Channel Master/Laminas 1.8m project

dishdx said:
I don´t know if could be possible to do something like that for so heavy dish like CM180 is... it is only idea...
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It's not so much the weight of the dish, its more about the potential wind-loading when a storm whips through your neighbourhood.
A 180 dish is like a small boat sail - it will reqiure heavy-duty metal to keep firmly and safely attached to your monuting pole. Not to mention keeping it aligned properly!

This is what the original CM polar monut looked like (image from an earlier Ebay ad).

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Some would argue that even that is a bit flimsy. But it seems to have supported many a CM180 throughout the past 30 years, so maybe its an ok design.
Forum member @CROSSBONES even had a copy made which lokked very much like the original. He sold it, but it pops up from time to time on ebay...
 
Some time ago I have ordered digital scale from PRC. Just checked how precise this scale is .... I see it is precise enough. It maybe has even better precision as I do not what is the precision of the weight I have. What I will do next- will remove CM 1.8m antenna and do some weight check. I hope that will stop future guesses, at least in case of dishes I have in stock. IMG_20171129_182722 (Large).webp IMG_20171129_182710 (Large).webp
 
The polarmount base is made of two halves that clamp together, it is possible to tighten up the four retaining bolts on different diameter posts though 4.5 inch has always been quoted (and supplied) by IRTE to the UK.
From memory there is also a set of boltholes in the official ground stand to lock the polarmount onto true south once installed, but it has been a very long time since I went into the back of the garage to check.
 
Looks like winter and spring wind battering the dish took made it lose alignment. So, it's realignment day today!
 
Captain Jack said:
Looks like winter and spring wind battering the dish took made it lose alignment. So, it's realignment day today!
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Eh? I thought those precision mounts were the dog's b******??
Or do you think it is the rest of the mount that has moved?
 
Precision mounts have been known to suffer bearing failure. Time for some inox ?
 
Nothing major. The elevation slider nut was a little loose and the dish went down a few degrees. The bearings are about 2 years old - all OK there.

Greased everything up and it's good for another year.
 
Spent an hour or so servicing the declination jack. It was running really rough and kept stalling with E2 error. The worm drive itself was fine but the plastic gears inside were all gunked up hardened grease.

Cleaned it all out, relubed (oooeeerrr) and all is good again. Need to do the same with my azimuth one.
 
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At the start of last lockdown, around this time last year, SWMBO asked me to cordon off the dish to avoid kids impaling themselves on screw rods and whatnot.

Today I finally made a start...

20210314_134114-1280x720.webp

I have millimetres clearance between the bottom of the dish and the top of the fence so hopefully the dish won't crash into it one day.
 
No, no, no: The philosophy is wrong, surely?

What you need is an enclosure for the children, not the dish.

Hope that helps.
 
Captain Jack said:
At the start of last lockdown, around this time last year, SWMBO asked me to cordon off the dish to avoid kids impaling themselves on screw rods and whatnot.

Today I finally made a start...

View attachment 135201

I have millimetres clearance between the bottom of the dish and the top of the fence so hopefully the dish won't crash into it one day.
Click to expand...
SWMBO tried to say GET RID OF THOSE DISHES
 
Captain Jack said:
At the start of last lockdown, around this time last year, SWMBO asked me to cordon off the dish to avoid kids impaling themselves on screw rods and whatnot.

Today I finally made a start...

View attachment 135201

I have millimetres clearance between the bottom of the dish and the top of the fence so hopefully the dish won't crash into it one day.
Click to expand...
Those fence posts don't look high, or sharp enough to keep the chldren inside.
 
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