Why do the transponders show different signal strengths??

[daffydoug]

Reading wikipedia I see that transponders are basically signal repeaters. I can understand why the spotbeam signals differ in signal strength, but why do the others vary? After all, they're mounted on the same satellite...

 

[dishcomm]

Reading wikipedia I see that transponders are basically signal repeaters. I can understand why the spotbeam signals differ in signal strength, but why do the others vary? After all, they're mounted on the same satellite...

The transponders operate on different frequencies.
And thus show up as varying in strength

 

[Bob Haller]

plus there can be more than one sat parked in a single slot