What is the difference between Ku Band Satellite Dishes, Free To
Air Satellite Dish, & Offset Satellite Dish Antennas, and C band
satellite dishes?
-
Ku band satellite dishes usually range
anywhere between 18 inches (40cm) to 1.2m (48 inch). Most Free To
Air FTA dishes are Ku band. C band satellite dishes can also be
used for FTA. C band dishes are are larger in size. Usually
1.8 meters | 6 feet and larger. C band dishes are usually prime
focus. With a Ku band LNB specially designed for a C band dish,
you can use a C band dish to pick up a Ku band signal.
-
The difference between the offset
satellite dish and prime focal (prime focus) dish is the way the signal
reflects from the surface and where it gets concentrated.
Prime Focus Dishes,
the signal reflects from the satellite dish and concentrates towards the
center, where the LNB is mounted to catch the signal.
Offset Dishes
are designed with an offset angle. Usually set at
21-degrees. With this design, the signal reflects from the dish
and concentrates towards the bottom of the satellite dish instead of the
center of the satellite dish. See the pictures below:

|

|
|
Prime
Focus Dish |
Offset
Dish |
What size dishes are available?
In most cases, there are standard size satellite dishes. See the
chart below:
1 centimeter = 0.393700787 inch
|
Size in INCH |
Size in Metric |
|
45cm
Dish |
18
Inch | 18" Dish |
|
60cm
Dish |
24
Inch | 24" Dish |
|
75cm
Dish |
30
Inch | 30" Dish |
|
80cm
Dish |
31.5
Inch* | 31.5"* Dish |
|
90cm
Dish |
36
Inch | 36" Dish |
|
100cm
| 1m Dish |
39
Inch | 39" Dish |
|
120cm
| 1.2m Dish |
47
Inch | 47" Dish |
*Because of marketing, some dish manufacturers and distributors
advertise an 80cm dish as a 33" dish rather than a 31" dish
What size is the
LNB holder | clamp that
comes with the dishes and are they standard?
-
The standard size for offset dish lnb bracket | clamp
is 40mm
-
What satellite
motor do you have
available for offset dishes?
-
We carry a few different type of
HH
motors for offset Ku band satellite dishes. Go
here
for our
satellite
motor section.
Can you use a dish
motor with a Prime-Focus
satellite dish?
-
Yes. They are called actuator arms. You
can not use an HH mount. An HH mount or DiSEqC1.2 motor is
used only for offset satellite dishes and not prime focus.
