Express AM8 @ 14W

[Brct203]

I have a 10 ft Winegard Quadstar, that can "see" 30W to about 123W at all times, and as far as 135W in the winter with some degradation the furthest west it goes. In the East however, I used to get 1 or 2 transponders on 27.5W and a few more on 22W C-Band, but not anymore (I guess there's nothing on 27.5W now, and some trees that block 22W have gotten a bit bigger.

But then I found that from a specific spot in the front yard, I have line of sight to a section of the arc, roughly from 11W to 30W. I tested it a while ago with a Ku band dish, and got great reception of RR on 14W, as well as everthing that's available FTA on 15W.

But what about C-Band? I had tried putting a C-band LNBF on a 90cm dish, but while i could see a few bumps in the spectrum analyzer, nothing that I could lock. And I was not about to take down the 10 footer just to see Tele-Putin

Then a few weeks ago, a fellow satellite enthusiast and friend of mine told me he had a 6ft mesh dish and was getting rid of it as it was just too small to be useful (which is mostly true). I figured I'd take it to test how it would do on Ku band. And then I realized that while a 6ft dish is a bit small for C-Band, it is also somewhat portable...

So I rigged a temporary, portable mount.: A rectangular frame made of 2x4 and 2x6 to rest the rim on, and a telescopic pole attached to the upper half rib. Not exactly sturdy but stable enough for now, until I figure out something better.

And today, after testing the dish on a few known satellites (58W, 91W, then 47.5W and 40.5W with the dielectric slab), I moved it to the front yard. It took me a while but I did manage to receive 14W:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 3956R / 1571 / 3/4' > Tp# 1
< (1)Belarus 24 /> 1:0:1:1:18:1113840F74:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 3975R / 3903 / 3/4' > Tp# 2
< (2)RT Esp /> 1:0:1:1:12A:1840F87:0:0:0:
< (3)RT Int /> 1:0:1:2:12A:1840F87:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4069L / 1667 / 3/4' > Tp# 3
< (4)TV VERDES CAMPOS SAT /> 1:0:16:5BA1:1:1848FE5:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4077L / 3333 / 3/4' > Tp# 4
< (5)RADIO BONS VENTOS /> 1:0:16:4:1:1848FED:0:0:0:
< (6)TV Goiania HD /> 1:0:1:4880:1:1848FED:0:0:0:
< (7)TV Goiania 1SEG /> 1:0:C0:4898:1:1848FED:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4082L / 2400 / 3/4' > Tp# 5
< (8)TV Ponta Verde /> 1:0:19:1:1:1848FF2:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4087L / 5833 / 3/4' > Tp# 6
< (9)Cultura Paulista 1s /> 1:0:C0:F038:781:781848FF7:0:0:0:
< (10)Cultura Paulista HD /> 1:0:1:F020:781:781848FF7:0:0:0:
< (11)UNIVESP /> 1:0:1:F021:781:781848FF7:0:0:0:
< (12)EDUCACAO /> 1:0:1:F022:781:781848FF7:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4093L / 3760 / 3/4' > Tp# 7
< (13)TV DIFUSORA MA /> 1:0:1:A001:A0:EB848FFD:0:0:0:<

of those, the strongest was Belarus24 at 8.5dB SNR and the weakest was TV Difusora at 5.7dB. Most were just around 8dB. Not bad for a 6ft dish and 14 degrees elevation.

Note that I did not lock on the 3675 transponder. It's on a global beam and was much weaker ( it seems it was only about 1dB on the SDR spectrum). Also could be because the LNBF that I used is rated for 3700-4200. I might try again with a Titanium C1W-PLL.

As for the other Russian satellite, at 11W, I was able to see the beacon, but I did not see any content there. But I think I was getting into some foliage.

I will also try to get 22W and see if there's anything I can get on 18W.

Now the dish is made of 4 petals, so when I take it apart it fits nicely in my car. I might someday try to take it to a spot where i might be able to see further east (Eutelsat 8W, ABS-3 at 3W

Well, that was fun and I'm pleased with how it worked.

 

[cyberham]

...after testing the dish on a few known satellites (58W, 91W, then 47.5W and 40.5W with the dielectric slab), I moved it to the front yard. It took me a while but I did manage to receive 14W...

Fun reading about your further adventures of searching for eastern sats. In Halifax, NS with my 4-foot motorized dish with C-band LNBF installed, in Dec. 2020 I logged TV Ciadade Fortaleza on 4015 L 5984 on 22W. Despite having sky visibility to as far east as 3W, I never received anything from 14W or 11W despite trying. On 3W, from memory (no records remaining), on C-band I was able to receive a couple of transponders (I remember 'RBC' perhaps Rede Brasil Comunicacao on 4030 MHz??). So it's worth seeking further east if you can. I bet with a 6-foot dish you would see significantly more.

 

[cyberham]

Further to my note above, I see from our past communication the following record regarding C-band reception from the far eastern sats:

22.0W:
TV Cidade (3 channels)

3.0W:
5 TV channels including TV Verdes Campos, TV Almg, TV Alerj, RBCTV, IMPD BH

 

[Brct203]

Further to my note above, I see from our past communication the following record regarding C-band reception from the far eastern sats:

22.0W:
TV Cidade (3 channels)

3.0W:
5 TV channels including TV Verdes Campos, TV Almg, TV Alerj, RBCTV, IMPD BH

Ok I played a bit more with it today. Got the same results as last week on 14W, still no 11W, but I was able to get everything that I expected on 22W, and some detection on 18W:

on 22W, this is the scan result on the MIO4K:
< 'DVB-S 3970L / 3333 / AUTO' > Tp# 1
< (1)Program 1 /> 1:0:1:1:1:1320F82:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4015L / 5983 / 3/5 MIS 0' > Tp# 2
< (2)TV Cidade 1Seg /> 1:0:C0:3578:1AB:1AB320FAF:0:0:0:
< (3)TV Cidade HD /> 1:0:1:3560:1AB:1AB320FAF:0:0:0:
< (4)AUDIO 1 by AUDIO 1 /> 1:0:1:3561:1AB:1AB320FAF:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4021L / 3200 / 3/4' > Tp# 3
< (5)TV Leste HD /> 1:0:1:3:1:1320FB5:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4026L / 5000 / 2/3' > Tp# 4
< (6)TV Asa Branca HD /> 1:0:1:BCE0:5E7:B23A320FBA:0:0:0:
< (7)TOP MUSIC (Radio #1) /> 1:0:2:BCFA:5E7:B23A320FBA:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S 4034L / 2963 / AUTO' > Tp# 5
< (8)Prog.01 /> 1:0:1:1:B1:EC320FC2:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4044R / 2500 / 2/3' > Tp# 6
< (9)Radio 20 (Radio #2) /> 1:0:2:14:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (10)Radio 19 (Radio #3) /> 1:0:2:13:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (11)Radio 18 (Radio #4) /> 1:0:2:12:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (12)Radio 17 (Radio #5) /> 1:0:2:11:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (13)Radio 16 (Radio #6) /> 1:0:2:10:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (14)Radio 15 (Radio #7) /> 1:0:2:F:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (15)XANGRI-LA (Radio #8) /> 1:0:2:E:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (16)TRAMANDAI (Radio #9) /> 1:0:2:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (17)TORRES (Radio #10) /> 1:0:2:C:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (18)PAMPA (Radio #11) /> 1:0:2:B:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (19)LIBERDADE (Radio #12) /> 1:0:2:A:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (20)IMBE (Radio #13) /> 1:0:2:9:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (21)GRENAL (Radio #14) /> 1:0:2:8:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (22)ELDORADO FM (Radio #15) /> 1:0:2:7:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (23)ELDORADO AM (Radio #16) /> 1:0:2:6:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (24)CONTINENTAL (Radio #17) /> 1:0:2:5:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (25)CIDREIRA (Radio #18) /> 1:0:2:4:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (26)CAPAO (Radio #19) /> 1:0:2:3:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (27)CAICARA (Radio #20) /> 1:0:2:2:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:
< (28)104 (Radio #21) /> 1:0:2:1:2:FFFF328FCC:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4048R / 3750 / 3/4' > Tp# 7
< (29)TV Tambau HD /> 1:0:19:1:1:1328FD0:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4058L / 5000 / 5/6' > Tp# 8
< (30)CD VERDEHD /> 1:0:1:1:B1:B1320FDA:0:0:0:
< (31)CD VERDE1S /> 1:0:1:2:B1:B1320FDA:0:0:0:
< (32)CD VERDEFM (Radio #22) /> 1:0:2:3:B1:B1320FDA:0:0:0:
< (33)CD VERDESD /> 1:0:1:4:B1:B1320FDA:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4063R / 6444 / 5/6' > Tp# 9
< (34)TV PAMPA HD /> 1:0:1:CBC0:65E:65E328FDF:0:0:0:
< (35)TV PAMPA 1seg /> 1:0:C0:CBD8:65E:65E328FDF:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4063L / 3958 / 3/4' > Tp# 10
< (36)TV Antena 10 1Seg /> 1:0:C0:A938:549:549320FDF:0:0:0:
< (37)TV Antena 10 HD /> 1:0:1:A920:549:549320FDF:0:0:0:
< (38)Educa Piauí /> 1:0:1:A921:549:549320FDF:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4069L / 4996 / 3/4' > Tp# 11
< (39)TV TROPICAL 1SEG /> 1:0:C0:C378:61B:61B320FE5:0:0:0:
< (40)TV TROPICAL HD /> 1:0:1:C360:61B:61B320FE5:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 4075R / 2500 / 2/3' > Tp# 12
< (41)RBR-SAT /> 1:0:1:1:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (42)PLUS FM /> 1:0:1:2:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (43)LIDERANCA /> 1:0:1:3:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (44)BOA FM /> 1:0:1:4:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (45)MIX FM /> 1:0:1:5:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (46)RADIO BSD /> 1:0:1:6:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (47)Setup Tone /> 1:0:1:7:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (48)FELIZ FM /> 1:0:1:8:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:
< (49)MN FM /> 1:0:1:9:1:1328FEB:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S2 8PSK 4075L / 5417 / 2/3' > Tp# 13
< (50)TV CORREIO 1SEG /> 1:0:C0:9F58:4FA:4FA320FEB:0:0:0:
< (51)TV CORREIO HD /> 1:0:1:9F40:4FA:4FA320FEB:0:0:0:

< 'DVB-S 4165R / 2170 / AUTO' > Tp# 14

another scan also detected
< 'DVB-S2 QPSK 3854L / 18095 / AUTO' > Tp# 1

< 'DVB-S2 16APSK 3915L / 19048 / AUTO' > Tp# 2

and using the "signal finder i got this:
< 'DVB-S 4138R / 2170 / AUTO' > Tp# 1
< (1)Encompass - WES (Radio #1) /> 1:0:2:1:1:132902A:0:0:0:<

I got around 9.4dB on most of the channels above, pretty decent for a 6ft dish. The last one (Encompass - WES) is on global beam and I got it with 2.9dB. Good thing it's DVB-S with 1/2 FEC!. It played some nice instrumental music.

the Amiko receiver additionally picked up TV Verdade - O Caminho Antigo at 3974 L 3200

Then I turned to 18W, with very limited expectations. Most channels on that sat are on beams that cover Europe, Africa or Latin America. Only listed TV service that covers this area is on Global beam, with EIRP of about 35dB here in the NorthEast. And that TP uses 8psk 3/4, so it needs 7.9dB to lock.

The MIO4K detected absolutely nothing there. Then I thought of trying with the Amiko miniHDre. While the MIO4K is way more capable than the Amiko, the Amiko has a very nice feature. It displays very weak transponders, even if it can't lock on them. Very nice for "sniffing" weak signals. and on 18W it found the following:
4112 R 2100
4115 R 3496 (listed as data on portalbsd.com.br)
4127 L 1267 (listed as feeds on KingofSats.net)
4130 L 2060 (listed as carrying ORTM 1 and 2 on Lyngsat and others)
4172 L 32818 (listed as data transponder on portalbsd.com.br)
unfortunately I was not able to lock on any of them, but the spectrum viewed in SDRsharp seems to show 4130 at about 6dB.

Next time I will check if there's still anything on 27.5W, and see if I can find a spot in the yard that has LOS to 8W