As per your request for more info
McGuyver, if you dont mind asking what is the elevation adjustment on the dish you ordered from 3ABN.org? Is it 0~90 degrees or different? and also does it come with all hardware needed to install like LNBF bracket, mounting brackets, etc. or something need to be ordered in addition? I have got LNBFs and the receiver, need a dish with the mounting harware. Please, let me know I will greatly appreciate this.
First of all, the (3ABN) elevation adjustment span is 10~70 degrees according to the scale on the bracket/clamp, the reason is that the elevation offset is a lower profile and doesn't aim as high as other dishes need to. It comes with the lnbf bracket and all neccessary hardware. The mounting mast that is included also comes with all needed hardware but the surface flange mount bolts are actually expanding anchors such as used for mounting into brick or concrete, if you need lag bolts, you will have to buy them, they are cheap and easy to find at any hardware store.
You should be good to go with this dish, just add the lnbf and a receiver but I strongly recommend the hardware upgrade that I mentioned because the factory dish bolts supplied are soft and will snap when tightened repeatidly during the elevation adjustment, I know because both broke on my GEOSATpro, not just one mind you but both!!! I live in a windy area and want my dish to stay put, so I chose to use quality SAE hardware that will take out the sloppy factory fit.
Second, the info that Satellite AV provided may NOT be completely accurate, I, by trade am a retired Machinist, Welder and Fabricator among other technical professions and I know my stuff, I used a Dial Caliper to measure the thickness and diameter of the mast pole and found the two to be different, the GEOSATpro does have a better design for leveling though and the bubble level isn't all that accurate either, neither is using a straight level on the side of the tubing, either one gives the same results. The downside of the GEOSATpro mounting mast (in my opinion) actually weakens the unit due to the enlarged or expanded slotting for the enhanced adjustment capabilities, they also use a thin stamped steel threaded insert at the base of the tube (unlike the 3ABN mast which uses shoulder bolts like the DSS designs) which is bound to strip out if over tightened and if you have a sloped roof you will most likely have to extend/file the adjustment slots to compensate like I had to, I did not have to with the 3ABN design.
I also did a slip fit of the two style masts into the same clamp and found the 3ABN mast to be a tighter fit, what does that tell you? It may be possible that the steel tubing materials used may not have come from the same vendor and this may be why, it's very common in the manufacturing industry for companies to buy materials from various suppliers or to change vendors midstream during a production series. I know this well because I used to be in the steel and welding industry and also manufacturing industries all of my life. When I first received my GEOSATpro dish, I asked myself; "Where's the BEEF?" The feed arm is a small square tube that measures about 7/8" square and is extremely thin, this is why it resonates like a guitar string. You must be careful when attaching the lnbf bracket, the tightening of the single bolt will crush the tubing.
The 3ABN design is a oval style tubing with the additional support brackets, it uses the same lnbf bracket though.
I myself made a replacement lnbf bracket from aluminum and a steel conduit strapping clamp which works superior to the plastic factory designed bracket, in fact I get a stronger signal possibly due to my custom aligning of the lnbf.
He also said that the GEOSATpro had a thicker poly coat which I found to be the same as the 3ABN, why would they be different if made by the same mfr? Doesn't make sense, I did notice a difference in weight though, the 3ABN reflector seems to be a bit heavier, don't ask me why, I may be wrong on this but it's not really important at the low price difference. I paid $70 plus shipping that came to approximately $90 from Adventist Satellite for my GEOSATpro and only $54 from 3ABN for a stiffer rigg.
Third, the 3ABN dish feed arm and support design is different and is not as weak as described by Satellite AV, after I assembled the dishes, I tugged on the feed arm and it did not flex in the slightest.
On the other hand, I can just touch the skinny feed arm on my GEOSATpro and it resonates like a guitar string. I have noticed in high winds that my signal will fluxuate and my picture will tile which does not happen with my other dishes. This is very aggrevating because I do a lot of recording. In fact, I actually retired the GEOSATpro dish for the time being, I will have to modify it by adding support arms to cure the problem. Why do you think he said that GEOSATpro is going to start adding supports? Because they too know that it's been a flaw in the design.
The 3ABN support arms are nearly the same size as the single feed arm on the GEOSATpro,,,,WOW!
One thing about 3ABN, they have always supplied a good dish to their viewers/customers. The dish I bought back in 2003 is a KTI and it's heavy, the reflector is thick steel and won't flex, they don't make 'em like that anymore in America. Too bad that KTI sold out and isn't making them anymore.
I hope this answers your questions and that you'll be satisfied with your new 3ABN dish.