Review: WS International WS24095 240cm prime focus dish antenna

[PopcornNMore]

Review: WS International WS24095 240cm prime focus dish antenna

Specifications:
REFLECTOR
Model: WS24095
Type Prime
Diameter 240 cm
Panels (sections) 6
Aperture Efficiency 70% min.
C – Band Gain @4.0 GHz 35.89 dB
KU – Band Gain @12.5 GHz 45.54 dB
F/D Ratio 0.38
Focus Length 682 mm
Material Steel
Finish Polyester Powder Coating
Color Grey / Cool Grey
MOUNTING
Mounting Type Ground Mount
Elevation Angle Range 0° - 90°
Azimuth 0° - 360°
Material Steel
Finish Polyester Powder Coating
Color Grey / Cool Grey
Pole Diameter Acceptable 75 mm
Net Weight 29.0 kg
ENVIRONMENT
Operational Winds 25 m / sec
Survival Winds 40 m / sec
Ambient Temperature -40°C ~ +60°C
Relative Humidity 0 ~ 100 %

Introduction:
Last December 2009 WS International (WS International Wholesale Satellite Distributor and Supplier of Free To Air (FTA), MPEGII, DVB Satellite Equipment) offered this 240cm prime focus dish antenna at a special price including FREE shipping. I made a deal with my wife that if she bought me this dish for Christmas I would in return buy her a new laptop and she accepted.

Product Strengths:
• Dish arrived in good shape and was well packaged.
• Robby from WS International provides excellent service and support.
• Dish assembled easily even though the 1 page manual lacked detail.
• 12 reinforced plates came with the dish that adds greater support to the panels. (Please note that the manual now only shows 6 reinforced plates)
• Elevation bar has an additional bolt in addition to the knob bolt to firmly secure the elevation adjustment. (Please note that the manual no longer shows an additional bolt)
• Base is well designed and is made of heavy gauge steel.
• For the price this dish is highly recommended.

Product Weaknesses:
• Center panel stabilizer is too short and is difficult to install. I had to bend the ends out in order to secure. Please see the attached pictures.
• Feed support arms should be bent near the rim of the dish in order to fit correctly. Mine arrived straight and had to be bent in order to curve around the rim of the dish panels. They also overlap on the raised rim of the dish panels making it difficult for the short hex-head cap screw to be secured with the nut. Attached pictures show the gap this creates.
• Three mounting clamps were provided. I feel the base should be secured using at least four mounting clamps for added strength during high winds. (Please note that the manual now shows 4 mounting clamps) Robby was kind enough to provide me with additional mounting clamps for my installation.
• Manual lacks installation details and photos.

Final Thoughts:
Even though this dish has a few weaknesses, it has many strengths that make this dish a great value and I recommend it highly to anyone looking for a 240cm dish antenna.

Pictures:

 

[brentb636]

Nice job, makes me jealous !!! I'd gladly give your wife a new computer if I could have an 8 footer. See what she thinks ! I notice that by picture 6, the new "birdbath" had attracted a robin already, just waiting for it to be filled up !

 

[searay43]

Great review, wish I had the extra funds for one of those. It looks like a well made dish.

 

[Wescopc]

Something wrong with the f/d specs 682/2400 = .28 not .38 as shown in the specs, probably the focal length of 682mm is wrong.
Bob

 

[guapoharry]

Nice Review, Popcorn.

What can you tell about experience with the service and support?

 

[PopcornNMore]

Nice Review, Popcorn.

What can you tell about experience with the service and support?

Service and support from WS International is top notch. I've ordered several items from them in the past and will certainly continue doing so in the future.

 

[Blindowl1234]

Popcorn, I had the same issues with the 6 foot Fortec I got from Sadoun over a year ago. Not their fault. It's the way they make them over wherever.
Now mine has been converted into an 8 footer that is motorized too....and I love it. Now it's time for you to motorize that thing....Blind

 

[WSInternational]

Great Job!

Thanks for the good and thorough review. I hope you really enjoy the dish.

I like the fact that you have ran conduit for wiring! It's very impressive.

I notice that by picture 6, the new "birdbath" had attracted a robin already, just waiting for it to be filled up !

Nice Review, Popcorn.

What can you tell about experience with the service and support?

Service and support from WS International is top notch. I've ordered several items from them in the past and will certainly continue doing so in the future.

Thanks for the praise and most importantly, thanks for the support. I really appreciate your business and thank all the members here who help and support our business. Your support is what helps us bring new products to the market.

I may need to steal a few of those photos for our website....

 

[WTguy]

Very nice job, Popcorn. Nice to know I am not the only one that has waited awhile to put up their new dish. I bought mine last December as well and will be putting it up during the next couple weeks (now that the temps are back down around seasonal avg).

I checked my arms and they were already bent, hopefully the correct angle. The only issue I had with mine on inspection when it arrived was the base ring was not welding correctly and has a wobble. When I emailed WSI, they dismissed it saying the base supports will keep it steady. Needless to say I am less than impressed with their support.

 

[ikki]

I have no problem with the dish, we had some strong winds come through this spring and my dish got tossed. (I cant blame this on WSI, as I had not had it permanently mounted at this point.) The problem begins now that one of the segments suffered some warping from hitting the ground. The others look fine. I emailed WSI wanting to buy a replacement "wedge" but was told I am out of luck.

Just food for thought.

 

[WSInternational]

I have no problem with the dish, we had some strong winds come through this spring and my dish got tossed. (I cant blame this on WSI, as I had not had it permanently mounted at this point.) The problem begins now that one of the segments suffered some warping from hitting the ground. The others look fine. I emailed WSI wanting to buy a replacement "wedge" but was told I am out of luck.

Just food for thought.

Is it just 1 panel that is damaged?

I will look in the back storage rooms as soon as I get a chance in the morning. Hopefully I can come across one for you.

 

[Babadem]

Is it just 1 panel that is damaged?

I will look in the back storage rooms as soon as I get a chance in the morning. Hopefully I can come across one for you.

That's very noble of you, Robby!:up

 

[WSInternational]

Thanks Babadem...

Ikki, we've located a few panels. The only issue is shipping them without UPS damaging them. Please call my office at 818-485-8350 and I can give you details and we can make arrangements.