistency to it. Many factors influence the signal strength on satellites.......

Hard to really state. I have two receivers by the same manufacturer and one connected on a satellite will show a quality of 80 and put the other receiver on that same channel and it shows 50 for quality.

 

[harshness]

I know a lot depends on one's location, equipment being used, etc, but taking all that into consideration, I just wondered if any of you had a "go to" satellite. One that consistently had the largest amount of strong TPs for you (at your location and with your equipment) on C Band.

Wouldn't a weaker transponder that you can consistently get be better for making sure that everything is aligned? A strong transponder might give you good signal for several minutes when sweeping the dish where a weaker one would only show up when you were right on the money.

 

[JFOK]

harshness,

I'm not looking for a weak TP to use for tuning, just a favorite (strongest) satellite each member can receive.
You're right about the weak TP being a good tuning target, most times.

John

 

[harshness]

I'm not looking for a weak TP to use for tuning, just a favorite (strongest) satellite each member can receive.

I think the term "favorite" is what threw me off. If you do FTA simply to watch the signal meter move up and down, that's a different question from where you get your most appealing programming from.

 

[JFOK]

harshness,

I enjoy most of my programming on Anik F1 (107), Galaxy 16 (99w) and Galaxy 19 (97W).

John