1.2 m Dish - Greater Toronto Area

[Mark2074]

As some are aware, I posted in the "what's up there" thread. I have readjusted my dish and SG2100 motor, I should be able to get 82W tomorrow. I want to post here to get a broader sense of what to do and advice.

I am having some difficulty in trying to find a dealer/supplier in the GTA (Ontario) that sells 1.2M dishes. There is a small dealer called Dr. Sat (don't know if he is a member here) that used to sell the GeoSatpro 1.2m. Spoke to someone at the store this afternoon which said that due to high supplying costs to Canada they have discontinued supplies up here. There is another place called Save and Play that only sells 33inch dishes. I've done some more searches on google, but have come up with nothing. These two places have told me that there is not much of a market here in Canada for FTA. Is this really true?

What is the cheapest way for me to get my hands on a 1.2m dish (preferably a GeoSatpro)? I want to replace my existing Fortect Star 90cm (doesn't really measure 90cm) that is wall mounted with a SG2100 motor.

 

[Titanium]

Check with RPS http://www.rpssat.com . Roger stocks quite a few GEOSATpro products and if he doesn't stock, he might source one from Trenton Distributors (wholesale distributor).

You might also consider shipping from a US reseller to a boarder drop address or service.

 

[Kraven]

Agree w/ Titanium about RPS (real good guy IMO). However, if it doesnt work out, this could be a second option.

http://worldwidesatellites.com/12-meter-120cm-fortec-fta-dish-blocal-pick-up-onlyb-p-396.html

I havent purchased anything from them and dont know anyone who did but they are in your neck of the woods...

There's also Tek2000 but I'd recommend you do your homework on them first.

Cheers, K

 

[Titanium]

The Fortec Star 1.2m is a very light weight reflector which tends to "self-distort". I would not recommend unless there is no other option.

 

[jorgek]

Worldwide Satellite are in Brampton. Nice bunch of people to deal with.

 

[beavs2112]

If you check worldwide sat in Brampton that's where I got my 1.0m Winegard ku dish from. Very well built sturdy steel dish.

 

[pacificrim]

I had to do some mods on my Fortec 1.2 to make it a good dish. Not the best dish out of the box.

 

[Mark2074]

If you check worldwide sat in Brampton that's where I got my 1.0m Winegard ku dish from. Very well built sturdy steel dish.

Beavs2112, do you pick up c-band with a Winegard 1.0m dish? I got a response from the guy in Montreal by suggestion from Titanium. They too no longer carry GEOsatpro due to poor sales. But he suggested to go to their Markham office and pick up a Digiwave dish. How are they? I agree that I don't want to get a Fortec Star since the general conscience is they are not that good.

I've attached some photos of my re-adjustment. It took me two days to finally tweaked. I used 77W Echostar 8(79W for Toronto) DBS as my southern satellite and now I get full-strength on all sats including 30W which I couldn't get a good lock on, now I get tons. On sat 77W I got about 92% on a TP. But, now I am not able to pick up on those which I mentioned in the what's up there thread. Even if I skew the lnb. This was my primary reason to buy a Geo MicroHD for those feeds. I would like to elaborate fewer but, I don't want to divulge the identity of these channels. I am convinced that it is the dish that has distorted for the past 8 years.

BTW...on the SG2100 I left the angle the way it is. I remember years ago that the angle was a bit off if I used the chart in the instructions. Also, I've left the angle of the dish alone too. The purpose for the readjustment was the fact that the arms were not fully secured to the brick wall. That first time was to avoid making extra holes in the wall. Which didn't help much with the signal.

The post (with dish and motor) is now bang-on level, which was never like this before.

 

[beavs2112]

Hi Mark . I don't get c-band on my 1.0m. I have a 3.0m Channel Master fiberglass dish for C band. I have no experience with the Digiwave dish so cant say. I don't have access to the what up there part of the forum so I cant see what channels you're referring to.

 

[Mark2074]

. I don't have access to the what up there part of the forum so I cant see what channels you're referring to.

I don't think it is a bid deal because there is a thread on here that talks about having problems with 103W NBC as well, so I will mention it. That is was I have issue with. I pick up almost everything on my visible arc, but since my re-adjustment, I thought it would improve the channels when, in fact, it they got worse. Skewing the LNB does not do anything.

 

[jorgek]

Aside from the oddball skew for 103W, the LNB on a motorized offset dish should not be skewed.

 

[Mark2074]

Agree w/ Titanium about RPS (real good guy IMO). However, if it doesnt work out, this could be a second option.

http://worldwidesatellites.com/12-meter-120cm-fortec-fta-dish-blocal-pick-up-onlyb-p-396.html

I havent purchased anything from them and dont know anyone who did but they are in your neck of the woods...

There's also Tek2000 but I'd recommend you do your homework on them first.

Cheers, K

Thanks, I live very close to Tek2000. The 120cm they list on their website looks like a no-name. By their description, they play it up like it is a fantastic dish. Would be nice if someone here has bought from them with good reviews or bad.

BTW...the Worldwidesatellites only sell 1.2m Fortec Star.....no other model / make.

 

[Mark2074]

If you check worldwide sat in Brampton that's where I got my 1.0m Winegard ku dish from. Very well built sturdy steel dish.

I've sent an e-mail to Worldwidesatellites, looking at their website, it looks like they stop selling the winegard based on their website.

 

[jorgek]

Give these guys a call

(905) 602-1382
Angel Electronics
1515 Matheson Blvd E, Unit A100
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 2P5

 

[catamount]

I've sent an e-mail to Worldwidesatellites, looking at their website, it looks like they stop selling the winegard based on their website.

Give Glorystar Canada a call. Maybe you could pickup the dish?
1-866-597-0728. Website lists geosat 1.2 metre at $160

Catamount

 

[Mark2074]

Give Glorystar Canada a call. Maybe you could pickup the dish?
1-866-597-0728. Website lists geosat 1.2 metre at $160

Catamount

I've checked their website, the only site office they mention is in CA. Strange thing is, on the top of their website you can toggle from the "Canadian" and "US" Stores, but when you add an item to the cart it doesn't allow you to enter a Canadian postal code.

EDIT: My apologies I was able to register. To our American friends, ZIP and PC are one in the same.

It says to call for a shipping quote????

Thanks, I will give this a call tomorrow.

I received an e-mail from a Ray's Marine Systems in Pickering who says he has 1.0m winegard dishes. Will there be much of a difference between 1.2 and 1.0 metre dishes?

Also, got a response from World Wide Satellites who said they "have a plastic dish 1.2M which is good quality as well".

Never heard of this what do you guys think??????????

 

[sgs]

I had to do some mods on my Fortec 1.2 to make it a good dish. Not the best dish out of the box.

What mods did you do? I recently bought a Fortec 1.2m and am planning on putting it up soon.

sgs

 

[ftageekyyc]

One of the regular posters on the Digital Home Canada web site currently has an ad in the For Sale section of that site advertising 1 meter Channel Master's for 50.00. He's located in Newmarket.

Comparing a 1 meter to 1.2 meter dish doesn't sound like much difference, but the 1.2 is almost 50% more area.

 

[Mark2074]

OK, so I called Glorytar.tv and they said they do not ship to Canada. The Geosatpro 1.2 m is oversized and can't be shipped for CA to Toronto. It would cost me about $500.00.

But, I appreciate the help Catamount.

Ray from Ray Marine System did reply to my request and said he would give me a quote on a 1.2 m Geo and the 1.0 m Winegard. I'm not sure if he can give me a quote on a Geo, since apparently their is no distributor in Canada anymore. From what research has showed.

Angel Electronics only have the Fortec Star 1.2m. I may be stuck with buying that one. :-( But, I will call them tomorrow to confirm.

BTW...major break ups on COZI due to fog here tonight. The existing dish is gotta go.

 

[jorgek]

You know it might be easier to point an OTA UHF yagi at Buffalo and get COZI on 56.1. It comes in here on and off with a CM 4221 on the roof.