Gibertini 150 vs. Laminas 1500

After receiving some great advice over at the Astra 2E: Scandinavia & Baltics Reports thread, I've finally decided that that I need to hit the button and get myself a 150cm dish. Now, the question is WHICH dish to get. Since this question doesn't directly relate to fringe reception and is more a direct comparison if two similar sized dishes, I though it deserved its own thread.

I was about to buy the Gibi but then the potential problems of my location dawned upon me. I'm semi-costal (a little in-land but at the end of a fjord) so we get plenty of weather here. Winds can be quite strong which makes me question how the Gibi will stand up to the wind without becoming distorted and the potential for corrosion is also a concern.

I would love to get a Channel Master/Raven which I understand are very strong, very well made glass fibre/epoxy/composite/whatever but a) they're very expensive and b) they don't make a 150, I'd have to have a 180 and that, for my needs, is just overkill.

@st1 mentioned the Laminas and I noticed that they too are glass fibre. I've seen they they also receive good reviews but as most of what I've found is either in German or Polish (I speak neither of these languages) I'm not able to get an understanding of the durability (except that they aren't as robust as the CM/Raven)

So, I've narrowed it down to either the Gibertini 150 or Laminas 1500. The Gibertini has the potential to become permanently distorted in high winds and corrosion is a concern (perhaps unfounded) whereas the Laminas could bend in relatively light winds (although it should then spring back into place.

The question is: Which one?

I suppose you use a 90 cm Triax (TD 88) now?
That makes me wonder why you think, a 150 cm dish will suffice, and a 120 cm dish won't?
Although weight, costs etc. above 120 cm increase dramatically, the performance might be not so different.

Also, I think your Bergen climate might be too rough for both 150 cm dishes mentioned!
I think Channel Master is the one to use, either 120 cm first, or 180 cm rightaway.

Hello, my 125 (125x135 & believed to be tuned to the last mm) is a major improvement and great++ for the price, but have lately had evenings with murky weather combined with the 'low level time' around 20h-22h, where am keeping only the strongest 2E UK transponders (like 10906 itv). So IMO to be sure to get 24\24 on 2E under most or all circumstances, 150 and up is the way to go. Particularly if 2F UK is on the agenda, am losing those around 20h, and coming back around 24h. The drop in UK spot levels in the evening is MASSIVE some days, 2F most affected.

All in all, I'd need a few more %'s to cope with difficult conditions, going 150 would probably fix this, but no plans ftm, am 95% happy with the 125.

Here's a link to a successful Gibertini 150 install in the Bergen area.

btw, am currently experimenting with lnb's, maybe able to extract a tiny bit more from the current setup. Picture, my current reference 2E transponder, getting max out of that one, then moving to the weaker UK spot's and do any fine-tweaking.

Thanks for the fast responses!

hvdh said:

I suppose you use a 90 cm Triax (TD 88) now?

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Yes, that's exactly what I have. Everything is ok, with some weather overhead, except between 19:00 and 22:00/23:00.

hvdh said:

That makes me wonder why you think, a 150 cm dish will suffice, and a 120 cm dish won't?

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It's no more than a guess backed up by the experience of people in the local (-ish) area. As I say, it's just a guess (although an educated guess) but something I'm willing to go with. Trying to squeeze the very last bit out of a 120 isn't something that I have the patience (or equipment) for so for me a 120 is really out of the question (based on @4wd 's experiences) and a Channel Master 180, at twice the price, is something I'm a little reluctant to go with. There aren't really many large dishes on second-hand market here, in fact, over the past few months I've seen a grand total of none!

hvdh said:

Also, I think your Bergen climate might be too rough for both 150 cm dishes mentioned!

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What makes you think that? I see that you have a Laminas. Is it a little flimsy?

Compared to a CM, one could call the Laminas flimsy, yes.
Only you know if North Sea storms can fully hit your location.
In my case, the Laminas is mounted East-side sheltered by building, so wind is hardly an issue.
And it can be moved by cheap SG-2500A.

If it's like in S/E Germany, I'm not sure any reasonable size will be enough to bridge your evening null.

I would say, if you have physical and financial possibility, you better go for bigger dish, such as CM or others from professional stuff. Not necessary look for brand new, those are knows they work and look like new after cleaning.
Couple of weeks ago I was visiting one chap, he is getting rid of his SAT-business and selling out everything he has. There is also Laminas 1500. To me this dish looked pretty strong. And it is new with all supporting metal parts. If you wish I can find contact, so you try to bargain good price. But shipment will be an issue and can cost more than dish itself.
You said you were looking in second-hand market.... what can I say, it is always lottery, where you can win something really great.

Trouble is in norway larger sized dishes ( new ) cost a fortune and the used market for these sized dishes is next to non existent.

Regards

I think that second had stuff could be found everywhere, and Norway is not an exception. Perhaps people there not interested in selling their old dishes as couple of hundreds EUR (or whatever that mean in local currency) is not interesting amount of money. Therefore, lots of people still keep their BUDs in their barns and garages. From other side, maybe in Norway not so many really good sat dishes, firstly because there people pay annual tax just for having TV-set at home. Secondly, for in such way collected money they are provided with quality terrestrial television and majority of them are happy with what they have.
What can I say, Norwegians are welcome to Europe second-hand market to buy some good dishes.

Brits in Bergen said:

So, I've narrowed it down to either the Gibertini 150 or Laminas 1500. The Gibertini has the potential to become permanently distorted in high winds and corrosion is a concern (perhaps unfounded) whereas the Laminas could bend in relatively light winds (although it should then spring back into place.

The question is: Which one?

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I think the Laminas 1500 will do just fine for you.

The Gibertini is good dish, but it is metal, and will warp, bend and rust, either through weather, or simple misshandling when mounting (I've dropped a CM120 from about 1.5 metres with no impact!)

The CM120s are nice, but I think the extra area of the 1500 will give you an advantage.

Although I have never handled a Laminas 150, I am fairly confident they will outlive the weather you throw at it - as long as fixed properly to a metal pole attached to concrete, and it is not mounted at the top of a ridge or something silly.

Being fibreglass-reinforced polyester (SMC == Sheet Moulded Compound) means that it will hold up strongly until it cracks rather than bend or deform gradually, and that again takes quite some beating, a lot more than a metal dish will withstand.

Hmmm well I am fairly happy with my 1.5m Gibby. It does have a tendency to warp if mishandled - I had to straighten mine. For that reason, I would go for the Laminas, though I don't know how strong it actually is. I am contemplating a 1.8m version of Laminas in the future but not yet convinced of its rigidity, despite it being allegedly fibre glass.

Neither dish should corrode as the Gibby is aluminium.

Brits in Bergen said:

Thanks for the fast responses!


Yes, that's exactly what I have. Everything is ok, with some weather overhead, except between 19:00 and 22:00/23:00.


It's no more than a guess backed up by the experience of people in the local (-ish) area. As I say, it's just a guess (although an educated guess) but something I'm willing to go with. Trying to squeeze the very last bit out of a 120 isn't something that I have the patience (or equipment) for so for me a 120 is really out of the question (based on @4wd 's experiences) and a Channel Master 180, at twice the price, is something I'm a little reluctant to go with. There aren't really many large dishes on second-hand market here, in fact, over the past few months I've seen a grand total of none!


What makes you think that? I see that you have a Laminas. Is it a little flimsy?

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I have a Laminas 1200 and do not think it at all flimsy.It was shipped from the factory in Poland to me here in Sweden for €65 with no problems.

dmaavrigdo said:

It was shipped from the factory in Poland to me here in Sweden for €65 with no problems.

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Cheers

Contact mail address would help so members can get quotes from this company for their preferred dish sizes delivered to their location.

Regards

Edit
Found the mail address and sent mail requesting price for 150 offset with az mount including shipping to my address.

laminas@laminas.com.pl

Try this to start....

http://www.laminas.com.pl/page_eng/contact.html

To the best of my knowledge there was an English guy working for them you could contact....

Let me know the price and how responsive they are please.

Found the response to my mail I sent them about the Laminas 120cm

From: KK laminas
To: sonnetpete@*****
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: Enquiry about dish purchase

Dear Mr.Peter
Sorry for all inconveniences, I didn't get your mails.
From jan 2010 we've had to up our prices a bit and currently prices are as follows:
OFC1200 dish...... 76€
OFZ1200 az-el mount...22.20€
Shipping.........90€
Plus 22% VAT
With Best Regards
Chris Kaczor
Laminas
P.S. The shipping will be the same if we send 2 dishes in one cardboard box. So if you find another guy who will want to buy this dish in your area, the costs will be reduced.
Ch.

It wasn't an English guy as I thought, but an English speaking employee...I know it was lot cheaper to buy the dish from 2Galli here in France...even with the reduction in shipping costs for 2 dishes....

Found my quote from March 2014
We can ship to Sweden.
OFC1200.............113.16 €
OFZ1200...............35.67 €
Shipping..................69 €
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Total .....................217.83 €
Retail prices, 23% VAT included.

A Laminas OFC 1200 with 2Galli, €192 including shipping within France....so the quote to Sweden seems pretty reasonable...

Can source a 150 gibi with mount here in norway ( company called x sat ) for ( norwegian kroner 7745,00 ) €920 including taxes? and shipping.

Do not think I will bother at that price.

Regards

HM Sat in Germany will ship a Gibi 150 to Norway for just over €350....

sonnetpete said:

HM Sat in Germany will ship a Gibi 150 to Norway for just over €350....

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I seem to remember a forum member from sweden having an experience with HM sat where the price suddenly went up when they got around to shipping the thing due to insurance or something with the freight people.
Anyway, I can source the Gibertini 150 from my distributor at about 375 + VAT & shipping.