Ann: Tacolneston pre-switchover retune event

Davey wrote:

I assume the second part of the second sentence of that paragraph means
that there is some sort of automatic update mechanism? I don't
know what NIT means in this context. Remember, I have lived outside
this country for many years (see below).

Network Information Table. The idea is a little bit similar to RDS on FM car
radios, the receiver is given a list of alternative frequencies, so if a
service vanishes suddenly, it's got an idea where to go and find it !

As a punter, who just wants a simple life, I am afraid I stand by my
external view of it as chaotic, while accepting that it is a very
complex issue for those involved in it.

I agree. I don't think the implications of frequency changes were considered
when the DTT specs were written about 15 years ago. As Andy points out, catch
up is being play now, but it's a bit too late really.

Sky's digital boxes have always coped with transponder moves (the satellite
equivalent of what we're discussing here) seamlessly. It's so seamless, the
viewer not only doesn't have to do anything, the changes are unnoticeable
anyway. At worst, the box might require a re-boot, but they do from time to
time anyway !


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

www.paras.org.uk

On Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:37:24 +0100
Mark Carver wrote:

Davey wrote:

I assume the second part of the second sentence of that paragraph
means that there is some sort of automatic update mechanism? I don't
know what NIT means in this context. Remember, I have lived outside
this country for many years (see below).

Network Information Table. The idea is a little bit similar to RDS on
FM car radios, the receiver is given a list of alternative
frequencies, so if a service vanishes suddenly, it's got an idea
where to go and find it !

As a punter, who just wants a simple life, I am afraid I stand by my
external view of it as chaotic, while accepting that it is a very
complex issue for those involved in it.

I agree. I don't think the implications of frequency changes were
considered when the DTT specs were written about 15 years ago. As
Andy points out, catch up is being play now, but it's a bit too late
really.

Sky's digital boxes have always coped with transponder moves (the
satellite equivalent of what we're discussing here) seamlessly. It's
so seamless, the viewer not only doesn't have to do anything, the
changes are unnoticeable anyway. At worst, the box might require a
re-boot, but they do from time to time anyway !



Thank you for th support!

As a side issue, we have friends who live in Halesworth, who have a
devil of a time watching anything. They live in the shadow of the
railway line. Am I correct in saying that the Freesat satellite(s)
is(are) to be found at approx. 38 above horizon, and 30 deg. to the
East? Or have I got this wrong? I have never used a satellite, so am
unfamiliar with them.

Thanks.

--
Davey.

On Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:32:57 +0100
Java Jive wrote:

Pointing, or 'aligning' in tech-speak, a satellite dish must be done
more accurately than "approx. 38 above horizon, and 30 deg. to the
East". It's a job that can be done by amateurs, but it requires
greater attention to accuracy than aligning a conventional (ie a
terrestrial) aerial. The usual way of achieving this is by using a
calculator page, which uses the target satellite's longitude and the
dish's location to work out what the setting angles need to be.


I understand the care which needs to be taken when aligning a dish. My
question was to be able to find out if there is a suitable location on
the property for a Freesat dish. For this, a simple answer to my
original question would have been sufficient. If the answer is "No, it
is 20 deg above horizon, and due South", then that would have been
enough information, and the answer would have been "No". Since 38 deg.
up, and 30 deg. E would work, the answer "Yes" would have been just
fine. I asked a question which just needs a simple answer, which you
have not provided me.

I have a series of pages on DIY Satellite TV ...
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/Audi...telliteTV.html
... and DIY Terrestrial TV ...
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/Audi...estrialTV.html
... both of which include calculator pages to help align the dish or
aerial.


As I said, I am not at this stage attempting to align it, merely to
decide if the use of one is feasible.
But thank you for the partial answer to my question.
--
Davey.

Java Jive wrote:
Pointing, or 'aligning' in tech-speak, a satellite dish must be done
more accurately than "approx. 38 above horizon, and 30 deg. to the
East". It's a job that can be done by amateurs, but it requires
greater attention to accuracy than aligning a conventional (ie a
terrestrial) aerial. The usual way of achieving this is by using a
calculator page, which uses the target satellite's longitude and the
dish's location to work out what the setting angles need to be.

I think he just wants to get an idea as to whether or not a sat job
would be feasible, given the obstructions.

Bill

On Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 19:12:42h +0100, Davey re-iterated:

My question was to be able to find out if there is a suitable location on
the property for a Freesat dish.

Go to

http://www.dishpointer.COM


and find out because they have a vertical obstruction facility as
part of the alignment setting.

In fact I recall that they also offer a free applications for
your cell phone which you can use and get a direct indication
of whether or not the signal is going to be obstructed in the
direction of the satellite whose signals you are desirous in
receiving.

On Mon, 4 Jul 2011 18:29:32 +0000 (UTC)
J G Miller wrote:

On Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 19:12:42h +0100, Davey re-iterated:

My question was to be able to find out if there is a suitable
location on the property for a Freesat dish.

Go to

http://www.dishpointer.COM


and find out because they have a vertical obstruction facility as
part of the alignment setting.

In fact I recall that they also offer a free applications for
your cell phone which you can use and get a direct indication
of whether or not the signal is going to be obstructed in the
direction of the satellite whose signals you are desirous in
receiving.

Thank you. Although my cell 'phone doesn't do 'applications', it is a
simple as you can find.
--
Davey.

On Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:15:02 +0100
Bill Wright wrote:

Java Jive wrote:
Pointing, or 'aligning' in tech-speak, a satellite dish must be done
more accurately than "approx. 38 above horizon, and 30 deg. to the
East". It's a job that can be done by amateurs, but it requires
greater attention to accuracy than aligning a conventional (ie a
terrestrial) aerial. The usual way of achieving this is by using a
calculator page, which uses the target satellite's longitude and the
dish's location to work out what the setting angles need to be.

I think he just wants to get an idea as to whether or not a sat job
would be feasible, given the obstructions.

Bill

Correct, Bill, that's all I'm after!
--
Davey.

J G Miller wrote:

http://www.dishpointer.COM

In fact I recall that they also offer a free applications for
your cell phone

Last time I checked they had an free app for aligning dishes, that
requires a $20 activation code, *far* too expensive for a one-off self
install ...

On Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 19:32:22h +0100, Davey wrote:

Although my cell 'phone doesn't do 'applications', it is a
simple as you can find.

Well I hope that you do still visit the site because
you do not need to have a cellphone or use the cellphone
software to get an idea if there are any obstructions to
the satellite signal at your location by using the Google
map interface and click on options -- show obstacle (line
of sight checker) box.

Incidentally, if you do not know the name of the satellite
to check in the drop down menu list, it is

"28.2 E Astra 2A | Astra 2B | Astra 2D"

which is further up (not down) the list from the default
91W Galaxy 17.

On Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 19:35:04h +0100, Andy Burns wrote:

Last time I checked they had an free app for aligning dishes, that
requires a $20 activation code, *far* too expensive for a one-off self
install ...

You have an Android phone or an iphone?