Oh dear, itching for a another dish.

[s-band]

You are unlikely to get much cheaper than the one advertised on eBay, moreso with the free shipping from Hull.
Even if you cant do much with it, you get a birdbath - for ostriches when they fly north in the spring.

Agreed, although if you do buy from there, make sure that you check it immediately for transit damage even if the outer packing looks OK.

There is one for sale in this classified adverts section of this forum. As far as I know it did not sell and may still be for sale. If it is still for sale it is a bargain.

For Sale - 2.4m Prime Focus Fortec Dish with Stand & Pallet base

It is still for sale although I have become a bit attached to it. The price there excludes the elevation jack, available by negotiation.

Yes I looked at one in Yeovil 3 years ago. OK for the money but then I have always believed in Buy Cheap, Buy Twice. Learnt that the hard way when doing heating installations, in time and money.

Very true for essentials like heating but for toys I'm not so sure. I bought my IRTE in 1988 and it's still in use but I wouldn't expect the Fortec to last that long. I don't think that the resale value argument works for big dishes. If I paid the $7k asking price for a king post for the 3.8 how much would I get back if I tried to re-sell it?

@RustySpoons It's about being in the right place at the right time with a big van Primesat 1.8 Install

 

[moonbase]

...It's about being in the right place at the right time with a big van Primesat 1.8 Install

Yes, for sure, you have to be quick off the mark when these type of dishes pop up on eBay. "Scopus" was well located geographically and moved quickly to secure the 1.8m Primesat.

The AnyVan website is a good option to use when looking to transport a dish if you do not have transport available. You create a job and transporters (Men with Vans) compete to quote a price for the job. It is a quick and easy process to sort out transport. You pay the transporter on delivery of the goods and a small commission to the website once you have accepted a quote.

Move Anything Anywhere. FREE Delivery Quotes - AnyVan.com

 

[RustySpoons]

Yes, for sure, you have to be quick off the mark when these type of dishes pop up on eBay. "Scopus" was well located geographically and moved quickly to secure the 1.8m Primesat.

The AnyVan website is a good option to use when looking to transport a dish if you do not have transport available. You create a job and transporters (Men with Vans) compete to quote a price for the job. It is a quick and easy process to sort out transport. You pay the transporter on delivery of the goods and a small commission to the website once you have accepted a quote.

Move Anything Anywhere. FREE Delivery Quotes - AnyVan.com

He's got a lovely dish there! Very envious of that.

Funny enough I've got some quotes running on AnyVan for 2nd hand dishes on eBay.
I'm looking at 2nd Hand Channel Masters from 1.2m upwards at the minute, I think something like that or another "quality" dish might be better suited.

The C-180 does look a bargain but I think I would get frustrated with it and it will probably blow away lol.

Looking at these 2 on eBay:

Is this worth saving? 132471748333

"New" CM here: 292458523978

Will a 1.2 CM/Raven/Andrews be any good for messing with C?

 

[moonbase]

...Will a 1.2 CM/Raven/Andrews be any good for messing with C?

You will certainly get some C Band channels with a 1.2m dish. However, it will be missing a lot of channels that are available to larger dishes. It will work but in my personal it is only scratching the surface of what is available. I am sure there is a forum topic somewhere about C band on a 1.2m dish?

Update:
Found the topic.
Advice Needed - Adding C to a 1.2 Channel Master.

Also, this one, C band on a 1m dish
C Band on 100cm Dish.

And this one, C band on a 1.25m dish, this should give a decett idea what a CM 1.2m will get
my cband findings on my gibertini 1.25m dish


Have a read of the C band section of the forum. It will give you an idea of what equipment members are using and what they can receive.

 

[nelson_b]

Hi - Looking back at the links that "moonbase" posted ---- Parkipie did very well with his gibertini 1.25m dish.... and i have received similar with a 1.2 channel master ..... But size is everything ..... with C band .... and a 1.2 c.m. quickly becomes frustrating ... 1.8 is "much" better but still somewhat limited ... i had a very old petalised Prodelin 3 metre in use here for a while a year or so back , it had a limited arc where i had it set up unfortunately ... results were very pleasing though ... but there was always something just out of reach even with that one ... l.o.l.
Regards ....

 

[RimaNTSS]

Parkipie did very well with his gibertini 1.25m dish.... and i have received similar with a 1.2 channel master

That is mostly cuz, in reality, gibertini is not 1.25m dish but 1.2m one. Some manufacturers like to present their products bigger/better than they are.

 

[archive10]

Is this worth saving? 132471748333

Maybe. The pics are a bit blurred, but if the reflector is unharmed, then it may have value.
Except for the very (very) oldest versions (where the surface deteriorated), these reflectors are very resistant to normal weather.
They are, however, easily damaged during mishandling, especially by builders and the like.

Classic damage is cracked rims, which often seem to happen when the dish is dropped and lands on the arms, or if someone lean on the dish/arms.
The cracked rim is not fatal, but it does take away some of the strength and precision of the reflector.
Mind you, I have several CM dishes with crack rims, and they work pretty well - but a new one would perform and last...

This particular mount is very likely rusty, as this one is from the era of powder coating (dark grey), which preceeded the era of galvanising, unfortunately.
I have one sitting doing nothing but rusting quietly, as I have several galvanised ones...
(This was back when CM also made polar mounts. They had the same finish, and rusted heavily.)
The mount *will* clean up nicely with steel brushes & hammerite, but it takes some effort.
There are several threads on this site about cleaning up of old CM120 polar mounts, it's the same treatment for Az/El mounts.

The arms seem intact, but in one of the seller's pics you can see they have been partially disassembled.
Not sure what state they're in...

So value is determined by a) state of reflector, b) state of arms and LNB holder, and c) state of mounting bracket.
For this one, I would say 40 GBP would be max - there's something funny about the bolts holding the reflector to the mount.
You will have to go inspect before you decide.

"New" CM here: 292458523978

Well, no more than "new old stock". It's one of the original Channel Masters, so it's quite old.
So although there's some authenticity in the dish, I would not pay 220 GBP for it.
Although it has probably never been used, you can get almost the same mileage from a used dish such as the previous one for a lot less of the price.
Heck, I can get a barely used demo-model here in DK for 120 GBP, and probably have it shipped to you for less than 220 GBP total!

 

[archive10]

That is mostly cuz, in reality, gibertini is not 1.25m dish but 1.2m one. Some manufacturers like to present their products bigger/better than they are.

Which is why I think Prodelin, Channel Master (in it's various forms), and Laminas deserves credit for calling their dishes what they are - 120cm dishes.
But then again, it's probably a consumer thing, as those dishes are meant for the pro market, where you mostly call a spade a spade

 

[RustySpoons]

Maybe. The pics are a bit blurred, but if the reflector is unharmed, then it may have value.
Except for the very (very) oldest versions (where the surface deteriorated), these reflectors are very resistant to normal weather.
They are, however, easily damaged during mishandling, especially by builders and the like.

Classic damage is cracked rims, which often seem to happen when the dish is dropped and lands on the arms, or if someone lean on the dish/arms.
The cracked rim is not fatal, but it does take away some of the strength and precision of the reflector.
Mind you, I have several CM dishes with crack rims, and they work pretty well - but a new one would perform and last...

This particular mount is very likely rusty, as this one is from the era of powder coating (dark grey), which preceeded the era of galvanising, unfortunately.
I have one sitting doing nothing but rusting quietly, as I have several galvanised ones...
(This was back when CM also made polar mounts. They had the same finish, and rusted heavily.)
The mount *will* clean up nicely with steel brushes & hammerite, but it takes some effort.
There are several threads on this site about cleaning up of old CM120 polar mounts, it's the same treatment for Az/El mounts.

The arms seem intact, but in one of the seller's pics you can see they have been partially disassembled.
Not sure what state they're in...

So value is determined by a) state of reflector, b) state of arms and LNB holder, and c) state of mounting bracket.
For this one, I would say 40 GBP would be max - there's something funny about the bolts holding the reflector to the mount.
You will have to go inspect before you decide.

Well, no more than "new old stock". It's one of the original Channel Masters, so it's quite old.
So although there's some authenticity in the dish, I would not pay 220 GBP for it.
Although it has probably never been used, you can get almost the same mileage from a used dish such as the previous one for a lot less of the price.
Heck, I can get a barely used demo-model here in DK for 120 GBP, and probably have it shipped to you for less than 220 GBP total!

That's really good advice, thank you for this information I really appreciate it.
Is there a metallic coating on these CM dishes, like those small plastic camping dishes?

 

[archive10]

That's really good advice, thank you for this information I really appreciate it.
Is there a metallic coating on these CM dishes, like those small plastic camping dishes?

Nope. There's a steel mesh moulded into the reflector.

 

[RustySpoons]

Nope. There's a steel mesh moulded into the reflector.

Right that makes a lot of sense, so no harm is cleaning one up or painting it properly?

 

[archive10]

Right that makes a lot of sense, so no harm is cleaning one up or painting it properly?

Not at all. I clean most of mine with a pressure washer - most of the grime goes very well away.
Some of the stubborn patches need scouring sponges to get rid of. (Summer's job, really, not something for now!)
(@RimaNTSS is more caring with his SMC dishes, and put them through a beauty-treatment in the bath-tub. Mine are outdoor-dishes, though, so they get the hose...)

You can paint the dish if you want (but don't have to) - car paint is good; comes in many colours and in aerosol form too.

 

[gap30]

Right that makes a lot of sense, so no harm is cleaning one up or painting it properly?

How far are you from Bangor North Wales?

I paid for this and never picked it up, planned to pick it up next time I was in Wales sometime in the summer



I spoke with the seller at length who informed me he had used it for C band, all of the arms, mount etc are galvanised

 

[RustySpoons]

How far are you from Bangor North Wales?

I paid for this and never picked it up, planned to pick it up next time I was in Wales sometime in the summer



I spoke with the seller at length who informed me he had used it for C band, all of the arms, mount etc are galvanised

Bangor is 200 miles away , plus I wouldn't fit a dish in my car, I really need to get an estate! You can't get bugger all in a saloon.
Please tell me it wasn't 99p LOL

I can use Anyvan though.

 

[gap30]

Bangor is 200 miles away , plus I wouldn't fit a dish in my car, I really need to get an estate! You can't get bugger all in a saloon.
Please tell me it wasn't 99p LOL

I can use Anyvan though.

99 english pennies it was

Pity thought it would help you out

 

[RustySpoons]

99 english pennies it was

Pity thought it would help you out

If it's still there I could send Anyvan, or you can send someone like Anyvan if you do want it?

 

[gap30]

If it's still there I could send Anyvan, or you can send someone like Anyvan if you do want it?

Ok I will send the seller a message if he gets back to me I will arrange for 'your' courier to pick it up

 

[RustySpoons]

Ok I will send the seller a message if he gets back to me I will arrange for 'your' courier to pick it up

If it's worthwhile to yourself it might not cost much to be collected, if you don't want it then that's a really kind offer and I'll get quotes.

 

[jeallen01]

.. I really need to get an estate! ...

Not that "glamorous" (unless you get a Merc, High-end Audi, or "similar"!) but, IMHO, quite essential if you want to "do things yourself" - I have run one of some sort for most of the time from when I ran a "C" reg MiniTraveller, modded with an 1100cc engine (!), in the 1970's. With something like that, then if "it" doesn't fit in the back-end area, there's a good chance you can strap it on the roof rack.

ATM, it's a 2007 Skoda Octavia 16V 2l turbo diesel estate ("remapped" to 180 bhp - so it goes like sh1t!)

 

[gap30]

If it's worthwhile to yourself it might not cost much to be collected, if you don't want it then that's a really kind offer and I'll get quotes.

No worries man I feel your pain, currently saving up for a new house so I can buy a big dish

This 1.5m gibby just not doing it for me, I am hoping to join the big dish brigade shortly...

Plus I already have several 1.2 CM's, and a gibby gathering dust in the back of my house