My SAT-playground

[Trust]

And, BTW, I am very proud of me today..... I was offered 2 SMWxOA-1400 "Jumbo", and I even did not bargain to get them. I simply said to guy: I don't need them!
However, if he was starting from smaller price, I would probable could not resist.
So, if somebody needs such a dish at price of 50EUR ish, I know the seller.

So your schrink makes a little progress

 

[archive10]

So your schrink makes a little progress

Or balcony full AND storage room full...

 

[RimaNTSS]

So, another Kathrein antenna is 60cm and has twin LNB.
I just tuned 75cm antenna to 4,8*E and got reasonable signal levels, will observe how signal will be at evening time (it is kinda problematic reception here at certain time of a day).

 

[RimaNTSS]

Brought another CM120 home today. It was only 10UER deal, but has no mount no feedarms. Condition is OK, picture is bad. Just one query..... please do not tell my wife :mad: I've promised her to not do that anymore , already several times.

 

[Captain Jack]

Dare I ask what the plans are for this one?

 

[RimaNTSS]

what the plans are for this one?

Strange question You know!

 

[dan rose]

My mom says the same thing its not a lost dog or cat can't give it a good home. Beats having a cat or dog don't have to feed or take it to the vet.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Standard SOPs applied to "new" CM120. After washing it look quiet OK. This one also has some rusty marks on the face.

 

[RimaNTSS]

I took picture of my Sat-yard during SUN-interference period October 12th 2013.
As you can see "Huston, I have a problem!" receiving full Clarke-belt. My most-East and most-West satellites were 90*E and 30*W with some drop-down in the area of 60*E-53*E. And that is because of my neighbor's house I am not angry at him, he was already there when I came.
So, I think if I make another layer of platform (red), of course obeying all safety regulations (blue), and installing additional massive metal pole (green), than, on top of that pole I could mount polar-mounted 1,8m plastic Prodelin (or maybe in the future 2,4m plastic dish). What do you think folks, it is crazy enough idea?
Of course, want to use INOX materials as much as possible and, make whole construction stable and strong to withstand all possible weather cataclysms.
If I manage to build this additional platform I would probably can try to go even more East and West, like 96,5*E and 45*W

 

[RimaNTSS]

Found in the garage one polar-mount. It seems simple, but at the same time stable. Only declination adjustment missing. I think it was made for particular location wit fixed declination. I am sure this mechanism can be used for antennas up to 1,2-1,5 meters. I wish to make universal polar-mount to hold different antennas, just to make it as test-bench. Of course, different antennas have different distances between mounting screws, but that is solvable by different adjusting plates.

 

[archive10]

Found in the garage one polar-mount. It seems simple, but at the same time stable. Only declination adjustment missing. I think it was made for particular location wit fixed declination. I am sure this mechanism can be used for antennas up to 1,2-1,5 meters. I wish to make universal polar-mount to hold different antennas, just to make it as test-bench. Of course, different antennas have different distances between mounting screws, but that is solvable by different adjusting plates.

Nice, unusual design!
It also looks as if it was made for dish with next to no inclination.
So perhaps a PF one?

 

[RimaNTSS]

Found in the garage antenna holder (made of INOX BTW ) but it was made for some very specific place. So, I made several cuts (red) on picture 1. And then welded everything together as it should be for wall-mounting. Some pieces of INOX are left out for future use. Aw, yes, have no idea where this holder be installed.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Same holder but after some metal-brush operation. Pipe has 50mm diameter and it is 38cm away from wall.
I made several not round INOX 8mm washers today, have some idea to use them in such a way for SAT-hardware. To be continued

 

[RimaNTSS]

Washers were about how to make adjustable joining like that (circled red)
I am not so advanced in welding, so to keep parts solidly, I made small device just to be able to weld washers to threaded bar (green line) Looks sophisticated, but that what I came to. My design
Final product will look something like that Another piece of threaded bar will come with 2 washers. Perhaps I should better use wider washers (which I do not have ATM). Those are 8mm ones, but, perhaps 6mm could be used as well.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Attempt #2, more easy version of "third-hand"

 

[RimaNTSS]

Each spring internal voice tells me: go on and do something with your T90. And that continues already more than 10 years. So, this time I decided to remove all single LNBs and leave only 6 quads I have ATM. So, antenna to be tuned to 0,8*W-4,8*E-13*E-19,2*E-23,5*E-28,2*E. All LNBs will be connected to 4 Diseqcs with 10 enters. At the end I will have 4 cables in the house where all satellites will be configured exactly the same. Cable #5 will go to motorized CM120, and cable #6 just to be spare one. And, of course, terrestrial antenna - cable #7.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Finished with 6-LNB setup and also wiring, it took couple-of-beers time. will leave it like this at least till next spring.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Guys! You will not believe, but dishes can be re-used. Exactly after one year of careful storage in the garage, this dish was used today again. Of course, it is warped, and paint is not so evenly spread, but it still can be used for purpose of excitement of the kids. I, personally, do not like the way this dish is used but it is only about 70cm, so do not have hard feelings about process. I think, it can be re-used couple of more times, just to not spoil another antennas.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Have changed LNB holder on CM120 today. This holder is for 65mm LNB , but with adapter is also fine for 40mm LNB. Checked reception on Ku-band, and then replaced LNB to C-band . Scanned everything from 5*W, 80 services came in, . 9 frequencies, and signal level seems to be OK. Problem is that I have very little experience with C-band and also do not know what signal levels I should be getting at my location on 120cm dish. But, that what I got:

 

[Archived-1]

Personalised number plate for you Rimants for when you visit the uk .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Number-pl...747?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25a033da5b