Famaval 2.4 Extension Petals - advice please

bignick

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Hi Guys

I'm about to fit my first set of extension petals to a 2.4 Famaval next week. If anyone has any advice or hints and tips on fitting them and any adjustments afterwards then I would appreciate it.

The dish has the wide adjustable feedhorn with quad invacom just now and is on a fixed mount.

Cheers

Nick
 

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bignick said:
Hi Guys

I'm about to fit my first set of extension petals to a 2.4 Famaval next week. If anyone has any advice or hints and tips on fitting them and any adjustments afterwards then I would appreciate it.

The dish has the wide adjustable feedhorn with quad invacom just now and is on a fixed mount.

Cheers

Nick
Are you fitting them yourself?
 

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simonskyman said:
Are you fitting them yourself?
 

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bignick said:
Hi Guys

I'm about to fit my first set of extension petals to a 2.4 Famaval next week. If anyone has any advice or hints and tips on fitting them and any adjustments afterwards then I would appreciate it.

The dish has the wide adjustable feedhorn with quad invacom just now and is on a fixed mount.

Cheers

Nick

I'll try and be brief

1/ Tip the dish onto it's back if you can (ie pointing skywards) not sure if you can do this with a fixed mount.
2/ Fit all the petals but leave all bolts loose so they hold in place.
3/ Tighten the bolts between the petals first before the ones between the dish and petals. This is because the holes that are on the dish side of the petal is oval shaped allowing for a bit of "play". This should also pull the shape together.
4/ All the time while tightening the bolts check that the surface of the petal flows smoothly onto the dish. You may need to tip the dish back down to check this.

I have fitted over 30 of these dishes now with petals and even still sometimes they are a B*st*rd to get to fit right.

With the extra weight of the petals the dish becomes unstable in the wind and tends to wobble. We fit steel wire from the bottom of the back mount (not the dish) and tighten with a Turnbuckle fitted to a hook bolt fitted into the ground. This does not need to be tight as what it actually does is stop the dish lifting.
We then fit the same arrangement on either side of the back mount and this stops side to side wobble. We also use these "adjustments" to peak the dish as when you tighten the turnbuckle the dish pulls to one side or the other.

Can't think of anything else but if my gibberish does not make sense let me know and I will send pictures.

Good luck

Triggs
 

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Cheers for the info Triggs

You make perfect sense - it seems like a very logical approach to me.

One or two pictures of the steel wire supports would be helpful, and if you know how long they are including the turnbuckle then that would be a great help when I make them.

Thanks again

Nick
trigger said:
I'll try and be brief

1/ Tip the dish onto it's back if you can (ie pointing skywards) not sure if you can do this with a fixed mount.
2/ Fit all the petals but leave all bolts loose so they hold in place.
3/ Tighten the bolts between the petals first before the ones between the dish and petals. This is because the holes that are on the dish side of the petal is oval shaped allowing for a bit of "play". This should also pull the shape together.
4/ All the time while tightening the bolts check that the surface of the petal flows smoothly onto the dish. You may need to tip the dish back down to check this.

I have fitted over 30 of these dishes now with petals and even still sometimes they are a B*st*rd to get to fit right.

With the extra weight of the petals the dish becomes unstable in the wind and tends to wobble. We fit steel wire from the bottom of the back mount (not the dish) and tighten with a Turnbuckle fitted to a hook bolt fitted into the ground. This does not need to be tight as what it actually does is stop the dish lifting.
We then fit the same arrangement on either side of the back mount and this stops side to side wobble. We also use these "adjustments" to peak the dish as when you tighten the turnbuckle the dish pulls to one side or the other.

Can't think of anything else but if my gibberish does not make sense let me know and I will send pictures.

Good luck

Triggs
 

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Good advice trigger.Be careful how you handle the petals as they can bend easily.While the dish is pointing up to the sky you can see the shape of the dish and if it is deformed.Run your hand along the petal joins and feel if one is higher or lower than the adjoining petal.the problem is when the petals are in place,you cant get near the lnb to do final adjustments without touching the dish.The slightest touch moves the dish.I usually put 2 stabilisers from the horizontal part of the mount,one on each end to the ground but after the dish is aligned to maximum signal,but you have to be careful because as you tighten these,the dish/mount can pull either direction.

good luck.
 

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Sorry for interrapting your chat.This for simon.Focal point is the same length.What about the width of the feedhorn is it ok to use the wide one instead of the smaller?
 

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Considering the diameter & the depth of the dish is increased..shouldnt the focal lenght also increase?
 

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I have in my possesion an old brochure for famaval dishes and it says that the focal length is the same(93cm).My theory is that although the depth and diameter increase,the f/l calculation should still give the same result.But i have never used the calculation though, never sure where to measure exactly the diameter of the dish as the edge curves.Brochure says the dish is 3,1m diameter with extensions.Some people say 3.2m in their adverts.
 

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The focal length of the dish cannot change, as you're not changing the curvature of the inner part. This will continue to bring the signal to the same focal point. Just think of those drawings of parabolas you did in school...
It will be a large dish with a short focal length.
 

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maniacop32 said:
simon, which feedhorn do you use after you put the petals?
The ones i have done,which were a while ago,used the original white one that came with the dish.But i would like to know if the adjustable version is better.Once the extensions and stabilisers are on its a hassle to change lnb/feedhorn because of the way the feedhorn bracket comes apart.I havent installed a new 2.4 famaval for over a year,its all 3m and some 2.7m now.I suggest you put the adjustable on now so if you need to take it out you just loosen a screw and slide it out.
 

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Simon

I think we will try both the large and the smaller feedhorn ends in place. Maniacop had heard that although the petals made the dish larger, the narrow adjustable feedhorn worked better! Since we don't yet have this as gospel, and I now have a decent spec anni, we will spend some time and report back our findings to you good people.

Cheers

Nick
simonskyman said:
The ones i have done,which were a while ago,used the original white one that came with the dish.But i would like to know if the adjustable version is better.Once the extensions and stabilisers are on its a hassle to change lnb/feedhorn because of the way the feedhorn bracket comes apart.I havent installed a new 2.4 famaval for over a year,its all 3m and some 2.7m now.I suggest you put the adjustable on now so if you need to take it out you just loosen a screw and slide it out.
 

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bignick said:
Simon

I think we will try both the large and the smaller feedhorn ends in place. Maniacop had heard that although the petals made the dish larger, the narrow adjustable feedhorn worked better! Since we don't yet have this as gospel, and I now have a decent spec anni, we will spend some time and report back our findings to you good people.

Cheers

Nick
Thats good of you Nick.I think the best test is if you can make ITV Yorkshire (10.891)work either morning or evening.Thats the difference between a good result and better result.What measuring equipment are you going to use?
 

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We will be setting it up with a satlook NIT (assuming I can work out how it works or a lacuna if I can't) We will then do any really fine tuning on the digibox itself (pace 2600). Maniacop is an absolute genius at this - really patent and knows how to get the most out of the famaval!!!

Cheers

Nick

simonskyman said:
Thats good of you Nick.I think the best test is if you can make ITV Yorkshire (10.891)work either morning or evening.Thats the difference between a good result and better result.What measuring equipment are you going to use?
 

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bignick said:
We will be setting it up with a satlook NIT (assuming I can work out how it works or a lacuna if I can't) We will then do any really fine tuning on the digibox itself (pace 2600). Maniacop is an absolute genius at this - really patent and knows how to get the most out of the famaval!!!

Cheers

Nick

Probably teaching you to suck eggs but set the Lacuna to look at H or V Low depending on what is the strongest in your area. Over here we can't get V Low so we peak up on H Low. Promise to take my Camera to work tomorrow and get you some pictures. Have even placed it by the front door so I don't forget it.

Good luck and keep us informed
 

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Can t wait to see your pictures trigger.As they say ,"one picture is a thousand words"
 

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Find attached the pictures

Note this dish was installed in the morning and the concrete base was due to be done in the afternoon. Normally I would recommend doing the base first but it's football this weekend and everyone is in a rush!!

Pic 1 - Shows all 3 ties to the ground
Pic 2 - Close up of how cable is attached to back mount
Pic 3 - Close up of what we call a "Turnbuckle". As you turn it, it tightens both ways (left hand thread on one side and right on the other)
Pic 4 - The downward stay - funny angle I must admit - Different guage wire but it was all the local supplier had left!
Pic 5 - Note the bolt in the middle of the mount. We drill and Tap the mount and put a bolt in each side because we have found the mount will still turn on the pole no mater how tight you do the 3 bolts.

Hope this all helps

Let me know if you need more info, pics etc

Triggs
 

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Hi Trigger


Thanks for the photos they are a great help.

I suspect that we will only need the two at ends of the horizontal elevation pivot bar as we don't have the dish cranked so far over to the vertical as you do (well not for 28.2 anyway)- ours sit at 50 degrees and therefore don't show so much metal to the wind! Simon, is that infact the case here?

We have problems with tightening the clamps too but generally together with the rear bolt you get enough to stop the local wind upsetting things!

Why do you need a concrete base? Is the rooftop not thick enough? How do you fit it 'after the fact'?

Once again, many thanks for the info and input.

IOU 1 Keo (sorry no San Mig here)

Nick
trigger said:
Find attached the pictures

Note this dish was installed in the morning and the concrete base was due to be done in the afternoon. Normally I would recommend doing the base first but it's football this weekend and everyone is in a rush!!

Pic 1 - Shows all 3 ties to the ground
Pic 2 - Close up of how cable is attached to back mount
Pic 3 - Close up of what we call a "Turnbuckle". As you turn it, it tightens both ways (left hand thread on one side and right on the other)
Pic 4 - The downward stay - funny angle I must admit - Different guage wire but it was all the local supplier had left!
Pic 5 - Note the bolt in the middle of the mount. We drill and Tap the mount and put a bolt in each side because we have found the mount will still turn on the pole no mater how tight you do the 3 bolts.

Hope this all helps

Let me know if you need more info, pics etc

Triggs
 

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We fit the base because we do get some strong winds here and the local buildings are a bit dodgy. Basically we drill more holes into the roof, fit some steel reinforcing bars and pour a 1M X 1M X 30mm base around the base of the dish in a wooden frame.

How has things gone anyway?

One day I will come for that Beer. Keep one cold for me!!



bignick said:
Hi Trigger


Thanks for the photos they are a great help.

I suspect that we will only need the two at ends of the horizontal elevation pivot bar as we don't have the dish cranked so far over to the vertical as you do (well not for 28.2 anyway)- ours sit at 50 degrees and therefore don't show so much metal to the wind! Simon, is that infact the case here?

We have problems with tightening the clamps too but generally together with the rear bolt you get enough to stop the local wind upsetting things!

Why do you need a concrete base? Is the rooftop not thick enough? How do you fit it 'after the fact'?

Once again, many thanks for the info and input.

IOU 1 Keo (sorry no San Mig here)

Nick
 
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