60$ lighter in pocket ,,,now the wait.

[Vipersan]

Certainly didn't expect a knock on my door sunday ...
but here it is all safe and sound ..
Something new to play with,,

 

[Channel Hopper]

Looks like something out of Forbidden Planet.

 

[PaulR]

Certainly a lot for your money.

Looks vaguely like a Star Trek starship to me.

 

[Vipersan]

Well ...unlike its big brother the 19.2 ka b/c lnb ..
the ka A lnb is only single port though the OMT is designed to take a dual port lnb ...
It having a removeable blanking plate over the 2nd port
I guess you could fit a second lnb on the OMT for the other polarity..
certainly there is room ...
So I have now another single port ka A lnb ..
which may or may not be higher gain than the Norsat 9000AF ..
we shall see ..
but certainly it is comparable and of course cheaper.
Also smaller..
and of course ..I have another feed ..
which presumably is dedicated to this band ..
;)

 

[Vipersan]

Looking at the OMT port spacing ..it is more than likely that I can fit Its own lnb AND my 9000AF side by side ...thus getting both polarities ..though not as convenient as have 2 ports combined in one lnb and internally switched.
Still it's something to think about.
..if nothing else I will only occupy one lnb space on Carls offset feed bar ..and achieve both lnbs closer to focus.
;)

 

[Vipersan]

A couple of close ups of the feed ..now removed..

 

[Llew]

Can you just pop the FD9000 on it and try the Newsnets VS, for comparison with the Norsat?

 

[Vipersan]

..and finally ..
The OMT and depolarizer detached ..
Disassembly complete.
..anyone wanna buy a metal Turtle ?? ...
more fun than a pet rock ..
lol

 

[Vipersan]

Can you just pop the FD9000 on it and try the Newsnets VS, for comparison with the Norsat?

Probably Llew ..though the FD9000 is currently in use on Carl ..
But in the interest of experiment I shall most likely try this today..
Fingers Xed the lnb is ok ..
rgds

 

[Vipersan]

Well ..unlike the one poor Llew encoutered ..mine is working ..
Currently on my homebrew copper feed as was the Norsat9000A
Approx 3 degrees off focus ..
Both scans taked without moving the dish for accurate comparison ..
In all honesty I would say ..not a helluva lot of difference ..
Though perhaps easier lock on weaker transponders with the Hughes ..
scans taken approx 15 minutes apart..
Now to try and attach to the dedicated feed ..either with or without OMT ..
rgds
VS

...I guess the main advantage now is that I can get 2 KaA lnbs H and V (theoretically) closer to focus ....and maybe with a dedicated feed..

 

[Vipersan]

Couple more pix ..
One of the Hughes on the copper feed ..
And ...been here many times now ..
Potting up the feed to make it ka lnb bracket friendly..
Sadly that was my last polythene travel bottle..
doh!

 

[Vipersan]

Ok ..this is what I have so far..
Blanking plate removed and shifted to cober the now exposed transmit input to the OMT..
Leaving both H and V ports open ..
Depolariser tube removed completly ..a cut n shut job ..moving the feed directly to OMT ..
but a small key slot had to be filed in the Feed flange to allow this ..circular clamp could then be used to join the components together.
So potted adapted Feed to OMT to single H or V lnb ..
I just hope theres physical space to allow me to use the Norsat on the OMT ..or I will be looking for yet another Hughes Ka A lnb..
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

So there it is ..
Yes you can just fit a Norsat lnb ..on account of the Hughes having such a small footprint ..
It's a heavyish lump but should be fully functional ..
Linear H/V KaA ...requiring 2 cables to connect ...and no Base band convertor..

 

[Vipersan]

...and just in time too ..
Black storm clouds gathering ..
Westerly winds blowing dish damaging gusts ..
And to think I was sunbathing shirtless ..just 15 minutes ago..
Bizzare...................................
attaching a quick scan test with the hughes on omt with its own feed ..
a good half inch too far forward imo ...but just started raining so no time to make more space or adjust it ..
bloody weather ..
rgds
VS

odd the snap I just took says May ..but 'tis genuine ??

 

[Vipersan]

And a quick H scan using the Hughes OMT and feed signal routed to Norsat 9000AF
testing over for today
Rain Stopped Play..
Grrr

 

[Vipersan]

Looks like the Local osc is about 100 out compared to the Norsat (17250)
Hughes = 17350 to get the same result
...
What is impressive and in my opinion makes this a better bet for Newsnet is it maintains an occasionally broken lock even now with vertical rain coming down and signal level way down at 8.3db ..
dont think the sl3 or the norsat can do that ..
;)

 

[Vipersan]

So ...new lnb plan needed ..
If the rain ever stops today ..
The SL3 will more sideways to the West ...to retain easy coverage of Ka B ...and only the port closest to focus used ..thus freeing up one cable ..and no longer needing a BBC in line..
This will make room for the Hughes Norsat Ka A OMT combo ...closer to focus than the SL3 was ..(approx 2 degrees) ...I can then refit the Ku lnb ...again about 2 degrees East of focus ..
The Norsat Ka C linear lnb will then move to focus but vertically shifted about 2 degrees ...
Leaving the Norsat H/V or circular lnb at its current position approx 5 degrees West of focus ..and Cband lnb where it is a good 8 degrees West of focus ...
The Sl3 ..could be removed completely but will remain on one port used approx 6 or 7 degrees west of focus ...and of course the XMW which needs all the signal it can get will stay central ..at focus ...for Ka D
It's good to have a plan ..
lol

 

[Vipersan]

So the rain stopped and dried up enough to get the job done ..
Still some tweaking to do but looking very promising..
Here is a photo of the new lnb config on Carl ..
Heavy I know but hes big and butch enough to carry it ..
All in all a good days work..

VS

 

[Llew]

Yes, a fine looking array you have there now VS. Having a big dish helps there - no way could I do anything similar on the Gibby 1.2, but happy enough with my LNB's spread over the various dishes I have.

It's a shame the Hughes Ka A-band LNBs aren't easier to come by for anyone wishing to get into Ka Band working, considering the huge price difference between those and that of the Norsat for instance.

 

[Vipersan]

Yes, a fine looking array you have there now VS. Having a big dish helps there - no way could I do anything similar on the Gibby 1.2, but happy enough with my LNB's spread over the various dishes I have.

It's a shame the Hughes Ka A-band LNBs aren't easier to come by for anyone wishing to get into Ka Band working, considering the huge price difference between those and that of the Norsat for instance.

Agreed Llew ..but they do turn up occasionally on ebay ...and if you are lucky enough to get the whole assembly ..the possibility to have KaA full linear H/V is there..
and I proved today very doable on a budget and with better results so far than a 9000A and certainly comparable with an SL3 and no need for a BBC..
cheers
VS