Astra 2E: Western Europe Reports

[stephenG]

Hi StephenG......The Opticum Quad you want ....is the LQP 04H ......a great LNB ....I hope you have success with It...

What is the make of the cheapo LNB you are using at the mo...??.....



http://www.amazon.fr/Opticum-universelle-récepteur-satellite-Allemagne/dp/B002E3Q4JC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400825539&sr=8-1&keywords=Opticum quad

Thanks, that's what I've ordered.
The cheapo quad LNB I am using, which I bought years ago from BFSAT.fr, is branded "Twin Dish". Just like like this one....

I'll let you know the results.

 

[stephenG]

The PLL one was the LNB involved in the IBU comparison test I did. I've also got the quad above and did tests on Astra2 using a small dish with it. Without trawling back through this thread to find them, the results will be on an early page I think. I think it's unfair for me to compare what I find with Steve, due to the differing locations and dish sizes involved. I can only say that overall the results didn't persuade me to change from an IBU for fringe stuff.

@Stevesteve : You'd do better to advertise those surplus BU's on here rather than throwing them away. I'm sure plenty of people would snap them up.

The Opticum web site (http://www.opticum-gmbh.de/lnb/) only lists two models of quad LNB Red Rocket and the LQP-04H (which steve.steve refers to). Do you know the reference / model of the PLL version your comparison ?.

 

[sonnetpete]

The thread I did the comparison tests on is here :

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/black-ultra-or-octagon-a-comparison.158439/

I'd imagine the details are on there, however I'm going out shortly and will try to check when I get back.

 

[stephenG]

The thread I did the comparison tests on is here :

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/black-ultra-or-octagon-a-comparison.158439/

I'd imagine the details are on there, however I'm going out shortly and will try to check when I get back.

Hi again sonnetpete. The comparison test mentions an Inverto Black Ultra (single I believe) and a twin Octagon LNB. Did you test an Opticum LNB too ?. Do you know which twin Octagon LNB you used ?. thanks;

 

[sonnetpete]

Sorry Steve, at my age it's easy to mix up Opticum and Octagon LOL...The Opticum thread is here :

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/opticum-white-quad-v-inverto-black-ultra-single.160026/

You'll see it was an Opticum quad (which is still in use though not on a fringe sat). The Octagon was this one :

http://www.amazon.de/Octagon-Optima-OTLSO-Verstärkung-FullHD/dp/B009SPZETU

 

[Steve Steve]

This is..... all a bit confusing .....But Interesting..........I'm looking forward to Stephan and Judith's results.......

Ps ...thanks Stephan..for the link and pic of your cheapo LNB........I might test that one in the future ...Depending on your test results with the Opticum Quad........

 

[supermagagnosc]

[QUOTE="
I think I will suck it and see with the cheapo LNB.... And the Inverto Black Ultra LNB can go back to Amazon.[/QUOTE]

stephenG I am in grasse and can probably use the Black Ultra if you want to off load at cost, let me know

 

[stephenG]

[QUOTE="
I think I will suck it and see with the cheapo LNB.... And the Inverto Black Ultra LNB can go back to Amazon.

stephenG I am in grasse and can probably use the Black Ultra if you want to off load at cost, let me know[/QUOTE]

Hi supermagagnosc, Sorry but it is already on its way back to Amazon (and they reimbursed the total cost within 6hrs of dropping of the return package at La Poste, how's that for service) . Since you are so close to me I am interested to know your own experiences with Astra 2E/2F Uk spot beam reception. What size dish do you have ?, what LNB do you use ?, what reception quality do you get ?. Thanks.

 

[stephenG]

This is..... all a bit confusing .....But Interesting..........I'm looking forward to Stephan and Judith's results.......

Ps ...thanks Stephan..for the link and pic of your cheapo LNB........I might test that one in the future ...Depending on your test results with the Opticum Quad........

No problem steve steve Anyway some questions for you; you mention on this thread http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/opticum-white-quad-v-inverto-black-ultra-single.160026/ that a "Raven/Andrews feedhorn /invacom LNB...gave 10-15 % better Signal Quality than any universal LNB" and your avatar mentions "Opticum Quattro (DIY conversion to c120 flange ) Gibby FeedHorn".... so what do you use today ?, and what's your current view on the feed horn Vs universal LNB ?, also was the raven feedhorn better than the Gibertini feedhorn ?. I am wondering if it's worth playing with a feed horn, maybe along the lines of your Opticum Quattro DIY conversion (albeit not matched to the dish though). Cheers.

 

[sonnetpete]

stephenG: I'll let Stevesteve answer your specific question but I don't think that a feedhorn would be at all effective on a 1M dish. When I got the 1.2M Laminas I purchased at the same time, a C120 LNB and Laminas feedhorn. Tests soon revealed there was no better solution than an LNB designed for an offset dish (the Black Ultra has proved to be the best all round solution on that dish). I'm sure you'll get advice to the same effect. (though I'm willing to be proved wrong)

 

[Steve Steve]

That quote from me in From sonnetpete's.testing....was a long time ago...when things was very different ....1N was still transmitting at full power and my only problem channels were Channel 5 & Channel 4 HD........Now i have many more problem channels..!!
Im currently using A Gibertini Feedhorn and my converted Opticum....as this combo gives me ..a little bit extra on Channel 5 and itv 1 HD evening reception ...over the performance of the Invacom c120 and Raven feedhorn....There is not a lot of difference .... but just enough improvement to get through the evening low signal......
What would be great is a combination Of a Opticum , Inverto Black Ultra and a Invacom LNB's..all in one...That would be Perfect......Opticum is better on ch5....Inverto is slightly better on some BBC's...and the Invacom's C120 Flange...!

I would not have thought a Gibby feedhorn for 125 cm & 150cm dish..... would give any advantage on a 100cm dish...But I've never tried it.....You would.....Probbably be wasting your money with that idea

 

[Steve Steve]

For anyone who's interested ...Here's a couple of pic's of one my DIY Opticum C120 flange LNB's I made .....This is my mark 2 version with screw studs.....instead of screw holes....for better central tube alignment with the Feedhorn....

I very recently made another one ....for a Member of Robs sat site .....But I'm waiting to hear the results ....

 

[FRINGE]

stephenG: I'll let Stevesteve answer your specific question but I don't think that a feedhorn would be at all effective on a 1M dish. When I got the 1.2M Laminas I purchased at the same time, a C120 LNB and Laminas feedhorn. Tests soon revealed there was no better solution than an LNB designed for an offset dish (the Black Ultra has proved to be the best all round solution on that dish). I'm sure you'll get advice to the same effect. (though I'm willing to be proved wrong)

From my own research across the internet/forums, and from my own personal experience, it seems that C120 flanged LNB's with matched dish/feedhorn is most effective on larger dishes. That appears to be the combo that can outperform other 'top' LNB's - such as the BlackUltra. In my case the invacom quad and lamanis feedhorn works best with my lamanis 2.7 dish.

 

[RichardinSpain]

The Inverto Black Ultra LNB arrived today and..... after an hour on the roof again... no signal, 0%, diddly squat, for UK beam 2E or 2F transponders. But the cheapo LNB gives 70% signal quality on most transponders, incl CH5, I can just HD but not stable..

I think I will suck it and see with the cheapo LNB.... And the Inverto Black Ultra LNB can go back to Amazon.

Hi StephenG
This is what i found with the Black Ultra too, it is a good lnb and on some transponders it does improve the signal. When i hooked it up to my motorised dish it was getting a 10% more signal on some transponders on Nilesat but when i put it on for 2e and 2f it just didn't cut it on the transponders i was interested in, thats why i put my B.E.S.T lnb back on..Having said that i think the BU does out perform a lot of lnbs but my B.E.S.T lnb has the edge

 

[stephenG]

That quote from me in From sonnetpete's.testing....was a long time ago...when things was very different ....1N was still transmitting at full power and my only problem channels were Channel 5 & Channel 4 HD........Now i have many more problem channels..!!
Im currently using A Gibertini Feedhorn and my converted Opticum....as this combo gives me ..a little bit extra on Channel 5 and itv 1 HD evening reception ...over the performance of the Invacom c120 and Raven feedhorn....There is not a lot of difference .... but just enough improvement to get through the evening low signal......
What would be great is a combination Of a Opticum , Inverto Black Ultra and a Invacom LNB's..all in one...That would be Perfect......Opticum is better on ch5....Inverto is slightly better on some BBC's...and the Invacom's C120 Flange...!

I would not have thought a Gibby feedhorn for 125 cm & 150cm dish..... would give any advantage on a 100cm dish...But I've never tried it.....You would.....Probbably be wasting your money with that idea

Thanks for your feedback steve steve and sonnetpete. I understand that I am clutching at straws and in reality bigger is always better - however I fear the problem of permission from the local planning office.... perhaps I should tackle my fear head on...

 

[sonnetpete]

....however I fear the problem of permission from the local planning office.... perhaps I should tackle my fear head on...

Is this 'permis' problem something local or an unheard of (to me) regulation applied nationally. I have five dishes of various sizes up to 1.2M and never had anyone from my local commune (village) to check. I am pretty secluded with no near neighbours though and have only had the mayor down here once in over 12 years...

 

[Steve Steve]

After last nights total loss of all spot beam channels :-( .......In desperation .....Ive just spend a big 20 Euro on a Octagon Quattro LNB with PLL......With the very optimistic view it might give something extra......

The Octagon is more than twice the price as a Opticum Quattro (8,50 Euro )....So It Might Be twice as good..?.. :-) ....Fingers crossed....

I'll post my findings next week.........If its better than the Opticum ....I'll convert it to Feedhorn c120 flange ...the same way i did with the Opticum LNB......

 

[stephenG]

Is this 'permis' problem something local or an unheard of (to me) regulation applied nationally. I have five dishes of various sizes up to 1.2M and never had anyone from my local commune (village) to check. I am pretty secluded with no near neighbours though and have only had the mayor down here once in over 12 years...

If the dish is fixed to outside of a building and the reflector is greater than 1m then permission needed under the "déclaration preable" regime (like for a swimming pool for example) - national urbanisme regulations. Otherwise there are also local (commune) urbanisme rules for any modification to the exterior aspect of building - it may need to comply to specific rules, ...

If the dish is on a pole / mast in the garden - then this is different . No good line of sight except on the roof or in the middle of driveway for me ....

 

[Huevos]

the BU does out perform a lot of lnbs but my B.E.S.T lnb has the edge

Absolutely no way.

 

[Steve Steve]

Huevos..." Absolutely no way"..... Says Who...???.....really....?????.........you forgot ....to include... "In your opinion".....TBH....Ive wasted enough money on testing IBU's....and other crappy LNB's from " Inverto ".....a very overrated LNB for fringe reception of 2E & 2F...In my option / experience .....As others have also on the fringe of UK TV reception have also posted....

Huevos....i imagine you are based in the UK ...right.......??...with no prpbs with 2E & 2F..?.....The IBU might be a wonderful / the best LNB on other satellites ...but for me on fringe 28,2 reception...The IBU...is not even in 2nd place....... B.E.S.T...And Orton Quad's... ..also are also better on Difficult PSB's reception.........sorry.... IBU 4th place....If that....