Multi-dish Set-up for new house

[Adam792]

Going to be moving house in the next couple of months into a new
build. There's a restrictive covenant on the development meaning that
nothing bigger than a minidish can be attached to the house.

The house faces SSE (with the garden at the back with views to the
North and West) and I'm trying to work out what the best set-up will
be to get all the sats I need.

So far I'm thinking zone 1 on the front of the house (for Sky), and then
the rest in the back garden as far as possible -

80cm for 5°W
80cm for 30°W

These should both have clear line of sight over the fence to the West,
so I'm not expecting problems (fingers crossed), but what will be the
best way to mount them as I've never tried a permanent garden mount
before? I was thinking a patio mount pole bolted to a couple of heavy
duty bricks/concrete slabs (whatever I can get my hands on).

Then the final dish will be a Sky Zone 2. This will be for 13°E and
19.2°E, and ideally it can go in the garden too if it can see over the
top of the house (the house is directly in front of these sats),
otherwise it'll have to go on the front (this is why I'll go for a
minidish).

All together that should cover everything I'm after without being too
visible/causing complaints.

I'm also tempted to look at adding 3.1°E to my 80cm 5°W dish as an
offset for the Greek channels as I found I could just about get a
signal on those on a poorly aligned 60cm last night! I'm a bit worried
an 8.1° offset might be pushing it a bit for them but the robust FEC
of 3/5 seems to allow them to lock at a pretty weak signal level which
should help.

The only position I'll be missing will be 9°E, which I'm kind of
thinking I'd quite like for the Swiss French HD channels (TF1, M6 etc)
which are no longer available on 5°W multistream, and haven't yet
shown signs of (re-)appearing there. Unfortunately I think 9°E is just
too close to 13°E to offset it on a Zone 2?


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[Lazarus]

Pity you're in Worcestershire.

I have just the mount for you sitting unused in my garden.

Also, why not just use a single 80cm with a Motor subject to satisfactory line of sight?

 

[sonnetpete]

Unfortunately I think 9°E is just too close to 13°E to offset it on a Zone 2?

I have both of those on a Penta85. However I'm using narrow LNB's and they are practically touching, so I'd guess it would be difficult on a zone 2.

 

[Captain Jack]

Get a couple of kerb stones and a patio stand and bolt it to the stones. Won't go anywhere.

Or ... a parasol stand. Should be fine for an 80cm dish.

 

[Adam792]

The motor idea is an interesting one actually! I hadn't thought of that. Might keep the 5°W dish static and put the 30°W on a motor.

Kerb stones sounds like the way to go then! I'll have a look around to get some ready.

Thanks!


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[Lazarus]

Not only have I got a Patio mount bolted to a slab going begging, but also a spare Motor.

If you happen to be passing through t'Repooblic any time soon .........

 

[Adam792]

Not only have I got a Patio mount bolted to a slab going begging, but also a spare Motor.

If you happen to be passing through t'Repooblic any time soon .........

Thanks!!

For the motor I actually have a TM2600 knocking around that I've had for about 5 years now and never got round to using. So it might be time to get it out of the box finally.

 

[drats]

If I was in your position I would motorize a zone 2 sky dish, it will get you more or less anything a 80cm dish will unless there is something particular and difficult you want to receive?

 

[Archive4]

Dish size limits are probably meant to apply to front of house, so as not to upset the neighbours. Understandable, as some folk have no idea what can be achieved with a little playing.
1st. plant some camouflage shrubs at back of garden.
2nd. plant some sunflowers ( you could the enter the forum sunflower competition )
3rd. Install base for motorised dish.
4th. Aquire Triax 98 or similar and paint with sunflower design. ( Better still CM or Laminas 1.2 )
5th. Need I say more?

 

[Adam792]

Was able to go onto the building site over the weekend!

No turf laid yet and the ground was too soggy for a proper check but a quick look with Dishpointer AR on my phone from the garden showed 30W and 5W to be easily possible, but the house looks like it may block anything East of about 9E, so we're back to the original plan of zone 2 on the front for 13/19.2E (and maybe a second one out the back for 9E).

Fast switching always seems to win over motorised for me in the end..

 

[Adam792]

Looking like my plans should work out. Should be able to get the dishes in in the next few days and I'm getting the cabling run ready!

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[rolfw]

Zone 2 dish on back of property with steel mast should easily see over the roof.

 

[jeallen01]

Is that shed as high as it is allowed to be?
If not, why not consider extending the walls upwards/building a higher shed with a single pitched roof and the high edge at the front - then leave a gap along the front vertical wall and mount the dish behind it inside the shed! Might be able to get it higher than on a ground mount and so have a wider arc available?

 

[Adam792]

Interesting ideas guys thanks! Basically I have no money now so whatever I do it'll be for as cheap as I can manage for now.

It turns out I've had to act quicker than I planned anyway as we can't get Sky/aerial sorted for another two weeks (it's all pre-wired to the loft ready for an install on the outside for someone with high enough ladders and the right drills!)

So the minidish that is going to be my 19.2°E dish is now just about seeing 28.2°E over the house, with a cable through the window and the Sky+HD on single cable mode.

Hoping to get the dish a bit lower down when it moves to Astra 1 what with those birds being higher in the sky

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[Adam792]

This probably needs moving to the members' set-ups pictures forum now to save a new thread, but just a quick picture of my 5°W and 3.1°E in its final place.

The blocks are very heavy and it's not going anywhere so I'm pleased with it! Next task will be to get the DiSEqC switches up in some kind of weatherproof junction box or suchlike, get the 3.1°E LNB a bit more optimised, and neaten up the cabling. Then I'll be mounting my 30°W dish in a similar way.

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[Lazarus]

Surely the DiSEqC switches are sufficiently waterproof as is?

As long as the connectors are at the bottom and the plastic shroud is fitted.

Just fix them directly to that fence post.

 

[jeallen01]

Lazarus

Some DiseQc switches are definitely NOT waterproof (got at least one), and I don't really trust those that claim to be.

 

[Lazarus]

Never come across one that isn't.

Seems kind of an essential characteristic.

Even the really cheap ones I have are hermetically sealed and the connectors shrouded by a plastic enclosure which slips over the entire device.

I'd be most interested in seeing examples of types designed for outside use that don't cut the mustard.

If the plastic enclosure was damaged or missing, it would be a different story of course.

In this particular case, I'm sure Adam will easily be able to make a judgement.

 

[Archive4]

Even the really cheap ones I have are hermetically sealed and the connectors shrouded by a plastic enclosure which slips over the entire device.

Am I on the satellite forum or not?

 

[Lazarus]

You tell us .... I had no idea we were available outside our own Solar System.