3.7m Prime Focus Prodelin project: any ideas?

[3virgul14]

Fellow sat enthusiastics,

I'd like to ask for your expertise here.

There is a Prodelin dish that I can acquire.. Its about 7-8 years old but relatively good condition.

-It has no polar amount and no feedhorn.

- How would you suggest to solve this issue to motorize the dish with a mount and suitable feedhorn?

-Which Lnb to use for Ku band reception in a fringe area?

Thanks guys for help in advance.

Regards.

 

[RimaNTSS]

That is nice dish. I wish I had it. I think it is not easy to motorize. But, perhaps you have your desired satellite to receive, so you could tune this antenna stationary to this satellite and have nice reception. I would advise, for the beginning, GI-209P, I could send it to you for for price of 10 EUR plus shipping.

 

[3virgul14]

That is nice dish. I wish I had it. I think it is not easy to motorize. But, perhaps you have your desired satellite to receive, so you could tune this antenna stationary to this satellite and have nice reception. I would advise, for the beginning, GI-209P, I could send it to you for for price of 10 EUR plus shipping.

Dear Rima,

As i know you made comparison between different lnbs in the past.

For a fringe area like where i live, dont you think i'd need a professional lnb like norsat?

 

[RimaNTSS]

If you are ready to spend ~100EUR (maybe even more) to get professional LNB, just go ahead ;). But, firstly you should get the antenna, and secondly, you better start from something simple. And this simple could be GI-209P (great LNB for PFA). After some time, if you are not satisfied with reception results, you could try something more expensive. But, I think, 3,7m mirror is big enough to bring you fine performance even if you are using relatively cheap LNB. size of the dish is more important than the quality of the LNB.... IMHO.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Almost forgot: Thirdly- you should install the dish (not so easy task) and then think about most proper LNB to be used.

 

[Analoguesat]

Nice dish, but first question - what are you hoping to get with it??

 

[3virgul14]

Almost forgot: Thirdly- you should install the dish (not so easy task) and then think about most proper LNB to be used.

Well installation is the least i worry about.I have friends who installed couple of prodelins in the island.

I will use this mainly for feed hunting between 30W-3.0E.. So needs a motor and polar mount... This worries me more.. How to build a mount for this purpose?

 

[Lazarus]

I suggest a Forum think-tank, whose first task must be a Site Visit.

 

[3virgul14]

I suggest a Forum think-tank, whose first task must be a Site Visit.

You are very welcome for a site visit anytime Lazarus

 

[RimaNTSS]

So needs a motor and polar mount... This worries me more.. How to build a mount for this purpose?

That, as I have mentioned earlier is not so easy task. Instead of polar-mount is probably easier to go Az/El/Skew separate control. TBH, I did not see such a big dishes polar-mounted.

 

[3virgul14]

That, as I have mentioned earlier is not so easy task. Instead of polar-mount is probably easier to go Az/El/Skew separate control. TBH, I did not see such a big dishes polar-mounted.

PF Prodelin 3.7 m AZ/EL type 1374-990 RX | CZECH AND SLOVAK DX SATELLITE CLUB

Well, i found something like this for azel. Interesting setup,right?

 

[RimaNTSS]

Yes, setup is interesting, but.... not so easy to replicate. And, it is Az/El/Skew separate control.... need 2 actuators + skew control.
Do you really need such a big dish for simple feed-hunting from 30*W-3*E? Just a question. Which one from your desired satellites is most fringe one?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Well installation is the least i worry about.I have friends who installed couple of prodelins in the island.

I will use this mainly for feed hunting between 30W-3.0E.. So needs a motor and polar mount... This worries me more.. How to build a mount for this purpose?

Two things look slightly more important.

You need to dismantle the dish, completely, without damaging the reflector and bars. A lot of those bolts holding the panels look rather ginger.

Then you will need a kingpost before you can do anything at the other end.

 

[3virgul14]

Yes, setup is interesting, but.... not so easy to replicate. And, it is Az/El/Skew separate control.... need 2 actuators + skew control.
Do you really need such a big dish for simple feed-hunting from 30*W-3*E? Just a question. Which one from your desired satellites is most fringe one?

With 2.4m famaval, I'm not able to receive feeds from 30w and 24.5w at all..

I am hoping to get extra 5-6db of signal with the 3.7m

 

[RimaNTSS]

Perhaps it is possible to install 3,7m dish and point it to 24,5*W and add another LNB (in multifeed) to 30*W. The rest satellites can still be feed-hunted with 2,4m Famaval.

 

[archive10]

That, as I have mentioned earlier is not so easy task. Instead of polar-mount is probably easier to go Az/El/Skew separate control. TBH, I did not see such a big dishes polar-mounted.

Agree. PM for this size dish is IMHO mechanically less attractive - it is far easier to control adjustment of an El over Az mount with two actuators and a suitable controller (eg. Research Concepts RC-1500). As RimaNTSS writes, Ku H/V in Europe will also require skew control.
This, mind you, is not for the faint hearted - takes both an El/Az mount and a controller, and a wad of cash to procure all this...

Nevertheless, I would be very pleased to see a polar mount for a 3.7 meter dish... would be quite cool!

 

[archive10]

Perhaps it is possible to install 3,7m dish and point it to 24,5*W and add another LNB (in multifeed) to 30*W. The rest satellites can still be feed-hunted with 2,4m Famaval.

Exactly my thought!

 

[Channel Hopper]

Perhaps it is possible to install 3,7m dish and point it to 24,5*W and add another LNB (in multifeed) to 30*W. The rest satellites can still be feed-hunted with 2,4m Famaval.

It's a prime focus, 3dB drop on a 3.8 is just under half a degree, so little chance of anything 6 degrees away

 

[3virgul14]

It's a prime focus, 3dB drop on a 3.8 is just under half a degree, so little chance of anything 6 degrees away

That forces me to motorize the dish then.

 

[Channel Hopper]

That forces me to motorize the dish then.

Or buy a second 3.7m ;)