Super Power Jack

[sonnetpete]

....then moving on to tracking old birds

At my age Martin, that's all I ever do....

 

[Lazarus]

Tracking old birds is fraught with danger.


What if the missus finds out?



Edit: Sorry, Pete, didn't see your contribution: Great (?) minds ..........

 

[Archived-1]

Things on hold for a few days I never checked my email yesterday and the supplier is out of stock of 24 and 18 inch actuators my money has been refunded straight back in to my paypal account,

So now I have ended up ordering a super power jack harl-3618 18 inch from ebay and it should be with me in the next two days,

I was hoping to get it all done today but I can still make a start with the pole

 

[Captain Jack]

For inclination, you can check my thread on how I did it. I am using it to switch between C band and Ku band LNBs but can just as easily track inclined birds.

 

[Archived-1]

For inclination, you can check my thread on how I did it. I am using it to switch between C band and Ku band LNBs but can just as easily track inclined birds.

Thanks C/J I watched your thread in the making but what I don't understand why you had to move the position of the dish with that bracket? will I have to do the same ? ive seen some people who have put inclined motor on the dish and not done the work you have,

Would you explain to a novice please.

 

[Captain Jack]

You absolutely do not have to move the dish up the bracket like I have. The only reason for doing it was to raise the dish slightly as there's a house in the way blocking pretty much everything from 13E onwards. Raising the dish slightly allowed it to peek over the house to get reasonable signal - though I am still completely missing 26E and everything from 46E onwards.

Yes, I could have simply extended the pole but the dish is already being partially overlooked by the neighbour and I didn't want anything permanent. If they do complain, I can always move it down the bracket again.

 

[Archived-1]

Thanks C/J, i thought the work was due to the incline, Would i be right in saying if i did install a C band lnb and for instance wanted to scan 0.8w send the dish to 0.8w on ku band then its just a case of raising the dish to the correct place with no W/E movement please.

 

[Captain Jack]

That's correct. Just make sure that your LNBs are equally centred, otherwise you'd still need to do small E/W adjustments.

 

[Archived-1]

Thanks again C/J i will get the pole sorted and the new actuator fitted and make sure i am hitting the arc ok,

Then i will move on to inclination and C band, ATM i use two stb one drives the v box and i use my skybox for scanning. i will attach another v box to the sky box for up and down movement and just use stb to move the dish, i will make sure the v box position is set to 0 on ku band so if i get lost its just a case of sending the v box to 0 then i am back on ku, hope this makes sense.

 

[Archived-1]

That was quick time to start work methinks

 

[Lazarus]

Excellent - looking forward to hearing of your exploits

 

[Archived-1]

Ive just popped out and clamped the dish up it will save time I am thinking the pulse might be different but if so it should still get me very near then just a few clicks and save, not like starting from scratch, just going to have some lunch and I will go and get it fitted, I will have to sort the pole tomorrow.

 

[Captain Jack]

One thing - make SURE that both ball joints are free to move. All jacks I had had very, very tight joints, which would create extra stress on the jack and imprecise alignment.

 

[Archived-1]

lol thanks C/J yes I checked that I bought some special oil for the joints and freed the joints up with the oil, ok I have it fitted its a little different inside than my old one, my wires are very close to this item before I try to move the dish does this item need to move please,

 

[Captain Jack]

This is a magnetic wheel, which activates the pulses on the reed switch (small grey and black wires to the right of it). So, yes, it moves every time you move the dish Keep the cables away from it...

 

[Archived-1]

Thanks C/J I will pop out and make some alterations and give it a test.

 

[wod]

you didn't feel the need to use a heavy duty version of actuator ?

I thought you was buying a 1.8 dish soon ?

 

[Archived-1]

Its in my plans wod when money permits but after some thought it is now going to be an addition to my 1.2 and 1mtr, I will put heavy duty version on the 1.8,

Ok wires moved out of the way I have just gone to 7w then 30w and she is tracking well, I might have to fine tune but the dish is coming down tomorrow so not going to go to town on alignment,

No limits set yet but that's another job for tomorrow when the pole has been modified, I will have to keep an eye on what I do tonight ;)

 

[wod]

My cm 1.2 is in the shed too heavy to lift up past the gutter so left with a cm 1m up there.

I'm thinking might ground mount it for 7west.

Have you got room for a 1.8 they are rather large, you could go for aluminium 1.8 prime focus setup instead ?

 

[Archived-1]

Thanks wod, do you think a 1.8 prime focus is better than the C/M please ?, yes I am sure I will be able to fit a 1.8 in here somewhere.