Just Sharing This AV-Comm Polariser + Zinwell lnbf

[scopus]

The Mr Scopus skew control......

 

[Captain Jack]

Nice! What's it like on linear?

Also how is it attached to the lnb?

 

[scopus]

Nice! What's it like on linear?

Also how is it attached to the lnb?

I've had it past 40W here for linear. will have to go hunting east.
I have attached it to the LNB casing with Pattex epoxy resin, think John is going to try velcro.

 

[s-band]

One thing that's annoying is that the LNB cover is costing me around 0.5dB, which is a lot considering how every tenth of a dB counts here. Any suggestions on a more "transparent" cover? Apart from cling film....

Don't snigger but non-latex condoms are useful for weather proofing electronics in the short term. Non-latex (vinyl) glove material also works and is a bit stronger. Thin PTFE would last longer but will be more difficult to seal. Could you cut the middle out of the plastic cover and use it to retain a thin PTFE disc?

 

[Captain Jack]

Yes good idea on PTFE. I might have a sheet of it somewhere...

 

[drhans]

i am tested avcomm polarizer with 5 pieces c-band lnb on my 8ft mesh dish.
To my best ranking for gain:
1. avcomm+esx241(modifeid)
2.avcomm+zinwell zcf-d21b
3.avcomm+PSI (modified)
4.avcomm+bsc421
5.avcomm+titanuim

can you describe how exactly did you modify the esx241 and attached it to the avcomm polarizer? I'm using avcomm polarizer with Zinwell but wanted to try esx242 as it this was one of the best LNBFs I've ever had, but I'd like to know how much of the esx feed did you cut off, if any... thanks

 

[John]

The Mr Scopus skew control......View attachment 98290 View attachment 98291 View attachment 98292

Very good my little fruit cake, only just come in from baby sitting since 11.30am.
I did the Velcro coupling prototype this morning and it seems ok. I'll put it through a lot more operational cycles to see if it holds up. A circular weather protection cover will be fitted on the final production model

 

[John]

This AV Comm + Zinwell LNB combination is impressive. I have removed the LNB rotator for now and stuck the C band LNB on top of the Ku, so essentially it's not at focus (using my declination jack for adjustment). Even so, I am getting some very impressive signals even on a crappy, cloudy day across the board. BBC Africa on 1W is pushing over 9dB and AFN TP is 7.7dB (F15 readings).

This is without any sort of fine tuning - just stuck the LNB into the barrel and barrel on the dish...

View attachment 98288

One thing that's annoying is that the LNB cover is costing me around 0.5dB, which is a lot considering how every tenth of a dB counts here. Any suggestions on a more "transparent" cover? Apart from cling film....

View attachment 98289

Now just need that skew control....

I use the lid off one of these storage containers from Asda CJ, they are RF transparent and don't seem to loose any signal passing through it. I think @VS uses them as well.

 

[blademedia]

Nice work on the servo mods well done, a suggestion if things don't work out and you don't want to drill the lnd back plate, something like this with longer screws for the lnb back plate would give it a solid fixing

 

[moonbase]

Hi,

For the servo mod on the Zinwell, can one of the "Servo Men" please let me know what type of small motor I need to buy and how it is powered? I have a Titanium ASC-1 positioner and I think this might power a small servo motor, has anyone used an ASC-1 with a mechanical polarity servo motor or is it for a magnetic polariser?

Would anyone please be able to let me know if this one from eBay is any good? If it is OK, what would I need to power it?
High-end HJ S3315D 15KG Torque Motor 180°Rotating Robot Servo W/U Mouting NH1U

Also, how fine is the skew control with the servo motor, is it possible to "nudge" the rotation by small amounts or is it more of a sweeping rotation?

Lastly, for the Zinwell in the AV-COMM, is there much skimming required to get the Zinwell to freely rotate via a servo motor in the AV-COMM or is it just a bit of wet and dry to get free rotation, I have not tried it yet but my Zinwell is a very tight fit into the AV-COMM.

Thx

 

[John]

Hi,

For the servo mod on the Zinwell, can one of the "Servo Men" please let me know what type of small motor I need to buy and how it is powered? I have a Titanium ASC-1 positioner and I think this might power a small servo motor, has anyone used an ASC-1 with a mechanical polarity servo motor or is it for a magnetic polariser?

Also, for the Zinwell in the AV-COMM, is there much skimming required to get the Zinwell to freely rotate via a servo motor in the AV-COMM or is it just a bit of wet and dry to get free rotation, I have not tried it yet but my Zinwell is a very tight fit into the AV-COMM.

Thx

...The tight bit answer first .... You have to remove the Zinwell sticker, both Chris (scopus) and I rubbed the top surface of paint off on the amount of lnbf that will be inside the polariser barrel .... i think we both went down to metal. A smear of silicone grease or similar is applied to the surfaces and Walahh ... off you go.
Re: the ASC1, iv'e got one of these also which moves my 1.8. It will turn the RC type servo motors that i have experimented with BUT .... I have found that the software/firmware within the ASC1 was very easy to corrupt and sometimes when doing a bit of skew nudging it would totally loose all it's pre-set positions that youv'e took ages to enter. The saved sat positions & settings can always be re-loaded into the ASC1 from the pc back-up of course but it can be very annoying.
As you know, all this Zinwell/Barrel stuff has been done many years ago by our EU friends .... we are just playing catch-up with this combination.
Chris & myself are evaluating this particular R/C servo motor for it's long term durability.

 

[moonbase]

...The tight bit answer first .... You have to remove the Zinwell sticker, both Chris (scopus) and I rubbed the top surface of paint off on the amount of lnbf that will be inside the polariser barrel .... i think we both went down to metal. A smear of silicone grease or similar is applied to the surfaces and Walahh ... off you go.
Re: the ASC1, iv'e got one of these also which moves my 1.8. It will turn the RC type servo motors that i have experimented with BUT .... I have found that the software within the ASC1 was very easy to corrupt and sometimes when doing a bit of skew nudging it would totally loose all it's pre-set positions that youv'e took ages to enter. The saved sat positions & settings can always be re-loaded into the ASC1 from the pc back-up of course but it can be very annoying.
As you know, all this Zinwell/Barrel stuff has been done many years ago by our EU friends .... we are just playing catch-up with this combination.
Chris & myself are evaluating this particular R/C servo motor for it's long term durability.

John,

Many thanks for the very useful information. I was not aware of the ASC-1 issue re skew nudging. I will buy one of the HJ S3315D motors from eBay. Would you please be able to advise me how I power the servo motor, do I need some type adapter cable and a PSU that allows variable control to nudge the servo? It looks like it comes with some type of snap fit power cable?

Apologies for all of the questions, I am way out of my comfort zone with all this modding and electrical stuff, I am more at home in the world of databases and spreadsheets. It's taken me decades to buy a mitre saw and that was only because I was inspired by CJ's topic and the one he bought.

Rgds

 

[John]

John,

Many thanks for the very useful information. I was not aware of the ASC-1 issue re skew nudging. I will buy one of the HJ S3315D motors from eBay. Would you please be able to advise me how I power the servo motor, do I need some type adapter cable and a PSU that allows variable control to nudge the servo? It looks like it comes with some type of snap fit power cable?

Apologies for all of the questions, I am way out of my comfort zone with all this modding and electrical stuff, I am more at home in the world of databases and spreadsheets. It's taken me decades to buy a mitre saw and that was only because I was inspired by CJ's topic and the one he bought.

Rgds

No problem, as long as your enjoying yourself ;).

The ASC1 itself will drive the small servo motor from the terminals that would have normally been used for the Chaparral type blue servo motor, which by the way are totally unsuitable for the skew task.
Here is the link for that particular R/C Servo motor :- HJ S3315D 15KG Torque Motor 180° Rotating Servo w/Long & Straight U Mouting NH1I | eBay

A good servo motor controller is one from "Rick's Satellite" site in the States, they are about £65 ish by the time it gets over here and you've been screwed for taxes etc.

Cheaper local varients are available fro over here but you need a separate battery pack or a dedicated psu for them.

Note to ALL:
** Please bare in mind that at this stage that we are using relatively cheap components to do the tasks of skewing and to find out their long term durability etc and nothing we post on here is set in stone **.

** We don't mind knackering our own stuff up to possibly help others .. you have the final decision to take re: your own equipment use, and whether to alter it or not. We cannot be responsible for any disasters **

 

[moonbase]

No problem, as long as your enjoying yourself ;).

The ASC1 itself will drive the small servo motor from the terminals that would have normally been used for the Chaparral type blue servo motor, which by the way are totally unsuitable for the skew task.
Here is the link for that particular R/C Servo motor :- HJ S3315D 15KG Torque Motor 180° Rotating Servo w/Long & Straight U Mouting NH1I | eBay

A good servo motor controller is one from "Rick's Satellite" site in the States, they are about £65 ish by the time it gets over here and you've been screwed for taxes etc.

Cheaper local varients are available fro over here but you need a separate battery pack or a dedicated psu for them.

** Please bare in mind that at this stage that we are using relatively cheap components to do the tasks of skewing and to find out their long term durability etc and nothing we post on here is set in stone **.

** We don't mind knackering our own stuff up to possibly help others .. you have the final decision to take re: your own equipment use, and whether to alter it or not. We cannot be responsible for any disasters **

John,

Thx for the quick reply, including the disclaimers and equipment health warning.

I will contact Rick Caylor about importing a motor controller. I was planning to get one or two Venture actuators from him so it might be a good time to make up a combi order of bits and pieces. Would you please be able to check the link below to confirm if I have found the correct servo motor controller from Rick's web site?

Automatic Polarity Controller


Rgds

 

[Captain Jack]

That's the one MBA and one I'll be buying soon-ish myself.

 

[John]

John,

Thx for the quick reply, including the disclaimers and equipment health warning.

I will contact Rick Caylor about importing a motor controller. I was planning to get one or two Venture actuators from him so it might be a good time to make up a combi order of bits and pieces. Would you please be able to check the link below to confirm if I have found the correct servo motor controller from Rick's web site?

Automatic Polarity Controller


Rgds

Yep, that's the baby. I don't use it in it's "automatic" mode but i think Chris (scopus) will get around to using it to it's full potential when he gets time.
It comes with a 9volt psu that is 120v only on it's primary so you will need a UK psu.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Yep, that's the baby. I don't use it in it's "automatic" mode but i think Chris (scopus) will get around to using it to it's full potential when he gets time.
It comes with a 9volt psu that is 120v only on it's primary so you will need a UK psu.

There is that Monterey in the for sale section, that -if fixed- has a mechanical polariser control.

 

[John]

John,

Thx for the quick reply, including the disclaimers and equipment health warning.

I will contact Rick Caylor about importing a motor controller. I was planning to get one or two Venture actuators from him so it might be a good time to make up a combi order of bits and pieces. Would you please be able to check the link below to confirm if I have found the correct servo motor controller from Rick's web site?

Automatic Polarity Controller


Rgds

>> One or two Venture actuators and a servo controller << --- Good choice. We are all well pleased with our venture's.
Think you will need to be sitting down though MB when you get the bill for the gear / import taxes/ etc .... lol

 

[s-band]

I got a couple of these direct Pololu - Micro Maestro 6-Channel USB Servo Controller (Assembled) They go up to 24 channels for servos + other I/O
It cost a fortune in tax etc as they sent it by Fedex.
Didn't you find somewhere selling them in the UK, John?

Edit: Found a UK link Micro Maestro 6-Channel USB Servo Controller (Assembled) | 1350 | Pololu

 

[John]

I got a couple of these direct Pololu - Micro Maestro 6-Channel USB Servo Controller (Assembled) They go up to 24 channels for servos + other I/O
It cost a fortune in tax etc as they sent it by Fedex.
Didn't you find somewhere selling them in the UK, John?

I did matey, i forgot about those. Never did get around to implementing it.
Interesting bit of kit, especially if you like things to be PC based .... thinking about you @MB.