Lazarus
Retired Moderator
- Joined
- May 29, 2009
- Messages
- 27,084
- Reaction score
- 8,672
- Points
- 113
- My Satellite Setup
-
80cm Motorised.
Several small Dishes.
Much else.
- My Location
- North York Moors
A couple of years ago I followed the crowd and got myself a Black Ultra Twin.
It didn't seem to make much difference over an existing cheapo no-name Chinese LNB.
Recently, my dish appeared to have stopped tracking weak Satellites towards the end of my arc, and I knew I had a storm-induced error or three which I was moved to correct after checking some stuff for CJ t'other day.
Anyway, having made the correction, I discovered no increase in performance and I also noticed SQ fluctuating violently.
So today I started from scratch, ensuring the mount was plumb all round, getting the dish better mounted to the motor stub datum line, and tweaking Az and El to perfection.
Still no improvement.
Thought about cable connections, doing stuff like swapping Ports on the LNB, checking individual cable ends for integrity and secure fit.
No change.
Checked the slave receiver in the lounge and it also showed violent SQ fluctuations.
Muchos swearos.
Went for a long walk with SWMBO and talked through it when the penny dropped. The Black Ultra was the only possible common link between the various cables, receivers etc.
Slapped on a manky old single from the dark recesses of the spares cupboard and now have the bestest performance ever.
Haven't got around to seeing if the IBU is recoverable yet, but realised that it too is Chinese made, so must lose the inverted snobbery!
Wondering if there's wildlife sitting under the Feedhorn cover, maybe.
Also noted the plastic outer case doesn't have drain holes like all my other LNBs.
Anyway, I've not come across a failure like this before; I know some multi-output jobbies can get total failure of one or more Ports, but for all Ports to go intermittent and insensitive seems weird.
Any comments?
It didn't seem to make much difference over an existing cheapo no-name Chinese LNB.
Recently, my dish appeared to have stopped tracking weak Satellites towards the end of my arc, and I knew I had a storm-induced error or three which I was moved to correct after checking some stuff for CJ t'other day.
Anyway, having made the correction, I discovered no increase in performance and I also noticed SQ fluctuating violently.
So today I started from scratch, ensuring the mount was plumb all round, getting the dish better mounted to the motor stub datum line, and tweaking Az and El to perfection.
Still no improvement.
Thought about cable connections, doing stuff like swapping Ports on the LNB, checking individual cable ends for integrity and secure fit.
No change.
Checked the slave receiver in the lounge and it also showed violent SQ fluctuations.
Muchos swearos.
Went for a long walk with SWMBO and talked through it when the penny dropped. The Black Ultra was the only possible common link between the various cables, receivers etc.
Slapped on a manky old single from the dark recesses of the spares cupboard and now have the bestest performance ever.
Haven't got around to seeing if the IBU is recoverable yet, but realised that it too is Chinese made, so must lose the inverted snobbery!
Wondering if there's wildlife sitting under the Feedhorn cover, maybe.
Also noted the plastic outer case doesn't have drain holes like all my other LNBs.
Anyway, I've not come across a failure like this before; I know some multi-output jobbies can get total failure of one or more Ports, but for all Ports to go intermittent and insensitive seems weird.
Any comments?