Starguide III Technical Issues

GE-8 Satellite Facts & Data	Antenna Requirements	Starguide Receiver Characteristics
Relay Information	Sun Fade	How to obtain a Starguide III

**GE-8 Satellite Facts and Data**
Satellite	GE-8
GE Center of Box Information Phone Number	1-800-526-4214
Orbital Location	139° West Longitude
Transponder	17
Transponder Center Frequency	C-Band Frequency 4160 MHz L-Band Frequency 990
DVB Carrier Center Frequency (as of 10/1/2001)	C-Band Frequency 4160 MHz L-Band Frequency 990
Polarity	Vertical
Data Rate	12288000 bps
Viturbi Error Correction	2/3
Azimuth/Elevation of satellite dish	Determined by receiver location

**Antenna Requirements**
Item	Minimum required	Recommended
Dish Size	2.8 meter (9 feet)	3.1 m (10 ft) or 3.8 m (12 ft)
Antenna Gain	At least 40 dB	Dependent on your location
Antenna Beamwidth	At most 1.8 degrees
Antenna First Sidelobe Level	At least 20 dB down from main beam
Antenna Cross-pol Interference Level	At least 30 dB down on main beam
Dish Type	Mesh Reflector	Solid fiberglass or Aluminum reflector
LNB Type	Any Good Phase-Stable LNB	PLL Phase-Stable Unit
LNB Temperature	40°	20°-35°
LNB Gain	55dB	65dB or greater
Cable Type	RG-6	RG-11
Cable Length		Less than 500 ft.
Number of Receivers per Dish		3 or fewer (unless amplified)
Dish Mount	Azimuth/Elevation	Polar Mount (for ease of pointing)

Please read the in-depth discussion on the suitability of old or new dishes.

Notes:

Older 4-degree bandwidth dishes will not work with today's satellites spaced 2 degrees apart. If in doubt about your dish, contact your manufacturer.
If dish is roof-mounted, a pentrating mount will offer better stability in windy conditions.
Roof-mounted dishes are often less accessible for snow/ice removal
If dish is mounted on the ground, ensure that it is protected from damage by surrounding objects (vehicles, lawnmowers, trees, etc.)

Alignment Issues

With analog signals in the older, less-hostile satellite environment, television and analog satellite receivers were commonly used. In the more hostile current digital and video environment, however, a spectrum analyzer is no longer a luxury- it's a necessity. It's impossible to use a satellite receiver or signal strength meter to find the minimum cross-polarized interference. Now, the maximum signal strength is no longer the target for which to aim: the minimum interference will ensure the best signal. And a spectrum analyzer is the only way to achieve minimum interference.

IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to use the Starguide III receiver as your audio source when aiming your satellite dish. Since this is a digital receiver, you will not be able to hear the audio getting better or worse as you aim your dish. Your receiver will mute when it does not receive adequate signal strength. You will not hear the noise and scratchiness heard on analog receivers as your signal degrades.

General Starguide Receiver Characteristics

Salem Radio Network uses the Starguide III digital receivers to decode the audio and control relays. For details on the installation of this receiver, please read the information on ABC's web site.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of digital receivers is that they do not exhibit the "scratchiness" common to analog receivers when the signal degrades. While able to provide a cleaner signal under more adverse conditions that would normally make analog unusable, the digital receivers will totally mute when the signal falls below the threshold. This effect is known as the "cliff effect."

Another characteristic of a digital signal is the ability to encode the signal. Only the Starguide III will be able to properly decode the audio and relay commands.

Sun Fade Info

Click here to find information about your location's semi-annual outages.

Starguide III Technical Issues

GE-8 Satellite Facts & Data

Antenna Requirements

Starguide Receiver Characteristics

Relay Information

Sun Fade

How to obtain a Starguide III

Alignment Issues

General Starguide Receiver Characteristics

Sun Fade Info