why active transponders?

[dieselplus]

ive read on a heap of websites to use an 'active transponder' when searching for a satellite?

what does this mean.. im trying to find optus B3.

on B3 im using 12674/22500

http://www.lyngsat.com/optusb3.html

how can you tell which is active.. and why does active make a difference?!

[pmb1010]

ive read on a heap of websites to use an 'active transponder' when searching for a satellite?

what does this mean.. im trying to find optus B3.

on B3 im using 12674/22500

http://www.lyngsat.com/optusb3.html

how can you tell which is active.. and why does active make a difference?!

You are on the right track.
You need an "active" transponder in the fact on that has a signal on it.
12674 shows a bunch of "A" and "F" on Lyngsat so they are good candidates for signal.

Another way of putting it, you would not want to use 12666 (the box may have that as an old, outdated value on the list) and attempt to find a signal.

And yes, its a matter of millimeters of dish movement to find or lose the signal. The signals are weak and the dish must be pretty much spot on to get some quality reading.