which 1.8 dish, LNB Portugal?

[Mark in Portugal]

I need to buy a dish for receiving from Astra 28.8 East from Algarve, Portugal. I'm going a bit over-size as future proofing.

The best deal I've been offered so far is for a "televes" branded dish, at 490 Euros including tax, feedhorn, and delivery.

they claim 44.8 dB, focal length 755mm, thickness 3mm.

Does anyone know about these? How's the build quality? No one had stock, I have to order it before I see it.

Someone else offered me an "Antnet" make dish for E500 with delivery but without feedhorn [he was out of the shop at the time, he thought the feedhorn was 70 more]. I didn't find any specs on their website.

These are both prime-focus, single piece, alu dishes.

I need a double output LMB as well. Any recommendations? Things tend to be expensive here, so I'll likely mail order the LNB. Recommended supplier in Europe?

Do I need a signal booster or anything like that? Cable length is about 12-15 meters. I put decent quality cables in when I renovated the house.



I'm planning to beef up the mountings a little and insulate the mountings from the aluminum dish to prevent corrosion. I'm near the coast.

I'm a satellite noob, but very handy. Like I weld, use a lathe, do my own plumbing, electrics, and cabinet work.

Thanks

 

[Lazarus]

You shouldn't fit a "signal booster" to a system with a cable run less than 30m or so, otherwise you'll actually degrade the signal as they boost noise as well as signal.

 

[satelliteman]

What ever dish, make sure you have a matching feed and then look a Global Invacom quad C120 or Inverto twin Black Pro range
C120.

Tivù: Yes correct regarding the IF amp, but installers out there and all over Spain are just fitting them anyway to "boost" the signal

 

[divibi]

In Portugal, the obvious choice is to go for FAMAVAL dishes, maybe even manufactured locally to you. Call the factory, maybe you could save 250 euros or more on the quotes.

 

[Barometer]

Look around, ask what others need and actually use.
Experience is everything. If your next-door neighbour can report a fact, and you can see the result of their 'rig', then believe what you see.

Regarding 'future-proofing', this isn't easy as the satellites are always changing. The next launch (due towards the end of 2012) might render everything useless.

Happy hunting.

 

[Mark in Portugal]

I don't have any English neighbors; mostly Germans around here. Most British south of here are getting reception with 1.4 meter dishes, but I hear a lot of complaints.
One guy just switched to 1.8 meter because of poor / unstable signal quality with a 1.4.

Anyway, I ordered the Televes 1.8 meter today.

I haven't ordered the LNB yet; I can get an invacom quad, but I've read on the forum here that I would be better off with an inverto black ultra.
But I haven't been able to source an inverto black ultra with a C-120 flange.

Any tips?
If I order before Monday, maybe I'll get it before the holidays. I'll buy online, but it should be a European source or it will get stuck in customs for a few months.

 

[Robbo]

You can't buy a Black Ultra with C120 flange off the shelf, Inverto don't make them. The standard Black Ultra is an LNBF and not the correct F/D ratio for a Prime focus dish. There are some that have managed to convert it, but probably best to go with the Invacom C120 quad for now.

 

[Mark in Portugal]

Thanks; that was what I thought.

For some reason they cost 2.5 times more here in Portugal.

I'm getting closer...

 

[Huevos]

Thanks; that was what I thought.

For some reason they cost 2.5 times more here in Portugal.

I'm getting closer...

Should be around 70€ + tax. If you ordered one direct from the UK with postage it would cost you more or less the same.