Any lnb test reviews lately?

MarsBar

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I wonder if anybody have read in any magazines test reports from different LNB's.

From my experience, there is not much difference between the LNB's. In the old days I used a narrow band LNB with noise figure on 1.5.
Today the noise level seems to be bullshit as some stated 0,1dB so everybody had to write it on the package.

It is also a better idea to install a larger dish than to chase the miracle LNB.

Some test results from me:

Cheap MEGASAT universal LNB: 67% quality on signal.
Black Inverto LNB: 69% on signal.

So only a 1-2% increase on the Black Inverto at 3 times the cost.


I wonder if any have tested the new PLL LNB's. I can see one on e-bay for £20 plus £40 postage.

Tried to google, but cannot find a comparison yet. Anybody up for it?
 

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Headline NF is usually the best achieved over a small segment of the band: A plot of NF vs Frequency will never be flat.
 

ozumo

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1-2% can be the difference between no picture and something watchable. I'd like to try one of the new PLL Invertos but the necks don't look long enough for a Channel Master.
 

MarsBar

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On sale from Germany, not very expensive!

Worth trying out? In worst case I have an extra LNB.
 

ozumo

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If you need a new LNB then why not. I wouldn't have any expectations of it outperforming the Black Ultra but you never know.
 

jeallen01

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Same LNB on AMZ UK PRIME - £11.73 (that link is to "smile.amazon.." - so, a small charitable contribution)

Will be interested to see any actual benefit when/if someone has a go with this one.

PS: read the reviews:rolleyes:
 
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a33

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The X2 (X-square) type LSP-IT-04 (quad LN:cool: seems to be better than the Black Ultra?

Greetz,
A33
 

ozumo

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Have never compared two similar aged LNBs and found such large differences. If I see one available cheaply I'll give it a go. Seems to be a bit of a shortage at the moment..
 
S

Sleepingwiththefish

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From my experience, a good quality LNB can mean you have picture or not, specially for fringe reception, but they can't make miracles.
When we are working with those small margins, reception will still be (very) unstable and failing most of times. Larger dish is always preferred, specially if you can find an affordable used big one.
 

MarsBar

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In Norway, I assume this is only 2 deg so it should simply be installed straight up. I have tried to rotate it a few degees, but no effect.

Question: If you use a motorised setup, Goto-X, offset dish, is this angle constant for all satellite positions? Or do it differ slightly?

I have a motorised setup, and I have used a table to install the correct angles etc. Works great!

But I have now got hold of a 1,2m dish, I am tempted to install this fixed as it is quite heavy. The motor says max. 1.2m. (Picture below of the motor)

When the motor rotates, it's no longer straight as it follows an eclipse. Hence the tilt of the LNB will differ. Heading straight south it's pretty much upwards. I assume this is correct.

Now if I install the dish without a motor, it will no longer tilt, and then I assume I have to adjust the LNB?
 

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ozumo

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The motor will skew the whole dish as it moves east/west so in theory no adjustment of the LNB is needed. However some satellites including 28.2e have a 'pre skew' so the LNB will need to be rotated in it's holder to maximise signal - if this is the satellite you want to concentrate on.
On a fixed dish you need to skew the LNB, the further away from due south you get, the more skew is required.
 

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Skew adjustment using the LNB holder is a compromise on offst dishes where the cross polarity of the dish cannot be aligned with the satellite (you will see this additional clamping arrangement on quality design antennas for Ku and most of the Ka band designs).

If you can move the pole off vertical this would get you a tiny bit more gain on a fixed dish than by tilting the LNB.
 

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On sale from Germany, not very expensive!

Worth trying out? In worst case I have an extra LNB.
Yes this new lnb is slightly better then inverto black ultra for me i live next to GSM mast and had issues with certain TPs. This lnb also has LTE filter some tps i get 1-2% more then black ultra!!
 

MarsBar

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Okay, I have ordered one with PLL. Will test later when it arrives.

But the winner is so far: 20 year old ALPS from Japan. 0,8dB. It costed £180 back then. Kept it in a drawer for 20 years.

This outperforms the Black LNB, also MEGASAT LNB. Signal on BBC HD is superb, 90% signal 81% quality. Channel 4 used to break up but is now ok.

This was a suprise, not much have happened here in 20 years.

There is a huge mobile mast by my house 1km off, so interesting to try the PLL lnb. Also I use my mobile for broadband next to the TV.
 

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Okay, I have ordered one with PLL. Will test later when it arrives.

But the winner is so far: 20 year old ALPS from Japan. 0,8dB. It costed £180 back then. Kept it in a drawer for 20 years.

This outperforms the Black LNB, also MEGASAT LNB. Signal on BBC HD is superb, 90% signal 81% quality. Channel 4 used to break up but is now ok.

This was a suprise, not much have happened here in 20 years.

There is a huge mobile mast by my house 1km off, so interesting to try the PLL lnb. Also I use my mobile for broadband next to the TV.
Doesn't surprise me either. I have an old Astrotel Precision Gold C Band LNB, and it outperforms anything else I have tried with C Band..
 

MarsBar

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Here is a picture of the winner, made in Japan!
 

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after test several the winner for me lnb golden media 202+.
 

Channel Hopper

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after test several the winner for me lnb golden media 202+.
That brand does ring a bell. I fitted two of the same/similar name ( a quattro type) some ten years ago and they did perform better than others that claimed better figures on the box specifications.
 

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A little dated, but interesting to observe the testing procedure.

Off topic, but Era Technology's Penetrating Ground Radar was used to find buried victims of two infamous serial killers.

 
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