Looking for a larger dish.

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jwt873

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We had a heavy rain today while I was watching something and of course I got rain fade... I'm getting tired of this.

Do they make a 24 inch (or larger) dual LNB dish for simultaneous reception of 91 and 82? I've searched on the net and on eBay but can't seem to find anything that fits the bill. Does anyone know where such a dish can be purchased.. If not, I guess I'll have to go with two 24 inch dishes and aim them individually...
 
It would have to be Multiple Dish's.

Only the 20" takes both LNBF's.

Get a 24" for 82 degrees, the 20" should be OK for the stronger birds at 91.
 
The Channel Master Gainmaster dish (designed for DirecTV but good for EV) supports 3 LNBs at 9 degree spacing. It's perfect for EV. Not sure if they are available in Canada but they were available in the US for a reasonable price. You need 2 or 3 DirectTV DBS LNBs (for 91, 82 and (coming soon) 72.5.) It's also possible to mount 2 LNBs on a *C 75cm dish with a flexi-block adapter.

24" and 30" single LNB dishes are available from many vendors. As mentioned, you need two (soon three.) EV/Dish LNBs usually don't fit so you need new LNBs as well.
 
Nimiq, what, if anything, does BEV authorize to deal with rain fade/weak signal? I'm asking because I'm on the verge of pulling the plug on BEV for this among other issues, so when I call in and get routed to the retention department, I'd like to know whether there's anything they can even do about it, i.e. larger dish/multiple dish install, etc.
 
To the very best of my knowledge they do nothing.....

The idea behind their thinking (NOTE, Express Vu thinking NOT mine) is that if the Dish is pointed correctly, the signal will be strong enough for most cases of Heavy Rain etc.

In the real world I find it pretty ironic that Commercial Installations for say Banks etc are all done with 60cm (24") Dish's. Now why would you do this for Commercial and not make it available to Residential, I do not know.

I can only think that firstly, ensure the Dish is perfectly aligned, Record Signal Strengths on a clear day, then call Express Vu when you loose signal due to Rain.

Adding an In-Line Amp will not really help unless the cable run is very long, over 200 - 250 feet. I have one line in my house that is 375 feet in length, it was never an issue, it lost signal almost the same as the others. Levels were only 5% down on the 125 foot runs.

It could be that the LNBF is not working fully.
Could be a loose or slightly corroded Connector, allowing for voltage drop.

Try the obvious first, connectors, LNBF's, pointing etc, if none of that works then you really do need a bigger Dish or at the very least another Dish.

It will not surprise you to know that during an experiment I did 2 years ago, I assembled 6 x 51cm (20") Dish's, mounted and peaked them on the same Mount and got 6 Different Signal Levels.

Repeated the experiment with 6 Mounts on the same exterior Wall and had techs peak them, same result. One Dish would not climb above 89% T11 Nimiq 1, whilst another hit 100% and would have continued higher if there was room on the screen.....

ALL Dish's are NOT created equal.

I have even seen Dish's that WILL NOT receive any Signal at all......

There is, to the best of my knowledge no way you can even buy a Dish from Express Vu. you have to get through to a Level 3 Tech Support Person and then and only then you might get one shipped out for $75 or $99, it seems to vary.
 
Thanks for the answers.

FWIW, I've had my dish up for 3 years and it actually works great -- Most of the time... I do check the antenna aiming every few months to make sure nothing has moved... I also check the connectors now and then.. (I had resistance in a connector that caused me problems once).

We've had a lot more thunderstorms this summer and of course a lot more fades... Maybe that's why I'm getting annoyed :) ... When we get very heavy rain or snow I lose the weaker transponders... When a monster thunderstorm passes to the south, I lose everything.

What I'd LIKE to get is better signal on some of the 82 transponders.. For instance 11 only gives me 62% while 10 and 12 are both over 75% ..

I guess I'll keep my 20" dish for 91 and get a bigger dish for 82..
 
What is your average for 82?
I just checked mine, and the lowest was 70%, but the average was above 80% (it is a fairly clear day in the GTA today)
I'm skeptical if the bigger dishes help that much
I would guess that a proper aligned dish, with quality cable, connectors, switches would have more of an impact (If it is going to Noah's Ark rain, a 6' dish isnt going to help)
Is the cable you are using RG6?
Quad shield is better (I don't use it, but there is less loss)
Try and keep your cable routing as short as possible
Use Bell approved switches (Or other industry recognized quality switches, remember, you get what you pay for)
The rain fade isnt as much of an issue to me as well I guess because I have a PVR, and watch alot of recorded shows
Anyways, let us know how it works out
 
The 20" Dish, when Skewed, is at best a compomise.

I would like to bet that you can get the same if not better signal levels from 2 x 18" Dish's as then each Dish is being focused on 1 location, not at some mythical point between 2 Birds.......
 
How much can I gain if my average signal is around 85%?
I mean sheesh
My guess is if you have an 85% average, or 90% average, if there is a terrible rainstorm, you will lose signal
I agree with you that you do compromise some signal with a single dish receiving 2 satellites at once
But...If you have a professional aim it ( I did it my myself:D) then the loss is minimal, and you DON'T have to deal with an angry wife, and try to explain why you have not one 20" dish, but also a 2nd 24" dish
Believe me, it can get ugly
 
If you want BOTH and possible a 3rd upcoming sat with MORE gain than the 18' single or the 20" dual, then you might try an Ariza E-85.
It will support 5 LNBs with 9 degree spacings.
So 72.5, 82 & 91 would be NO problem.

They are commonly are used to span 82/91/101/110/119.

It's 85CM wide and offers any given LNB gain ~ the same as a 24" standalone.


If you can't seem to beat the rain fade, then choose a provider that uses linear polarization. They are only affected by rain falling in the same slant as the skew while circular accepts rain fade from all directions all the time.

BTW, the only residential DTH broadcasts in Canada are from *C while 'some' linear signals exits on certain Echostar sats.
 
A 24" dish will add about 10% to the signal strength over an EV 20". Lost signals due to rain fade will be reduced considerably by signals will still be lost in heavy thunderstorms or if snow or ice blanket the dish.
 
If your 10% increase in Signal can translate to a 10% reduction in Rain Fade, I think most people who do not mind 2 Dish's would go for it.
 
Personally I would not go under 1 meter for ku-band, you can probably find some dishes at any place that sells dvb receivers, an add on bracket will be able to pull in both birds.
 
A 10% increase in signal strength actually translates into about a 75% reduction in lost signals due to rain fade, at least in my experience. It's the 10% below the lost signal threshold that counts. Most of the time it makes no difference.
 
There you go, clear, concise answer.

I think it means get a bigger Dish less rain fade, by 75% if you get a 10% signal increase.
 
I guess I'm just lucky then, cause even with a single dish, it has never been a real issue with us
Knock on wood
If I was in the country, I'm sure the Mrs would give me more dishes to play with, maybe even a Big ugly dish
Maybe if I tell her I can guarantee her that the Bachelor won't be lost due to rain fade, hmmmmmmm
I guess then I will order the big dish
 
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