Captain Jack
Burnt out human
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2006
- Messages
- 11,816
- Reaction score
- 7,998
- Points
- 113
- My Satellite Setup
- See signature
- My Location
- North Somerset
Hello,
I am a long way yet but am considering my options for a 1.8m dish next year (or the year after!). The candidates are the Channel Master, the Prodelin and Laminas. All have similar costs (new) but I have various preferences to each.
Of course, the Channel Master is the obvious choice but... I want to attach C band LNBs in a horizontal, multi-feed arrangement as per my current Gibby one but the LNB feed support arms on the dish stand in the way of that without some modifications, like nelson_b had done. Weight - 47kg.
The Prodelin has a similar issue to the Channel Master with LNB feed arm arrangements but it seems to weigh even more at 74kg! Ouch! Back breaking ouch...
Now.. the Laminas. Easily obtainable from Poland and the LNB arm is kind to the multi-feed arrangement. The dish itself seems to be much lighter than the Prodelin or the CM at about 20kg - why is this? Is the Laminas less well built - I was under the impression that it was made out of fibre-glass, like the others? I certainly don't want it to be made out of flimsy metal as my patience with warped dishes is wearing thin!
So the Laminas has two advantages, weight and LNB arm arrangement. The weight means I can probably put it up on my own without snapping my back and, more importantly, I can consider putting it up on my Jaeger 1224 mount, after doing a few reinforcements to it, a la RimaNTSS style. The dish would invariably be at ground level, so hopefully sheltered enough from winds...and prying eyes!
If the Jaeger 1224 plan doesn't materialise then I have a very heavy duty (30kg heavy!) polar mount from a 1.2m Precision dish. With a few modifications (needs a new ball bearing for a start), it will easily handle the Laminas and the Channel Master. Possibly the Prodelin as well. I also have a number of actuator arms - a 36-incher (down, CH) and a brand new heavy duty 24-incher to drive the thing.
This is all very much at drawing board stage due to the fact that I don't currently have any room (or decent arc view) to put the dish in and won't do until after I get hitched next year and get a new house with, hopefully, a nice enclosed south facing garden! So any thoughts, criticisms and advice are welcome!
I am a long way yet but am considering my options for a 1.8m dish next year (or the year after!). The candidates are the Channel Master, the Prodelin and Laminas. All have similar costs (new) but I have various preferences to each.
Of course, the Channel Master is the obvious choice but... I want to attach C band LNBs in a horizontal, multi-feed arrangement as per my current Gibby one but the LNB feed support arms on the dish stand in the way of that without some modifications, like nelson_b had done. Weight - 47kg.
The Prodelin has a similar issue to the Channel Master with LNB feed arm arrangements but it seems to weigh even more at 74kg! Ouch! Back breaking ouch...
Now.. the Laminas. Easily obtainable from Poland and the LNB arm is kind to the multi-feed arrangement. The dish itself seems to be much lighter than the Prodelin or the CM at about 20kg - why is this? Is the Laminas less well built - I was under the impression that it was made out of fibre-glass, like the others? I certainly don't want it to be made out of flimsy metal as my patience with warped dishes is wearing thin!
So the Laminas has two advantages, weight and LNB arm arrangement. The weight means I can probably put it up on my own without snapping my back and, more importantly, I can consider putting it up on my Jaeger 1224 mount, after doing a few reinforcements to it, a la RimaNTSS style. The dish would invariably be at ground level, so hopefully sheltered enough from winds...and prying eyes!
If the Jaeger 1224 plan doesn't materialise then I have a very heavy duty (30kg heavy!) polar mount from a 1.2m Precision dish. With a few modifications (needs a new ball bearing for a start), it will easily handle the Laminas and the Channel Master. Possibly the Prodelin as well. I also have a number of actuator arms - a 36-incher (down, CH) and a brand new heavy duty 24-incher to drive the thing.
This is all very much at drawing board stage due to the fact that I don't currently have any room (or decent arc view) to put the dish in and won't do until after I get hitched next year and get a new house with, hopefully, a nice enclosed south facing garden! So any thoughts, criticisms and advice are welcome!