Adventures in dish hunting and what we find

[gabshere]

did rat shack sell a echostar receiver to go with it... those were the days

 

[Mr Tony]

probably. It was a radio shack branded box

edit: or not

You have this receiver: Use these instructions:
Realistic 2012 Uniden 9000
Realistic 2010 Drake (Receiver/Dish Position

I just found the info for the fixed dish/receiver setup...this is pretty cool

SR-2015 Home Satellite Television System Receiver
(160-2513) Features Faxback Doc. # 8160

Your Radio Shack SR-2015 Home Satellite Television (HSTV) System Receiver
is specially designed to be the ultimate receiver for a single-satellite
HSTV system. It is the ideal receiver to use with the Radio Shack 5-Foot
Satellite Dish (Radio Shack Cat. No. 16-2514).

Single-satellite systems have become popular because of new, powerful
satellites, such as Galaxy 5 (G5), which carry many of the most popular
satellite channels. G5's extra-powerful signal lets you receive its
programs using a small dish and an easy-to-operate receiver.

The SR-2015 is microcomputer-controlled and is ready to accept an optional
VideoCipher II Plus Renewable Security descrambler module. This module
descrambles premium channels when you subscribe to premium satellite
channel services. It also provides access to VideoPal instant pay-per-view
services.

VideoPal lets you watch scrambled, pay-per-view channels and special events
and pay only for what you watch. The VideoPal feature monitors what you
watch and sends billing information to your pay-per-view service over your
telephone line. It's automatic...all you do is decide what to watch. See
"VideoPal Instant Pay-Per-View" for more
information.

The SR-2015's remote control is the primary control for receiver operation,
including control of VideoCipher and VideoPal functions, channel selection,
volume, and fine tuning of video and audio signals.

Other convenient features of the SR-2015 include:

Multiple Coaxial - Simplify connections by using the same coaxial cable for
Cable Circuits three separate purposes: sending power and polarity
signals to the satellite dish, and sending satellite
signals to the receiver.

Audio/Video - Lets you directly connect the SR-2015 to a VCR or TV
Outputs monitor for optimum audio/video quality. (With an
optional A/V distribution amplifier, you can connect
these outputs to more than one component).

Large Digital - Indicates the channel, audio frequency, and volume level.
Display To the right of this display are indicators for VCII
reception, satellite band (C or Ku), and polarity control
- VER (vertical) or HOR (horizontal).

Selectable TV - Lets you receive the satellite programs on Channel 3 or
Output 4 of a standard TV set.

TV Antenna Pass - Automatically sends VHF/UHF TV antenna signals to your TV
Through when the satellite receiver is off.

The SR-2015 also has features to make it compatible with external
descramblers and VideoPal modules, and with older feedhorns that use servo-
motor-controlled polarity devices. See "SR-2015 Compatibility Features"
if you are not using a standard Radio Shack
system.

You can even use The SR-2015 with C/Ku-band systems that have multiple
feedhorns and LNBs. See "Multi-LNB Satellite Systems"

In addition to the receiver you will also need cables and other accessories
to connect your receiver to your home audio/video system. Plus, you need
two AAA batteries to power the remote control. Read "Standard System
Connections", and make a shopping list before you
start installing your system. Radio Shack stores sell all the cables and
other accessories you will need.


(BR/EB 7/25/96)

cant find a picture though

 

[sikma]

Last summer I picked up one of those 5-footers (unimesh) Radio Shack G5 dishes, perfect shape but it had a fixed mount, so I found an old polar mount from a 10-footer (the mesh was gone) and retro-fitted that. Worked dandy with an old VonWeise actuator. I've since procurred four old analog VCII receivers. Two 'Town & Country' (those were sold around here for the G5 package) receivers (by the way they look exactly like a G.I. 2400R) one G.I. 2400R and one G.I. 450i.

I'm now looking for an old 8' solid and corotorII c/ku feed and lnb's........................very fun hobby!!!

 

[gabshere]

well here are a couple of dishes i found the other day hopefull i will be able to get out and find some more.
first is a prodelin about 8 ft range fiberglass dish onwer says its still in use and about 20 years old but the feedhorn looks like a lna no telling what temp range.

second is a channel master 8 ft range with no feedhorn

third is unknown as i couldn't find a owner so i wouldn't get out and get a closer look without permission. smaller dish 4 or 5 ft but i was a good distance away.

 

[caddata]

...a couple of dishes i found...

I love those old FRP dishes. Always thought of them as works of art--sculptures. Boy they were heavy for their size.

There was a bodyshop, near El Dorado that tried to manufacture them in the early 1980's. Had lots of rejects that still found their way into TVRO. Used one of the rejects (had a gallon bucket of Bondo on it) before I found my Birdview. That was before Ku and never tried it, but I'd bet they wouldn't have worked very well.

By the way, good quality latex (house) paint works good on them. The latex seems to contract and expand at the same rate as the FRP and lasts forever on them and won't peel. Anti-mildew qualities in the paint keeps them looking good for a long time.

Harold

 

[osu1991]

While working on property claims in a new town today, I found a solid birdview but the camera memory card was full by then. I also found 3 large cband and 2 1m primestars and a fortec dish all at the same house and obviously not in use. I thought it was abandoned then the ac unit kicked on while I was snapping some quick photos. I will have to go back and hopefully have some people with me as the thought of getting shot crossed my mind when the ac came on.

edit: the picture that looks like a bush actually has a 1m channel master in it. There is also a fortec dish on the back of the building and another 10 foot dish with a button hook I didn't get a picture of. The second primestar is actually in the tree/bush behind the one in the first picture.

 

[linuxman]

Great Pictures!

What a catch all at one house. A guy could get an instant dish farm at that place.

Take your crew back and clean up.

Fred

 

[gabshere]

yeah great pic , but you run across so many birdviews, osu1991 you could start a birdview only dish farm that part of oklahoma is full of em from all your pictures

 

[osu1991]

I'm hoping to swing back by next week and our public works facility is across the road, so its going to drive me crazy if I can't get at least one of those 1m dishes. I also found the Holy Grail while out on a different lake over the 4th of July holiday, in the perforated Birdview but the guy is still using it spent an hour showing me his setup after I pulled up to shore to ask about it.

 

[gabshere]

yeah i located one also don't know if i will ever get it..... but Fred rubs it in....... cause its his Avatar lol if i had one i would too

 

[caddata]

...the picture...

OSU:

That dish in the third picture would be a real good catch. It's a cassegrain feed, and must be some kind of commercial dish. I'd give a gold plated Caddie for that.

Harold

 

[osu1991]

Yeah I was interested in that dish . I had never seen one like it.

 

[osu1991]

How would like this monster in your back yard. It is nearly 2 stories high. This is the TV Guide HQ in South Tulsa. DishNetwork's offices are behind them. I thought the roof view might be a vision of the future for Linuxman.

 

[stogie5150]

Spent four more hours driving around today...found a NICE 10 foot winegard mesh, already taken out of the ground, too big for me, move on, found two more 10 footers, they seem to be the predominate dishes down here...I finally found an 7.5/8 footer, but the danged thing is 15 feet up on a pole to clear some trees, no doubt. No one home there either, but then I don't know how to get it down if they were to give it to me....
Tomorrow's another day...

 

[linuxman]

I thought the roof view might be a vision of the future for Linuxman.

Hey OSU!

I could only hope to have that many big dishes one day. I would certainly take them.

Thanks for the pictures!

Stogie, keep looking just like I am. There is an 8 footer out there with your name on it.

I want an 8.5 footer to replace my 7.5 footer.

Fred

 

[pmb1010]

but then I don't know how to get it down if they were to give it to me

buy a Dewalt battery sawz-all.
Get a rope over the back of the dish so you can control things.
Cut the pole. Guide dish backwards towards ground slowly with helpers.
Unbolt it and slide it off the pole.
Finish cutting off pole and discard.

 

[stogie5150]

buy a Dewalt battery sawz-all.
Get a rope over the back of the dish so you can control things.
Cut the pole. Guide dish backwards towards ground slowly with helpers.
Unbolt it and slide it off the pole.
Finish cutting off pole and discard.

I have a sawsall...not battery but I could beg power....I gather from what you described that you want to use the pipe, cut partially, as a hinge. My problem is both of them I found are right between two buildings.... and if the dish had to pivot, I don't know if I could find an open area to let it lean over.
That's a damned fine idea though. Thanks!:up

I thought about using a torch, but that's a pain to load and unload, plus I didn't inherit my Dad's skill with a torch, either...

 

[stogie5150]

Its amazing what you find when you ask. My neighbor just up the street passed by today....we got to talking, he noticed my Ku dishes...I told him I was looking for a big dish..he said he had one they have been trying to get rid of for a couple years now...he didn't know what size it was...yep, you guessed it, 7.5 foot mesh, actuator still looks good, and a toshiba IRD to go with it. We cut it down, loaded it up, and it was mine in thirty minutes.
His son used to be a cable TV installer, so I got a couple of brand new switch boxes, and a brand new bag of snap&seal cable connectors. He has a BUCKET of the snap&seals, told me whenever I needed them to let him know and he would give me more.

I am a HAPPY Cajun today!

 

[linuxman]

Hey Stogie,

That looks like a Perfect 10 7.5 footer. If it is, it is just like the one I have on the side of the building. Mine gets great reception for it only being a 7.5 footer. You will have to spend some time on fine tuning it, but it will be worth it.

I have another one in the warehouse, dis-assembled and waiting for use of some kind.

Great job, and great pictures.

Fred

 

[stogie5150]

Hey Stogie,

That looks like a Perfect 10 7.5 footer. If it is, it is just like the one I have on the side of the building. Mine gets great reception for it only being a 7.5 footer. You will have to spend some time on fine tuning it, but it will be worth it.

I have another one in the warehouse, dis-assembled and waiting for use of some kind.

Great job, and great pictures.

Fred

COOL! Thanks! I tried to find a label or plate or something on it to tell me what I had, but no dice. He told me they used it up until about five years ago, he said they just got tired of it, wanted a one box solution, so they got D*.

I have NO CLUE how to even START tuning a C-band dish...so I guess I'll be doing lots of reading in the FAQ and asking questions....

EDIT: I got an IRD with it, its a Toshiba TRX1520, but no remote. Guess I'll be looking on Ebay....A search here shows that it's regarded pretty well...