Hello
Everybody seems to be putting their two cents worth so here are a couple of pennies more.
I've been using a old convert 1.2m dish I was given 2 years ago the begining of my C-band life.
Have been enjoying every mininute of it. It uses a DMX-741 Lnb C and Ku band, and a modified Sg2100
motor, being that the dish weighs 48 pounds. I won't bore you with the mods to the motor but it does the
job and has proved to be very reliable to say the least. I used the conical scalar ring at first and played with
the standard scalar next. The results I received with the conical were the best of the two but not good enough
for all the Sats. meaning Fox, Reels, and many other low power transponders. I also found there to be a 1/2 degree
spread on some of the Tps. so scanning them in would take a couple of tries by moving the motor left and rigth that 1/2
a degree. I'm sure this is because it is an off set dish an has a little boarder Q than a prime focus dish. Also experimenting with the correct positioning of the Lnb leaves a fine line in receiving a transponder or not.
I did a lot of reading on dish design and scalar rings first thing I found out about the Lnb is the plastic cap that covers
the thoat of the Lnb if removed made a difference of 10 points on the quality reading it depends how dense the plastic
cap material is and with a small dish every db of gain is very important so I replace it with a piece of Kapton material
which now is like a clear window to the signal passing threw.
Next came making my own scalar ring there may be some sceptics out there but I experimented for many hours
trail by fire and came up with a very interesting scalar ring design made from a stainless salid bowl with focial point in
the right position which gathers a lot more energy at the Lnb's focial point making a substancial quality gain on the receiver.
Here are a few pictures so don't give up on your experimenting because you can receive most all the Sat's. with 1.2meter
dish I'm at the 3450 foot level this helps with a clear view. I use a Open box S9 and have and try many others so far this is
the best all round receiver, I have 2 AzBox receivers on the way from China should be here Monday want to try them
to so what they are like $180.00 each deliveried free shipping. Anyway that's my spare change on the subject.
ps sorry spelling that's not my best subject. I guess entering pictures may not be a good subject either I'll try.