My SAT-playground

[Hakon]

As good as new, nice work.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi! spent some time today with antennas... Removed 1,5m PFA, which I installed about 11 month ago (my post #13) and replaced it with another 1,5m PFA (from my post #45). Good exercise, they are maybe not so heavy but bulky, and installation take place at about 4 ,5 meters up. Now new antenna is on place, ready to be tuned. Also decided to do some maintenance on 24" actuator.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Why vocation is good? Cuz we can spend more time on our hobbies! I always thought that I have 24" actuator, just found out that threaded part is only about 47 cm, that means it is 18"! Never mind, it fits for my 1,5 PFA polar-mount mechanism almost H-H. Only one reason I can not get real H-H there are some obstacles on the way like trees. But I can get easily 90*E-30*W arc. So, what I did:
- some maintenance on actuator, removed old grease and applied copper past.
- some mechanical work on the back of the antenna;
- installed temporary device to tune antenna without actuator, so it saves time very much;
- and, of course installed mechanical adjustable limit. With that screw antenna stays tuned to my most Eastern satellite (90*E)
Of course I try to use INOX materials where it is possible. Also cached whole arc pretty well.
There is photo-report:
And out of topic, my cactus presented very nice flower and it smells nice.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Simply exchanged the rail with refurbished actuator. Little bit adjusted actuator's limits. With that my 1,5m PFA project is finished (I think, at least for winter period). Scanned all my arc. results in attached pictures, left number shows minimum and right one - maximum signal strength I have got. That was not so cloudy today, so numbers are good enough. I was not so brave to try 96,5*E, 37,5*W and 45*W, I think that they are too low and hidden behind obstacles.
What is next? I do not know

 

[Captain Jack]

What is next? I do not know

Maybe actually watch some TV?

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi again! I have got some idea another day. To fulfill it I was forced to cut 80cm offset SAT antenna in smaller pieces. After painting smaller half of this antenna will take place somewhere in my playground. I think at the end of the day it will be interesting solution. So, what it is all about?

 

[Llew]

What's the problem you might have the solution to? I seem to have lost track of your many experiments

Anyhow keep us posted, all interesting stuff rima.

 

[RimaNTSS]

OK, that was cover polar mechanism from rain and snow So, from one 80cm offset antenna it is possible to make 2 umbrellas!

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi!
Changed umbrella above polar mechanism to little bit bigger one (second half of 80cm antenna). That was raining another day and umbrella worked well. On this 1,5m prime-focus I have got 40 satellites (90*E-30*W) in Ku band, there are only several left which are on the list like 18*W, 56*E and 70,5*E if it possible at all. also instead of original LNB holder on 1,2m Kathrein antenna, have adjusted handmade holder made of inox. Already tuned it to 90*E but did not have time to run cable to receiver. 90*E has elevation 4,3* but it relatively easy to receive here, of course if there are not obstacles on the way.

 

[RimaNTSS]

After forum software upgrade, crash or whatever it was, I have lost majority of my pictures. Never mind, nothing special, good chance to start from ground zero. I have not plans, at least for this year (winter here usually is not so good to deal with heavy metal), for sharpening up or major improvements of my sat-hobby-place anyway. There is overall picture of almost everything I have in stock and have installed.

 

[Llew]

Missing thumbnails since the forum upgrade are being looked into by the Staff. Hopefully a solution may be found.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

After forum software upgrade, crash or whatever it was, I have lost majority of my pictures. Never mind, nothing special, good chance to start from ground zero. I have not plans, at least for this year (winter here usually is not so good to deal with heavy metal), for sharpening up or major improvements of my sat-hobby-place anyway. There is overall picture of almost everything I have in stock and have installed.

Now thats an addiction! Not my cup of tea,the other half would go ballistic!!!!

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi! Have touched my future "toy" - 190cm offset antenna, aluminum made, will cost me ~100 GBP. It is more than 150 km from me, so transportation is another issue.

 

[Captain Jack]

Looks like it already has a polar mount. Make sure it's not warped being aluminium. What will you use this for?

 

[RimaNTSS]

Yes, it was polamounted before previous owner moved to place where he can not install it, so he just put it in the barn (garbage all around). I plan to spent some men-hours to refurbish this antenna and prepare to install it as polarmounted again but this time with multifeed on it (maybe several Ku band and C band LNBs). Most of the time will use it as stationary one, but if necessary than movable as well. I think that from motorised antenna it is pretty easy to make stationary, much harder to do opposite :-rub When it is ready, perhaps it will take place instead of my 1,5m PFA. And crazy idea: if I get some inspiration than maybe make some aerography on it's surface :-shifty

 

[RimaNTSS]

I have got my first (OK, actually second, but that was for very short period and long time ago and just from one sat) experience with C-band last night. Installed combined C/Ku LNB to 150cm polarmounted PFA. Did not spent enough day-light time to adjust this LNB precise enough, so can not lock several Ku band signals from weak satellites, but as bonus already have locked 5 C-band sats 90*E-80*E-49*E-3*E-5*W with pretty good signal strengths. I think I should spend more time adjusting.

 

[remlap]

Is that LNB full universal KU?

Nice photos.

 

[RimaNTSS]

This is DMX741U exactly same as here _http://www.ebay.com/itm/DMX741U-C-Ku-Universal-LNB-C-Band-Ku-Band-FTA-BUD-Dish-/330455686987?pt=US_Satellite_LNB_Downconverters&hash=item4cf0b19f4b
Made for European Ku-band frequency's range.

 

[RimaNTSS]

After 7-hour operation (about 200km one-way) got my new 190cmX180cm offset at home. Whole winter is ahead, enough time to do some hardware work. I think that properly polar-mounted with 4 LNBs (universal+universal circular+ C-band + C-band circular) it could take more or less everything from Clarke belt.

 

[Captain Jack]

Lovely! Is it OK? Looks bent around the edges but won't matter if it's not warped.