Disaster!!

[Vipersan]

Well friends ...
After standing almost 20 years My 1.8 prime focus dish has come crashing down ..
A sizable gust of wind has snapped what was obviously a weakened and rusted pole at ground level ..
The 4 inch diameter pole which was quite thick had rusted through ...where it enters the ground and the wind pushed the dish backwards and snapped it off..
I'm not sure if damage has been done to the dish itself ...but it may have survived as it fell backwards into a corner between the garden wall and the back wall of the house ..
I certainly can't move it as its too heavy ..so will have to be dissasembled piece by piece ..

If the dish and polar mount aren't damaged ..I suspect a new pole will have to be sunk into the ground but where to get a new 4 inch diameter pole a 16th inch + thick ...and at least 8 foot long ..
My baby is broken ...and so is my heart ..
VS

 

[Topper]

Oh shucks VS that is a great shame however they did forecast 60 - 80 mph winds tonight

 

[Analoguesat]

Aaargh - not good VS. Hopefully the dish isnt damaged and you can get it up and running again soon.

 

[Lazarus]

Yes indeed - very nasty here right now. My own biggest dish failed in the last bout of foul weather.

I'm sure it'll be reborn, VS.

 

[Vipersan]

If I can hold back the tears long enough ...
..yes its upset me that much ..
I'll go out with the camera ..and grab a quick snap to post up ..
be back soon ..
VS

 

[Vipersan]

All that work ...and nature took it away ..
cest la vie ..
here are the pics ..
Looking at the pole base ..I guess it was inevitable ...but its still upsetting ..
Where to get a new pole ??...
The dish looks like it has survived ..
but my other dishes are currently taking a whipping also ..

 

[Analoguesat]

Looks like my 1m 16E dish has moved in the gales as well. Nothing as dramatic as this, but the EB16A signals which are normally rock solid are right down in strength.

Having looked carefully at the pics Id say its actually had a remarkably gentle landing considering the weight of the dish and pole and the wind loading which must have been involved.

Just an idea but do you need a new pole? Would it be long enough if you just lowered the rusted end into the ground instead?

 

[Llew]

That's really sad news indeed VS. Is there a metals warehouse anywhere near you? Or perhaps a council depot might have an old street furniture post they want to dispose of.

 

[PaulR]

Deepest sympathies there VS.

However, going on the evidence of your resourcefulness elsewhere, I'm sure that you'll soon get it back up and running.

 

[Vipersan]

Thanks for the kind words of consolation friends ...
It really is appreciated ..
I've just removed the tripod assembly ...which hasn't suffered at all ..
One of the petals however shows some visible distortion to the outer rim ...the one up and to the right of the soil stack at the back of the house ..
It may well be that it hasn't distorted the dish face ..but I won't be able to judge until I have the dish down and flat ...
As to the pole ..
In theory I could reuse the existing pole converted into a patio style frame mount but I don't have the resources and welding expertese to attempt that sort of reconstruction ..
The height is important as I spend most of my time at the western extremes of the arc ..
So I can't afford to drop any height ..
Any advice or suggestions will be gratefully accepted ...but atm I'm feeling a bit despondant..
rgds all
VS

 

[nelson_b]

i,m so sorry to hear this news - Vipersan - i know just how much time. care.and effort you have put into your setup --
-- from the pictures it looks like the dish may have survived any major damage --and the storm is easing a bit here now - but it has been a bad one -- i havent checked on my setup, yet --- fingers crossed --
you have some work ahead of you to dissasemble the dish from the backplate and setup a new stand -- i may be able to help regarding a source for a new
heavy duty steel pole if you cant find any thing suitable local to you
regards- nelson.b

 

[Vipersan]

I really appreciate your kind offer of help Nelson ..
I guess the steel pipe is my main concern at the moment ..
I will try locally as this is as you are aware ...a heavy bit of kit particularly with the weight of the polar mount ...
but I may well have to get back to you if I'm stuck ..
The pipe will be heavy anyway as it has to be very thick to carry such a weight and must be at least 6 foot above ground ...with a couple of feet below ground to maintain vertical ..
cheers buddy ...
first job ...and I aint looking forward to it ...is to get the dish off the mount and check for damage.
Those 20 year old bolts will be well rusted and will likely have to be cut loose with an angle grinder..
doh!
VS

 

[nelson_b]

yes damage assesment first --
then think about a new groundstand - you may be able to go a little higher with a new one .
regards

 

[Channel Hopper]

You have my sympathy VS

Unfortunately nature has a way of biting you in the rear when you least expect it.

Next post you might put in the ground, make sure the soil under it has a soakway, drill a small hole in the side near the topsoil if you have to set it fully into concrete, and always cap the top, even if it's an anodised post.

 

[Vipersan]

Good advice CH ..
There has been so much rain here in recent years that even the ground under the house is permanently damp ..
Not soaking wet ..but certainly damp ..
Having said that ..its stood firm for 20+ years so I guess even a thick anodised steel tube will eventually rust through ..

I am a little worried that one of the petals may have been bent ut of shape ...but by how much is the question ..
..and can it be saved ..
Only when I get it down will I know for sure ..

Nelson ...you may well be right ..it is an opportunity to gain a little more height ...
I just I had a fully functional pair of hands ...and better health..
What was once a job I would relish is now a major endeavour..
..and it scares me a little..
rgds
VS

 

[Robbo]

I have a 4.5 inch diameter pole 8ft long aPprox 6mm thick galvanised.
I bought a 5m long piece from Parker steel, but it wasn't cheap.

 

[Vipersan]

I have a 4.5 inch diameter pole 8ft long aPprox 6mm thick galvanised.
I bought a 5m long piece from Parker steel, but it wasn't cheap.

Thats the sort of thing I need Robbo ...
But how would you get something like that delivered ...and at what cost ..
I cannot drive even if I wanted to..
so getting it here would be a problem ..
Can I ask how much you paid for that paticular lump..?
rgds
VS


hmmm...just dug out the origional polar mount manual ..and surprisingly it says support pole is 3.5 inches diameter ..
I'm sure mine measures in at 4 inches so I guess theres room for manoever...
rgds

 

[Channel Hopper]

I am a little worried that one of the petals may have been bent ut of shape ...but by how much is the question ..
..and can it be saved ..
Only when I get it down will I know for sure ..

If it's metal it can always be saved. You have others that can be used as a template to beat out the crooked one(s)

 

[Robbo]

I paid £150 for it, including having it chopped into 2 pieces, which I then put in the back of my van. I didn't ask about delivery cost. The only reason I bought 5 metres was that they were charging the same if I just had a shorter piece, so I just kept it for spare.

 

[Vipersan]

So ..
Looks like I was mistaken ..
Got to take some proper measurements in the cold light of day ..
Having slept badly last night ..I went out to survery the damage ..

The pole is 3.5 inches diameter and not 4 as I had thought..
There is 6 foot above ground ..and if memory servers there was about 2 foot below ..
Difficult to measure the thickness in its current position but am estimating 3.5 to 4mm
so thats my minimum requirement ...
The dish is hooked up on a fence and on a small dish wall mounted behind it ..
Probably what saved it from collapsing completely ..
I estimate it to be a 4 man job to get it unhooked and lower it to the ground safely ..
but am wondering if I can slide a short piece of scaffolding inside the 2 broken halves of pipe and set it up right temporarily so that it can be dissasembled more easily..
lowered onto its face would most likely distort the dish making it unrecoverable.
the logistics of getting this apart with minimal damage is a bit frightening ..
its that heavy..
rgds all
VS