Need som advice on a motorised setup (Noob)

[Videocrypt]

Hi All this is my first post on the forum, I'm currently looking to set up a basic motorised system and need some advice on a dish.
The dish (when I choose one) will be mounted on a 3" pole at the back of my shed and has a clear line of sight in all directions.
I am planning on using a 'Supreme Dark Motor' which is for dishes upto 1.4M although im only looking at dishes upto 1M.

I live in the Midlands and would obviously like to receive as many sats / feeds as I can. I've a few dishes in mind but need some advice
on the best one for my location without breaking the bank

Here are a few I've seen in particular order......

Orbital Aluminium 80cm or 1m?

Ok the 1M dish is larger but how much would I actually gain from it, and are these dishes any good?






Gibertini Aluminium 80cm or 1m?

These are more expensive than the above 'Orbital' dishes but again is the larger 1M dish worth while and are they any good?






Fracarro Penta 85cm

Similar price to the Gibertini dishes again what are they like, and would the 85cm dish be large enough in my area?







Fracarro twin?? 75cm (eBay)??

Spotted these on eBay couldn't seem to find much info on them at all, they seem quite cheap but again are they any good or should I just stay clear?



ebay 190648745927 FRACARRO 75cm high quality composite satellite dish+lnb New & Boxed


Any advice on these dishes or any sugestions would be really appriciated.

 

[rolfw]

Out of that list, I'd opt for the Penta 85.

The Fracarro dish at the bottom is a Visiosat Bisat, nice dish, but not for a motorised system.

 

[Robbo]

Hi, out of those, I'd go for the gibertini 1m, as it is the best performer.

The fracarro twin lnb dish is pointless for a motorised system.

 

[sonnetpete]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I think the motors rating of 'up to 1.4M' can be taken with a large pinch of salt (especially as off hand I can't think of a dish that size). I'm pushing the limits with a 1.2M dish on my Clarke Tech. I have a 1M Gibertini which was on the motorised set up and now is part of the multi sat. It performs excellently in both modes and I'd recommend it as a quality product. The Fracarro Penta has always had good reports on here and I think it 'punches above it's weight' for it's size. I'd choose between the two personally. Hope this helps.

 

[Videocrypt]

Thanks for all of your prompt responses, you have helped me narrow it down to either the Gibertini or the Fracarro Penta, I also have another question...

Would the 85cm Gibertini or 85cm Penta be ok in my area? Or would i need 1M?

 

[Lazarus]

Enough for what, exactly? That's the crucial bit.

That size dish will get you most TPs on most strongish visible Satellites - but some beams on some Satellites will be too weak.

Can't answer the question until we know exactly what you hope to achieve.

 

[Mickha]

That's an impossible question, as it depends on what you wish to view. You will get most satellites, and channels, using either a Penta 85cm or a 1M dish, but not all, for some, more difficult, channels you might require a 2.4M, or bigger, dish.
You will get a stronger signal using a 1M, than an 85cm, but it will not get you that many more channels, personally I would go with the biggest dish you feel comfortable with.
Have a look in the members pictures section this should give you a better idea of the actual size of the dishes.
http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/picture-members-setups-general-satellite-installations/

 

[Videocrypt]

Thanks again all very helpful and informative. I agree my question was a bit of an open question, I'm just trying to get a rough idea if it is actualy worth the extra cash in getting a 1M dish as apposed to an 85cm Mickha's post sums it up quite nicely in that I should get most chennels via a penta 85cm dish and a few others with a 1m. To be honest I will be happy enough to get a reasonable selection of sats / and feeds.

Another quick question does the Fracarro Penta accept a normal LNB or does it need a special 'Feed Horn' type of thing?? (Sorry if its a dumb question)

 

[Lazarus]

Well I agree with Mickha in the main - as my general purpose 80cm orbital does 95% of what I want.

But I have a 110cm too that only gets used rarely to look at weaker beams and feeds.

I have to say that unless you have a specific interest in the latter, the Penta will do fine. Normal 40mm Collar Mount Universal LNB.

 

[Videocrypt]

I can feel some online shopping coming on

 

[Lazarus]

Good man - please do look at what our Forum Sponsors/Advertisers have to offer. You'll get decent prices plus info and advice that many Internet only suppliers would be hard pushed to provide.

 

[Robbo]

I wouldn't go for anything 80cm by choice they are all too small. The only decent 80cm ish dish there is the Penta, so I think you have made tw correct decision, if you are trying to keep the size appearance down a bit.

 

[Mickha]

I have no doubt you'll add to your system, as you get more involved, and realize just what's out there, you could even end up with a 2M+ dish

On a more serios not the Penta 85cm has had some very decent reviews, will get you most of the available channels and should be a very good starting point. They do come in various colours, and look quite good, take a look at a few pictures, in the members pictures section:
http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...tallations/148143-my-85cm-fracarro-penta.html
http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...s/161953-fracarro-penta-85-first-install.html
http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...-installations/169450-finally-penta-85-a.html

 

[aceb]

I'm really just reiterating what others have already said but here goes anyway. My choice would be the 1m Gibertini with an Inverto Black Ultra LNB but then I'm bias as I've not tried a Fracarro. Dish size is as you say open ended, for general entertainment viewing the 85cm will be big enough for everything you watch apart from the signals you don't know are there because they are just under lock level. If you think you'll be looking for feeds then go as big as you can. Even some of the UK sourced/aimed feeds can be marginal so that extra bit of gain will make all the difference.

My 1m Gibertini has been on a Motek 2100A for nearly five years in an extremely exposed location and is just about at the end of its life, the backlash makes it nigh impossible to stay locked onto something very weak but as long as you accept you may have a finite lifespan on a cheap product then don't worry too much about the dish size upto a 1m or lightweight 1.2m.

The Supreme motor looks like a good product too, fitted one last week for someone and although it had a few odd characteristics it's been fine since re-hitting very weak signals at the extremes of the arc.

As Tivu said have a look at the sponsors, I've had some of my best deals from them and if there's a quid or two in it so what really, they help keep this brilliant resource on the net so I'm happy to pay for that.

 

[satelliteman]

Okay, forget the Orbital. Both the FR Penta and Gib 104 will perform extremely well; but having installed many of both I wouldn't hesitate in ordering up the Gib 104.