New user - old Birdview

[bombu]

I

Removing the feed horn cover is very simple. Merely remove the center screw and pull it off…. Not. 45 years of entropy has left it very comfortable where it is. Should I spray it with something?

This is a lot more fun than the stuff I should be doing,

In the apparently unlikely case someone finds this when googling how to remove the cover - I sprayed it with wd-40, let it sit for a few hours and then hammered the tip of a thin flat screwdriver into the gap and twisted. The gap opened up a little so I went around the circumference inserting and twisting the screwdriver until the gap was about an eighth inch all around. Then I could pull the cover off by hand.

I had previously tried hitting it with a rubber hammer; this was ineffective and dented the cover.

 

[Titanium]

Your dish has great potential, but will require some modifications to accomodate changes in technology and usage since it was manufactured 40+ years ago.

As I suspected, this is an original Birdview LNA type feed. This type of feed is no longer in use and unsupported by receivers in use today. I would remove the feed hardware and only reuse the scalar. Clean and renew the scalar then hone the opening to accept a new larger LNBF throat diameter.

The Birdview FD (Focal Diameter ratio) is .39, but hobbyist, who have modded Birdview's in the past have reported success and good signal readings using current design feedhorns and modded Birdview scalar w/modded support legs to set correct FD and FL (Focal Length). Some hobbyists have addressed tbis FD and FL mismatch by fabricating new longer feed support legs, but this is a significant endeavor.

You will find several threads on this site and over on Rick's posted in the early 2000's on Birdview feed modificstions. Past threads also discuss the mount modifications for declination setting.

 

[bombu]

Oh well, I'm sorry to hear that but not surprised. Which is the scalar? Is it the aluminum structure with the fins, (presumably a wave guide)? I have access to CNC plasma tables and industrial 3d printers. Could I conceivably fabricate something that would work? Is it simply a matter of placing the new modern LNBF in the correct position?

Thanks again for your help and advice, all of you who responded. I see I have a great deal to learn and it's not going to be as simple as I'd hoped.

 

[primestar31]

Oh well, I'm sorry to hear that but not surprised. Which is the scalar? Is it the aluminum structure with the fins, (presumably a wave guide)? I have access to CNC plasma tables and industrial 3d printers. Could I conceivably fabricate something that would work? Is it simply a matter of placing the new modern LNBF in the correct position?

Thanks again for your help and advice, all of you who responded. I see I have a great deal to learn and it's not going to be as simple as I'd hoped.

There's this, lots of info: Pendragon vs. the Birdview

IMO, Ricks got the most info on Birdviews: https://rickcaylor.websitetoolbox.c...owas=threads&btnSearch=Search&action=doSearch