10ft channel master

[KennyR]

Rescued another dish this morning

 

[armadillo_115]

Great save! Looks like a long actuator...hopefully it still works.

I have a 10ft CM mesh button hook.Works well here.

I added 4 turn-buckles with paracord to steady/center the button hook. Could have used steel cable but this dish is a temp until I put up the 12 footer.

One thing about the mount,if yours is like mine: You'll probably want to make an actuator plate extension. The spacing is so close, the actuator clamp location will not allow the dish to travel very far on the actuator side. On mine, I added about a 6' plate extension...and still can drop no lower than 127W.

A pic of mine shows how close the actuator holes are to each other"

 

[KennyR]

Great save! Looks like a long actuator...hopefully it still works.

I have a 10ft CM mesh button hook.Works well here.

I added 4 turn-buckles with paracord to steady/center the button hook. Could have used steel cable but this dish is a temp until I put up the 12 footer.

One thing about the mount,if yours is like mine: You'll probably want to make an actuator plate extension. The spacing is so close, the actuator clamp location will not allow the dish to travel very far on the actuator side. On mine, I added about a 6' plate extension...and still can drop no lower than 127W.

A pic of mine shows how close the actuator holes are to each other"
View attachment 123215

Here is a picture of mine, looks similar, went to lowes and got 4 5ft pcs 1/2 metal conduit to convert it to struts.
I was also surprised that it has the small hole ku mesh.

 

[KennyR]

I turned the conduit into something useful for the dish. No painting or installing them for awhile with this weather though

.

 

[Jason S]

Those are very nice bends, especially on the scalar end. How did you go about making those bends?

 

[KennyR]

Those are very nice bends, especially on the scalar end. How did you go about making those bends?

Tightened up in A bench vise till flattened out and then swing the pipe around. The second bend on the one end I tightened it up in vise and bent it over with a pall peen hammer .

 

[ken2400]

Rescued another dish this morning View attachment 123212 View attachment 123213 View attachment 123214

Nice save. Thanks for sharing. I remember like 20 year ago saving a 10' dish and then having to drive it like 12 miles and though a small town.

 

[wvman]

I turned the conduit into something useful for the dish. No painting or installing them for awhile with this weather thoughView attachment 123241 View attachment 123242 .

I always liked a button hook feed, especially when the hook is long enough to extend through the back of the dish. Makes setting the polarity a snap and keeps you out from in front the dish. I like the support legs you made. Not much danger of it getting off center once you set it. I had a 12 foot Cassegrain antenna once upon a time. The feed sat behind the antenna, making it very easy to set the polarity and feed. I'd like to find one sitting around that someone wants to get out of their way. I'd snatch that baby up in a heartbeat.

 

[Titanium]

Agreed! I am also a BIG fan of buttonhooks! As long as the hardware is solid, installs are fast and setting the FD and FL combo is simple!

I have added support wires once the position is set if there is any concern of feedhorn movement.

 

[waylew]

Lotsa luck with my Paraclipse,that aluminum pipe is thoroughly welded to the steel core tube.

 

[KennyR]

Did a little painting on the dish,, thinking about using this polar mount that came from a damaged 10 ft sami.

 

[KennyR]

Trying it out with the button hook, checked 83w to 127w and a few between . it seems to track the arc alright. (Temp setup for testing.)

 

[wvman]

Agreed! I am also a BIG fan of buttonhooks! As long as the hardware is solid, installs are fast and setting the FD and FL combo is simple!

I have added support wires once the position is set if there is any concern of feedhorn movement.

Back in the day I used to sell a lot of UFI solid fiberglass one piece dishes. It had a nice button-hook feed. Don't know if you are familiar with them or not. I know where there's one sitting idle now, but I haven't decided yet where I want to mess with it or not. Not as young as I once was and those buggars are heavy. I did find a treasure at the local metal yard. They bought out another company and ended up with 5 4x8 sheets of 1/16 perforated aluminum. It has 1/16 holes, and would be perfect for redoing a 12 foot wire mesh dish I saw a while back.

He even offered to let me use their metal sheer to cut the panels. Not sure yet what he's going to ask for the aluminum sheets, but he indicated he may sell it by the pound. That would be a sweet deal.