WTD: 2.4m Fortec Star (Or similar)

kingkad

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Hi Guys

I've got an urge to try out a smaller dish for cband and i've heard mixed reviews about the maplins fortecstar dishes but want to try one if anyone has one lying around...

Let me know
KK
 

Hixxy1

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I've heard mixed reports about the fortecstar dishes. Some people say they're complete trash. Others say they work well if you know how to align/bend the petals correctly.
I personally haven't had any experience with them though. Just purely hearsay :)
 

Huevos

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Hixxy1 said:
I've heard mixed reports about the fortecstar dishes. Some people say they're complete trash. Others say they work well if you know how to align/bend the petals correctly.
Well you are never going to here an installer telling you they are good. Absolutely horrid. Completely unstable and almost impossible to adjust. Once set up, the slightest breeze and they wobble like a jelly.
 

A nonymous

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They aren't too bad for C band, but if you want it for Ku band i would forget it and buy a decent 1.8m dish as it will perform better.

Nano
 

hairybadger

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nano said:
They aren't too bad for C band, but if you want it for Ku band i would forget it and buy a decent 1.8m dish as it will perform better.
Would you mind explaining to me why they're OK for C-band but not Ku? I thought that C-band was more demanding :)
 

PaulR

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hairybadger said:
hairybadger, on 19 Apr 2013 - 13:02, said:
Would you mind explaining to me why they're OK for C-band but not Ku? I thought that C-band was more demanding :)
C band transmissions require a larger dish to collect signals, so they're more demanding in that respect, but the lower frequency of C band compared to Ku band have a longer wavelength and so can tolerate greater inaccuracies in the shape of the dish. They can also tolerate mesh dishes with a larger hole in the mesh which can significantly reduce windage problems.
 

Costactc

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I installed a 2.4m Fortec solid last Spring and I have to differ with all the above posts. I use it exclusively for ku band with an offset lnb-jsc322-2 and there aren't any tp on my arc which I do not scan in. Today I am installing an invacom twf-031 flange with 120 feed horn to maximise the signal quality on this prime focus dish. When you have gale winds any dish will move and my Fortec has endured many of those without any issues. As of now, almost all tp on my arc scan in at around 85-99% signal quality and I will report back once I have finished installing my new feed.
 

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Costactc said:
I installed a 2.4m Fortec solid
Solid in what way? The OP says a Maplin Fortec star. That is paper thin steel dish in 6 sections that is prone to distortion.
 

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Hixxy1

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PaulR said:
C band transmissions require a larger dish to collect signals, so they're more demanding in that respect, but the lower frequency of C band compared to Ku band have a longer wavelength and so can tolerate greater inaccuracies in the shape of the dish. They can also tolerate mesh dishes with a larger hole in the mesh which can significantly reduce windage problems.
Thanks Paul. Couldn't have put it better myself :D
 
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