My SAT-playground

[RimaNTSS]

Tuning of 150cm on polar-mount I found out that it would be good to have possibility to limit unnecessary antenna movement too far East. So, I have made it from some galvanized stuff. Now when antenna in my far-East position I can even take off actuator in order to realign it's position. For this antenna I have program-maximum to have it motorized from 90*E till 24,5*W. Now it takes 90*E-22*W, and reason of this limit is purely mechanical adjustment of actuator.
Hopefully next week will receive new, reinforced 36" actuator, will put it on 180cm prime-focus dish.

 

[Llew]

That's a very neat fix for the mechanical stops. Keep us updated on your progress

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi! I have finally managed to tune my 150cm polar-mounted antenna to 90*E-24,5*W. So, that can stay like this for a while.
I do not know why and for which purpose, but today I made a purchase of another 150cm antenna. For equivalent of 35 Euros I got everything on attached picture excluding surrounding garbage. Do not even know what to say to wife! Moreover, I do not have place where to install this dish!

 

[Llew]

Looks like you have a bargain if it's in good shape and the actuator isn't seized up

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hello! I have finally got new 150cm prime-focus antenna with all periphery equipment like LNBs, turning mechanism and actuator (original price was about 50 bucks). Of course all that stuff is not very new cuz been used for some time…. all rust-addicted materials should be exchanged by INOX, surface of reflector should be washed and maybe repainted, actuator regressed, and positioner and some wires should be added as well. But, at the end of the day, it is possible to get refurbished equipment in Ship Shape and pretty cheap. Of course all adjustments of system should be done locally, otherways price will increase dramatically.
I have plans to go to London next month, so there is my question: Is that easy to buy couple of positioners in regular shop, or should I look in e-bay? Which shop should I visit if there is first option? I am looking for cheapest positioner possible, I think that positioner is very simple but necessary device and there are no big difference between cheap and expensive models

Edit: I wold even be interested in used positioners, so opened for offers.

 

[Huevos]

One of the advertisers is doing the Gbox for 25 GBP. I think it was SatShop.

 

[RimaNTSS]

And forgot to show my new support for future installations. The black part, which is going to be cemented in the ground is bigger than 1 meter in length. Upper part made of INOX consists of 52mm and 38mm pipes (welded one inside other). So length of construction above ground will be about 2,5 meters. On top of this stick I will place some antenna, may be T90 or 150cm polar-mounted.

P.S. I should probably think better about place where to concrete this barrel, because at summer time that could be used for pole-dancing

 

[RimaNTSS]

Have dig 1 meter deep hole last weekend and cemented base for mast. Filled that with about 70kg of cement mortar and 3 baskets of broken stone, and hole still is not full , so to be continued.
Perhaps I was good boy this year, Santa already brought me some presents: new 36" actuator and also positioner for it. On the pictures you can see actuator's box in front of 150cm antenna (for comparison) and on another picture beside usual 18 or 24" (not sure about exact size) actuator. That new one with total length 124cm and weights little bit less than 10 kilos is simply huge. I am started to be nervous will that fit to 180cm prime-focus antenna.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi! From time to time there are some good deals happening on classifieds. Now I see that 190cm offset dish is for sale for only 100 EUR (but I think that if I bargain than price could drop some 30%). Not sure if I need this mirror, but, perhaps, it could have some place in my sat-yard. Maybe some forumers wish to have it? Than only transportation could be an issue.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Did some work on my last purchase (150 PF turntable dish). I have already sanded out all rust. Holder is also little bit modified to be able stick this antenna to bigger diameter poles. For fixing holder to antenna, instead of nuts and bolts decided to make metal plates, so now should be better (I think). Nuts and bolts, of course, will all be from INOX.
Adjusting prime focus dishes, and when polar-mounted, I see need for precise measurements of different angles, so for that I just got digital inclinometer. Now I can do all angles with 0,1* accuracy.
Did not decide yet what kind of paint will be using.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Forgot to show picture of my new pole grounding. In that hole I put more than 100 kilos of concrete and couple of buckets of broken stones. Picture was taken before winter (I mean real winter with snow and minus temperatures) started.
At those days winter went really crazy here... at mornings we have temperatures about -30*C, so no chance to lick new antenna pole :-Nooo

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi everyone! Spring is coming, time to prepare dishes. I just finished refurbishing 1,5M prime-focus from post #43. Did not paint mirror reflection side, just cleaned it. But rest of details are painted. All nuts and bolts are replaced by INOX-made.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Good evening! Have put upper part of my new antenna-pole today. Leveled it with digital protractor. Upper end is fixed with 4 M8 grub screws, bottom fixing is with 4 M16 screws. Still did not decide which antenna will stay on top. And, yes, finally got DVB-S2 tuner for my Dream.

 

[RimaNTSS]

After using my DM8000 for almost 3 years decided to have it cooled, not because it worked bad but just in case. Usually temperature was about 52*C in hottest place. So tuday I have installed 15mm x 80mm x 80mm 3-pin cooler. Now temperature is little bit more than 40*C, I think it is better this way.

 

[RimaNTSS]

I do not know do I really need that, but seems it is my new project starts with this 2m PF dish. That is heavy stuff! Picture taken by telephone, and did not have enough time to measure proper dimensions. Hope next week will have it at home, then start to think what to do. :-O-st

 

[RimaNTSS]

1) You are watching channel 1, press record and then switch to channel 2. Recording is on tuner A. Viewing on tuner B.
2) Switch to channel 2 first. Press EPG highlight channel 1 and press record. Recording is on tuner B. Viewing on tuner A.

Huevos! You where completely right, I have rearranged all my settings and prioritized tuners. Higher priority given to all fixed antennas with respective LNBs, Second priority is to 1,5m polar-mounted PF antenna with Universal LNB in focus. And it works exactly like you have said. For me it is only one question left: What if I wish to watch Channel1, but it has weak signal (fixed antenna is too small). How in this situation I can switch to second tuner connected to bigger dish, so I can still watch Channel1? Maybe there is something I do not know about that?

 

[Huevos]

What if I wish to watch Channel1, but it has weak signal (fixed antenna is too small). How in this situation I can switch to second tuner connected to bigger dish, so I can still watch Channel1?

Simple, if the aerial is too small, go into tuner config for that tuner, select that satellite and then set the LNB to not configured.

 

[RimaNTSS]

On some satellites there are several beams, some of them are strong enough, some are not. Yes that is kinda an option. At the same time I still wish to have all available satellites to be received from fixed antennas and at the same time have possibility to receive those sats from polar-mounted dishes. Purchasing of another sat-reciever is another option, anyway I will need some backup in case I spoil something in primary box.

 

[Huevos]

I have been through several solutions to this problem and by far the most user friendly solution is use a dish that is big enough for all transponders you want to receive. If not, set the satellite to "LNB not configured".

 

[RimaNTSS]

Changing stationary dishes to bigger ones is very "painful" solution (money, time, space etc.). I think if it is necessary to watch channels using lower priority tuner is making primary tuner artificially busy. I mean star to do some recordings on tuner A and than zap thru channels using tuner B. And if there is need for tuner C, than start to record something on tuners A and B.
Returning to my post #55: Heavy crane during delivery operation spoiled my lawn, but antenna arrived safe. maybe somebody can advice me what kind of LNB could be used to make this antenna SATTV-capable? Originally antenna was used for radio-link on frequency 2,1-2,3 gHz.