1.2m dish sources and recomendations

bohspunks

Looking to get a 1.2 metre dish - who sells these in ireland and any brand stand out as best value etc?

What kind of price range and will a standard size lnb fit on one?

thanks in advance.

watty

1.2m is the transistion region where the better dishes have their own horn and you need a flanged LNB.

The much cheaper Triax 1.1m is largest I've seen taking a regular LNBF. I'm sure Zaphod knows and that there are some 1.2m that take regular LNBs, probably all the cheaper (= flimsy) ones

Zaphod

Not the easiest thing to source in Ireland and most overseas companies are unwilling to ship here.

http://www.satworldonline.com/dishes
http://www.antenna-electronics.com/prod04.htm
http://www.zintek.tv/zintek/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=&product_id=41&category_id=4&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Review of 1.2m Fortec here.
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=32482

The reflectors in most of the 1.2m available seem to be much the same. The thing to keep an eye out for is the bracketing/mounting. Sometimes the quality of these is poor and it can be difficult to judge the focal point correctly.

For that reason I'd be tempted to go for a type similar to the Fortecstar with the additional stabilising bars for the LNBF.

Any standard offset LNBF will do fine. The bigger problem would be a motor - a Diseqc mount really would be too fragile, esp in wind. 36V would be much better.

watty

Zaphod right. the biggest dish I would put on any Diseqc non-36V system would be the 100/110cm triax, and then only if in a sheltered location.

vsat

Channel master"Andrew"
1.2 metre ofset antenna,
LNBF will fit perfect, as will a c120 wave flange/wr75.
has to be brought in from uk,
but dish is strong fiberglass.

best antenna around.

byte

There is also a Sticky at the top of the forum with a list of shops that may be worth trying, if not already listed in here.

Tony

The old ch master 1.2 was excellent as was the 80cm with built in bracket. Any idea who makes the copies now?

vsat wrote:

Channel master"Andrew"
1.2 metre ofset antenna,
LNBF will fit perfect, as will a c120 wave flange/wr75.
has to be brought in from uk,
but dish is strong fiberglass.

best antenna around.

watty

I have access to Andrews / Channel Masters. The current ones ONLY work properly with flanged LNB + Horn, much bigger F/D. A regular LNB on the 96cm version is poorer than my Lidl 80cm due to too much sky received.

It uses a BIG horn. The 96cm version is about 4 times weight of my 110cm Triax and uses a 4" mount pole!

There are a few 1.2m out back of office. I can find out if any are for sale, but they absolutely need horn and flanged LNB. We use them for two way satellite and they are a current catalogue item in 75cm, 96cm and 1.2m sizes. All have a pair of guy rods to LNBF mount.

bohspunks

Thanks everyone, going to uk with a vehicle in january so probably wait and source there then, as you say not the easiest to source here.

theres a 1.8 dish on maplins site - I believe these need to be mad accurately installed -- so wouldnt fancy setting that up by having soemone looking in the sitting room window at the bars on the screen!

" no, nothing, no , no quality, there! no! gone, nothing, no , nothing etc!!":D

watty

You won't find 1.2m easy without a proper meter. I found that a Bleeper runs out of steam at about 90cm.

Zaphod

The Maplin 1.8M dishes are poor enough build quality and will probably rust a bit in the years to come, but they are still very good value when you consider the price. I've messed about with its 2.4M cousin and they perform well once you use a prime focus LNBF.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=3046515&postcount=42

vsat

Channelmaster was bought by Andrew antenna's 2 years ago.
The one watty is talking about is the commercial one, which takes a 3" OD pole.
Which is designed for VSAT comms, and will not fit standard LNBF, only feed horn , which is a c120 flange type.
az/el mount only.
You could put a polizer on the feed, with a real L.N.B.:D

watty

Well you can get a polar mount and actuators..
No Diseqc motor could take the weight