Laminas or Channel master?

D

drats

Member
My Satellite Setup
VU+Duo, Vu+Duo2, Vu+Zero, Gibi 1.5m, TBS 6903 PCI
My Location
North West UK
I currently have a Gibi 1.5m that I dont have a lot of rain and heavy cloud margin for 7.3w as i am north of Manchester. So I have been looking for a slightly bigger dish to replace it. (180cm is the maximum size my wife will tolerate).
So I have narrowed it down to Either a decent 2nd hand CM (if I can pick one up). Or I have made a few inquiries and can get a Laminas AS 1800 shipped to the door for £615.
Has anyone had both the CM and the Laminas to compare? I am aware the Laminas isnt built quite as sturdy, but it will be fitted upside down for minimal visual impact and as a result will sit lower down so will be pretty sheltered. Im really keen to know if its as efficient as the CM in the real world rather then read the spec sheet.

Many thanks
 
Thanks for that I will have a good read. Do you know the differences between the 1800 AS, G, and AE models of the dish? Im guessing the PM version is polar mounted?
 
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drats said:
Thanks for that I will have a good read. Do you know the differences between the 1800 AS, G, and AE models of the dish?
Click to expand...

I'd imagine AE will be Azimuth/Elevation (type of mount), AS may be a polar mount and G has a heating element...

By the way, £615 shipped to your door for the 1.8M is a good price...They are €860 plus shipping here...
 
The Laminas reflector is about 2/3 of the weight of the CM180.
The AS1800 is the normal dish, the AS1800-G version is strong-weather version for de-icing equipment etc.
Don't know the AE.
 
I have these 2 dishes and even if the CM180 is a Vsat antenna, both have nearly the same results .
butthe fiberglass of the channel master are more heavy than the laminas which it looks cheap when you see it for the first time).
But it's rue, it is more easy to add multi lnb .

Both are god antennas in my opinion.
 
Certainly I would choose the Laminas ..
both because of the weight issue ...and because I like to mount multiple lnbs to maximise coverage..
I too am in Manchester and seriously considered upsizing myself at some point...from my fortec star 1.5 ..which is good but just a bit too small for certain footprints..
Just out of curiosity ...
Where have you seen the 1.8 for £615 delivered ..and what does this include re AZ/EL or polar mount ?
Finally ...what size pole (diameter wise) does this beast mount on ?
rgds
VS
 
Hi all, I know i´m going to regret this post, but I am in conversation with Laminas about being the " Official Spanish rep "
If I can under cut cost to UK I will!
 
Vipersan said:
Certainly I would choose the Laminas ..
both because of the weight issue ...and because I like to mount multiple lnbs to maximise coverage..
I too am in Manchester and seriously considered upsizing myself at some point...from my fortec star 1.5 ..which is good but just a bit too small for certain footprints..
Just out of curiosity ...
Where have you seen the 1.8 for £615 delivered ..and what does this include re AZ/EL or polar mount ?
Finally ...what size pole (diameter wise) does this beast mount on ?
rgds
VS
Click to expand...
Hi its just with AZ/EL

h t t p://w w w .satshop24.de/cgi-bin/satshop24/iboshop.cgi?showd330!0,530893456323831,AS-1800_k_1

They quoted me 145 Euro delivery, so currently works out around £622 depending on exchange rate. My current pole is only 3" for the Gibi so I will need to weld a wider section to it. IIRC the CM will fit a 3" pole.

If we get 2 we could ask for a bit of a discount ;)
 
If I hadn't received a bargain for the 1.8m CM, I would have gone for the Laminas, purely because of lower weight and multi-LNB friendly design. Both are fibre-glass so should last a while.
 
If I eventually do decide to upscale with a Laminas ...
I would obviously need a polar munt ..and would probably return to actuator power ..
Unless of course the 1224 might be powerful enough to drive it ..
This is where the weight becomes important ...particularly in view of how many lnbs I'd want at the head end...
I wouldn't want to replace my existing 3 inch pole so presumably an adapter to increase the pole diameter at the top ...?
but of course ...if motor driven this wouldn't be needed ..
Assuming the Laminas 1.8 could be easily fitted to a motor combo ..
I assume the Moteck would be insufficient ...but would the 1224 ?
Maybe there's a better option ?
comments welcomed..
Sorry to hi jack the thread ..
rgds
VS
 
I'd say the 1224 would be more than man enough to drive the Laminas. It would probably be no heavier than your 1.5m FS (those things are heavy!) and with some mild reenforcement of the 1224, it'll be fine.
 
Captain Jack said:
I'd say the 1224 would be more than man enough to drive the Laminas. It would probably be no heavier than your 1.5m FS (those things are heavy!) and with some mild reenforcement of the 1224, it'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Another question then ..
Since I currently have the FS effectively mounted to the Moteck using the CM plate (modded of course) ...would this Plate be adaptable to carry a Laminas ..
ie ..
How have others done it ..say using a 1224 or other motor ?
Pics would be useful..
;)
 
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