Black Ultra Twin & Single LNB comparisons

timo_w2s

timo_w2s

Retired moderator
My Satellite Setup
Vu+ Duo 4K SE
Dr.HD F15
My Location
Maidenhead, UK & Helsinki, Finland
I did a quick unscientific test to compare a few twin and single Inverto Black Ultra LNBs, posting the results here just in case it's of interest or use to someone.

Signal quality for a 60cm dish in Helsinki looking at Astra 1 (19.2E) on a Dr HD F15 for two twin output and three single output LNBs.

10.729V 11.244H 12.728V
-----------------------------------
TWIN 14.4dB 12.5dB 13.5dB
TWIN* 14.1dB 12.6dB 13.7dB
SINGLE 14.7dB 12.5dB 10.2dB
SINGLE 14.4dB 12.3dB 9.8dB
SINGLE 14.7dB 12.5dB 9.5dB
</pre>
<p>I should have done a few more frequencies but I didn't have much time but from this small bit of data it looks like the twin output LNBs work significantly better at the high end while the singles all dropped off a few dB. The singles also seemed to work very slightly better on the lower band.

*The second Twin in the list had been used for 18 months, the other LNBs where all brand new.
 
Have you any by chance tested the Ultra black quad?

Bought it back in december 2012 to try to get better reception from astra 2F here in central southern norway.

Regards
 
There has been rumours about the difference between the two, thanks for making the effort, i wont be changing mine for a single. I have a lead down from the pole from the lnb so i can set up a receiver in the garden for checking stuff if need be.
 
skomedal said:
Have you any by chance tested the Ultra black quad?

Bought it back in december 2012 to try to get better reception from astra 2F here in central southern norway.

Regards
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I'm afraid I don't have any BU quads. I've read on some forums they are not quite as good as the single, but I would like to test this theory myself one day...
 
Piltdownpaul said:
There has been rumours about the difference between the two, thanks for making the effort, i wont be changing mine for a single. I have a lead down from the pole from the lnb so i can set up a receiver in the garden for checking stuff if need be.
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Yes, the twin certainly seems a better bet for all round good coverage. To be honest I was a bit surprised at the single's drop at the end of the band. I could have understood it for one, but for all three to tail off suggested it's a common issue, at least with this batch.
 
Are the result better because the single lnb has a longer neck for more tweaking of position on the dish?
 
timo_w2s said:
I'm afraid I don't have any BU quads. I've read on some forums they are not quite as good as the single, but I would like to test this theory myself one day...
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OK will wait for regular Astra 2E transmitions to begin then if the quad no good will try the other inverto options or a larger dish.

If all else fails then streaming from lappy to tv.

Regards
 
wod said:
Are the result better because the single lnb has a longer neck for more tweaking of position on the dish?
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I'd consider the twins (with the shorter necks) where better. I couldn't get the same signal levels on the singles in the high band no matter where I put them in the holder.
 
timo_w2s said:
I couldn't get the same signal levels on the singles in the high band no matter where I put them in the holder.
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The quad also has a long neck, no matter how it was placed in the lnb mount no signifcant change in signal strength from 28e, 13e, 19e, 7e, 4.8e, 0.8w motorised 1mt dish.

Regards
 
I bought a Black Ultra quad for Astra 2 fringe reception here in the northwest of Spain, and was very disappointed. I then bought a couple of twins, and was amazed to find they were as good as the BU single. Now I'm waiting for someone to produce a reasonably priced LNB which is even better than the Black Ultra! (My observations are subjective, not measured)
 
Hughes said:
Now I'm waiting for someone to produce a reasonably priced LNB which is even better than the Black Ultra! (My observations are subjective, not measured)
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The new Octagon Optima claims to have a 0.1dB noise ratio with very high gain of between 60-65dB and uses new PLL technology. This is a 5db gain on the Black Ultra and has a lower noise. But it might all be hype.
 
For me 10.700 - 11.200 is the most important part of the band because that is where the UK spot beam is and also the error correction is less robust here due to being 5/6 rather than 2/3. So for me I'd go for the BU Single every time, and if I needed a twin there are other cheaper options that outperform the BU Twin at these frequencies.

Values recorded on Satcatcher Excel-TV MkIV.

10.773H 12.207V
-----------------------------------
SING: 10.1dB 13.3dB
TWIN: 9.3dB 13.2dB
QUAD: 10.0dB 13.1dB
 
Pony from Dxtv (germany) did some tests , watch the difference by freq.
 

Attachments

I received my converted twin BU from Trust1 so will give this a go on my Fibo tomorrow and see what differences there are from the single version. Though it seems the biggest difference happens at higher frequencies.
 
Captain Jack said:
I received my converted twin BU from Trust1 so will give this a go on my Fibo tomorrow and see what differences there are from the single version. Though it seems the biggest difference happens at higher frequencies.
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Why would you want a twin on a motorized dish?
 
Huevos said:
Why would you want a twin on a motorized dish?
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I was thinking of doing this myself so that I can record a program on one transponder while watching one on another on the same satellite. Clearly the motor control would only be linked to one LNB input.
 
hairybadger said:
I was thinking of doing this myself so that I can record a program on one transponder while watching one on another on the same satellite. Clearly the motor control would only be linked to one LNB input.
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That would tie the dish up, so you couldn't zap to a different satellite.
 
Huevos said:
Why would you want a twin on a motorized dish?
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As i said above , sometimes i have a receiver set up in the garden when i want to watch some sport or stuff and its just too nice to stay indoors.
 
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