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DISH SETUP: Single sat, Multi-Sat & Motorised
KA Band section
Dishes for Ka-band: what works - what doesn't?
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<blockquote data-quote="archive10" data-source="post: 1003437"><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Now that there's a increase interest in Ka-band on this forum, <strong>I am wondering</strong>:</span></p><p><u><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">From the enthusiast's perspective - what make and models of larger dishes (1.0m -> 5m) work well with Ka-band?</span></u></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">There are of course discussions on this forum with <strong>empirical evidence</strong>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">A few recent threads are:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><a href="https://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/ka-band-dish-sizes.169066/" target="_blank">KA Band Dish Sizes</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><a href="https://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/new-inverto-kaku-lnb.166041/" target="_blank">New Inverto KaKu lnb</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Most internet-over-sat operators seems to use specific Ka-band (Skyware/CM) steel dishes around 70-90cms.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Practical, easy-to-ship, not-too-expensive. Good for consumer installations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">And antennae for the professional market are usually marketed either as Ku/C models, or in models specifically for Ka-band.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">There are the known criteria for Ka-band, where surface accuracy become very important the higher the frequency, and that the mesh embedded in SMC-dishes needs to have a fine mask to work properly for Ka.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">But then the <strong>application questions</strong> come out:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">1) Is a 20-year old CM120 up for the job of Ka-band D?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Considering it retains the shape very well, but may have been designed for Ku-band, and thus have a mesh-size that starts letting the higher portions Ka band through...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">2) Or are the reflectors of the special Ka-band SMC dishes (eg from Skyware/Channel Master) made with a different reflective layers (i.e metal dust rather than mesh) that makes them better suited for Ka, even though the mechanically appear identical to the Ku-band versions?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">In contrast, the GD Satcom (Prodelin) Ka-band range is clearly different from the Ku/C - much higher rigidity (more ribbing in the back).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">3) Are there other generic models of SMC (eg Cahors) that by default have finer mesh etc, working better in Ka?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">(The Ka-specific antennaes seem to priced markedly higher than the Ku ones!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">4) I know that the SMW ABS-reflector of the past had a layer of reflective paint instead of embedded mesh. Does this work for Ka as good as a steel dish?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">5) Is a good steel pressed steel (or Alu) dish (eg Gibertini 125) as good as it gets, even though they're designed and marketed for Ku?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Of course, we should always try it out and see what works, but it would be great to hear your views on this, as getting the best out of Ka may require getting the right kit from the start...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="archive10, post: 1003437"] [FONT=Arial]Now that there's a increase interest in Ka-band on this forum, [B]I am wondering[/B]:[/FONT] [U][FONT=Arial]From the enthusiast's perspective - what make and models of larger dishes (1.0m -> 5m) work well with Ka-band?[/FONT][/U] [FONT=Arial] There are of course discussions on this forum with [B]empirical evidence[/B]. A few recent threads are: [URL='https://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/ka-band-dish-sizes.169066/']KA Band Dish Sizes[/URL] [URL='https://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/new-inverto-kaku-lnb.166041/']New Inverto KaKu lnb[/URL] Most internet-over-sat operators seems to use specific Ka-band (Skyware/CM) steel dishes around 70-90cms. Practical, easy-to-ship, not-too-expensive. Good for consumer installations. And antennae for the professional market are usually marketed either as Ku/C models, or in models specifically for Ka-band. There are the known criteria for Ka-band, where surface accuracy become very important the higher the frequency, and that the mesh embedded in SMC-dishes needs to have a fine mask to work properly for Ka. But then the [B]application questions[/B] come out: 1) Is a 20-year old CM120 up for the job of Ka-band D? Considering it retains the shape very well, but may have been designed for Ku-band, and thus have a mesh-size that starts letting the higher portions Ka band through... 2) Or are the reflectors of the special Ka-band SMC dishes (eg from Skyware/Channel Master) made with a different reflective layers (i.e metal dust rather than mesh) that makes them better suited for Ka, even though the mechanically appear identical to the Ku-band versions? In contrast, the GD Satcom (Prodelin) Ka-band range is clearly different from the Ku/C - much higher rigidity (more ribbing in the back). 3) Are there other generic models of SMC (eg Cahors) that by default have finer mesh etc, working better in Ka? (The Ka-specific antennaes seem to priced markedly higher than the Ku ones!) 4) I know that the SMW ABS-reflector of the past had a layer of reflective paint instead of embedded mesh. Does this work for Ka as good as a steel dish? 5) Is a good steel pressed steel (or Alu) dish (eg Gibertini 125) as good as it gets, even though they're designed and marketed for Ku? Of course, we should always try it out and see what works, but it would be great to hear your views on this, as getting the best out of Ka may require getting the right kit from the start... [/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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DISH SETUP: Single sat, Multi-Sat & Motorised
KA Band section
Dishes for Ka-band: what works - what doesn't?
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