Channel master smc 3.0m pf restoration

[beavs2112]

So after scanning the skies with my ku rig I realized that here in Canada most of the permanent backhauls I wanted were on C-band ! I found a 3.0M PF antenna an hours drive away. The first 3 pix are where it was. A couple of weeks ago (after lots of procrastination and hesitation) I took it down off the pole and carted it home. I got really lucky cuz it only started snowing after I got home. Most of the coating over the metal mesh was gone since the antenna is 25 years old. Gave it a thorough cleaning with a hot water/bleach/soap solution. This revealed that around the outer edges of a couple panels the metal mesh was missing. The worst is a 4" gap. So I am attaching aluminium screen door mesh in those places. I realize it's not perfect but my prime goal for this antenna is C-band not Ku. All four panels are getting a couple of coats of resin then sanding and painting.

My satellite view in my backyard is blocked by my neighbours trees so my best solution is to mount it above my roof. More pics to come as the restoration/installation progresses.

 

[Analoguesat]

Nice to see that old warhorse being restored

 

[nelson_b]

nice one --
i look forward to seeing it restored -- it will be quite a bit of work but well worth it i,m sure .
i rebuilt a 1.8 metre Alcoa petalised dish a couple of years ago - which had been dismantled and stored in a shed for many years -- a most enjoyable project

 

[vladan10]

you are mad m8
how you put the 3m dish on the ruf of the car man wow .if i need to move my 5m dish i call you
the old ChM need work to fix it .
btw you are one of the lacky people to have one of the best dish (friend of me have the 3m ChM and i help him when he fix it) and most most importand your LNB CHAPPARAL (25k? or30k?)
i cant find this lnb
my lnb i have on my dish for c-band mti13k and panorama15k

 

[Riverblue]

I shall follow this one with interest. I'm pretty new to all this but a 3.0m above the roof! That's going to be fun :-thumb1 I don't think you'd ever get permission for that on a private residence in the UK. I take it that it will be motorised? Any chance of some photos of the mount /motorised set up as well as the pole/mounting also if you have them or what you are thinking of doing?

 

[beavs2112]

you are mad m8
how you put the 3m dish on the ruf of the car man wow .if i need to move my 5m dish i call you
the old ChM need work to fix it .
btw you are one of the lacky people to have one of the best dish (friend of me have the 3m ChM and i help him when he fix it) and most most importand your LNB CHAPPARAL (25k? or30k?)
i cant find this lnb
my lnb i have on my dish for c-band mti13k and panorama15k

"you are mad m8" :-laugh guilty as charged your honor my norsat lnb are rated at 20k. I am lucky I found the CM dish. I haven't found another one like it around close to me.

 

[beavs2112]

I shall follow this one with interest. I'm pretty new to all this but a 3.0m above the roof! That's going to be fun :-thumb1 I don't think you'd ever get permission for that on a private residence in the UK. I take it that it will be motorised? Any chance of some photos of the mount /motorised set up as well as the pole/mounting also if you have them or what you are thinking of doing?

"I take it that it will be motorised?" Yes it will be motorised.with a Von-Wiese 24" stroke actuator. They are heavy duty enough to handle the extra weight of this antenna and mount.

"Any chance of some photos of the mount /motorised set up as well as the pole/mounting" Excellent chance of some photos.

The mount is a polar mount so I can adjust az/el. Pix 1&2 are of the back of another guys 2.4m version dish. Pix 3 is of a different dudes 3.0m version he found already disassembled on the ground.

Channel Master made different versions of these antennas with improvements to the way the backframe pivoted... the way the antenna declination was performed and how the reflector bolts onto the backframe. On my version the fiberglass reflector portion only bolts onto the backframe in 4 places real close to the center point. Since I consider that to be a weak point of the original design I'm going to upgrade that using some 3/4" galvanized electrical conduit that has the ends hammered flat with holes drilled in it to bolt to the reflector backframe. it should provide some useful bracing or stiffening. My idea for that is pic 4.

The pole cap (not sure what the Euro term for it is so I pointed to it in pic 3) is a whopping 1.52M long. It's for a 11cm OD pipe. My plan is kinda like pic 3 in the original post except my pipe will go thru my roof instead of being outside the house. I redrew my plan sort of for pic 5. My house has 3 levels...basement/main/attic. The attic level is unused. I am renovating my home so I have full access to the basement/main/attic joists and the spaces above and below them. My 8.9cm OD mount pipe will be sticking through my roof about 1.8M and is embedded in concrete in a 0.30M diameter cardboard construction tube 1.2M deep below my basement floor. It will be u-bolted to the joists at those 3 levels. On the top 1.5M of the mount pipe I will use a 10cm inside sleeve pipe between the 9cm and 11cm pipe.

I am also going to upload the CM 2.4M and 3.0M PF manual to an old thread.

 

[beavs2112]

finally got around to putting my 3.0m PF ChannelMaster dish up! It's in my backyard for now. Before it went up on the pole I cleaned it and put a fresh coat of fiberglass resin. Then some paint. For reference the door on my red shed is regular height . The ku performance is surprisinglyy good.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Resolution of last pictures is not so high and impossible to enjoy results of restored antenna. Anyway, congratulations!

 

[Riverblue]

Awesome installation, I am very jealous. I take it that you are still intending to roof mount this dish eventually?

 

[Analoguesat]

Yes count me in amongst the jealous ones

 

[Vipersan]

Yes count me in amongst the jealous ones

Moi Aussi !!

 

[Lazarus]

You have your own personal Aussie ??

 

[RimaNTSS]

I would not object to have such a dish in my yard. Put me on the waiting list

 

[beavs2112]

Awesome installation, I am very jealous. I take it that you are still intending to roof mount this dish eventually?]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes I still need to put it higher up because of some large maple trees

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Easier to get a sharp saw my friend....

 

[beavs2112]

Easier to get a sharp saw my friend....

Agreed Forgot to mention they are in my neighbors back yard.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I suggest recruiting some helpful beavers......

 

[beavs2112]

well I finally got my 3.0m moved to its new location in my side yard. it now has a much better unblocked view of the southern sky. I can view from about 30w to 117w.

 

[archive10]

Looking at the second pic: have you bolted it to the back of your car??