Wacky transponder stregnths

[Somebody]

Is it typical for all transponders to be giving such widely varying strengths?

I have a Phase 3 dish.


101WEST

Transponder Stregnth
1 90
2 68 :(
3 74 :(
4 92
5 76
6 93
7 88
8 92
9 87
10 86
11 87
12 91
13 85
14 94 :)
15 87
16 84
17 79
18 99 :)
19 86
20 92
21 86
22 85
23 86
24 94 :)
25 85
26 87
27 86
28 0
29 82
30 92
31 92
32 94 :)


110/119 West

Transponder Stregnth
1 inactive
2 inactive
3 inactive
4 inactive
5 inactive
6 inactive
7 inactive
8 94
9 inactive
10 0
11 inactive
12 93
13 inactive
14 inactive
15 inactive
16 inactive
17 inactive
18 inactive
19 inactive
20 inactive
21 inactive
22 79
23 85
24 87
25 83
26 80
27 85
28 89
29 84
30 87
31 87
32 92



Shouldn't all 101 transponders give similar readings?

I don't like those 60s and 70s :(

[AntAltMike]

Those numbers look normal to me. Next to nothing is known about the algorithm that produces "signal strength" numbers. Quite likely, it varies inversely with the utilization of forward error correction, but it doesn't correlate well with actual signal strength measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm), nor should it, as signal strength is relatively unimportant as long it is within the wide input window of the receiver.

I often observe lower signal strength numbers from transponders 2 and 3. Transponders 18, which is your strongest, and 28 which is your weakest, are spot beams so those aberrations are normal.

I'm not sure why your Sat B/C transponder 10 is zero. It may be that that transponder is not presently in use.

[Somebody]

Transponder 10 on B/C is not listed as "inactive" like the others, it just says "Move the dish 3 degrees" and "Peak: 0".

What's on transponders 18 and 28?

I'm in South Jersey, are they my locals?

[AntAltMike]

"Inactive" is not a detection status. It is programmed in because those are DISH network transponders. "Move DISH three degrees" is what a receiver says whenever it does not detect signal strength on the transponder being called. Most likely, Sat C transponder 10 (which is really transponder 30, but further downconverted) is off, but it will be back on when DirecTV's new HDTV package becomes available in a few weeks.

Transponders 18 and 28 carry local programming. If any of it is yours, then the transponder will be strong because the beam is pointed at your region. If 4, 12, 18, 20, 26 or 28 is weak in anyone's region, then it is of no consequence because there is no programming on it that is available to them.

I don't know what locals you qualify for in South Jersey. Philadelphia, perhaps? The transponder 18 beam you are detecting has the Washington, DC locals on it.

[Somebody]

I get the New York City locals here. I don't think any part of Jersey gets DC locals.