Bigger dish no improvement?

[jholt5638]

I upgraded to a geosatpro 90cm dish from a slimline. However I am not seeing much of an improvement in number of TP or signal strength/ Quality. The only change I've had is now 12134 H 4600 comes in on 103W for most of the day and now have no trouble pulling in all of 87W. Tested with two STBs and my V8 Finder Just a example below. Tested with Avenger Universal Dual Output 60db Gain, 0.2db Noise

DirectTv Slimline
Receiver X2 M1HD+

11760 H 30000 103W
Strength 80% Quality 41%

11942 V 20000 103W
Strength 75% Quality 35%

12134 H 4600 103W
Strength 80% Quality 27% No Lock

GeoSatPro 90cm
11760 H 30000 103W
Strength 85% Quality 43%

11942 V 20000 103W
Strength 80% Quality 41%

12134 H 4600 103W
Strength 80% Quality 35% (now locks)

other sats are similar, was I expecting too much of a gain from moving up the dish size? This experiment has caused me to reconsider to keep chasing bigger dishes.

 

[. Raine]

The bigger dish may keep channels locked in better at times when it's raining, snowing, etc.

I've seen the same as you here, what seems to be minimal gains with a bigger dish but you'll probably notice a difference in inclement weather and on weak transponders, like LPB.

 

[Brct203]

I upgraded to a geosatpro 90cm dish from a slimline. However I am not seeing much of an improvement in number of TP or signal strength/ Quality. The only change I've had is now 12134 H 4600 comes in on 103W for most of the day and now have no trouble pulling in all of 87W. Tested with two STBs and my V8 Finder Just a example below. Tested with Avenger Universal Dual Output 60db Gain, 0.2db Noise

DirectTv Slimline
Receiver X2 M1HD+

11760 H 30000 103W
Strength 80% Quality 41%

11942 V 20000 103W
Strength 75% Quality 35%

12134 H 4600 103W
Strength 80% Quality 27% No Lock

GeoSatPro 90cm
11760 H 30000 103W
Strength 85% Quality 43%

11942 V 20000 103W
Strength 80% Quality 41%

12134 H 4600 103W
Strength 80% Quality 35% (now locks)

other sats are similar, was I expecting too much of a gain from moving up the dish size? This experiment has caused me to reconsider to keep chasing bigger dishes.

Beware of those quality numbers. it seems that not 2 receivers will give you the same quality number on the same channel with the same dish. So it could be that on your receiver 43% is actually really good. 12134 H4600 is a tough one, and the larger dish made the difference.

You will probably also notice an improvement is beam width. For example, some transponders on 97W can be tricky on an undersized dish, as (at least here in CT) 95W and 99W are more powerful and can interfere a bit. I was having problems with the mux that has Canal Algérie and 2Mmonde.

Like Raine mentioned, the larger dish can make a big difference on weaker transponders such as the LPB mux on 87W. Another one that can be tough is BVN on 113W. Also worth trying is 34.5W in lower Ku. I'm not sure if a slimline would be able to get that.

 

[danristheman]

Thats why I use when I am testing channels I can use my amikos or microHD I I try to keep the same base line. Good question here is should signal strength be at 90% instead of at being at 80?

 

[jholt5638]

Thats why I use when I am testing channels I can use my amikos or microHD I I try to keep the same base line. Good question here is should signal strength be at 90% instead of at being at 80?

If it helps using my Zgemma H5.AC with the 90cm it has the option to display SNR in db I'm pointed at 97W watching Russia Today @ 12152 H 20000. Right now its showing 7.1db. Other TPs range from 8.2db down to 5db.

 

[Jim S.]

You may also be in a more favorable part of the beam pattern compared to some people. Here in central Pennsylvania, before I got a 90cm dish with a motor, I was able to get the two (three, at the time) NBC HD muxes on 103 with a 76cm dish pointed at 97 and an LNB strapped to the side! I was also, when there wasn't a tree in the way, able to get all the PBS channels and feeds on 125 with a 90cm dish, whereas these days I keep seeing people saying you need a 1.2M dish to get those reliably.

 

[SatPhreak]

I get all the transponders on 103 with a quality of about 72% on a microHD. I can also get all the channels on 125w except for Montana PBS with a quality of about 45%. Montana PBS is only about 10quality right now , it usually comes in in the evening. This is with a 90 cm dish about 25 miles north of Minnesota.

 

[danristheman]

If it helps using my Zgemma H5.AC with the 90cm it has the option to display SNR in db I'm pointed at 97W watching Russia Today @ 12152 H 20000. Right now its showing 7.1db. Other TPs range from 8.2db down to 5db.

12152 is the best transponder on the ku side of 97w I usually don't use a meter I just use the receiver since it has work well with me before. Just keep up with what you are doing then I would like to see you learn about switches next that will be fun to learn.