Which rocket lens ?

Latest News and Discussion about the use of the DATV transponder on Es'hail-2
G4WIM
Posts: 379
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 8:36 pm

Which rocket lens ?

Post by G4WIM » Thu Apr 18, 2019 4:56 pm

Hi Guys,

just getting ready to build my dual feed and plan on trying both a copper pipe reducer horn and a rocket lens on the end of the 22mm pipe.

Looking on Amazon there's a few reasonable priced rocket LNBs and the dielectric lens looks to be about 35mm diameter - I was wondering if there's an optimum Rocket model I should be looking for or would any one of the 35mm lens be ok ?

As ever, any guidance gratefully received.

g4eml
Posts: 673
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by g4eml » Thu Apr 18, 2019 5:24 pm

The Red Eagle Blackbuster is probably the most used one and works very well. Unfortunately like many other LNBs they are in short supply at the moment so you may struggle to find one.

g4eml
Posts: 673
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by g4eml » Thu Apr 18, 2019 5:49 pm

Another option is the Venton EXL-S. These at least seem to be available from Germany but with high postage charges.

G1LWX
Posts: 75
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:10 pm

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by G1LWX » Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:20 am

Tim I can confirm that the Rocket Black Buster Lnb lens fits
22mm copper pipe perfectly.

2W0ODS
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2018 5:15 pm

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by 2W0ODS » Fri Apr 19, 2019 10:00 pm

Has anyone designed lenses in CAD that can be 3D printed? a few of us on here have 3D printers and can't see why it wouldn't work.
I've been printing with CPE HG100 lately which is a modified version of PETG so should stand up to the outdoors better than PLA etc.

G7JTT
Posts: 338
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 5:05 pm

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by G7JTT » Sat Apr 20, 2019 1:34 am

There is one at the bottom of this page

http://www.hybridpretender.nl/

John G7JTT

g4hiz
Posts: 91
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:40 am

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by g4hiz » Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:01 am

You may like to try the AB LNB 01 as shown below, currently available on Ebay for £4.95 + postage. I have tried the feed lens on my dual-band G0MJW feed and it works.

73
Jen
Attachments
AB01.jpg
AB01.jpg (1.3 MiB) Viewed 6355 times
AB01 disassembled.jpg
AB01 disassembled.jpg (1.75 MiB) Viewed 6355 times
Last edited by g4hiz on Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

G7JTT
Posts: 338
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 5:05 pm

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by G7JTT » Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:21 am

That looks to be a PLL LNB ?

g4hiz
Posts: 91
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:40 am

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by g4hiz » Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:15 am

It is a PLL type. The crystal is 25MHz.

g4eml
Posts: 673
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: Which rocket lens ?

Post by g4eml » Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:54 am

3D printing could produce something that looks like a dielectric lens but almost certainly wouldn’t work like one.
The dielectric constant of the material used will be very critical so different plastics or even different batches of the same plastic could vary. Even if you managed to measure and reproduce the exact formulation used in the commercial lenses the layered structure of a 3D printed lens would most likely affect the results.
The commercial lenses are actually made in two interlocking parts. I wouldn’t be surprised if the dielectric constant of the two plastics is different and the transition between them is also part of the design.

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