Which satellite dish set is best to choose?
A satellite dish needs to be big enough for a good signal on your satellite receiver. Especially as we increasingly watch HD channels, signal strength is very important. The Astra satellites are strong enough to be received with a 45 cm dish, but bad weather affects signal strength. After all, the satellites are more than 38,000 km away from Earth!
If the weather is bad (thunderstorms, clouds and rain and snow showers), this is noticeable in the signal. Especially if it is also raining heavily at the dish, this can cause quite a loss of signal.
A larger dish functions better in bad weather. This is called 'rain reserve'. Especially for the encoded HD channels, a good signal is important. We therefore recommend a dish with a diameter of at least 70 cm.
Adjust the satellite dish correctly
A good signal is not only obtained by a good dish, also a correct adjustment of dish and LNB are essential. Adjusting a dish is a precise job and requires some preparation. With these links you can already make a lot of progress:
Which dish do I need for the satellite of my choice?
When choosing a dish, it is important that it meets all your needs. Which channels do you want to receive? How many TV connections are involved? From which countries do you want to receive the TV channels? Because the choice of dish set depends on many factors, this is difficult to summarise in a simple step-by-step plan.
So if you do not know how to choose the right dish yourself, we recommend contacting us. We will give you free advice and help you find the dish (set) you need. Call on working days between 9:30 and 17:00 to +31 85 0410260, send an e-mail to info@deschotelshop.nl or fill in this contact form. Provide as much information as possible about your situation and we will give you appropriate advice.
Contact form satellite dish set advise
Receiving satellite TV channels
Several sites allow you to check which dish you need for the satellite of your choice. Via satellite, many broadcasters from all over the world transmit their programmes, which is why satellite TV is so popular.
http://www.lyngsat.com/europe.html
Satellite TV reception in certain countries
Besides the satellite you want to receive, the country in which you want to be able to receive the satellite is important. Each satellite has a footprint: from the centre of the footprint where the signal is very strong, to the edges of the footprint where the signal is weaker. This sometimes requires the use of very large dishes.
http://www.satbeams.com/footprints
For instance, the Astra 3 satellite can be received with a compact dish in the Netherlands, but in southern Spain it will not work. There, at least an 80-100 cm diameter is needed to receive a good signal. Astra 2 is aimed at the UK and therefore can only be received here with a very large dish.
For this reason we provide customers customized advice about the correct diameter of the dish. Call on workdays between 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM +31 85 0410260, send an e-mail to info@deschotelshop.nl or fill in this contact form in.
Sizes and types of dishes: in the Netherlands, Belgiumë, Germany, France
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So-called offset dishes are generally used. For reception of the Astra 1, 2 and 3 satellite, TheDishAntennaShop advises at least a 70 cm dish, if you can get rid of it. For the reception of the Hotbird satellite we advise (at least) an 80 cm dish. The best-selling dish is from the brand Triax because of the good signal, but also because of the favorable price. Cheaper dishes are often mechanically inferior and have a cheaper finish. |
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Sometimes it is not possible to install an offset satellite dish and an alternative must be sought: for example a flat dish or flat antenna. These dishes are very useful and are often used on balconies and walls where a dish should not really be visible. The signal is a lot less compared to an offset dish, but that is the compromise that has to be made. In bad weather, the image may occasionally disappear with a flat antenna. |
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A new market has also emerged for the leisure market, if you want to watch TV while on holiday at the campsite or with your caravan or motorhome, and there has been a huge development in making dishes smaller up to fully automatic dishes. For example, at Italian manufacturer Teleco years of development preceded it and Teleco is now a major player in the leisure market with excellent products. From hand-adjustable dishes to fully automatic systems are available. TheDishAntennaShop supplies several high end brands, like: Maxview, Oyster, Selfsat and Travel Vision. |
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An LNB is required in a dish to complete the outdoor unit. This LNB can also be a combination LNB of two or three satellites, the so-called Duo or Triple LNB. But you can also opt for a multifocus dish. A multifocus dish is made to receive multiple (at least 4) satellites. The Maximum E85 is very popular because of its high quality finish and high signal yield. De Maximum E85 with 4 LNB’s (Astra 1, 2, 3 and Hotbird) is mounted here on a steele tile base. |
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In addition to the Maximum E85, there is also the brand Cahors (previous Visiosat); these are made of fiber and also very popular. |
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With the multifocus dishes you have complete freedom in satellite choice; from 4 LNBs to 15 LNBs for the satellite freaks. For this purpose the Wavefield / Wavefrontier T90 is often used. |
These dimensions are at least necessary to receive the satellites below:
| Satellite | Required diameter |
| 53 East Express AM22 (Europe Beam) | 100-120 cm |
| 53 East Express AM22 (S2 Beam) | 150-180 cm |
| 45 East Intelsat 12 | 80-100 cm |
| 42 East Turksat 1C/2A (Westbeam) | 90-120 cm |
| 42 East Turksat 1C/2A (Eastbeam) | 120-150 cm |
| 40 East Express AM1 | 100-120 cm |
| 39 East Hellas Sat 2 | 80-100 cm |
| 36 East Sesat | 100-120 cm |
| 33 East Eurobird 3 | 100-120 cm |
| 28 East Astra 2/Eurobird 1 | 70-80 cm |
| 26 East Badr 3/4 | 100-120 cm |
| 25 East Eurobird 2 | 180-240 cm |
| 23 East Astra 1D/3A | 60-70 cm |
| 21 East Eutelsat W6 | 120-150 cm |
| 19 East Astra 1 | 60-70 cm |
| 16 East Eutelsat W2 | 100-150 cm (depending on transponder) |
| 13 East Hotbird | 70-80 cm |
| 10 East Eutelsat W1 | 100-120 cm |
| 09 East Eurobird 9 | 90-100 cm |
| 07 East Eutelsat W3 | 100-120 cm |
| 05 East Sirius 2/3 | 70-80 cm |
| 01 West Thor 2/3/Intelsat 10-02 | 80-100 cm |
| 04 West Amos 1/2 | 80-240 cm |
| 05 West Atlantic Bird 3 | 70-80 cm |
| 07 West Nilesat (vertical transponders) | 100-120 cm |
| 07 West Nilesat (horizontal transponders) | 120-180 cm |
| 07 West Atlantic Bird 4 | 180-240 cm |
| 08 West Atlantic Bird 2 | 80-100 cm |
| 11 West Express A3 | 120-150 cm |
| 12 West Atlantic Bird 1 | 70-80 cm |
| 15 West Telstar 12 | 80-100 cm |
| 18 West Intelsat 901 | 80-100 cm |
| 22 West NSS 7 | 70-80 cm |
| 24 West Intelsat 905 | 80-100 cm |
| 27 West Intelsat 907 | 80-100 cm |
| 30 West Hispasat | 80-100 cm |
| 31 West Intelsat 801 | 120-150 cm |
| 43 West Intelsat 6B/3R | 80-100 cm |
| 45 West Intelsat 1R | 80-100 cm |
TheDishAntennaShop supplies satellite dishes of 40 cm up to 2.4 meter (KU and C band). To make it easier for you, TheDishAntennaShop created different satellite dish antenna sets, where the various components are matched with each other. Zie: complete satellite dish antenna sets
