Amateur radio operators like to experiment and this is one of the attractions of the hobby for many radio hams.
Antennas are one area that is subject to a wide range of creativity, DIY and inventiveness and many radio hams assemble a range of contraptions for reception and transmission.
A common question is that of the type of antenna to use and often the potential to use satellite dishes and whether they are suitable arises.
Satellite dishes can be used for amateur radio use in some cases depending on the type of use and bands that it is intended to support but the results are likely to be disappointing. A dish will not work in the same way as a traditional antenna and would be unsuitable for everyday use on most of the amateur bands.
The shape, size and frequency are the main problems
Satellite dishes are designed to collect signals from communication satellites that orbit the earth, typically these are for TV signals and the dish is designed and constructed to work on the frequencies that the TV satellites broadcast on.
Amateur radio frequencies differ from those used by these satellites and, as such, a dish in standard form would not function to the best of it’s ability without some modifications, unless, of course, your amateur licence, allows you to use the same frequencies as those that the dish is designed for.
Satellite dishes are designed for focussed use
The design and intention of a satellite dish means that it is made to receive a weak signal from a considerable distance away, and to concentrate that signal onto a device suspended above the dish ( known as an LNB ) which then converts the signal to electrical current.
Unless you intend to use a satellite dish for ham radio satellite use or for some similar point to point type broadcasts, then you are unlikely to have any success with a dish.
The focussed nature of a satellite dish would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to focus the dish onto another operator, even if you knew where they were.
For general broadcast which provides a concentrated or focus of power you’re far better off using a purpose made directional beam or ‘yagi. antenna which will provide reliable results.
Amateur radio satellite use
Fortunately, there are options for satellite use on amateur radio bands.
The most suitable of these which you can make up yourself is an antenna known as a LEO type antenna.
These antennas have been used successfully by many amateur radio operators and work very well indeed on the higher frequency bands such as UHF and above.
A LEO antenna is a Yagi antenna in that it has a beam type arrangement to focus the received and transmitted signals and they are quite easy to make.
You can see how to build your own ham radio satellite antenna here on Youtube
Final Words
There’s nothing wrong with experimentation and if you have an old satellite dish then you might want to play around with it to see what results you can achieve.
Unless, however, you are looking at amateur radio satellite use, you’ll probably find that the results of your experiments will be disappointing.
For day to day use across the ham radio bands a satellite dish will simply not work and you’ll be better investing your time into a more appropriate antenna, such as an end fed long wire.
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