Satellite Dish LNB: Offset vs Prime

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rwnz

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#312700 9-May-2024 22:01

I'm looking at a new dish for my motorhome to watch just Freeview (Optus D1)and want to balance budget vs performance. Dish size is one consideration but I also see that the LNB may be an Offset or Prime. Are there benefits or disadvantages of either LNB configuration?

nztim

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#3228545 10-May-2024 09:40

Hate to say it but Starlink + Streaming an alternative?

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Jase2985

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#3228558 10-May-2024 10:19

nztim:

Hate to say it but Starlink + Streaming an alternative?

was thinking the same thing. My parents stream off a wireless nation connection without any issues.

rwnz

48 posts

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#3228561 10-May-2024 10:25

Thanks for these thoughts on this but this is to be used when camping in remote areas without any mobile coverage. Not for serious binging (I have fibre at home for that) but so we can catch the news or a little light entertainment.

Gollam

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#3228788 10-May-2024 16:26

rwnz:

Thanks for these thoughts on this but this is to be used when camping in remote areas without any mobile coverage. Not for serious binging (I have fibre at home for that) but so we can catch the news or a little light entertainment.

Still might want to look into Starlink, they currently have an offer of renting the new equipment and a deprioritised plan.

I have just set this up - costs around $90 per month in total with no upfront payment other than first month's rental etc.

You could flip between home and the RV as friends of ours do.

Cheers

nztim

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#3228822 10-May-2024 17:46

Get an RV plan and use it anywhere even at remote cam sites with no coverage, means you have wifi calling in an emergency too.

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SATTV

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#3228865 10-May-2024 19:46

rwnz:

I'm looking at a new dish for my motorhome to watch just Freeview (Optus D1)and want to balance budget vs performance. Dish size is one consideration but I also see that the LNB may be an Offset or Prime. Are there benefits or disadvantages of either LNB configuration?

If you want an auto dish it will be an offset, if you get an old sky dish and a tripod it also will be an offset.
I used to use one of the old ihug 30cm dishes, it was good enough for me, could get 7 satellites with that, D1 is the strongest by far.

It just depends on how hands on or off you want it to be.

Back in the day I could unpack and set up the dish in under 2 minutes.

Prime focus in the KU bad is for more commercial or hard to get signals, offset is a lot more forgiving and 99.9% of what you see out there.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

rwnz

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#3229704 13-May-2024 12:02

Thanks John

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Rentakill

82 posts

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#3255087 1-Jul-2024 12:26

Hi RWNZ

I'm using a 35cm Offset Dish with Standard 11300Mhz Sharp LNB for our Caravan Setup.

I have the Dish on an Extendable Tripod Setup which works Perfect, plus it takes up very little room.

35cm Vs 65Cm - While there is a difference in Size - I've never really found it an issue.

Probably 5mins to setup and your all set.

Cheers

Ren

rwnz

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#3255089 1-Jul-2024 12:42

Thanks Rentakill

I ended up getting the 46cm NZ Sat auto mini (https://nzsat.co.nz/products/nzsat-mini-auto) as it was similar price to the covered prime type but a larger dish as well as being offset. This weekend it didn't pick up a signal on one occasion but I was in amongst tall trees on the side of Ruapehu so no surprise there. I previously had an old slightly larger manual setup in the old motorhome which sometimes took a bit of fiddling to set up (and also didn't work amongst trees of course). Call me lazy but it is nice to simply push the power button and have it all working after a minute or two while I get out a beer . As for determining the long term performance - that will take some time.

axxaa

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#3255104 1-Jul-2024 13:33

Slightly related. i'm looking for a motorised AZ/EL mount for a dish. Not to point at satellites but to point at the moon for eme radio.

Cheers

rwnz

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#3255164 1-Jul-2024 14:29

axxaa:

Slightly related. i'm looking for a motorised AZ/EL mount for a dish. Not to point at satellites but to point at the moon for eme radio.

Cheers

I can't help as I haven't got into this any more deeply than what I've discussed in this thread. My only suggestion is that NZ Sat (https://nzsat.co.nz/) may have bits since they deal in this sort of thing (though maybe they simply import complete units).

axxaa

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#3255197 1-Jul-2024 16:09

Thanks for the info, i'll drop them a message