TROOPER
09-29-2008, 01:57 PM
Background; Satellite programming by the providers uses two different transmitting formats Linear and Circular, I will try to explain the differences. The Satellites have a number of transponders these transponders each carry a number of channels that we tune in on our receivers. The satellites can transmit through the transponders, two different type of signals, these are Linear or Circular.
The Linear transponder sends the signal from the satelite in a straight "plane", there are two planes used, Horizontal and Vertical. If you could picture a cardboard box with a slit cut in it just slightly larger than a "Frisby" (the thing you throw at the beach). If you place the box with the slit Horizontal and throw the Frisby in a Horizontal plane (and were a great shot) it would go into the box, and If you turned the box with the slit vertical (up and down), to get the Frisby into the box you MUST throw in the Vertical Plane to get it into the box. The transponders send both Horizontal and Vertical signals and the LNB and receiver sorts them out. Our LINEAR LNB's on the dish is the same as the slotted box and our receivers send the LNB the signal to receive the Vertical or Horizontal Signal (turns the box).
Circular sends the signal that if you could see it it, would look like a corkscrew. The corkscrew can be right or left handed (twisted). The receiver selects the correct Right/Left Circular signal for the channel selected. Rather than call it Right/Left they used the older linear designation H/V.
The LNB's are setup physically internally to receive these type of signals, the majority of LNB's are setup to receive either Linear or Circular, however there are specialized LNB's that can receive both, such as the Invacom QLP series, however there are NOT common and I have never seen them used by any major providers.
LNB Reference Information
LNB control voltages 12.5 to 14.5V selects Linear LNB Vertical polarity, Receiving ODD Transponders, Circular LNB Right Polarity, DishPro LNB frequency output is 950 to 1450 Mhz (AKA Legacy default)
LNB control voltage 15.5 to 18.0V selects Linear Horizontal polarity, Receiving EVEN Transponders, Circular LNB Left polarity, DishPro LNB frequency output is 1650 to 2150 Mhz (Frequency Shifted up)
As a guideline, for the Americas, the major providers in Canada and the USA almost exclusively use CIRCULAR LNB's. If you want non-english programing, MOST uses Linear LNB's, however there are exceptions such as French in Canada uses Circular. There are sites that will specify the type of signal the satellite transmits such as Lyngsat.com.
Summing up, all "surplus" small (18 to 22 inch reflector) Provider Logo dishes and LNBs supplied by major providers in North America are CIRCULAR (these will work to receive the most popular circular "birds" 82/91 & 110/119). Most South American birds are Linear, and require a 30 inch or larger dish reflector and a Linear LNB.
Circular Satellites; Circular LNB, LNB Type = Standard/Single, LNB Freq = 11250Mhz, typically a Smaller 18 to 22 inch dish
61.5W Echo3, 77W Echo4, 82W Nimiq2, 91W Nimiq1&3, 110W Echo6&8, 119W Echo7, 121W Echo9, 129W Echo5, 148W Echo1&2
Linear satellites; Linear LNB, LNB Type = Universal/Standard, LNB Freq.= 10750Mhz, typically a 30 inch dish or larger dish
63W estrela, 71.8W nahuell, 79W amc5, 91W galaxy11, 93W intelsat6, 95W galaxy 3C, 97W intelsat5, 101W AMC4, 103W AMC1, 105W AMC15, 107.3W Anik, 111W Anik f2, 116.8W Satmex5, 123W Galaxy 10r, 127W Galaxy13
The Linear transponder sends the signal from the satelite in a straight "plane", there are two planes used, Horizontal and Vertical. If you could picture a cardboard box with a slit cut in it just slightly larger than a "Frisby" (the thing you throw at the beach). If you place the box with the slit Horizontal and throw the Frisby in a Horizontal plane (and were a great shot) it would go into the box, and If you turned the box with the slit vertical (up and down), to get the Frisby into the box you MUST throw in the Vertical Plane to get it into the box. The transponders send both Horizontal and Vertical signals and the LNB and receiver sorts them out. Our LINEAR LNB's on the dish is the same as the slotted box and our receivers send the LNB the signal to receive the Vertical or Horizontal Signal (turns the box).
Circular sends the signal that if you could see it it, would look like a corkscrew. The corkscrew can be right or left handed (twisted). The receiver selects the correct Right/Left Circular signal for the channel selected. Rather than call it Right/Left they used the older linear designation H/V.
The LNB's are setup physically internally to receive these type of signals, the majority of LNB's are setup to receive either Linear or Circular, however there are specialized LNB's that can receive both, such as the Invacom QLP series, however there are NOT common and I have never seen them used by any major providers.
LNB Reference Information
LNB control voltages 12.5 to 14.5V selects Linear LNB Vertical polarity, Receiving ODD Transponders, Circular LNB Right Polarity, DishPro LNB frequency output is 950 to 1450 Mhz (AKA Legacy default)
LNB control voltage 15.5 to 18.0V selects Linear Horizontal polarity, Receiving EVEN Transponders, Circular LNB Left polarity, DishPro LNB frequency output is 1650 to 2150 Mhz (Frequency Shifted up)
As a guideline, for the Americas, the major providers in Canada and the USA almost exclusively use CIRCULAR LNB's. If you want non-english programing, MOST uses Linear LNB's, however there are exceptions such as French in Canada uses Circular. There are sites that will specify the type of signal the satellite transmits such as Lyngsat.com.
Summing up, all "surplus" small (18 to 22 inch reflector) Provider Logo dishes and LNBs supplied by major providers in North America are CIRCULAR (these will work to receive the most popular circular "birds" 82/91 & 110/119). Most South American birds are Linear, and require a 30 inch or larger dish reflector and a Linear LNB.
Circular Satellites; Circular LNB, LNB Type = Standard/Single, LNB Freq = 11250Mhz, typically a Smaller 18 to 22 inch dish
61.5W Echo3, 77W Echo4, 82W Nimiq2, 91W Nimiq1&3, 110W Echo6&8, 119W Echo7, 121W Echo9, 129W Echo5, 148W Echo1&2
Linear satellites; Linear LNB, LNB Type = Universal/Standard, LNB Freq.= 10750Mhz, typically a 30 inch dish or larger dish
63W estrela, 71.8W nahuell, 79W amc5, 91W galaxy11, 93W intelsat6, 95W galaxy 3C, 97W intelsat5, 101W AMC4, 103W AMC1, 105W AMC15, 107.3W Anik, 111W Anik f2, 116.8W Satmex5, 123W Galaxy 10r, 127W Galaxy13