Ham Rally Find.

Tony1A

Tony1A

Never going back to Sky TV. Ever!
My Satellite Setup
Humax HDR1100S Freesat Recorder. Octagon UHD satellite box with Gibertini 1m motorised dish. Triax TD78 for Freesat. Triax TD64 for Freesat to 3 rooms. 2 Panasonic Freeview+ HD recorders.
My Location
North-East England, UK
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?

:-respekt
 
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.
 
A picture of the top and bottom of the motor should help identify it.
 
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.
 
Tony1A said:
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.
Click to expand...
Pictures.....
 
Tony1A said:
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.
Click to expand...
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!!!
 
What is a ham rally?

Brand new these retail at around £60 and are highly regarded.
 
cwsat said:
What is a ham rally?

Brand new these retail at around £60 and are highly regarded.
Click to expand...
"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!:rolleyes:
 
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cwsat said:
Brand new these retail at around £60 and are highly regarded.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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cwsat said:
What is a ham rally?
Click to expand...
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Channel Hopper said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
DiSEqC has been around for over 20 years. It is unlikely to fall out of favour until beam forming is perfected.
 
Channel Hopper said:
DiSEqC has been around for over 20 years. It is unlikely to fall out of favour until beam forming is perfected.
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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.
 
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.
 
rolfw said:
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.
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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.
 
Here are some photos of the dish motor.
 

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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 ?
 
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