Signal booster at dish ? any use ?

[jhalliday45]

Hi, am in SW France, with a 1.2m dish (well think it is 1m x 1.2m) after much fiddling I have pretty good reception (in normal weather most BBC in HD for example) but per my previous far from perfect (whole block of channels I cannot get) . One challenge I have is dish position which due to it's size had to be placed about 60-70m (cable run length) from the house and receiver. I believe the cable to be good quality, I bought it with this challenge in mind, and not tested it this year but it is certain I lose some signal on the cable run.

Hence would a signal booster at the dish end help with cable-loss and minimise further loss ?
- if yes and recommendations ? given that I have a 4 outlet LNB (3 used) and at present no power at the dish (I could lay a cable but really not desired) - are there any solar powered ones ? (hopefully with battery back up )

 

[Channel Hopper]

The recommended position is about 30% from the dish end.

 

[jhalliday45]

The recommended position is about 30% from the dish end.

oh that's interesting , so I would actually have to break the main cable run etc., I had expected to do it all as close to the dish (and purest signal) as possible, thanks

 

[PaulR]

I agree. Providing there is enough voltage at the end of the cable run, then closest to the dish is the best.

 

[Terryl]

Most of the consumer grade IF signal (the output of your LN boosters available to all are junk, all they will do is raise the noise floor of your LNB's output, this may cause problems with the weaker satellite transponders.

Best way to get more signal to the receiver is to use better coax, RG-11 would be better then RG-6, but RG-11 is harder to work with and needs special tools to install the connectors.

 

[Channel Hopper]

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The Amplifier ideally needs inserting after approximately 18dB of signal loss in the cable.​

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Inline satellite amplifier

Inline satellite amplifier with a gain of 13-20db, boost your satellite signals with our inline satellite amplifier. Buy yours from Satellite TV Shop, your free UK delivery store.

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Amazon.co.uk: Customer Questions & Answers

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Satellite Line amplifier​

A satellite line amp is an inline device that is designed to overcome cable losses over very long cable lengths. These usually are around 15dB gain and are also usually ‘sloped’ so that the higher frequencies are amplified at a greater level than the lower ones which will suffer greater signal losses over cable length. The positioning of the satellite line amplifier is very important, it needs to be installed somewhere in the middle of the overall cable length. This is because installing it near the satellite dish could cause the signals to become too strong and installing in near the satellite receiver after signal losses have taken effect could mean that there is no signal left to amplify. The line amplifier itself doesn’t require any additional power as this is supplied by the satellite receiver.

Types of TV Aerial/ Satellite Amplifiers

Read this for info on all the different types of TV Aerial/ Sat/ Communal TV amplifiers and how to pick the right one.

www.smartaerials.co.uk

 

[ozumo]

oh that's interesting , so I would actually have to break the main cable run etc., I had expected to do it all as close to the dish (and purest signal) as possible, thanks

If you don't have a meter take the receiver and TV/monitor close to the dish with a short cable and see if there's any improvement in signal quality. If there isn't then an amp won't help.

 

[PaulR]

If you do decide to fit the amplifier in permanently then it is less disruptive to fit it close to the LNB. It will only be a matter of a patch lead. If you later decide to move the position then you can cut the cable and compare the signal strength and quality of the two positions.

Of course, if you realise that next to the LNB is best you'll have to turn the cut point into a join using a barrel connector. Pragmatically, you should fit the amp next to the LNB as the easiest option!

 

[Channel Hopper]

Simply add cable near the dish that mimics the recommended 14-20dB loss, to save the amplifier from overloading, 'clipping' in analogue terms - at the front end.

A pragmatic length would be 20-40m of the usual RG6/CT100 diameter at IF frequencies (less if the cable is not one of the above standards)
No cutting of cable until you verify amplification is actually the way forward.

 

[Terryl]

If your going to try and use an inline amp, then I recommend this one, as it has very good spec's.

https://www.solidsignal.com/sonora-14db-gain-satellite-dbs-amplifier-la141?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=LA141&srsltid=AfAwrE7D8MM0qjaFN_1vpZ66A3-cYyjJOqZZ-Sti89KNHt34hCKojOdpomQ

 

[william-1]

I tried an inline amp many years ago it did Amplify the signal slightly & also the background noise from the Universe so not a lot gained if you want more signal then increase your dish size.

 

[jhalliday45]

thank you all for your advice