Extending a satellite TV dish using ali sheets

pride21

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
611
Reaction score
443
Points
63
Age
78
My Satellite Setup
150cm gibertini dish,echostar 8700 analogue receiver to move dish,motor jaeger 1224,also black ultra ku lnb and esx241 c-band lnbf and technomate 5402hd ci+ super also added a Dr HD f15 receiver
My Location
Sandown Isle of Wight
hi all here is the results of a cheap dish extension,the parts are 200mm by 100mm ali sheets and 1inch hinges cost about £20,i did not want to go any bigger because of neighbours,i admire VS for his patients and ingenuity in making his extensions but i wanted to experiment on the cheap to see if there would be an improvement on what i get now,anyway the results are very promising nearly every channel has gone up in quality from 1% to 12% and has brought in channels on border line, such as dounia on 30E which is rock solid and viasat 1,africa tv on 22W i also picked up ertu on 24W but for some reason its not there this morning,to get the results i recorded all transponders before hand then after,i recommend to try this experiment.cheers
 

Attachments

  • paksat 049.jpg
    paksat 049.jpg
    106.5 KB · Views: 645
  • paksat 050.jpg
    paksat 050.jpg
    123.4 KB · Views: 462

rolfw

Believe it when I see it Admin.
Staff member
Joined
May 1, 1999
Messages
38,292
Reaction score
1,615
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
Technomate 5402 HD M2 Ci, DM7000s, Transparent 80cm Dish, Moteck SG2100 DiseqC motor, lots of legacy gear. Meters: Satlook Digital NIT, Promax HD Ranger+ spectrum analyser.
My Location
Berkshire
An interesting experiment and not expensive to try.:)
 

aceb

Specialist Contributor
Joined
Oct 2, 2007
Messages
1,537
Reaction score
841
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
Prof Tuner 7301 /
1.25m Gibertini + Inverto B.Ultra/C1W, Moteck H180, 68.5E-67W Ku/C-Band /
1.8m Precision PF + ESX241/Inverto Black Pro, 66E-63W Ku/C-band /
2.4m Fortec Star+Titanium C1W/Pride plate, 49E-58W
My Location
Sussex
Nice job Pride and as Rolfw says a nice cheap experiment, I might just have to try this when things warm up a bit. The C band bar is being raised once again :)
 

nelson_b

Contributor
Joined
Jul 27, 2008
Messages
1,962
Reaction score
2,026
Points
113
Age
73
My Satellite Setup
Strong 4375 driving a 2.4 m Channel Master dual focus offset + Invcom Quad C120 K/U l.n.b. + BSC 421 and Zinwell C band l.n.b.,s - DR HD F15 - TM5302 - Octagon SX88+Optima - GT Media V7 - HD receivers. + other dishes currently in use - Antique 3.0 m Prodelin P.F. - Channel Master 1.8 m offset - Channel Master. 1.2 m.
My Location
North West Yorkshire - near Lancashire & Cumbria borders.
very good - pride21 -

C band reception is "so" open to experimentation --
it can , and does produce some surprisingly good results --
nice one :)

regard nelson.b.
 

Topper

Amo Amas Amant Admin
Staff member
Joined
Nov 18, 2004
Messages
23,991
Reaction score
4,014
Points
113
Age
69
My Satellite Setup
Has gone to a good home elsewhere
My Location
Blackburn, Lancashire
Very good indeed but still lots of patience required to drill all those holes for the hinges:-worship
 

rolfw

Believe it when I see it Admin.
Staff member
Joined
May 1, 1999
Messages
38,292
Reaction score
1,615
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
Technomate 5402 HD M2 Ci, DM7000s, Transparent 80cm Dish, Moteck SG2100 DiseqC motor, lots of legacy gear. Meters: Satlook Digital NIT, Promax HD Ranger+ spectrum analyser.
My Location
Berkshire
That's what no more nails is for Topper.:):-rofl2
 

pride21

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
611
Reaction score
443
Points
63
Age
78
My Satellite Setup
150cm gibertini dish,echostar 8700 analogue receiver to move dish,motor jaeger 1224,also black ultra ku lnb and esx241 c-band lnbf and technomate 5402hd ci+ super also added a Dr HD f15 receiver
My Location
Sandown Isle of Wight
i used super glue great stuff
 

Lazarus

Retired Moderator
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
27,078
Reaction score
8,664
Points
113
My Satellite Setup
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
My Location
North York Moors
This definitely scores a good 9.7/10 on the VS Ingenuity Scale.

Bonzer.
 

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
Messages
35,536
Reaction score
8,554
Points
113
Age
59
Website
www.sat-elite.uk
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
nelson_b said:
very good - pride21 -

C band reception is "so" open to experimentation --
it can , and does produce some surprisingly good results --
nice one :)

regard nelson.b.

With the increased stability of modern electronics, it is also possible to combine domestic C-band LNB outputs from more than one dish to improve reception, but as you say, strapping panels onto one dish is a good starting point.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
Well I have to say ..I'm impressed..
Thought about doing something similar with aluminium mesh a while back ..but opted to go for the more permanent fibreglass solution as you know.
I love to see someone who's prepared to attempt such experiments.

What it does tell me ..is that I have a _very_ good chance or 'real' improvement ..assuming I ever get these wings finished.
But am not prepared to compromise the end result by rushing to finish...though I did contemplate just sticking temporary ally foil on the part finished wings to see if there was anything to be gained.
Looks like you beat me to it..but am happy you did.
Nice one ...and deservedly full of 'Pride'
;)
rgds
VS
...perhaps one day the mods will make available ..'ingenuity awards' to be handed out to deserving projects..
A bit like the knight awards ...that used to be displayed..
 

pride21

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
611
Reaction score
443
Points
63
Age
78
My Satellite Setup
150cm gibertini dish,echostar 8700 analogue receiver to move dish,motor jaeger 1224,also black ultra ku lnb and esx241 c-band lnbf and technomate 5402hd ci+ super also added a Dr HD f15 receiver
My Location
Sandown Isle of Wight
thanks for that VS i have no doubt that your extra wings for the dish will be a success be interesting to see how much gain there will be once fitted.cheers
 

pride21

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
611
Reaction score
443
Points
63
Age
78
My Satellite Setup
150cm gibertini dish,echostar 8700 analogue receiver to move dish,motor jaeger 1224,also black ultra ku lnb and esx241 c-band lnbf and technomate 5402hd ci+ super also added a Dr HD f15 receiver
My Location
Sandown Isle of Wight
hi all the ali extentions held up except one in the gales put a dab of super glue on it which fixed it,i am well pleased with the results so far,on 57E i get 20ch but could not get the VOA on 4055R until now as shown in pics,also ertu mux on 24.5W i have got back,the other pics are Douna on 30.5E,TV Africa and Viasat 1 on 22W,on 40.5W i get argentinisima on 3774L which is there all the time and out of the 256ch i get, epoca on 3889L is the strongest with over 90% quality,just an after thought dont you think manufactures who make the c-band lnbf would improve their products with a different plate instead of outdated slab of teflon,the technology to make a simple plate like i and VS make must be cheaper than teflon.i tried the dish with ku lnb out of interest and was supprised with extra gain of 1%-4% quality which brought in weak channels.cheers
 

Attachments

  • paksat 023.jpg
    paksat 023.jpg
    99.5 KB · Views: 104
  • paksat 029.jpg
    paksat 029.jpg
    92.1 KB · Views: 83
  • paksat 027.jpg
    paksat 027.jpg
    105 KB · Views: 85
  • paksat 022.jpg
    paksat 022.jpg
    85.9 KB · Views: 103
  • paksat 021.jpg
    paksat 021.jpg
    92.8 KB · Views: 92
  • paksat 020.jpg
    paksat 020.jpg
    97.6 KB · Views: 107
  • paksat 019.jpg
    paksat 019.jpg
    119.6 KB · Views: 78
  • paksat 024.jpg
    paksat 024.jpg
    111.6 KB · Views: 101

nelson_b

Contributor
Joined
Jul 27, 2008
Messages
1,962
Reaction score
2,026
Points
113
Age
73
My Satellite Setup
Strong 4375 driving a 2.4 m Channel Master dual focus offset + Invcom Quad C120 K/U l.n.b. + BSC 421 and Zinwell C band l.n.b.,s - DR HD F15 - TM5302 - Octagon SX88+Optima - GT Media V7 - HD receivers. + other dishes currently in use - Antique 3.0 m Prodelin P.F. - Channel Master 1.8 m offset - Channel Master. 1.2 m.
My Location
North West Yorkshire - near Lancashire & Cumbria borders.
pride21 said:
i tried the dish with ku lnb out of interest and was supprised with extra gain of 1%-4% quality which brought in weak channels.cheers

the k/u gains are a nice bonus ----
thanks for the pics -- some good C band results there :)
i,v not had any spare time to play with satellite dishes recently :( maybe next month i should think about extension panels - :eek: - as i seem to have reached my limit with, feed and plate setup -----

regards nelson.b.
 

Vipersan

Emmett Browns Ghost
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
10,918
Reaction score
6,663
Points
113
Age
66
My Satellite Setup
IP9000HD +
TD110 Dish and TD88 Dish in Tandem
66°East to 60°West.
AZbox PrmHD + OpnbxS9HD + Skybox + DrHD F15
2x VboxII AZ-EL
2 m+ Alcoa PF + BSC421 C-Band lnbf...
+SS2/TwHnS2-3200 pci/TBS6925 pci
1.5 Fortec Star -Gbox - HtoH Ku/Ka/C
My Location
UK
..Well ...if you ever fancy adding wings to your alcoa Nelson ..
You can borrow the mould if you like ..
But I suspect you will be improving the offset ..
rgds
VS
 

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
Messages
35,536
Reaction score
8,554
Points
113
Age
59
Website
www.sat-elite.uk
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
pride21 said:
just an after thought dont you think manufactures who make the c-band lnbf would improve their products with a different plate instead of outdated slab of teflon,the technology to make a simple plate like i and VS make must be cheaper than teflon.i tried the dish with ku lnb out of interest and was supprised with extra gain of 1%-4% quality which brought in weak channels.cheers

Many compounds can be used as a plate, from glass fibre to perspex to polybin lids to the material for kitchen chopping boards. The only requirement is that it exhibits dielectric properties at the frequencies used, and can be cut or moulded to fit into the throat of the feed.

Apart from that, it's just a question of experimenting to find what works and what doesn't. I would have thought that standard glass would work, but it's unlikely I have enough patience cutting a pane of the stuff to shape.

edit - a list of materials and their permittivity

_http://www.asiinstr.com/technical/Dielectric%20Constants.htm

Acetone compounds appear to be some of the best (and water scores very well), though whether this is at high microwave frequencies, I'm not sure.
 

pride21

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
611
Reaction score
443
Points
63
Age
78
My Satellite Setup
150cm gibertini dish,echostar 8700 analogue receiver to move dish,motor jaeger 1224,also black ultra ku lnb and esx241 c-band lnbf and technomate 5402hd ci+ super also added a Dr HD f15 receiver
My Location
Sandown Isle of Wight
i agree with you CH, its if i used the plate the lnbf came with i would not get a lot of channels that i get now,then if manufactorys improved on their hardware you would think they would look at ways to improve on the plate.
 
Top