Kathrein Square dish question

[madrat]

Allways fancied one of these to use on the caravan (no LNB arm to bend) but according to the following web site "For efficient reception of BBC and ITV channels, it is essential to use a Skew Plate." Is this true :?

_http://www.sailgb.com/p/square_satellite_antenna/

[nanochickin]

If its like the old BSB squarial you need to rotate it 90 degrees when you switch from Horizontal polarization to Vertical polarization :?

Although thinking logically about it, the Katherine squarial more than likely needs to be mounted on the p!ss to get it in the right place to switch between the two polarizations rather than moving it 90 degrees every time you switch. If you imagine when its mounted correctly for Astra 1 the top of the dish is pointing at 12 o'clock, for Astra 2 the top of the dish may need to be at say 2 o'clock or something like that

This is just a guess as i've never played with one of these before, but the skew plate probably allows adjustment for different satellites

The old BSB squarial could only pick up newer digital transmissions from the Vertical transponders when it was mounted correctly it needed to be mounted 90 degrees round to get the horizontal ones. You also lost about half the signal. This was because the old BSB squarial was designed to pick up Right hand Circular polarized signals not horizontal or vertical signals

The only place where it might still work correctly as it was designed to do would be in the USA on either Dish Network or DirecTV as they seem to be the only people left broadcasting at a frequency and circular polorization that the squarial can still use

Have a look here anyway if your interested in the old BSB stuff http://www.satellitehelp.co.uk/forum...ic,1630.0.html



Nano

[madrat]

dont think I will bother with one of them then.

[madrat]

Just found this on Maplin, any thoughts.

_http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=220124&doy=15m6#overview

[nanochickin]

Same sort of thing as the Katherine one

[madrat]

bugger.

[madrat]

So its not worth going for a square dish then? :?

[nanochickin]

It will work fine when its set up. You just need to get the skew angle correct and it will work faultlessly



Nano

[madrat]

what about using it for touring in a caravan or would somthing like this be better?

[nanochickin]

Can't comment mate i've never used one

To be honest i just use a 43cm Zone 1 Sky mini dish when i'm on holiday

It packs into a box not much bigger than dish if you dismantle it which takes a few mins and it only takes a few mins to re assemble

It worked fine on 19.2e when i was in the south of france a few weeks ago. I had D+ booming in loud and clear every day

Other than having to nip the the internet cafe to get the keys virtually every day it worked a treat

If you ask me these camping ones are a waste of money



Nano