Receiving satellite signals using cone-shaped antennas-is it for real?

[polgyver]

I am interested in non-conventional ways of receiving satellite signals, and some time ago I found a web site advocating usage of cone-shaped antennas (resembling funnels) for catching satellite programs. Any opinion from our experienced members? A few photos follow (sorry for quality, I could not get them other way than photographing the computer screen)

 

[Anole]

Most of those designs don't have the performance.
That's why they're not used commercially.

Anything'll work on really high powered signals such as DBS.
But as FTAers, we're often faced with weaker and more complex signals, requiring higher performance dishes.
The current interest in 32apsk signals is a case in point.
Not one in a hundred of us can get those without major upgrades to dishes AND equipment!

But if you're just hell bent on bragging rights for something weird, search for spherical satellite antenna.
Probably the strangest I've seen.

 

[Lak7]

Hope it does not rain.

 

[Pixl]

Just about everybody has seen these horn antennas Bell Telephone had up all over N. America.

Most have been taken down or abandoned in place. They were right across the C-band down link freqs. we use 3-4 Ghz range, very wide band. Signal collected is funneled down to a round waveguide (no center conductor) and on the the receivers on the ground. Here is one that Bell Labs modified to track the Echo star and other space signals, by laying it on it's back and pointed at the sky.

I know of a local tower rigger that did a lot of work for Bell in the 80's . He brought one of these monsters to his home and set it up as a C-band sat, worked great. But it was difficult to move around and way too big for a hobbyist back yard dish. He eventually scrapped it out.
These towers are still being sold to cell company etc. you might be able to talk yourself into one if you can catch one being dismantled. Now that will get you at the top of the list of the cool dude antennas.

 

[madmadworld]

Now that will get you at the top of the list of the cool dude antennas.

learn something new everyday :..... check

 

[SatelliteAV]

Remlap has a cone type antenna converted to an universal LNBF in this thread:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/277581-Some-of-my-dishes-and-a-satellite-antenna

Several years ago we tested the Pulsat LX2000 and found that it only received the strongest transponders on the linear polarity FSS KU satellites. It was not 2 degree complaint with significant adjacent satellite interference. While it might work for the strong signals on the European satellites, it just didn't have the gain necessary for our lower power signals in North America.

Some reading on the Pulsat and other "out of the box" antennas and reflectors:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/174714-No-Way-That-Could-Work!-The-FTA-Mad-Scientist-Thread

 

[toucan-man]

 

[Stargazer]

That last thread was the one I remembered a while back, the mad scientist one using different things as satellite reflectors.