Multi LNB or motor

limpdd

Hi,
I have a 80cm dish installed on my house wall that is currently unused, and I am thinking of using it to pick up 3 satellites at 28e astra2, 19e astra 1 and 13 east hotbird.
I'm just wondering if I would be better to get a motor or a multi LNB holder ( like these http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/triax_multi_lnb_bracket.html or http://www.wizardsatellite.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_27&products_id=139).

I'm a newbie and I plan on trying to do the work myself :-)

I'm leaning towards the multi LNB holder, does it matter which LNB is assigned to which satellite?

gtg60

Multi LNB will be the way to go, doesn't matter what way the LNB's are connected to the Diseqc switch as you will program the receiver accordingly.

Tony

I agree multi lnb the way to go. Easier to set up and instant channel change.

limpdd

Thanks for the replies, I'll go for the multi LNB.
Is there one sat that I should look to align first, maybe the weekest one?
Also and I know I'm getting greedy now, but would it be ok if I used a HD LNB for the 28 East sat (to get BBC HD and ITV HD etc)?

Tony

limpdd wrote: »

but would it be ok if I used a HD LNB for the 28 East sat (to get BBC HD and ITV HD etc)?

No such thing as a HD lnb, any standard LNB will get you HD. The bracket you linked to will get you astra 1, astra2/eurobird and hotbird if you wish but bear in mind it will only work correctly with a triax dish from the TD range 78/88.

limpdd

Tony wrote: »

but bear in mind it will only work correctly with a triax dish from the TD range 78/88.

Sorry to be a little stupid :-) but is this because it will only physically fit with this dish or is there aa different reason?

Tony

It's the physicial fit as well as the design of the dish, might well work if you had some way to clamp it but a lot of hard work without perhaps getting the result you need.

watty

You need a larger size dish with strong brackets as the multi-LNB is more weight and you need more signal.

So a Triax TD 78/88 is Minimum. I have a Triax 90/95 (slightly taller than wide, which gives improved performance on standard circular shape LNBs). It takes the standard Triax bracket also.

28E ---- 19E -- 13E - 9E

Dish aligned without bracket at 16E and the bracket re-drilled so the very strong 28E is more offset. Note that Most Eastern LNB is on the West side and the lowest elevation is highest LNB due to "mirror" reflection on both axis by dish.

If using the bracket with existing center hole, then maybe align on 23.5E or 19E so that the 28E is still in "range", not on 16E.

Mount bracket so curve faces dish

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Mount it the opposite way up to drawing as the tilt needed for 28E to 13E is much more here than in France / Germany and the "normal" mount doesn't allow the 28.2E end to rise enough.
(see picture).

The further from the centre/arm position on the bar, the less effective (lower gain) the signal is. So usually the dish is aligned on the weakest signal. the 28E Astra 2A, 2B and Eurobird are about same strength as Astra 2D in Waterford (50cm would work) but are much weaker in Kerry, West Cork, Donegal, progressively in parts of Mayo/Sligo. In those areas you need a 80cm dish to have same rain margin on 28E Astra 2A, 2B and Eurobird as 65cm would give on Astra 2D.

So East a 78cm Triax will do, Midwest /Shannon Basin/Cork a 88cm and in far West / North West/South West a Triax 90/95. Or even the Triax 110cm if you are feeding a distribution system. I think the Triax 110cm takes same fitting, but not 100% sure!

The slightly higher motorised dish is Triax 110cm
Same Triax 90/95 with 4 x Quattro at front.


It takes a while for the Motor to get from 42E to 45W The multifeed setup in contrast is instant and feeds up to 16 tuners. 28E on port 1 (AA) so that Sky boxes work.

limpdd

Ok so i'm gonna go with a I have a Triax 90/95 and set it up for 28E -- 19E -- 13E.
I was told that the irish digital service (saorsat) is goning to be on 9E but I might need a different LNB for this, is that true? and if so what kind of LNB is needed?

watty

A Single output Ka-Band LNBF. We don't which band & polarity yet for Irish spot (everything on a particular will be on same band and polarity). I'd not get an LNB for Ka-Sat till April 2011 at earliest.