campolife

Any chance SatGuy or some of you other knowledgeable people could comment on the usefulness of these sat boosters on a weak signal in the campo.

Or do they only boost a good signal which has weakened due to the length of cable?

lyric030250

I don't know what they do but the only way(s) to get a better signal are a larger diameter dish, a lower noise figure LNB or a combination. The signal will only deteriorate after the LNB and I assume the "Sat booster" is an amplifier that goes after the LNB in the Cable run. The only benefit will be overcoming the loss of an excessively long cable run or defective cable.

ameliapond

I'm just so not familiar with this stuff, suppose I went to a shopping mall to buy a dish, if I asked for a dish with "a lower noise figure LNB" do you think they'll understand what I need?
As regards the sat boosters I can't say I've heard of them, if anyone could post a link (ideally jargon-free) of what they are and where I can get them I'd be eternally grateful

Happy new year to you all!

The Guy

I presume you mean an inline amplifer.

In the first instance they will only amplify the signals that you are getting from your dish.
They do not make "signals" magically appear.
For example, an 80cm dish will not be able to get BBC1, with or without an amplifer, as the dish is just too small to collect the signal in the first place.

As mentioned signal / channel loss can be combated in a number of ways: bigger dish, better LNB, and cable type and length.
I say about 70m of cable is enough before you start to notice significant signal loss, especially for the weaker Astra 2d channel;s - BBC1,2,3,4,itv1,2,3,4 etc..
Although I use "copper foil" cable (Televes t100 -ref 2141 - a bit more expensve but worth it!), which I have found is better than "aluminium foil" cable when it comes to "keeping" weaker signals.
Also, make sure the cable run is as straight as possible.
The amplifier should,in theory, be located near to the dish, so it amplifiews the signal at source before it starts it run along the cable.
If the amplifer is along the cable run, then it will not be "boosting" the full signal, and may in fact boost some of the noise in the cable.
In some cases I have found the amplifers to help some channels, yet the also at the same time hinders other channels.

It all boils down to what channels you are having troubles with, the size of dish, the type of LNB, the receiver, the cable run, the type of cable, and where you are, rather than just sticking an amplifer on the cable!

The Guy

The LNB actually adds noise (yes thats correct it adds noise!) to the signal so that receivers can cope with the signal.

The lower the noise figure on an LNB the better (they say) the performance.
Most LNBs for smaller offset dishes are 0.2 these days.
But now, contradicting what I have just said, the inverto ultra single (0.2) way out performs a recent 0.1 LNB!
Most LNBs for "big" prime focus dishes are from invacom and are 0.3.
Would have thought most dishes in "kits" from DIY and malls will just come with a standard 0.2 or 0.3 LNB. You would get these better ones from an actual satellite shop rather than Leeeeeeeroy Merlins!

adra04778

Hi

I need to buy a repalcement quad lnb, would you mind telling me what make and type is the best for use in Spain, and do I order the 0.1 0.2 or 0.3

Thanks

The Guy

See the post above:

The LNB type you want depends on your type of dish.
Prime Focus: Invacom Quad (0.3 only)
Offset: Inverto Quad or Invacom Quad perhaps?

ameliapond

Most likely, but when I go to those specialised places they spot a mile off I'm a non-techincal person () and I invariably end up buying the most expensive things they've got. That's why I often prefer buying off the shelves if I can recognise something I've seen or read about. I'll try a satellite shop bearing in mind the names you mentioned. Cheers

Fred James

Lidl are selling a quad LNB on Wednesday this week for €12

http://www.lidl.es/es/home.nsf/pages...l_Quattro.ar10

adra04778

Hi

Could you tell me how I would know the difference, it just has Televe written on it in big letters Lol ! or something to that effect

snikpoh

The word is probably TELEVES - there should be a make 'pressed' into the plastic somewhere.

If it is a 'puka' televes LNB, then it will probably be made by invacom.


Televes is probably the best, or certainly one of the best, manufacturers in Spain but also not cheap.

adra04778

Hi Thanks for the reply, yes it is Televes

twistedmelon

Having lost many channels, I am also looking at trying to improve things by changing LNB. I have a Smart LNB at present which apparently isn't to good on horizontal signal which is where I'm having most probs.
So, I have looked at Invacom QDF-031 LNB.
Two questions, I only need one output but this is a quad, do they do single or will it not matter?
Secondly, "they say" this LNB is best used in conjunction with a horn to further improve signal.
Any advice much appreciated.

The Guy

The LNB you require will depend on what TYPE of dish you currently have - prime focus or offset.

The Invacom QDF-031 is for a prime focus ("big") dish, where the LNB is located in the exact middle of the dish.
The do a single output version, and a twin output version.
However, the twin and quad do seem to perform MUCH better than the single output version.

If you have an offset dish, then this is the wrong type of LNB to be looking at. For a single output LNB for offsets, the best performer is the Inverts Ultra Black.

Not so much "best used in conjunction", but it is more or less a necessity to use a feedhorn with this LNB.
Depending on your type of "big dish" you have, you may need a c120 feedhorn, also from invacom.

twistedmelon

The Guy (by name by nature),
Top class reply as always. I have a 2m dish with LNB on the end of an arm which from what you say would be an offset dish needing the inverts ultra black.
Can I clarify whether a feedhorn should be used with this type LNB also?
Many thanks as always for your valuable help and time.