Home made Inverto MultiConnect cover

[timo_w2s]

I made a cheap home made rain shield for my Inverto MultiConnect LNBs out of a clear plastic bottle.

It keeps the rain drops off the LNB heads as these LNBs seem quite sensitive to the wet. After carefully cutting the holes for the LNBs to fit as tightly as possible it seems to stay on quite well. I've lost 2% of the signal in dry weather but hopefully it'll keep going a bit longer in the wet. I'll find out when we get some proper rain but previously I had used plastic cups to achieve the same thing so it should work...

The main LNB is focused on 19.2E and the offset LNB is for 23.5E using a 60cm dish.

 

[Lazarus]

I like it: Any Squirrels in there yet?

 

[timo_w2s]

I like it: Any Squirrels in there yet?

We have loads in the garden due to all the oak trees...

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Thats a neat solution Timo, i suggest a sprinkling watering can!!!

 

[timo_w2s]

Thats a neat solution Timo, i suggest a sprinkling watering can!!!

Thanks, I thought about simulating rain but then I thought I'd wait for the real thing and give me something to look forward to rather than just think, "Damn, it's raining."

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Couldnt you cut the opposite side of the bottle nearest the dish - like a letterbox sort of rectangle to allow the signals to come from the dish unimpeded?

 

[timo_w2s]

Couldnt you cut the opposite side of the bottle nearest the dish - like a letterbox sort of rectangle to allow the signals to come from the dish unimpeded?

I might try that but it's a good solid fit at the moment so I'm seeing how it goes.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I still have my 9 slim lnbs packaged up in the garage if i decide to do a multilnb set up.

 

[hairybadger]

I made a cheap home made rain shield for my Inverto MultiConnect LNBs out of a clear plastic bottle.

Won't the raindrops on the bottle block the signal just as effectively as raindrops on the LNB cap? Vaseline the bottle to stop raindrops "sticking" to it?

 

[timo_w2s]

I would have thought so too but it seems it's the drops right in the narrow focus where the signals enter the LNB that seems to cause most of the signal levels to drop. By moving the rain drops further away it acts more like a normal LNB in regards to rain fade. But yes, it's a good idea and I might add something later on.

 

[Riverblue]

Won't the raindrops on the bottle block the signal just as effectively as raindrops on the LNB cap? Vaseline the bottle to stop raindrops "sticking" to it?

I use silicone spray on my lnbs & on my dish face. Works well for me, just like water off a duck's back!

 

[hairybadger]

I use silicone spray on my lnbs & on my dish face. Works well for me, just like water off a duck's back!

That's an idea - I've always used WD40 in the past, with mixed results...

 

[Lazarus]

Furniture Polish here.

 

[Riverblue]

Furniture Polish here.

Well at least if it doesn't keep the moisture out it will polish up nicely

 

[Vipersan]

What we really need is for that Nano coating to become commercially available in a spray ..
As demonstrated recently on Daras science club..
A man made coating..that I believe it is based on natures water repelling surface topside of a giant water lilly leaf..
Now that _would_ be effective.
rgds
VS

 

[timo_w2s]

So far so good, we had light rain early this morning and the bottle is still covered with water droplets but signals are only down 1-2%. Still waiting for some proper rain.

 

[RimaNTSS]

In many cases using of bigger size of dish helps, and water drops on LNB also can be treated same way. I think that making small "roof" above LNBs wold be better solution that to make "house out of plastic". Beside, I think that rain clouds making more bad job for reception than small drops of water on LNB. But that is IMHO, not insisting. Good experiments anyway.

 

[timo_w2s]

In many cases using of bigger size of dish helps, and water drops on LNB also can be treated same way. I think that making small "roof" above LNBs wold be better solution that to make "house out of plastic". Beside, I think that rain clouds making more bad job for reception than small drops of water on LNB. But that is IMHO, not insisting. Good experiments anyway.

I would agree in most cases, but it's just these LNBs are really crap when they get wet and I'm just using up old dishes and LNBs I have a lying around as spares. My other LNBs where too wide to get both 19E/23E together and using a bottle this way was easier and a more solid structure than building just a "roof" - it took me less than 5 mins. ;)

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I would agree in most cases, but it's just these LNBs are really crap when they get wet and I'm just using up old dishes and LNBs I have a lying around as spares. My other LNBs where too wide to get both 19E/23E together and using a bottle this way was easier and a more solid structure than building just a "roof" - it took me less than 5 mins. ;)

They arent as sensitive as my icecrypts i used, so anyway of making them work to the best of their abilities is to be applauded.

 

[Analoguesat]

I would agree in most cases, but it's just these LNBs are really crap when they get wet and I'm just using up old dishes and LNBs I have a lying around as spares. ;)

You have learned well young padawan