TD110 Issue

[Stejc]

Hi

I've recently installed a TD110 on a ground mount at the bottom of the garden but I am having disappointing results compared to my roof mounted TD88. Its on a Technomate motor with WF100 cable to a PC running DVB-Dream, and my TD88 also uses the same motor and TBS satellite card but with a slightly shorter length RG6 cable.

The difference in signal between the two seems very marginal and this is bearing in mind that the TD88 hasn't been fine tuned or adjusted for a few years and has probably moved slightly in the wind, with proper adjustment I could probably get the same signal level on both.

Has anyone got any experience of these two dishes and comparing them? Am I expecting too much?

Some examples:

16E : 10886H 13.6db on TD88, 14.7db on TD110
16E: 12516H 9db on TD88, 9.5db on TD110

db figures are from Crazyscan using the same TBS dual tuner card.

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[Channel Hopper]

Are the two rubber grommets fully inserted in the boom arm ?

The 110 reflector is notorious for being warped out of the packaging.

Look along the side of the reflector and check the other side of the rim disappears from view at the same time top to bottom. Also try looking from the top downwards as well

 

[Lazarus]

Clearly the TD110 should perform better, and I struggled to get the expected results from mine until I realised two things:

1. The LNB arm tends to droop slightly too low as the result of play in the elbow just in front of the point it goes through the rectangular hole in the dish face. You'll find you can actually lift it up a few mm, thus restoring the correct aim to the focal point. I inserted a matchstick in the gap created to retain the correct attitude.

2. Using a long-necked LNB like the Inverto Black Ultra gives more scope for axial adjustment within the clamp and, again, giving better focus.

 

[Stejc]

Are the two rubber grommets fully inserted in the boom arm ?

The 110 reflector is notorious for being warped out of the packaging.

Look along the side of the reflector and check the other side of the rim disappears from view at the same time top to bottom. Also try looking from the top downwards as well

Do you mean the two bit's that hold the LNB holder in-place? Yes they are both fully inserted.

I'll check the shape of the reflector tonight or tomorrow, is there any resolution to this other than returning the dish?

Clearly the TD110 should perform better, and I struggled to get the expected results from mine until I realised two things:

1. The LNB arm tends to droop slightly too low as the result of play in the elbow just in front of the point it goes through the rectangular hole in the dish face. You'll find you can actually lift it up a few mm, thus restoring the correct aim to the focal point. I inserted a matchstick in the gap created to retain the correct attitude.

2. Using a long-necked LNB like the Inverto Black Ultra gives more scope for axial adjustment within the clamp and, again, giving better focus.

I should have said (and don't know how I forgot!) that both dishes do use Inverto Black Ultra at the moment although the one on the TD88 is 4-5 years old compared to a brand new one on the TD110. I'll try that match stick trick as well tonight or tomorrow to see if that helps, although I have done quite abit moving the elevation, LNB arm and general position but the results I have posted above are the best I can seem to manage (in North West England).

Stephen

 

[Channel Hopper]

Do you mean the two bit's that hold the LNB holder in-place? Yes they are both fully inserted.

I'll check the shape of the reflector tonight or tomorrow, is there any resolution to this other than returning the dish?

They can be straightened out with a bit of care, though you should notify the supplier before going ahead, since it might be a storage/warehouse issue at their end. Was it one of the forum sponsors ?

 

[Stejc]

They can be straightened out with a bit of care, though you should notify the supplier before going ahead, since it might be a storage/warehouse issue at their end. Was it one of the forum sponsors ?

No it was from eBay, new but unboxed. I've contacted the seller and he will accept a return but I will have a look at the shape of the reflector before doing that.

 

[Stejc]

If I do need to return it, I'm thinking of a Maxx Digital 120cm dish (I'm on a budget!). I've done a forum search but haven't found many posts about their dishes, does anyone have any experience?

 

[PaulR]

If it's like the 1m (true size) dish that I recently bought they have a really poor clamping arrangement for the LNB arm to the dish bracket. When I clamped it up the arm could still move up and down a little bit completely losing signal.

I had to modify the arm with an extra threaded steadying rod so that it couldn't move. The clue was that when the two clamping bolts were tightened up the paint under the bolt and nut heads squeezed out even though it was fully dry.

 

[jeallen01]

I've got one of those "true 1m" TD110's (about 15+ yrs old, from the local "recycling" yard "courtesy" of an Argentinian guy working there at the time) and that's looks fine distortion-wise, but I fitted stiffening bars between the edges of the dish and the outer end of the LNB arm - I can adjust the lengths of the arms because they are secured with an exhaust clamp, but so far have not thought it worthwhile to do so. OTOH, I did replace the LNB clamp moulding and, the plug at the dish end (PS: you can buy the kit of parts on ebay for a very few £s), when I installed it last Spring Anyway, those arms do keep the LNB holder (with an Invertor Black Twin) very stable and stop it drooping/"waving around in the wind" - have posted pics elsewhere (somewhere, but I can probably add a link if required).

 

[bema]

The LNBs can also be different. And the gain difference is only 1.4 dB. I have the TD110 and with the Inverto BU LNB, it works perfect. But as already mentioned, check the LNB arm. I had to add support arms after a while. It changed over time, the wind I guess.

Astra 2E/2F/2G, 28.2 East Monitoring

 

[Stejc]

The LNBs can also be different. And the gain difference is only 1.4 dB. I have the TD110 and with the Inverto BU LNB, it works perfect. But as already mentioned, check the LNB arm. I had to add support arms after a while. It changed over time, the wind I guess.

Astra 2E/2F/2G, 28.2 East Monitoring

So the 1.1dB gain increase I am getting isn't far off that really, I'll have a look tomorrow in the light for any warping of the dish itself. If there is I might return it while I can and try a 1.2m Maxx Digital dish which I can see for only slightly more than I paid.