My new toy :D

[Captain Jack]

Latest.... drilled and painted the bar, so the mount is pretty much finished.

Can't do much else other than clean up the dish and wait for the actuator and VBox to arrive.

 

[Lazarus]

Looking very nice.

Awaiting the next instalment eagerly :-righton

 

[satelliteman]

Nice refurb there ;)

 

[Captain Jack]

Does anyone have a full manual for the polar mount? I need to know what to set my declination angle to (the adjuster in picture 1, above).

Alternatively, my latitude is 51.5N, if someone can tell me what it should be?

 

[satelliteman]

Set the polar axis angle on the mount, lower the dish onto your due South satellite when aligning then lock up the declination.


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[Captain Jack]

Set the polar axis angle on the mount, lower the dish onto your due South satellite when aligning then lock up the declination

So, set the big bolt to 51.5 and then adjust declination until I get the best signal on 1W?

 

[cokeaddict]

Does anyone have a full manual for the polar mount? I need to know what to set my declination angle to (the adjuster in picture 1, above).

Alternatively, my latitude is 51.5N, if someone can tell me what it should be?

Here you go, I think it's what your looking for.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Captain Jack!
Interesting project. That shiny piece looks little bit weak, that can make some unnecessary play during fine adjustments. Have you decided what kind of LNBs will you install?

 

[hexah]

Start by finding your south satellite.

You then need to find true south, which will be a bit offset, by moving the assembly slightly around the pole, and then fine tune the polar axis using satellites on either side of the arc. It is essentially the same process as with a disecq motor but the long threaded bolts allow for genuine fine tuning.

A meter makes the process much easier. Without a meter it is usually time consuming, especially if it is the first time with this type of polar mount.

At least it is a small dish, the large ones weigh a ton and if you are not paying attention there is a real risk of getting your hand caught in the frame.

 

[satelliteman]

Yes, you need to account for your due South offset by moving the mount. What's your longitude?


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[hexah]

I preferred to use a locking bar rather than the actuator when setting up. I found it quicker and more stable to use and you can also mark the satellite positions on the bar with a marker pen so you can hop around easily.

If you don't have a locking bar, you can make one out of threaded rod and some nuts.

 

[RimaNTSS]

I would say that first step should be making pole vertical as much as possible, especially in direction West-East, without that you will never get perfect arc. Without meter installing polar mount is not easy task, although possible but will take more time and sweat. For adjustments without actuator I use specially crafted arm, that allows move antenna from West to East just in a second.

 

[hexah]

Yes, excellent reminder.

Take as many hours as is necessary to get it dead vertical.

That is a great locking bar RimaNTSS it makes setting up very quick, though dangerous if your fingers get stuck in it!

 

[satelliteman]

As briefly mentioned in post #68, given this new piece isn't a threaded bolt through the fitting (ie. where you have two nuts either side ;) ),... you may need to consider doubling up the metalwork or using a materiel slightly more heavy duty; as shown in the attached picture. In saying that, once the locking nuts are tightened, I wouldn't have thought it'll go anywhere.

 

[Captain Jack]

Thanks everyone. Yeah I considered that the L shaped piece is a bit weak. I will probably double or even triple up - got plenty of those. It does look fairly solid though, but it may be different once the dish is actually on it.

I've set up many DiSEqC type motors so I know the theory well enough. But this will be my first polar mount set up. With DiSEqC motor, I move it 1W with the receiver set to my coordinates and then find the satellite. The rest generally fall into their place with minor tweaks.

I don't have any more money to spend on threaded rods etc. and my actuator will arrive next week. I have Digisat III LCD meter, which is basic but works well. I guess it's just a matter of aligning on 1W with the mount pointing slightly to the east (my longitude is 2.752516 W) and then fine tuning everything?

The pole is 100% vertical as it stands right now, but I will make the necessary adjustments once the dish is on.

 

[Captain Jack]

Strengthened the L bracket this morning, adjusted the elevation and declination controls to my latitude - can someone confirm it's correct (my lat is 51.5N)? Most of the bolts are tightened, except the bottom hinge one and the whole mount is rock solid. My Penta 85 on that DiSEqC motor feels like it's mounted using pieces of string in comparison. The dish plate swivels freely (but not loose) and there is no play whatsoever.

Also attached the actuator bar. The reason it's on the west side of the dish is because that's where most of the visible arc is (will be 10E to 45W-ish).

 

[satelliteman]

The settings are good to go as a starting point. The correct declination will of been made as you lower the dish and align onto your due South.

 

[cokeaddict]

Strengthened the L bracket this morning, adjusted the elevation and declination controls to my latitude - can someone confirm it's correct (my lat is 51.5N)? Most of the bolts are tightened, except the bottom hinge one and the whole mount is rock solid. My Penta 85 on that DiSEqC motor feels like it's mounted using pieces of string in comparison. The dish plate swivels freely (but not loose) and there is no play whatsoever.

Also attached the actuator bar. The reason it's on the west side of the dish is because that's where most of the visible arc is (will be 10E to 45W-ish).

If you read the pdf I posted, you will see that the initial settings are about correct.

The top 1 should not be adjusted now, and all elevation / declination should now be done with the rear 2 nuts.

Also the actuator arm bar should be mounted ontop of the mount, not underneath it.

 

[Captain Jack]

If you read the pdf I posted, you will see that the initial settings are about correct.

The top 1 should not be adjusted now, and all elevation / declination should now be done with the rear 2 nuts.

Also the actuator arm bar should be mounted ontop of the mount, not underneath it.

Thanks. I've seen both variations of the arm bar, some at the top, some at the bottom (nelson_b's is at the bottom), so not sure what the right one is.

 

[cokeaddict]

Thanks. I've seen both variations of the arm bar, some at the top, some at the bottom (nelson_b's is at the bottom), so not sure what the right one is.

Ok thats fair enough, i've only ever seen them on the top.