Review: SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Pro Dual Standard KU LNBF

[PopcornNMore]

Product:
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Pro Dual Standard KU LNBF

Supplier:
Satellite AV, LLC

Price:
$30 (Special 50% discount now available from Satellite AV, LLC for the holidays) http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-ai...iday-specials-satelliteguys-satellite-av.html

Shipping:
I was really impressed that this LNBF arrived after only 2 days and was very well packaged in a box surrounded by packing peanuts. Some other suppliers simply ship their LNBF's within a bubbled envelope to reduce costs in order to generate a higher profit.

Introduction:
I would like to thank Brian Gohl from Satellite AV, LLC for supplying this SL2 dual standard LNBF for testing. Satellite AV, LLC has always offered quality FTA satellite products and this LNBF is no exception.

Specifications:
Input Frequency: 11.7 - 12.75 GHz
Gain: 60 dB (typical)
Output Frequency: 950-2000 MHz
L.O. Frequency: 10.75 GHz
Noise Figure: 0.4 dB (typical)

Date Tested:
November 22-23 2010

Equipment Used During Testing:
Dish: Channel Master 1.2m (4')
Receiver: Openbox S9 HD PVR FTA Satellite Receiver

Installation:
Installation was simple since the LNBF has a groove along the top indicating a zero degree skew. However, I must point out that unlike other LNBF's this LNBF had to be pushed all the way into the Channel Master LNBF mount in order to receive the highest possible signal. I first installed it having the front of the LNBF flush with the front of the Channel Master LNBF mount like I do with other brands of LNBF's, but the signal strengths received were very low and not stable. Once properly adjusted this dual standard LNBF outperformed two other 0.4dB universal LNBF's that I tested. One of them even failed, so I continued my testing using only one 0.4dB universal LNBF to compare test results.

Test Results:

AMC 6 (MSNBC) 11704V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 89 Quality 32
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 90 Quality 60-67

AMC 9 (TUFF TV) 11734H
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 65
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 90 Quality 58

AMC 3 (English) 11736V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 65
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 90 Quality 73

GALAXY 28 (ABC News Now) 11954V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 72
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 88 Quality 73

GALAXY 17 (T/ANT E/S) 12187V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 89 Quality 70
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 88 Quality 71

GALAXY 25 (Azteca 13) 11983V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 88 Quality 67
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 89 Quality 73

GALAXY C3 (MAC TV) 12049H
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 76
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 77

GALAXY 19 (Kuwait 2) 11788V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 85 Quality 75
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 75

GALAXY 16 (CBS Newspath) 11784V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 85 Quality 70
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 88 Quality 60

SES 1 (BIO) 12059H
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 72
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 76

AMC 1 (MS20) 11940V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 85 Quality 76
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 76

AMC 15 (Macy's) 11855V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 67
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 88 Quality 70

SATMEX 6 (DA-A1) 12079H
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 73
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 86 Quality 74

GALAXY 18 (Daystar) 12134V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 71
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 71

AMC 21 (LPB2 PBS) 12071H
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 72
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 88 Quality 72

AMC 21 (Telarty PBS) 12096V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 70
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 70

AMC 21 (Montana PBS) DVB-S2 12105V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 70
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 88 Quality 73

AMC 21 (OTEA PBS) DVB-S2 12112V
Sadoun 0.4dB Universal LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 83
SL2 Bullet GEOSAT Standard LNBF: Intensity 87 Quality 85

Product Strengths:
•Small in size and lightweight
•Dual outputs
•Locked DVB-S2 signals better
•Signal intensity and quality was very stable on all channels

Product Weaknesses:
•Found none

Conclusion:
I highly recommend this product! In fact, it will remain on my 4' KU motorized dish as the primary LNBF.

Pictures Attached:

 

[PopcornNMore]

Unlike the Spitfire Elite Universal LNBF this SL2 GEOSATpro Dual Standard LNBF comes with a coax rubber boot to help protect the "F" connector from the weather.

I'll be performing additional testing of this LNBF throughout the next several months and will add the results to this review.

 

[PopcornNMore]

I was just sitting here thinking (I wonder if I now receive the "Ch 17 NBC Occasional" and "Universal Sports" on AMC1 KU band now that I have the SL2 Bullet LNBF installed)? These are two channels that often couldn't be received or had low signal strengths and often broke up using other brand LNBF's during my testing.

To my surprise this was my finding:
Ch 17 NBC Occasional:
Signal Intensity: solid 85%
Signal Quality: solid 72%

Universal Sports:
Signal Intensity: solid 86%
Signal Quality: solid 72%

Unfortunatly, I don't have time to remove the SL2 and install other brand LNBF's to compare since we are getting ready for Thanksgiving, but plan on doing so after the holiday.

I also want to compare the SL2 LNBF with the JSC321S-2 LNBF's that DMS is sending me as replacements for the failed Spitfire Elite LNBF's.

 

[PopcornNMore]

I still can't get over the HD quality of the Openbox S9 HD PVR receiver along with the SL2 Bullet GEOSATpro Standard KU LNBF.

Attached are some photos that just don't do them justice. The HD on the Ch 17 NBC Occasional feed looks awesome!

 

[Mr Tony]

very nicely done
I've worked with the single LNB version and had great results too

 

[PopcornNMore]

Thank you Iceberg. I also noticed that the images now show as thumbprints which is really nice.

Thinking more about the SL2 barrel GEOSATpro LNBF I realized that I really like how it can be adjusted back and forth to get the best focal point. Most other KU LNBF's I have tried have very little room for adjustment within the Channel Master LNBF holder, so I usually push the front of the LNBF close to the Channel Master LNBF holder and tighten. I'm beginning to think this is probably why the two NBC channels that were always hard to receive are now being received as good as the other NBC channels on that satellite.

 

[SatelliteAV]

Had great clear weather and a few dozen manufacturer samples to test..... Tested a few dozen potential new LNBF samples as candidates for a new GEOSATpro LNBF model.

Here are some results of current distribution units which may be of interest.

This test is comparing:

• GEOSATpro SL2b / 0.4NR
• GEOSATpro SL1b / 0.4NR
• Invacom SNH-031 / 0.3NR
• DMS JSC321s / 0.3NR
• DMS GK411-60 Spitfire / 0.1NR

 

[PopcornNMore]

What size dish did you use Brian during your testing? I like how you took samples at various transponders and then came up with an average. I have most of these LNB's myself and will be performing more testing once the weather gets better.

 

[SatelliteAV]

Used a GEOSATpro 90cm dish.

 

[WTguy]

Thanks for the review. I am planning on buying one of these.
Just wondering if you tested both ports? I have some dual ports (different brands) and I get a little different quality/strength on each port per lnb. This is usualy not an issue unless the signal is marginal to begin with.

 

[PopcornNMore]

Thanks for the review. I am planning on buying one of these.
Just wondering if you tested both ports? I have some dual ports (different brands) and I get a little different quality/strength on each port per lnb. This is usualy not an issue unless the signal is marginal to begin with.

Only tested one port.

 

[SatelliteAV]

On the SL2, both ports test within 1%