Birdview mount mod

[madbull]

I have picked up a 8 ft birdview dish free, but noticed skyvision dont sell the reed mod kit for them anymore. anyone know where i can find one of these kits? Going to move it with a g box 3000 positioner

 

[Anole]

Some of the guys have built their own.
We've had a number of discussions on how to go about it.
I got a bunch of magnets and an idea to build about 10 kits, but haven't followed through with the project.

 

[madbull]

Some of the guys have built their own.
We've had a number of discussions on how to go about it.
I got a bunch of magnets and an idea to build about 10 kits, but haven't followed through with the project.

Thanks anole for the reply. I will search for how to in here. If you have a idea or know the thread where the how to's were, would appreciate your help. Thanks

 

[phlatwound]

Here is a thread where I made a magnet wheel/reed sensor setup for a Birdview H-H mount.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/c-band-satellite-discussion/166422-phlats-birdview-2-a.html

Do an Advanced Search on the FTA forums for threads started by "linuxman" with the word "birdview" in the title. Tons of awesome pics and detailed instructions to be studied there, he ain't the Prez of the BVOC (Birdview Owners Club) for nothing!

 

[madbull]

Here is a thread where I made a magnet wheel/reed sensor setup for a Birdview H-H mount.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/c-band-satellite-discussion/166422-phlats-birdview-2-a.html

Do an Advanced Search on the FTA forums for threads started by "linuxman" with the word "birdview" in the title. Tons of awesome pics and detailed instructions to be studied there, he ain't the Prez of the BVOC (Birdview Owners Club) for nothing!

Thanks Phlat for the reply. I will look it up and see if i can build one

 

[madbull]

Phlat, where did you buy the magnets? I downloaded the templates and think I might be able to dupilcate your plans, proabably want turn out as good as yours , but maybe it will work. I assume you glued them inside the wheel. Anole if you had the kits available, would relieve you of one, hehe. thanks to both of you. The bull

 

[phlatwound]

Phlat, where did you buy the magnets? I downloaded the templates and think I might be able to dupilcate your plans, proabably want turn out as good as yours , but maybe it will work. I assume you glued them inside the wheel. Anole if you had the kits available, would relieve you of one, hehe. thanks to both of you. The bull

Here is where I got mine, looks like the same seller still has a current auction:

Search for this eBay Item #: 180292540335

I did apply some glue to the holes but they were a press fit, the glue was just a little insurance.

There is nothing too tough about making one of these magnet wheels, I just took ideas from others that had made them before me and adapted their ideas to what materials I could find, and asked a LOT of questions of the guys here.

 

[madbull]

Here is where I got mine, looks like the same seller still has a current auction:

Search for this eBay Item #: 180292540335

I did apply some glue to the holes but they were a press fit, the glue was just a little insurance.

There is nothing too tough about making one of these magnet wheels, I just took ideas from others that had made them before me and adapted their ideas to what materials I could find, and asked a LOT of questions of the guys here.

Thanks Phlat, will give the ebay dude a try. May have to get on with the farming around here before i finish project. Been thowing money (fertilizer) on the ground here for the last few days. Glad its finally warmed up. I assume you used a drill press to drill the precise holes. Will let you know how it turns out. Cheers The bull

 

[skysurfer]

Some of the guys have built their own.
We've had a number of discussions on how to go about it.
I got a bunch of magnets and an idea to build about 10 kits, but haven't followed through with the project.

can't you glue magnets to the white wheel at the end of the main worm gear axle and put a reed sensor on a bracket that is nearby?

I am getting ready to put up my birdview now that it is getting warmer and the days are longer that I have evenings to work on the project before it gets dark. I checked the actuator drive last weekend to see that it worked and I noticed where I might put a reed sensor if I need it. Right now, I plan to drive it by spectrum analyzer - just hook up the two motor wires and watch my spectrum analyzer to see where I am in the arc and to peak up on the satellite I stop at.

 

[Anole]

can't you glue magnets to the white wheel at the end of the main worm gear axle and put a reed sensor on a bracket that is nearby?

There are a number of different configurations in the field.
In trying to come up with a universal kit, I couldn't assume any particular hardware.
Some users had a factory (?) mod with an 8-magnet wheel at the end of the main worm gear where you describe.
Some users had a little plastic white gear there, to turn the pot.

Combining any sort of magnet, 20 year old unknown plastic, and a glue to bond them, is a recipe for trouble.
Even how the end of that shaft was machined... seemed to be hard to document.
Some had a little hole in it, but even after asking a lot of questions and examining a lot pictures, I couldn't be sure everyone had the same hardware.

Locating the wheel between the other end of the worm gear and the motor right-angle gearbox as Linuxman had done, seemed the most universal location.
Phlatwound seemed to agree, and made a nice template for a 24-magnet wheel.
Even if you come up with a one-of-a-kind solution, the above is a proven concept.

I ordered up about 400 very tiny magnets and some ultra small reed switches.
...oh, be sure to use an EVEN number of magnets, and ALTERNATE their polarities around the wheel ! -
Was working on some prototype wheels, but winter came and my co-conspirators went off to hunt deer or something and I never got back to it. -

Oh, and one other variation in Birdviews, too.
The casting went from a rough sand-cast to a smooth die-cast piece over the years of production.
Not sure if that would matter or a universal reed switch bracket could be built.
Phlatwound has both types and has published some of the best pictures we have of the Birdview castings. - :up

Linuxman has a big fleet of the dishes.
Look for his pictures, documenting his success at making the first 24-magnet wheel!
That was the initial groundwork for all our ideas since.