Installation of my newly acquired 1.8m diameter Precision prime focus dish for C band

aceb

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Prof Tuner 7301 /
1.25m Gibertini + Inverto B.Ultra/C1W, Moteck H180, 68.5E-67W Ku/C-Band /
1.8m Precision PF + ESX241/Inverto Black Pro, 66E-63W Ku/C-band /
2.4m Fortec Star+Titanium C1W/Pride plate, 49E-58W
My Location
Sussex
It turned a few heads on the way home, in fact as Moonbase and I carried it to my car and Mrs AceB disappeared into the shadow it cast she asked me 'where the f*** is that going?' :-rofl2 Since then it's been cleaned, Hammerited, had 95% of the dent knocked out, I've made a new support arm for C band and three more to take the Ku feed.

The ground the dish is on is actually spoil from when I dug the pool out so although quite solid to walk on is actually only lightly compacted chalk with the minimum of top soil. The two new fixings are 300mm square and a metre deep with some cross bracing knocked into them and clamped to the threaded rods. I found a really useful inclinometer app for the phone to help set up the ground post, it's called Mast Tuner and uses the accelerometer for better accuracy. It measures down to 0.1° and can be calibrated from an external source, I used my Ku pole that I know to be true.

I can't believe how lucky we've been with the weather, it's been perfect for setting up, the light NE doesn't register here especially with the 8ft fence to the north and east so it allowed me to spend a couple of afternoons with the PC outside 'playing'. Initial set up was on Ku, in fact it took less than hour from bolting on the reflector to having it set, I couldn't believe how easy it was TBH and ended up checking everything again lol I didn't really take too many readings on Ku for comparison to my 1m apart from noting that RASD on 45W is 77/100 on the Gib and 86/100 on the Precision, what that means in the real world I've no idea but it's quite an improvement :D I had an email from someone at elite Antennas last week advising me to buy the Invacom feedhorn with yellow cap and Primesat feed support boss from satsuperstore as it's well matched to the PA 1.8m, I may well do this as I'm more than tempted to try it on Ku again.

Results so far are quite encouraging to say the least, as you'd expect many more transponders and a handful more satellites to choose from now, so much so I've had to make seperate installations of DVB Dream for C and Ku as I've too many satellites to store in one.

Viewable arc on C band is 40-58W, the only ones that elude me are 38, 30.5 and 17E plus 20 and 45W. The first two are due to next doors tree obstructing the path from about 39-25E, 17E is close but I've not been about in the morning when I think the signal is strongest. On Ku I can see 25.5E with the same strength as the 1m and Astra is strong enough to get through the gaps in the branches but not much else further east apart from a blip at 39E.

I can't see 40E at the moment as my 18" actuator is about 2° short of full coverage, I'm going to try altering the fixing point for the arm on the rear of the dish to reduce the angular movement needed to swing the dish full arc but if it proves too much strain on the actuator I'll buy a 24" if I spot one on fleabay. I need to buy some new drill bits first, it's all very thick hard steel!

Think the pics speak for themselves,
Satellite shack al fresco, it can't really be March can it?
Measuring the length required for the Ku feed arms.
Just installed with the Ku feed ready for alignment
All finished and parked on 58W
Rear view showing the inclination marker
 

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satelliteman

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Very nice, in excellent order ;)
 

Lazarus

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Superb. Envy mode engaged.
 

wod

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Very nice, if you do try it on ku
Band I'm sure 7west will come in well.

Where's the dent on the dish looks fine to me.

it's even got the original logo on it too.
 

Llew

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A nice setup aceb. Yes, it certainly helps to have the weather on your side when setting those big'uns up :)
 

DishDick

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Didn´t have the logo on mine. Great dishes. First class construction. Built to last a lifetime.
 

Digis@t

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Bravo!
:-handclap:-applause:-thumb1:-respekt

This is great and you are so lucky man, believe me I envy you, everything is fascinating, unfortunately I`m not living in house but in high building and I mean bigger dish than 1,2m is only fantasy to install on the top of the sky-scraper, as first risky because everything down after probably some strong storm, and other problem, how to get allowance install so large dish :-rules:-Axechase:-HB
 

nelson_b

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thanks for posting up the pictures -- :)
its a very nice sturdy looking setup - and should perform well for you , in C band or K/U - :cool:

regards --
 

Vipersan

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I'm so glad you could be ..errr...persuaded to buy her Paul ...
Seriously impressed mate ....
I honestly believe you are entering a new phase in you ability to dx ..
Beautiful dish ...Lovely job setting her up ..
NOW ..she needs a name ..
Got one picked out ??
remember PFs are female ...its just the way it is.
Have fun
VS
 

vladan!!

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18" actuator
to small for this dish and i see on foto its open to mach .
look what i mean its better to do .
btw: good job
 

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RimaNTSS

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Good job! Although I found 24" actuator almost too small for 1,8m PF antenna, so I have got 36" actuator. But, actually it is question how your antenna is covered from wind-load. But to make PF H-H it is really challenge because of purely mechanical issues at very ends of polar-mount.
 

aceb

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My Satellite Setup
Prof Tuner 7301 /
1.25m Gibertini + Inverto B.Ultra/C1W, Moteck H180, 68.5E-67W Ku/C-Band /
1.8m Precision PF + ESX241/Inverto Black Pro, 66E-63W Ku/C-band /
2.4m Fortec Star+Titanium C1W/Pride plate, 49E-58W
My Location
Sussex
Point taken about the actuator, I'll look out for one, the 18" goes with the 1.2 anyway so I should sell it complete. In fact if I can sell it it would fund a longer actuator :) I daren't spend anymore central funds money on the project just yet lol

A name for it, I'll give that one some thought Evan, Tulip maybe, well it is spring after all :-rofl2

Finally finished programming the V box this evening with 27 different positions, a pretty respectable amount. I've found a data signal on 45W and can see both 30 and 38E just below lock, how does one kill a tree discreetly?
 

pride21

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Sandown Isle of Wight
nice one aceb if only i could go to that but do not want to upset neighbours,well done mate.cheers
 
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