Laminas OFC 1200 Motorised

[Hakon]

My interest in the Laminas was begun by the fact that Hakon had used a 1.2M one, with an Az/EL mount, on his diseqc motor with no apparent ill effect. My current dish is well sheltered, so I thought I'd try the same and if it was too much for the motor, well I'd buy a new one and go back to my Gibi. I've changed my mind about siting an Andrews on my drive and camouflaging it unfortunately. I'll start up my other thread shortly and explain why!! Anyway, I'll see if Laminas get back to me in the next couple of days and take it from there.

I Google a lot on the Laminas before i bought mine, and i find in some test the Lamninas performed really good compared to the Andrew and the Gibertini.I find a german forum who had some testresult. The OFC 1200 works great with the DiSEqC in sheltered positions but i have plans to put up my Lami on the roof and i think the windload will kill my DiSEqC rotor then,so thats why i want a PolarMount.

I have been in contact with Hollex before but they were very slow to answer.
I will try to send a mail to Chris and see if he can find your mail and respond to it.
Cheers

Edit: I have sent a mail to Chris at Laminas, so wait and see if it gives something.

 

[sonnetpete]

The OFC1200 seems very cheap from Hollex, but I'm not sure (as my command of Polish is zero) if the price is subject to VAT. I can't figure out how much carriage would be either. Thanks for the website anyway, lots of interesting stuff on there!!

 

[hexah]

... but i have plans to put up my Lami on the roof and i think the windload will kill my DiSEqC rotor then,so thats why i want a PolarMount.

I suggest that if you are good at DIY and get the Polar Mount that is pictured in Telias post, change the elevation to a thread and bolts. That will allow fine adjustment and make it very unlikely to slip in the much stonger winds you will get at roof level.

Remember that strong wind + exposed big dish = torsion and shear stress.

Usually levels of stress are higher than people expect.

 

[Hakon]

Heres another reseller _http://www.satsklep.pl/index.php?s=produkt&id_prod=1036&lang=eng
From this reseller have i bought some stuff before,easy with payment, ex Visa
But im not shure if the mount is included.

 

[Telia]

The Laminas mount will wear out anyway with time as it doesn't seem to have any ball bearing for the pivot axle.

 

[hexah]

Polar mounts use washers as bearings. They can be greased to keep the weather off and let them turn easily. When they wear down, simply replace them with new washers.

 

[sonnetpete]

Heres another reseller _http://www.satsklep.pl/index.php?s=produkt&id_prod=1036&lang=eng
From this reseller have i bought some stuff before,easy with payment, ex Visa
But im not shure if the mount is included.

Another good website, I think the mount must be included as the price is not that much different to the Laminas on the Hollex site and that did include the Az/EL mount. I think the dish and shipping will be about 125 Euro's which is quite reasonable I think. I'll wait until I get an email from Chris at Laminas anyway.......and possibly until after my credit card statement arrives as well!!

 

[Telia]

Polar mounts use washers as bearings. They can be greased to keep the weather off and let them turn easily. When they wear down, simply replace them with new washers.

Yes cheap polarmounts use washers, that's why i was asking if real bearings were used.

 

[hexah]

There is always DIY.

I have been happy using washers.


It is not the Forth Bridge. There is no need to worry too much.

 

[Hakon]

Mr "Telia" is always concerned obout other peoples rigs.So "Telia"... its nice that you still care. =)

 

[donald1209]

Try here, _http://www.satellietdiscount.com/E_frame.html

A Dutch firm and cheapest I've seen but can't say how much it would be to ship to your neck of the woods!

@ Hakon : Roughly how much did your dish cost? I've emailed Laminas (in English!) to ask for price and shipping but no reply after a week. Won't be offended if you don't want to disclose how much you spent!

Hello
I'm Chris from Laminas.
Probably your mail went to spam box. Sorry.
Try to contact me at kk @ laminas.com.pl

Ch.

 

[sonnetpete]

Hi

Thanks, have received your email and may be in touch later in the year.

 

[sonnetpete]

Following on from the post above, Chris mentioned in his email that shipping costs would be the same if they sent two dishes therefore halving the costs for each dish. He wondered if I could find someone else in this area who would like to buy one. Ummm well, I doubt it, but anyone interested? Someone coming over to France on holiday with enough space in their vehicle for a 1.2M fibreglass dish?? (you could always chuck out your other half to make room) Any takers?? I'll post on the local expat forum about it, but all I'll get by way of replies is "I've lost CH5 and my card doesn't work, what do I do?"

 

[hexah]

... enough space in their vehicle for a 1.2M fibreglass dish?? (you could always chuck out your other half to make room).

Well, that sounds like most people on this forum.

 

[hexah]

Hakon, when you add the cost of a polar mount, 36v actuator, and v box, then you will realize that you could get at least 4 disecq motors for the same money.

If you think carefully about where you position the dish, out of the usual wind direction, then you would save a lot of money and effort. It can survive strong wind ok, as long as it is not directly exposed to storm force winds.

Even if the disecq motor only lasts for 3-4 years, a new one is cheap. The disecq motors available today are advertised to work with 1.2m dishes. In 3-4 years, I expect disecq motors will be stronger than they are today.

Think about it, it may save money and effort.

 

[Hakon]

Hakon, when you add the cost of a polar mount, 36v actuator, and v box, then you will realize that you could get at least 4 disecq motors for the same money.

If you think carefully about where you position the dish, out of the usual wind direction, then you would save a lot of money and effort. It can survive strong wind ok, as long as it is not directly exposed to storm force winds.

Even if the disecq motor only lasts for 3-4 years, a new one is cheap. The disecq motors available today are advertised to work with 1.2m dishes. In 3-4 years, I expect disecq motors will be stronger than they are today.

Think about it, it may save money and effort.

Yes i have calculated on this to. But the DiSEqC rotor is to slow, having to much backlash and feels crappy.And when i put up the dish on the roof i also have the windload on a 120cm dish ,i'm living near by the sea.I have dishes before with polar mount and i want it again.The DiSEqC works today as the dish is placed near the ground and not mutch wind here,but its not a good place for the dish as the house takes all the satellites on the westside.My last west sat is Thor 1w.

The sathobby must cost, otherwise everyone had doing it. =)

 

[hexah]

Living by the sea is very windy. At least the polar mount and 36v motor will be 'bomb proof'.

sonnetpete is lucky because his house, barn and trees provide shelter even at roof level.

 

[Hakon]

Update for my Laminas.
I have now moved the Laminas to a better place. More windload i aspect,but if i dont try i dont know how it works.
I have also finetuned the settings so now it covers 75east to 30west.Cant go futher west as the roof at my house is covering the rest of satellites
The dish is at 75e at the pictures.
The dish is normally connected to a DM800, but i love to use the Vantage as it has BlindScan and a better tuner.

 

[Sandybob]

Nice job,
How is the diseq motor holding up so far? It looks a lot more exposed now. (fingers crossed)
Do you know what the laminas actually weighs when assembled?

 

[sonnetpete]

Do you know what the laminas actually weighs when assembled?

From one of the suppliers websites, an OFC 1200 AE : for the dish 4.5kg, dish and A/E mount, 6.2kg