My test Rig in the US

PSB · 16-12-2007

Here are some pictures of my Test rig here in the USA.

Strange when I lived in Glasgow Scotland I was always trying to find American feeds now I live here I am on the search for European feeds!

Go Figure!

Anyway have a look at the pictures and you can see all these dish are inverted (Up-side down) The largest 40" Primestar dish is on a Poor mans H-H mount!

I off-set the mast to match my exact latitude (45º) then when I move the dish from side to side it follows the Clarke Belt!

**Topper** · 16-12-2007

Very nice

Interesting collection, I like the idea with the poor mans mount, I have to confess I have just been racking my brains trying to work out the logic of that, and I think I now have understood it.

In the same way as it is possible to drive off the arc on a normal mount if your pole is not straight, deliberately creating an offset mast allows you to track the arc, that's clever. Does it not require extra supports though? I cannot really tell form the photos posted

PSB · 17-12-2007

No extra support is needed with this particular configeration. The mounting pole/mast is around 2.5" in Dia. so that takes care of everything!

I started using "the poormans H 2 H mount in the late 80's back in Glasgow where I used to live. Now I have a fully motorized C and Ku Band systems but still enjoy messing with the poor mans mount. Back in Glasgow 95% of the signals were still analog so it was real easy moving from one satellite to the next, not quite as simple now with digital signals, but I let the signal quality meter be my guide now.

I still really miss TV from the UK, mainly the footy and shows like "Have I got news for you" Dr Who and all the Xmas shows.

I think I will be investing in a Slingbox soon then all I need to do is find a long lost "family" member from Scotland who would like to watch LIVE US TV.

You guys in the UK have the BEST of all worlds!

Snow has stopped play here today (See below)!

***CROSSBONES*** · 17-12-2007

Looks like a work of art!

Very nice set up

PSB · 17-12-2007

Thanks guys,

I always care about what the end result will look like, above all its all fun. I have enjoyed inverting the dish also, another pet hobby for me. Apart from collecting snow its a good idea to have the dish as Low Pro as possible (IMO)

More pictures below.

***2cvbloke*** · 17-12-2007

Could you send some of that snow our way? We've had nothing but rain or frost, no snow...

But I do see a disadvantage of having upside-down dishes, they fill up with snow easily....

PSB · 17-12-2007

They sure do collect with snow................... But I enjoy going outside and brushing them off in the winter. I have been brushing ice and snow off dish since the mid 80's in Glasgow, where somehow it felt colder than it does here?

I don't have a problem with snow or ice on my 90cm Ku motorized system, I use a product made in Germany, that I wipe on.........
I am always amazed how well it works, I keep meaning to make a video as you really have to see it in action. See the below pictures. Seems you can loose from 5-20% of your signal quality just because of a wet dish! Not to mention Snow and ice and the weight it add to your dish, pulling it down in elevation!
I installed a DirecTV system recently and got a call the next morning "Its no working!" I get there and the dish is CAKED in ice and snow. I go up on the roof and wiped it off and BANG she was back in action. I can't remember the alst time I lost signal because of snow rain or ice.

PSB · 17-12-2007

Another "project here" the SatSphere

I know it's been done before but not by me. Plus I get that certain satisfaction only Scottish people know when they make something them self

The last picture is whats inside the sphere, an 18" cassegrain DBS antenna!

**Llew** · 17-12-2007

Originally Posted by PSB

They sure do collect with snow................... But I enjoy going outside and brushing them off in the winter. I have been brushing ice and snow off dish since the mid 80's in Glasgow, where somehow it felt colder than it does here?

I don't have a problem with snow or ice on my 90cm Ku motorized system, I use a product made in Germany, that I wipe on.........
I am always amazed how well it works, I keep meaning to make a video as you really have to see it in action. See the below pictures. Seems you can loose from 5-20% of your signal quality just because of a wet dish! Not to mention Snow and ice and the weight it add to your dish, pulling it down in elevation!
I installed a DirecTV system recently and got a call the next morning "Its no working!" I get there and the dish is CAKED in ice and snow. I go up on the roof and wiped it off and BANG she was back in action. I can't remember the alst time I lost signal because of snow rain or ice.

PSB, I reckon your setup wins the 'Most Enterprising Installation Of The Year' award on this forum

Unless someone knows of a better one...

Llew

PSB · 17-12-2007

I had more dish back in Scotland! A 1.7m C-band fiber dish (off-set) 2-3 BSB dish, a 1m Ku Mesh motorized dish. A squarial that I used for the french telecom satellites, and various other dish up trees and dangling from the roof

But I am not an addict, I could stop anytime....................... RIGHT

Just posted this clip of my back yard setup on youtube........

p · 18-12-2007

so apart from collecting snow, whats the gain in mounting dishes upsidedown?

loving the motion satellite video! how much $????s

Strange when I lived in Glasgow Scotland I was always trying to find American feeds now I live here I am on the search for European feeds!

its allways about getting what you cant have with this hobby

***Milkybarkid*** · 18-12-2007

Nice setup.

American Tv has too many commercials but British Tv is going the same way,I hardly ever watch now.

MSP a bit too cold for me methinks....I'd be happier in Florida.

PSB · 18-12-2007

Lower profile means they don't catch the wind so much, I got the idea from the UK Army, seems they use a lot of Inverted dish mainly in the far north where all satellites are very low on the horizon

"loving the motion satellite video! how much $????s"

See www.kingdom2.com for prices, I don't sell any of the above, glad you like it. I will be posting another one soon you will also like. A full 18" In motion dish! (For boats)

Here is another Youtube video of an in motion system changing satellites while still in motion (WTF!) 101ºw to 119ºw

Please forgive the duff camera work, it only cost me $50 around 5 years ago from Aldi

Yes we have Aldi here too, now if they would only stock Irn Bru and Pakora I would be a happy man

p · 19-12-2007

i did see the other video, but wernt too sure what was going on, changing position whilst moving, quality.

oh salt / wounds and all that tescos doing 6 cans of irn bru for 1.49 at the mo

PSB · 19-12-2007

WOW! At that price I could bath in Irn Bru (again)

I have been here in the USA around 7-8 years (Could use a change of underpants around now) and have only had one can of irn bru in all that time.............

My 'Scottishness' is slowly drifing away.......... O well time to go and count my dimes (again)

asdrianst · 23-12-2007

thanks for pictures

PSB · 24-12-2007

Originally Posted by asdrianst

thanks for pictures

Merci

I may be getting a new camera from Santa so stay tuned!

permalink · 30-12-2007

cool pics i have also seen your posts on satguys US as i am a member there as well,

PSB · 31-12-2007

I have not been to satgays in OVER a year. Do you know the owner reads EVERYONES PM's there!

BEWARE!

I am on a MUCH better forum now with nice friendly folks (Like here)

All the best and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

**T_G** · 31-12-2007

Great set up PSB! For some reason I only now found this thread, but very inormative it is. OK, here are some questions for you:

1) Is there a specific reason why you inverted the dishes? Any advantages to do so?
2) The plastic sphere, how much does it reduce the signal strength or quality?

Happy New year!

P.S. Welcome to the round table

PSB · 31-12-2007

Originally Posted by T_G

Great set up PSB! For some reason I only now found this thread, but very inormative it is. OK, here are some questions for you:

1) Is there a specific reason why you inverted the dishes? Any advantages to do so?

No advantage other than being lower profile, I have noticed the military aften use this config. on their installs. I have a DirecPC dish here that can spin 360º So if you are locked on a satellite you can spin the dish inverting it and still be on the same satellite. I also paint all my dish flat matt black paint. When the sun does come out those are the first dish to be clear of snow/ice. Plus they look cool.

2) The plastic sphere, how much does it reduce the signal strength or quality?

You only loose around 5-7 signal points under the dome, no big deal as it's a DBS dish and those DBS satellites are VERY strong here. Same as the video of the motorized In Motion system I posted, the signal loss is around 5-7 points. I also tried a Ka Band system through glass but poor results

Happy New year!

P.S. Welcome to the round table

Thanks for the award, BEST thing to happen to me so far today

permalink · 31-12-2007

ok sure thanks for that,

Originally Posted by PSB

I have not been to satgays in OVER a year. Do you know the owner reads EVERYONES PM's there!

BEWARE!

I am on a MUCH better forum now with nice friendly folks (Like here)

All the best and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

PSB · 25-06-2008

Just added a new "Arty Farty" video of the Test rig!

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