Review: Spitfire Elite Digital Universal Single LNBF 0.1dB

[PopcornNMore]

Product:
Spitfire Elite Digital Universal Single LNBF 0.1dB

Purchased From:
Hypermegasat (Hypermegasat.com, Dish LNBs)

Price Paid:
$17 including shipping

Introduction:
After reading all the positive and negative comments about this product on Satellite Guys as well as on other satellite forums I had to give it a try myself to see how it would compare to my current KU LNBF (Sadoun Standard Single LNBF with a 0.4dB noise figure).

Other Reviews:
DMS Spitfire Elite 0.1dB Universal Ku LNB Review
Real World LNB Showdown: 0.1dB vs 0.3dB (Spitfire Elite Review)

Specifications:
Input Frequency: 10.7-12.75 GHz
Conversion Gain: 58 dB (typical)
Output Frequency: 950-2150 MHz
L.O. Frequency: 9.75/10.6 GHz
Power Consumption: 90 mA
Noise Figure: 0.1 dB
Feed Diameter: 40 mm
Very high cross-polarisation decoupling
High Stability
Cold and heat resistant

Date Tested:
November 6-7 2010

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

Test Results:

AMC 6 (MSNBC) 11704V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 89 Quality 70​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 89 Quality 71​

AMC 9 (TUFF TV) 11734H

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 67​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 70​

AMC 3 (English) 11736V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 88 Quality 70​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 88 Quality 75​

GALAXY 28 (ABC News Now) 11954V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 72​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 74​

GALAXY 17 (ESPN HD) 12099V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 70​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 90 Quality 70​

GALAXY 25 (Azteca 13) 11983V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 88 Quality 67​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 88 Quality 74​

GALAXY C3 (MAC TV) 12049H

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 85 Quality 76​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 76​

GALAXY 19 (Kuwait 2) 11788V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 85 Quality 76​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 86 Quality 76​

GALAXY 16 (CBS Newspath) 11784V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 58​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 67​

SES 1 (BIO) 12059H

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 85 Quality 76​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 76​

AMC 1 (MS20) 11940V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 86 Quality 75​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 86 Quality 76​

SATMEX 6 (DA-A1) 12079H

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 86 Quality 72​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 88 Quality 73​

GALAXY 18 (Daystar) 12134V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 70​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 89 Quality 71​

AMC 21 (Telarty PBS) 12096V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 86 Quality 70​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 88 Quality 70​

AMC 21 (Montana PBS) DVB-S2 12105V

Sadoun LNB: Intensity 87 Quality 64​

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 88 Quality 70​

AMC 21 (OTEA PBS) DVB-S2 12112V

Spitfire Elite LNB: Intensity 89 Quality 85​

Product Strengths:

• Small in size and lightweight
• Inexpensive ($12-$17) shipped
• Seemed to lock DVB-S2 signals better

Product Weaknesses:

• Wish a standard KU LNBF version was available for faster blind scanning

Conclusion: :up
Although sometimes marginal this Spitfire Elite 0.1dB KU LNBF out performed my current Sadoun 0.4dB KU LNBF in every test. I highly recommend this product!

Pictures Attached:

 

[brentb636]

Thanks for the review. Looks interesting.
To address the blindscan speed ( this being a Universal lnbf) , have you tried changing it's definition to "single" "10600" "22khz on" , and see if you gain anything by the change ?

 

[PopcornNMore]

Thanks for the review. Looks interesting.
To address the blindscan speed ( this being a Universal lnbf) , have you tried changing it's definition to "single" "10600" "22khz on" , and see if you gain anything by the change ?

I know of this trick, but the Openbox S9 receiver doesn't allow any 22KHz change when an universal LNBF is selected.

 

[brentb636]

True, but you can simply arrow left on the LNB freq and change it from 9750/10600 to 10600 . THEN you can turn on the 22khz. That's generally how I run my universal , at the moment.

 

[FaT Air]

That's what I did. Didn't select universal, just 10600 and 22khz on.

 

[PopcornNMore]

True, but you can simply arrow left on the LNB freq and change it from 9750/10600 to 10600 . THEN you can turn on the 22khz. That's generally how I run my universal , at the moment.

You're correct I don't know what I was thinking.

 

[brentb636]

You were probably thinking about another receiver. I keep looking for "Universal" , but of course, this box doesn't have that designation. Just the freq. settings. Maybe the Coolsat says "Universal" and then gives freq settings. Probably so, at least one of my boxes does.

 

[TRG]

Popcorn, is the Q-signal on Montana PBS stable? I'd consider trying one of these but I need dual outputs.

 

[PopcornNMore]

Popcorn, is the Q-signal on Montana PBS stable? I'd consider trying one of these but I need dual outputs.

Yes all signals were very stable during my testing.

 

[Sadie]

I have to agree the Spitfire Elite is a very good LNB for the price.

I was using a Digiwave DGL-790 LNB since it was the only one I could find locally after a lighting strike took out my old LNB, interestingly the box it came in claimed it had a 0.3dB noise figure and the manufactures website claimed 0.5dB.

The body of the Spitfire is shorter than my old LNB and I just couldn't get it to perform at all the first time I tried it, I ended up having to drill new holes in the LNB arm and move the whole thing towards the dish, it seemed very critical to position compared to other LNBs.

Once properly install I didn't notice any increase in signal strength but a significant increase in quality. All the AMC 21 PBS signals that weren't already at 100% had a significant increase in quality, like PopcornNMore said the increase was most noticeable with DVB S2 signals, MPB quality increased over 30%.

I'm somewhat skeptical about the claimed 0.1db noise figure but the was a significant improvement in quality on the weaker signals and particularly MPB which exists in a particular noisy RF environment.
If you belief the manufactures claims the Spitfire has better figures for image rejection, phase noise and other characteristics than the Digiwave and maybe this accounts for the improvement.

Whatever the reasons its a good LNB for the price, it would be interesting to see a comparison with some of the other quality LNBs

 

[AmericanZ28]

Great review! Now that you have the Spitfire, it would interesting to see what it can do againts WSI's DMX521 .2 LNB. I personally saw as much as a 20% increase versus a SatAv .4 Bullet LNB. Thanks for the great review : )

 

[Lucky53]

Great review! Now that you have the Spitfire, it would interesting to see what it can do againts WSI's DMX521 .2 LNB. I personally saw as much as a 20% increase versus a SatAv .4 Bullet LNB. Thanks for the great review : )

Did a comparison test between the spitfire and a DMX 522 LNB on a 30 in.dish..Satellites used were Galaxy 17,25 and 3c...test was done over 1 week period..in just about all cases,the DMX 522 came out the winner for me..tp's that were weak and pixalating with the spitfire,came in clear with the DMX 522..there you have it..needless to say the DMX is the one for me..

 

[PopcornNMore]

Tim Heinrichs CEO of DMS International is sending me 3 JSC321S-2 LNBF's to replace the Spitfire Elite LNBF's that failed during my testing. I will be performing testing on these LNBF's as well and compare results to other LNBFs such as the SL2 Bullet GEOSATpro standard LNBF.


We have always stood behind our products for over 40 years.
I have ask Lance to take care of your LNBFs. He will send out 3 JSC321S-2 LNBFs today and also issue a call tag for the 3 you have there.

Your are welcome to contact me or Lance at any time.

Tim Heinrichs / CEO