Signal on 'edge' of Spotbeam?

[sikma]

I curious to know what success people have had in getting a good enough signal on spotbeam transponders when there are the 'edge' of the beam or actually outside (but close) of a spotbeam?

I'm in the middle of a spotbeam but not close enough to another to have had success myself........

[alebowgm]

I have numerous times seen spot beams that I am not even remotely close to appear in my signal strength meter on both E6/8 and E7... this has only been in the evening before and of course unless I were to 'move' this is of no use for me... If you got a rather large dish, like 33inches or more and peaked for the SPOTBEAM transponders, then you could probably really get a distant DMA...

[billpa]

According to this (http://ekb.dbstalk.com/pictures/echo8.gif) spotbeam map I'm right on the line, if not just outside, beam 10, which includes Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit.
I can see about a 45-to-50 level on most days. If we're getting heavy rain that beam goes away pretty quickly.

[BobaBird]

There are two things at work here: The coverage maps are approximate The footprint will wander a bit as the satellite strays from and is moved back to its position in the sky

[derwin0]

According to this (http://ekb.dbstalk.com/pictures/echo8.gif) spotbeam map I'm right on the line, if not just outside, beam 10, which includes Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit.
I can see about a 45-to-50 level on most days. If we're getting heavy rain that beam goes away pretty quickly.
Yeah, plays havoc for those in the York/Harrisburg area that want Pittsburgh locals. A buddy of mine gets Pittsburgh locals and is praying that E10 will help, and not tighten the spotbeam. Right now he has a 1 meter dish up that just barely pulls in the spot. Any bad weather, and nightly "wobble" kills his reception.

[alebowgm]

I would think E 10 is going to probably tighten the beams being that there are so many more of them and only a limited amount of transponders...

[Michael P]

If you want a certain spotbeam you have to log the signal strength variances over a 24 hour period. Note the times when it's at it's peak as well as the lowest point. You should notice that the "wobble" is predictable, i.e you will lose the signal around the same time every day and regain it at the same time.

You could try to peak your dish's aim during the weakest periods, or get a larger dish. But in the end it's all about location, location, location! If you are too far away the largest dish will not help you if there is 0 signal in the sky where you are. If you can live with only 12 to 18 hours a day of programming (and hope it's not overnight during the "paid programming") then I guess you can "move".