Cheap C Band Dual Feedhorn (AliExpress)

[el bandido]

FedEx sent a message saying the Norsat lnbs would be delivered today, and showed the lnbs in Kennesaw, which is not a great distance. No FedEx delivery truck was seen here today, and the tracking number now shows "pending" for a delivery date. Looks like it is time to get the blindscan plugin ready.

The quoted line below sets and activates the c band scan in our Edision enigma2 receivers:

[Blind scan] prepared command : [blindscan --start=950 --stop=1650 --min=2 --max=60 --slot=0 --i2c=2 --vertical --cband]

What happens in the plugin is it takes either the default frequency information or the frequency information you enter, then converts it to line frequency values, which are around 950 MHz to about 2150MHz. The Output Frequency for the 8000RI lnb is 950 - 2125 MHz. So my new Norsat lnbs should work with Edision blindscan, and maybe it will only be a bit of math conversion to make the 5750 l.o. work in place of the 5150 l.o. in the blindscan plugin.

Work on the 5750 l.o. has begun:
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We will see...

[el bandido]

The Norsat lnbs arrived, and did not disappoint me!
I have already tested the cheap China feed with the other lnbs, so I have an idea as to where it should be mounted.
The Norsat lnbs were attached to the China feedhorn, then the lnbs and and feed horn were set into the dish. Settings were "eyeballed". The arrangement shown below is equal to the Pauxis lnbf it replaced. I would expect maybe a bit more signal if the China feed were tuned, and will try that later.

I can pretty much say at this point the China feed works and performs. Apparently I bought crappy lnbs with it. Some tuning needs to be done, and then change to the other feed when it arrives to see how the China piece performs against something that costs more.

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[el bandido]

The test would not be complete without trying the high end of the band.
Locking a 4712 Transponder at 65w was no problem.

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[el bandido]

Blindscan is working at both ends of the band. Shown below are blindscan results from 65w.
Too early to tell if more adjustments are needed in the blindscan plugin.

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[el bandido]

The "professional" feed arrived today. Here are pictures of both feeds.
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My conclusion:
The feeds are almost identical in appearance, weight, and performance.
The "professional" feed has the word "Chaparral" written on the scalar ring.
The "professional" feed included a decent scalar ring, but cost 3-4 times as much.

These China feeds will probably disappear. I suggest to anyone wanting to try one of these Made in China feeds to purchase one (or two). Just stay away from their lnbs. The lnbs I purchased to try on the China feed were very poor performers.

[skink]

el bandido Are you able to scan SES 6 at 40.5W,namely transponder 4521R for those 4K feeds that are suppose to be there?Just curious

[el bandido]

What is supposed to be on 4521?
I do not have any circular polarization capability with these feeds, but I will try to add it.
I do get one transponder above 4200
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A pair of those Norsat 8000RI lnbs cost $330 U.S. dollars delivered. I have been pleased with them so far as it is nice to have upper band capability.

[skink]

It is suppose to be 4K feeds including NASA.I only have a 2.4m reflector with linear polarization.I hope to upgrade soon.Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[el bandido]

I will try to set the system for circular and see what I can get.

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BTW el bandido What size reflector have you been using for the feedhorn test?