Wasted $150 on a cheap LNB before I learned to check the noise figure

About six months ago I bought a generic LNB off Amazon for $30 because I wanted to save some cash on my first DIY satellite dish build. It worked okay for the first week, catching a few free channels from a weather satellite. But then the signal started dropping out every time a cloud passed by, and I couldn't figure out why. After reading through some old forums and checking the specs, I realized the noise figure on that cheap LNB was something like 0.7 dB, way too high for reliable reception. I ended up spending $180 on a quality Invacom LNB with a 0.1 dB noise figure, and now I get steady signals even during light rain. Has anyone else burned money on bargain parts that just didn't hold up?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_max18d ago

Check the cable connectors too, a bad ground can mess up an otherwise good LNB.

the_christopher18d ago

Isn't it funny how that works though... you try to save a few bucks and end up spending more in the long run. I did the same thing with a dash cam for my car, bought a cheap one for like $40 and the video was all grainy at night, couldn't read a license plate if my life depended on it. Finally shelled out for a decent one with a Sony sensor and now I can see everything clear as day even in the dark. Seems like the lesson is always the same - buy cheap, buy twice, or in your case three times as much haha.