C or Ku band

crankbooster · #1 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 09:58 PM

Please what is the end difference in the c and ku band dishes?
Is it like some channels on C band not available on KU band or vice-versa?
Which one is advisable to purchase?

satnutwillb · #2 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 10:38 PM

If I'm understanding your question right,a cband dish is larger and will pick up both c and ku.There are things that are cband sometimes that isn't on ku and the same thing applies to ku.With the larger dish you will be able to get more chs.Hope this is of some help.

crankbooster · #3 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satnutwillb

If I'm understanding your question right,a cband dish is larger and will pick up both c and ku.There are things that are cband sometimes that isn't on ku and the same thing applies to ku.With the larger dish you will be able to get more chs.Hope this is of some help.

What you are saying is that a c band is better and I can get both the KU and the C band channels.
what is the biggest dish for the best reception?

satnutwillb · #4 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 04:58 AM

Most people suggest at least a 8.5 to 10 foot dish,but about the smallest you need to use is a 6 ft.I use a 7.5 ft.mesh dish with great results.Hope this helps.

rainman · #5 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankbooster

What you are saying is that a c band is better and I can get both the KU and the C band channels.
what is the biggest dish for the best reception?

as satnut stated the smallest dish you can use sucessful is a 6 footer.I would recommend a 8.5 ft dish myself remember the bigger the dish the better the signal quality.

wejones · #6 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 09:12 AM

Also, to pick up C-band, you need a different feed, and since the dishes are bigger, you need a more powerful motor to move the dish, and these motors aren't directly compatable with the DiseqC1.2/USALS features on most FTA STBs. Re the feeds, there are C/Ku LNBFs, or you can go for a C/Ku feedhorn that will take C and Ku LNBs. The latter requires a polarotor to change polarity.
One option is to get a cheap analog IRD, which will move a big dish with an actuator, and control the polarotor, and slave the FTA receiver off the analog receiver. The other option is to get a V-Box type thing that will allow a FTA receiver to move a big dish. However the V-box doesn't control a polarotor, so you'll need an LNBF rather than a C/Ku feedhorn.

crankbooster · #7 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wejones

Also, to pick up C-band, you need a different feed, and since the dishes are bigger, you need a more powerful motor to move the dish, and these motors aren't directly compatable with the DiseqC1.2/USALS features on most FTA STBs. Re the feeds, there are C/Ku LNBFs, or you can go for a C/Ku feedhorn that will take C and Ku LNBs. The latter requires a polarotor to change polarity.
One option is to get a cheap analog IRD, which will move a big dish with an actuator, and control the polarotor, and slave the FTA receiver off the analog receiver. The other option is to get a V-Box type thing that will allow a FTA receiver to move a big dish. However the V-box doesn't control a polarotor, so you'll need an LNBF rather than a C/Ku feedhorn.

So what type of motor do you recommend for a Ku-Band/C-Band Dish - 1.8 meter (Fortec) Prime Focus

Actually it took me an hour of browsing the net to understant all you were saying i.e those terms.

Will I need a motor to rotate the dish horizontally for 360 degrees and the Polarotor to move the dish Vertically?
What type of receiver do i need and the V box?

rainman · #8 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 06:36 AM

go to this site some excellent reading on c band dish alignment and installation.

http://www.geo-orbit.org

wejones · #9 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankbooster

So what type of motor do you recommend for a Ku-Band/C-Band Dish - 1.8 meter (Fortec) Prime Focus

Actually it took me an hour of browsing the net to understant all you were saying i.e those terms.

Will I need a motor to rotate the dish horizontally for 360 degrees and the Polarotor to move the dish Vertically?
What type of receiver do i need and the V box?

I'm not sure what kind of motor would be appropriate for the Fortec dish. It has a fixed mount, and would have to be adapted to a polar mount, and I'm not sure where you could buy just the mount. The mounts/motors available at Sadoun are too small for these C-band dishes. Most consumer C-band dishes come with a polar mount rather than a fixed mount, and they usually come with a linear actuator to move the dish. The problem with an actuator mover is that it can only do a bit more than half the arc, ie one horizon to a bit past due south. You can also get a heavy duty H-H mount for C-band dishes if you need more arc. Most analog IRDs can control an actuator or heavy duty H-H, and FTA receivers can control them if you get a V-box.
Both these big mounts, and the little mounts sold for the 1M type dishes are polar mounts, ie the motor doesn't move the dish "horizontally", but around an axis that approximates the earth's polar axis. The "polarotor" doesn't move the dish at all, it just moves a tiny probe inside the feedhorn, that selects either H or V polarity.
The mounts that move a dish "horizontally" and "vertically" are referred to as Az/El (azimuth/elevation) mounts. These are sometimes found on vacation vehicles or for professional installations, but aren't common for home installations, and none of the consumer receivers can control them.
Anyway, if you are interested in going to a motorized C-band, I think the Fortec dishes is a complicated way to go. They would be great for a fixed dish looking at one sat though.

rainman · #10 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 12:09 PM

I don't think you can buy the HH mount for c band dishes anymore.another way to get started in c band is look around your area a lot of times you can find these dishes not in use and the owners will give them to you just to get rid of them.a cheap way to get started.

wejones · #11 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainman

I don't think you can buy the HH mount for c band dishes anymore....

You're probably right on that. I bought my current one about 10 years ago, and I haven't seen any place to buy them recently. I just bought a replacement reed switch for the thing, thinking it was original equipment, but when it came, it looked like it was hand made, just a cheap reed switch glued on to a piece of plastic. I could have made it in my shop for less than $5, but it cost me $30. :-(