Fracarro Penta 85cm Reception @ 55 North 8 West

***compufunk*** · 23-07-2008

For anyone who is interested, I have attached a spread sheet listing what I am pulling in with the Fracarro Penta 85cm @ 55 North 8 West (North Western Ireland). Motorized 30W to 57E.

The Kit: Fracarro Penta 85cm,Fracarro Single Universal LNB 0.5, Motek SG2100 all hooked up to a DM600 PVR, The only reason its up so high is to clear a few trees,

I am happy with reception and am pulling in some stuff that I thought would be borderline, even in the rain.

The whole (Dish / motor / lnb) kit was bought from highdefinitionuk, recommended

If anyone wants any detail on signal quality on any transponders within my arc I'll check them out for you.

C

**rolfw** · 23-07-2008

Nice installation, they are a nice compact dish and certainly punch above their weight.

**satelliteman** · 23-07-2008

Looks a tidy installation - such a professional dish with a Moteck, they were made for each other

***compufunk*** · 24-07-2008

Thanks guys, I had some fun putting it up,

I discovered that there was a wasps nest in the roof and all the traffic was buzzing past my face while installing, Had one go into my ear at one stage, not a nice experience when perched up on a ladder

sg_ · 24-07-2008

Looking good. What sort of reception do you get on the Russian channels on 53e with your setup?

***compufunk*** · 24-07-2008

Originally Posted by sg_

Looking good. What sort of reception do you get on the Russian channels on 53e with your setup?

I'm only picking up a hand full of services there, I'll take a closer look this evening.

***wod*** · 24-07-2008

looks good and neat

i shall have pics of my new system next week too, anyone else got some to put up ?

**satelliteman** · 24-07-2008

Originally Posted by wod

looks good and neat

i shall have pics of my new system next week too, anyone else got some to put up ?

You getting a PENTA ...........Wod? as you showed some interest to my signal Results

***compufunk*** · 25-07-2008

Originally Posted by sg_

Looking good. What sort of reception do you get on the Russian channels on 53e with your setup?

53ºE

I'm getting high signal strength (80+) and good quality at between 80% and 95% on the following TPs,

Sorry I didn't get around to noting which were at 80% and which at 95%,

11630 V
11616 V
11161 V
10974 H

Does anyone think I should be picking up more?

**Ratchet** · 25-07-2008

Have you tried getting signals from 21.6E with the Penta 85 ? I can get Radio Euronics (11617 V 27500) and CFI Peco Pro (11586 V 6511) on my battered old 90cm mesh dish here in Glasgow.

I hope to replace my dish soon and was considering the Penta 85 or Triax TD88. Any opinions on which is the better option or even suggest another good budget dish (90cm max), thanks.

***compufunk*** · 25-07-2008

Originally Posted by Ratchet

Have you tried getting signals from 21.6E with the Penta 85 ? I can get Radio Euronics (11617 V 27500) and CFI Peco Pro (11586 V 6511) on my battered old 90cm mesh dish here in Glasgow.

I hope to replace my dish soon and was considering the Penta 85 or Triax TD88. Any opinions on which is the better option or even suggest another good budget dish (90cm max), thanks.

I'm not picking anything up from 21.6E, I'm not even sure that I scanned it, I'll have a look this evening.

The consensus seems to be that the Fracarro Penta 85 out performs the Triax TD88.

A few recent threads,

TRIAX TD88 vs FRACARRO PENTA 85

Fracarro Penta 85cm VS Triax 88cm

**Ratchet** · 25-07-2008

Originally Posted by compufunk

I'm not picking anything up from 21.6E, I'm not even sure that I scanned it, I'll have a look this evening.

The consensus seems to be that the Fracarro Penta out performs the Triax.

A few recent threads,

TRIAX TD88 vs FRACARRO PENTA 85

Fracarro Penta 85cm VS Triax 88cm

Thanks for the links, I'll check them out later. Would be really interested in any results you get from 21.6E as this is the weakest signal I currently get with my old dish.

***compufunk*** · 27-07-2008

Originally Posted by Ratchet

Have you tried getting signals from 21.6E with the Penta 85 ? ..........

Sorry for the delay,

All I can get off 21.6ºE is "CFI Peco Pro" on 11586 V.

Thats not to say you wouldn't pick it up where you are. But, we are are in and around the same reception area for that beam according to lyngsat.

**Ratchet** · 27-07-2008

Originally Posted by compufunk

Sorry for the delay,

All I can get off 21.6ºE is "CFI Peco Pro" on 11586 V.

Thats not to say you wouldn't pick it up where you are. But, we are are in and around the same reception area for that beam according to lyngsat.

Thanks, that's good to know. I only just get these channels with no margin for rain fade. Can I bother you to clarify something else for me, do you get the MBC channels off Badr 4 11919 H 27500 3/4 ? I don't see these in your list and wouldn't want to lose them if I went for the Penta.

I have a couple of questions about the dish itself....

1. I assume the unusual shape has an effect on efficiency, does it lose gain on a motorised system when it is at the extremes of the arc. My concern is that as the dish will be skewed off square will it lose any efficiency. After all it is that shape for a reason !

2. Is it worth getting the aluminium version over the steel one ?

**satelliteman** · 27-07-2008

Point1 > You shouldn't lose much if installed correctly. Although the PENTA is a 85cm, if you measure the dish width way, it's 98cm wide.

Point2 > Aluminium would be light in weight and last longer (recommended I suppose)..... but the steel version is still only around 7Kg - 8Kg.

Check my test results on the penta - penta Vs Triax for example

THE PENTA WILL OUT PERFORM THE TRIAX BY A MILE ............

SM

**Ratchet** · 27-07-2008

Originally Posted by satelliteman

Point1 > You shouldn't lose much if installed correctly. Although the PENTA is a 85cm, if you measure the dish width way, it's 98cm wide.

Thanks, didn't realise it was that wide.

Originally Posted by satelliteman

Point2 > Aluminium would be light in weight and last longer (recommended I suppose)..... but the steel version is still only around 7Kg - 8Kg.

Thought that might be the case, so no difference in performance then. My current dish is 15 years old and a bit rusty so might fork out a bit extra for the aluminium one.

Originally Posted by satelliteman

Check my test results on the penta - penta Vs Triax for example

THE PENTA WILL OUT PERFORM THE TRIAX BY A MILE ............

SM

Already have, good work.

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