Artist 2004
Anatolia correspondent
- My Satellite Setup
- GoldMaster 7400 CIM 2MB with Kaon board 12.03.a5. Technomate 1000, Technomate 5200 USB.
Two 80cm offset dishes.
- My Location
- West coast, Turkey
Members might be interested in my table top 120cm dish (Mark II) which I have been using to watch Hispasat and other satellites for the last couple of months. See photo attached.
Main advantages: 1) you don't have to scramble about on the roof in fear of earthquakes. 2) you can easily change position for other satellites. 3) it annoys the wife.
Disadvantages: 1) a tendency to lose picture during gales. 2) Not much room for your beer. 3) Inteferes with the view.
History: A couple of months ago I was scrambling about on my roof for a couple of days trying to fix a vertical mounting but couldn't find a suitable place. Finally an earthquake struck while I was up there. After a quick change of underpants I decided to mount it on a 3rd floor balcony, but hadn't got the right equipment. Hence the inspiration for a temporary arrangement, which has become rather permanent.
Mark I design was less successful. Although working beautifully and easy to adjust, on the first night of gales it leapt off the table, which neatly folded itself up, nipped over the balcony wall and plummeted to concrete three floors below on to its face, mangling the LNB stays and LNB mounting. I found the LNB itself dangling on the end of its coax half way down the wall of the house. Hence Mark II and some of the features identified in the photo.
Key to photo
1. Wooden splint: Joins two sections of broken LNB stay. In straightening one of the mangled LNB stays it suffered catastrophic failure.
2. Electrical tape around LNB mounting: keeps LNB in the mount precisely at the correct pressure and direction.
3. Wooden Plank: placed in the V made by the table legs, prevents table from folding up in gales.
4. Iron bar, L cross section: bolted to front legs of cheapo tripod that came with the cheapo dish (£25), prevents legs from splaying. Rear leg tied to balcony roof support.
5. Various neoprene straps: with self locking buckles, tied to everything that can possibly move.
Mark III future plans:
Affix 3 inch water pipe vertically to balcony wall, and mount dish on that. Advantage: more space for beer on the table. But that'll have to wait for a few months.
:-googly
Main advantages: 1) you don't have to scramble about on the roof in fear of earthquakes. 2) you can easily change position for other satellites. 3) it annoys the wife.
Disadvantages: 1) a tendency to lose picture during gales. 2) Not much room for your beer. 3) Inteferes with the view.
History: A couple of months ago I was scrambling about on my roof for a couple of days trying to fix a vertical mounting but couldn't find a suitable place. Finally an earthquake struck while I was up there. After a quick change of underpants I decided to mount it on a 3rd floor balcony, but hadn't got the right equipment. Hence the inspiration for a temporary arrangement, which has become rather permanent.
Mark I design was less successful. Although working beautifully and easy to adjust, on the first night of gales it leapt off the table, which neatly folded itself up, nipped over the balcony wall and plummeted to concrete three floors below on to its face, mangling the LNB stays and LNB mounting. I found the LNB itself dangling on the end of its coax half way down the wall of the house. Hence Mark II and some of the features identified in the photo.
Key to photo
1. Wooden splint: Joins two sections of broken LNB stay. In straightening one of the mangled LNB stays it suffered catastrophic failure.
2. Electrical tape around LNB mounting: keeps LNB in the mount precisely at the correct pressure and direction.
3. Wooden Plank: placed in the V made by the table legs, prevents table from folding up in gales.
4. Iron bar, L cross section: bolted to front legs of cheapo tripod that came with the cheapo dish (£25), prevents legs from splaying. Rear leg tied to balcony roof support.
5. Various neoprene straps: with self locking buckles, tied to everything that can possibly move.
Mark III future plans:
Affix 3 inch water pipe vertically to balcony wall, and mount dish on that. Advantage: more space for beer on the table. But that'll have to wait for a few months.
:-googly
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