New Motor!

...why am I having trouble with DW reception on 103W?
DW is the weakest transponder on 103W. I can get it well most of the time. But at 10.0 dB now, it's only 2 dB above minimum lock value. So there isn't much signal to spare when weather gets poor.
 
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DW is the weakest transponder on 103W. I can get it well most of the time. But at 10.0 dB now, it's only 2 dB above minimum lock value. So there isn't much signal to spare when weather gets poor.
I think DW is actually 5/6 FEC so requires 9.4dB, so that's even less of a margin. Definitely a difficult one. I lose it at the slightest rain or even with thick clouds.
 
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I think DW is actually 5/6 FEC so requires 9.4dB, so that's even less of a margin. Definitely a difficult one. I lose it at the slightest rain or even with thick clouds.
I re-scanned and sure enough it is 5/6. That explains why as soon as I hit 9 dB it's gone. Currently at 10.7 dB, so it's just a dB or so above unlock level.
 
For whatever reason, 103 is my strongest satellite and I've never lost DW. I don't understand why it has such a high SR when the video quality is so bad. Seems like they're overpaying for unused bandwidth?

I'm disappointed that they're decommissioning 103 later this year. It's a lot younger than 99 and that bird is awful.
 
Is DW video quality bad?

NHK: 1.2 Mpbs 960 x 720
DW: 5.5 Mbps 1920 x 1080
Cozi: 5.8 Mbps 720 x 480
NewsNation: 1.5 Mbps 960 x 720

Visually, DW looks pretty good to me.
 

C band signal problems

SCPC Receivers