Is this dish ok?

[bobon]

post 32
Before I could do any more, Corviello arrived. We went through the string test again and the laser alignment. He though they were both fine. He then tried adjusting the LNB orientation with his own meter.

Then he noticed a strange thing. When he climbed the ladder to move the LNB, the signal level rose by about 1 dB. Coming away from the dish, it fell again. So covering up part of the left side of the dish gave a stronger signal (048.jpg). He suggested there could be an error in the azimuth setting.

So we tried moving the dish. But as before, as we shifted it away from the maximum, the signal level fell. Then he moved it even more in the easterly direction. From nothing, the signal suddenly shot up to a peak far higher than before. In my first alignment, I must have been receiving the stronger signals on the first side lobe of the dish.

 

[garyg]

I thought that was it,

But we did try moving my dish further east/west but didnt pull anything stringer Only more 28.2E or 23.5E

 

[petediscrete]

I assume the reference to a "deaf panel" was the fact that one panel on the dish wasn't receiving the signal as part of the complete dish and therefore was acting as a dish within a dish and hence the reason why you were picking 28 e in two different positions.From what I can gather you could pick up 28e with a wok and an lnb the beam is so strong.In structural engineering terms most load bearing beams are one complete casting without joins.The more joins there are in a structure the weaker the structure.I noticed 2.4m dishes on sale in Australia that are listed as one piece "commercial" dishes and now I know the reason why.Garyg, looking at the patterning on the back of the dish did you manage to reconstruct the dish as it was originally constructed.I am not familiar with your dish but it could well be that over the passage of time each section found its own bedding position and rearranging the sections could well account for the "deaf" panel.Have you seen the solidity of commercial uplink dishes.They need to be more accurate on their focal point as they are aiming at a more precise position.

 

[sonnetpete]

Gary,

One thought and one suggestion.

Way back in this thread, you had a photo of the dish after you had assembled it and from memory I don't think the panels were in the same positions as the weathering streaks indicated. If you do try putting it together again on Monday, I'd be inclined to try and match the photo right at the start of this thread, which showed the dish before you purchased it.

If however you find that, despite the stalwart efforts of yourself and others (Rolf, CH?) the dish is no good, you will be looking for a replacement. This may be worth considering _http://www.internet-sat-shop.de/shop/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=114&products_id=1381

I know it's in Germany but it's 1000 Euros cheaper than a CM 2.4M and I believe that Prodelin are a reputable maker. I don't mind if others shoot me down on this, my "big dish" knowledge is minimal!! Just thought it was worth a look.

 

[garyg]

That describes a deaf pannel pretty well, and could well be the case!

I have attached 2 pictures, 1 before i got it, and 1 now.

I did try and put the panels together the same way... going by pictures I thought I got it right.

Let me know what you guys think

 

[garyg]

Just got off the phone to a company local to me in hampshire, specialise in big satellite dishes.

Can do me a channel master 2.4M dish with a 4 and half inch pole mount bracket for £1300 or around about there... Just waiting for an email through with exact details.

big thanks to kimbo for putting me in contact!

The only thing is, they have only got a recieve/transmit dish in stock, but they said they can offer it with a blanking plate so its a recieve only dish. Would this be ok guys?

 

[garyg]

Looking at the website, once Channel master, Once Andrews, Once Raven, Now Skyware global!! LOL, there is not much difference, what is stopping me changing the lnb arms for the normall ones and using it as a receive only?

Normal - _http://www.skywareglobal.com/Public/Docs/Type%20243receiveOnly%20VSR006.pdf

What there offering - _http://www.skywareglobal.com/Public/Docs/Type%20243%20Kuband%20VST017.pdf

Same dish but only stock they have is send/receive...

Any input guys, £1300 is a steal!

 

[sonnetpete]

To my untrained, inexpert eye, it does look as though you've reassembled the dish as it appears in the original photos. Did the seller give you any indication of the performance he'd had from it? Was it fixed on something like 7°W? Maybe you should get back to him and ask, then you'd have an idea if the dish is underperforming because of missassembly or is it doing the same as it was when he had it? There is a possibilty that he didn't have it put together correctly either, and you only have his example to follow.

 

[garyg]

I will try get in contact with him and see how it performed for him.

However he is a feed hunter and was hunting for feeds so not sure how well it performed or what satellites.

I will try and find out, see what I posted above because for £1300 I will buy one today lol

 

[Channel Hopper]

I will try and find out, see what I posted above because for £1300 I will buy one today lol

I have been known to supply and fit a 3m one for not much more than that price.

But I would seriously look at the reflector panels of your own first, as the dish is assembled (and is working of sorts).

The 4 degree second signal is most likely one of the sidelobes (and there will be others on such a strong satellite). If you have two main beams then the dish probably needs at most a shakedown to remove the error.
I can also bring a couple of other feeds which can be tried on the day.

 

[garyg]

I have been known to supply and fit a 3m one for not much more than that price.

But I would seriously look at the reflector panels of your own first, as the dish is assembled (and is working of sorts).

The 4 degree second signal is most likely one of the sidelobes (and there will be others on such a strong satellite). If you have two main beams then the dish probably needs at most a shakedown to remove the error.
I can also bring a couple of other feeds which can be tried on the day.

When could you come down mate?

What exactly is a shakedown? Should I leave the dish up or take it down? If you got it working there is lots of man love in it for you! LOL (sorry, didnt mean to put you off) but I would be VERY happy!

 

[petediscrete]

garyg, remember the saying, if it looks too good to be true it probably is.I generally find you get what you pay for.Can you get a picture of this dish and let the guys see it before you buy it.At this stage you already have the the EPL covered, you have a 2.4m dish you are now not using and then you are going to have to mod another dish on the off chance it might work.Would you be better off waiting for the offset dish as you know it will "do as it says on the box".

 

[garyg]

garyg, remember the saying, if it looks too good to be true it probably is.I generally find you get what you pay for.Can you get a picture of this dish and let the guys see it before you buy it.At this stage you already have the the EPL covered, you have a 2.4m dish you are now not using and then you are going to have to mod another dish on the off chance it might work.Would you be better off waiting for the offset dish as you know it will "do as it says on the box".

I posted the 2 links mate, its a brand new dish. here they are again:

Receive only (what most have) _http://www.skywareglobal.com/Public/Docs/Type%20243receiveOnly%20VSR006.pdf

Receive & Transmit (what they have already in stock) _http://www.skywareglobal.com/Public/Docs/Type%20243%20Kuband%20VST017.pdf

They are offering it with a transmit blanking plate so it becomes a receive only dish. Im asking lots of questions first.

Ideally I want to get my 2.5M going properly, channel hopper seems to be the man in the know, hes quite local to! So lets see what he can do

 

[Huevos]

But we did try moving my dish further east/west but didnt pull anything stringer Only more 28.2E or 23.5E

There are also side lobes below and above the arc, So you could be tracking the arc with one of those side lobes. Did you set the dish up with a digital level? When I set a 2.4m dish here I rest my digital level across the steel ring at the back of the dish and this normally gets it aligned to within one full turn of the elevation screw.

Don't give up on this dish. I doubt there is anything physically wrong with it. Personally my bet is on that adjustable feed.

 

[garyg]

There are also side lobes below and above the arc, So you could be tracking the arc with one of those side lobes. Did you set the dish up with a digital level? When I set a 2.4m dish here I rest my digital level across the steel ring at the back of the dish and this normally gets it aligned to within one full turn of the elevation screw.

Don't give up on this dish. I doubt there is anything physically wrong with it. Personally my bet is on that adjustable feed.

I am hoping channel hopper can come down next week, he seems good with big dishes! if he gets it working he is my new hero :-worship

 

[Lazarus]

I'm sure he'll bend over backwards to help you.

For a fee, of course!

 

[garyg]

I'm sure he'll bend over backwards to help you.

For a fee, of course!

The fee is no problems i just want to watch the footy

 

[Analoguesat]

This is turning into an epic story in the best traditions of the Viking Sagas

One day parents will tell their children stories of how Gary defeated numerous unexpected obstacles to attain a successful conclusion to his quest

With Rolf & CH involved Im feeling left out.

Im good at breaking things so can I do anything useful?

 

[garyg]

This is turning into an epic story in the best traditions of the Viking Sagas

One day parents will tell their children stories of how Gary defeated numerous unexpected obstacles to attain a successful conclusion to his quest

With Rolf & CH involved Im feeling left out.

Im good at breaking things so can I do anything useful?

If it doesnt work and I have to order the 2.4M CM you are welcome to come break the 2.5M pieces so its easy to dispose of haha

 

[Lazarus]

This is turning into an epic story in the best traditions of the Viking Sagas

One day parents will tell their children stories of how Gary defeated numerous unexpected obstacles to attain a successful conclusion to his quest

With Rolf & CH involved Im feeling left out.

Im good at breaking things so can I do anything useful?

Perhaps what Gary needs is your Hedge Installation expertise, maybe with the odd Car Tyre thrown in for good measure?