[NLRS] Converting DirecTV Feed Horn to 10 GHz

Tue Jul 21 20:52:04 EDT 2026

Let me know when you want to get the parts I am in South Mpls 73 K0SHF

On Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 7:49 PM Greg Putrich via NLRS <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> Thanks Andy.  Chris pretty much said the same thing, 1.4:1 is indeed just
> fine. My problem was I saw "loss" and "14-15 dB" and subtracted from the
> gain of the antenna (~30-33 dB). I had not registered "return loss" in the
> brain, which is not the same thing. Now that I can fully read, its just
> fine. That's what happens when doing multiple things at the same time.
>
> I have the old LNB partially disassembled and now stuck trying to get the
> internal screws out to remove the board... they have a head that I don't
> have a tool for and pliers are only causing problems. I could probably
> drill them out since that board isn't going back in, but I'm going to save
> this for some other day. Might be a good winter project.
>
> Lenny, I'll take you up on your generous offer which will get me on the
> air much faster.
>
>
>   Greg
>   N0QDS
>
>
>
> > On Jul 21, 2026, at 19:26, aflowers--- via NLRS <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Greg,
> >
> > For a datapoint, I have a worse return loss in my system at around
> 14-15dB, measured at the N-connector on the coax-to-WR90 transition. That
> equates to something like 1.4:1 VSWR and the impact to the system NF from
> the mismatch is on the order of a tenth of a dB.  More return loss would be
> welcome, but I don't know how noticeable it would be in the grand scheme of
> things as there are probably a few other places to find a tenths of a dB
> first.  I'd do whatever got me on the band before the 10G and Up contest
> and improve from there.  It doesn't mean modifying a TV dish feed is the
> easy path to success, but don't get caught up on a trying to achieve a
> 20dB+ return loss.  You can do just fine with worse.
> >
> > Good luck!
> > Andy K0SM/2
> >
> >
> > On Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 07:06:53 PM EDT, Greg Putrich via NLRS <
> nlrs at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Thanks Bill, Ed, & Jon,
> >
> > As I was reading the replies, I was wondering if it would just be better
> to make a new one instead of converting this one. I'll try the conversion
> just to see, but making a new one is probably the better answer. Ed said he
> saw around a 16 dB return loss, which is far too high. But I also don't
> have anything to measure the return loss.
> >
> > In the picture you have, it appears to be the same dish that I have.
> >
> >   Greg
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Jul 21, 2026, at 17:54, Bill Davis <cqbilld at yahoo.com <mailto:
> cqbilld at yahoo.com>> wrote:
> > >
> > >  Greg I have done a bunch of these for my use. What follows is a link
> to an old web page of mine from over 20yrs ago. It describes the best I can
> of how I modified mine. I did not optimize with tuning screws since I have
> nothing to measure return loss at 10GHz. Some people have had good luck
> with this mod and at least one didn't do as well. I is a place to start and
> with the addition of tuning screws (some one else will have to help there)
> you should do ok.
> > >
> > >  Others have built entirely new feeds -- Chris VA3ECO went that route.
> > >
> > > KØAWU 10Ghz Gear <https://www.qsl.net/k0awu/10GhzGear.html>
> > >
> > > KØAWU 10Ghz Gear
> > >  <https://www.qsl.net/k0awu/10GhzGear.html>
> > >
> > >
> > > 73 Bill  K0AWU
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 11:33:36 AM CDT, Greg Putrich via NLRS <
> nlrs at mailman.qth.net <mailto:nlrs at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I have an old DirecTV dish and I'd like to convert its feed horn to be
> used on 10 GHz. It was working fine when I last used it ~15 years ago and
> it was removed from the roof a few years ago (thanks to a storm).
> > >
> > > I've tried to look up how to convert its feed horn to 10 GHz, but
> haven't found anything online. Can the original DirecTV feed horn be
> converted for use on 10 GHz and if so, does anyone know how? I have a DEMI
> 10 GHz transverter and will use a FT-817 to drive it.  The dish is the oval
> one with a single LNB, its slightly oval vertically. I got it back in 2001.
> > >
> > >
> > >  Thanks,
> > >  Greg
> > >  N0QDS
> > >
> > >
> > >
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