Thread: Pics of completed P* project - thanks for all the help!

Glad to see you used the original mount and got the larger motor tube. Very professional.

Originally Posted by K'bick

Whoa! Thats a killer setup there Putney.. I can see now that I am not even scratching the surface with P*!

What kind of C band reception can you get with your P*? I assume thats an 84e dish?


Very cool!!

Yes 84e.

My strongest signal is 60%Q on my azbox with WAPA on 97ºw.

Most are in the 30%Q range which has been a stable lock in rain and overcast.

My weakest (and most recent) lock is at 12%Q...and it's solid!

I have a total of 15 usable channels, but have scanned in many more (Most duplicate christian broadcast with different languages).

The best thing I find is by mounting my C-band LNB is 10º off center and circular LNB is 9º off center, it makes them very easy to motor to.

For 91ºwC I motor to 101ºwKu, then menu back to 91ºwC and save a DiSEqC setting, then 107ºKu for 97ºC, 119ºKu for 99ºC, 121ºKu for 111.1ºC, 110º for 119º(circular) and so on. When browsing it makes for no motor movement between the sats that share the same locate points!

I find this setup satisfying enough to hold me until I can upgrade to a 6'...and I have my eye on one.

K'bick - Looks like a very rugged mounting to me. Nice work.

Originally Posted by purenrg

Nice looking setup!!! What motor are you running, and what size is your P* dish?

Thanks! Its an 84e dish (1M oval) and the motor is a Sadoun DG380. Its a great little motor.

Originally Posted by putney

Yes 84e.

My strongest signal is 60%Q on my azbox with WAPA on 97ºw.

Most are in the 30%Q range which has been a stable lock in rain and overcast.

My weakest (and most recent) lock is at 12%Q...and it's solid!

I have a total of 15 usable channels, but have scanned in many more (Most duplicate christian broadcast with different languages).

The best thing I find is by mounting my C-band LNB is 10º off center and circular LNB is 9º off center, it makes them very easy to motor to.

For 91ºwC I motor to 101ºwKu, then menu back to 91ºwC and save a DiSEqC setting, then 107ºKu for 97ºC, 119ºKu for 99ºC, 121ºKu for 111.1ºC, 110º for 119º(circular) and so on. When browsing it makes for no motor movement between the sats that share the same locate points!

I find this setup satisfying enough to hold me until I can upgrade to a 6'...and I have my eye on one.

I'm thinking of doing something simillar.

Originally Posted by Anole

K'bick -

Ya done good! Must'a been gettin' some fine advice, there! -
Great paint job.
Dandy LNB.
Wise reuse of the original feedhorn.
Not excited about using the entire original mount, but the upper pole bracing probably helps! -
And if you are trackin' the arc, then it doesn't get much better.
Congrats.!. -

Thank you sir! I got some great advice indeed. Special thanks to the guys who helped me out with the feed arm measurements.

The original mount that came with that dish was a 3-piece with integrated skew and it was *heavy*. The actual mount I used is a lighter, unmodified 75e mount sans skew. I chose not to make/retrofit anything lighter because of the high winds we get combined with the high up location of the dish.

I've read where many people have had problems with weight when motorizing a P* dish however the setup you see in the pics is actually about 4.5 pounds lighter than a 1M Fortec * setup I originally had up there. The DG380 motor does move the P* noticably faster.

The mast was originally designed to withstand very high wind loads across the face of a 1M round dish (the original Fortec * setup). With the lighter P* dish that has less surface area its not going anywhere.

Absolutely great pictures! I love those Primestar Dishes!
Welcome to the Primestar Fan Club!

Hay K'bick, did you have enough clamping pressure using the P* mount or did you use a PVC insert ?

Originally Posted by purenrg

Hay K'bick, did you have enough clamping pressure using the P* mount or did you use a PVC insert ?

I used a PVC insert. Once the PVC was on the motor tube it was a very tight fit getting the P* mount to slide on. I had to remove the three compression bolts on the side of the mount and open it with a small pry bar to get it to slide on.

That wasn't the easiest part of the assembly for sure but considering that type of connection I was happy with the fit.