Ham Rally Find.

[Tony1A]

HI ALL!

Last weekend I went to a local ham rally and picked up an ALSAT dish motor. I only paid £7 so if it works then I have a bargain. Can anyone tell me about this motor please?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Which model ?

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[Tony1A]

Not sure! There is a sticker on it but don't think there's a model number. I'll try and send a photo and maybe yourself or other members may identify it.

 

[Channel Hopper]

A picture of the top and bottom of the motor should help identify it.

 

[Tony1A]

Okay! It's an Alsat Dark Motor and could be the superior dark or the supreme intelligent dark. I'm unsure of which one it actually is as they look similar. The unit has a button either side of the LNB and RX connections. Probably for east and west movement.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Okay! It's an Alsat Dark Motor and could be the superior dark or the supreme intelligent dark. I'm unsure of which one it actually is as they look similar. The unit has a button either side of the LNB and RX connections. Probably for east and west movement.

Pictures.....

 

[jeallen01]

Okay! It's an Alsat Dark Motor and could be the superior dark or the supreme intelligent dark. I'm unsure of which one it actually is as they look similar. The unit has a button either side of the LNB and RX connections. Probably for east and west movement.

IIRC the "supreme" motor has an LED display, whereas the "Superior" version does not - and the former version sometimes didn't work with some receivers' DiSEqC commands in my experience!!!

 

[cwsat]

What is a ham rally?

Brand new these retail at around £60 and are highly regarded.

 

[jeallen01]

What is a ham rally?

Brand new these retail at around £60 and are highly regarded.

"Ham" = Amateur Radio enthusiast!!

My motors are both "Superior" Dark Motors (one of them having replaced the dodgy "Supreme" version) and they cost less than that IIRC.

Cautions:
- From experience, I wouldn't put anything bigger than a lightweight 1.2m dish on them - the 1.2m Gibby on one of mine is heavy enough to have caused the motor-pole mounting clamps to bend and cause the motor & dish to "droop" slightly, although I managed to then beef those clamps up so it hasn't got any worse.
- the other one has a TD110 on it, but has a motor mechanism issue whereby it goes to about 5 deg off the position requested via DiSEqC/USALS and that needs that taken into account when setting the positions in the Rx!
- both of mine developed motor backlash which meant they overshot the intended positions - but adjusting that out is quite quick & easy.
-The one with the Gibby seems to periodically develop a problem whereby, if left unused for a time, it won't drive West beyond a certain position which was 28E'ish but now seems to be 24W'ish (which is where it is ATM!) - remote reset from the Rx (SX88 / SX88+) doesn't work and you have to do it by physically disconnecting / press buttons / reconnecting the Rx cable (as per the instruction book - which is badly written!!!)

Otherwise, they seem quite good motors!

 

[Lazarus]

What is a ham rally?

 

[jeallen01]

View attachment 146263

That's a "pig in a very pokey" Mini

 

[Channel Hopper]

Brand new these retail at around £60 and are highly regarded.

The supplier has not been trading for a number of years. It would be a rarity to find one in a box.

I have a few 'low use' ones, installed for under a month or so before the client upgraded their dish to 1.5/2.0m for uninterrupted reception on Nilesat/Badr.

 

[Channel Hopper]

What is a ham rally?

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[cwsat]

The supplier has not been trading for a number of years. It would be a rarity to find one in a box.

I have a few 'low use' ones, installed for under a month or so before the client upgraded their dish to 1.5/2.0m for uninterrupted reception on Nilesat/Badr.

There are a couple on ebay advertised as brand new for £50+

Diseqc motors appear to be one of few things that have held their value in the satellite world.

Those and specialist dishes like Channel Masters.

 

[Channel Hopper]

DiSEqC has been around for over 20 years. It is unlikely to fall out of favour until beam forming is perfected.

 

[cwsat]

DiSEqC has been around for over 20 years. It is unlikely to fall out of favour until beam forming is perfected.

Just seems to be a decline in new motors being produced.

The majority you see are second hand / used Technomates and they're holding their value.

 

[rolfw]

I've not installed a DiSEqC motor for more than three years, a big drop in non UK satellite reception, a lot have moved to IP.

 

[cwsat]

I've not installed a DiSEqC motor for more than three years, a big drop in non UK satellite reception, a lot have moved to IP.

Yep, a lot of second hand motorised systems have appeared on eBay/Gumtree and sold for sub £50. Some go with a solitary bid on them <£10.

 

[Tony1A]

Here are some photos of the dish motor.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Well, it is not a new one. A picture from the top would be useful.

Have you tried undoing the 13mm bolts on the main casing ?

Does it have a label anywhere ?