sloopysman said:
Many satellite parts stores are selling adjustable or 4 deg offset lnbf holders which make it easy with one of these and a switch to get both sats at once. Even seen a dual head 4^ offset lnbf advertised on NAT but I didn't see the price. The dual head lnb would probably have a built in switch.
A big difference in the performance between a GEOSATpro two satellite system with matching dish and dual LNBF bracket that was specifically designed for 4 degree reception and the monoblocks that you mention.
Monoblock LNBFs (dual head) do not work well in North America for the FSS satellite signals for two reasons.
1. A monoblock is generically designed and not for a specific manufacturer's dish design. The signals from the two satellites do not converge in the exact sweet point and with the two fixed feed horns of an LNBF. It is difficult or impossible (as our extensive multiple year testing and several SatelliteGuys members have reported) to receive two satellites due to the varying separation angles between the two satellites at different downlink locations.
2. Monoblocks not have the ability to be adjusted to optimize dual satellite reception with independent skew or focal distance variation. While monoblocks are often used in small geographic regions such as Western Europe, they are proven not to provide adequate reception throughout the large North American continent.
Adjustable LNBF clamps often will not allow the two LNBFs to be mounted close enough for reception of satellites spaced 4 degrees apart. Either the clamp design or the size of the feedhorns are too large and keeps the LNBFs spaced too far apart. Many designs only permit separations of 5 degrees or more.
Hope that this information is helpful for those considering receiving 97w and 101w on a single dish.