Care and Feeding of a 12 foot Paraclipse...
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Absotively posolute!!!
Where's Anole when we NEED him....gonna have to take your 'certified hardcore' certfication away...and I need some help here..can I get an AMEN?!
Hey guys, leave me out of this!
I passed on a 12' Paraclipse about 50 miles from home earlier in the summer.
That was after estimating over $600 to bring it home and on-line... and lots of blood, sweat, 'n tears.
And that was before knowing all of what I've learned from this very informative thread! -
Besides, I don't want to take sides when buddies have it out.
... unless I make fun of both of them... -
I passed on a 12' Paraclipse about 50 miles from home earlier in the summer.
That was after estimating over $600 to bring it home and on-line... and lots of blood, sweat, 'n tears.
And that was before knowing all of what I've learned from this very informative thread! -
Besides, I don't want to take sides when buddies have it out.
... unless I make fun of both of them...
-
Hey guys, leave me out of this!
I passed on a 12' Paraclipse about 50 miles from home earlier in the summer.
That was after estimating over $600 to bring it home and on-line... and lots of blood, sweat, 'n tears.
And that was before knowing all of what I've learned from this very informative thread! -
Besides, I don't want to take sides when buddies have it out.
... unless I make fun of both of them...
Sensei said:You two's lack of confidence troubles me, lizard/linux-hopper-san....
The purpose is to hold down the edges of the mesh and it appears as though that material will suffice.
With that central rib running down each truss, I have been unable to come up with another option...
Me either. The places went I to today had heard of the brand you provided the link to, but they told me no one around here is a distributor, so they cannot get it. I don't know just how tight it will be, but I guess with enough clips the mesh isn't going anywhere anyway. The moulding will just be protecting the edges, and for looks. I think it'll be pretty smart looking...to have it Tuesday I have to order it tomorrow, so off I go...LOL
Thanks for the opinion. :up
Another idea, which we used to use on very early model Paraclipse antennas as well as knockoffs---to cover where each piece of mesh joined on adjoining ribs--- was 1-inch wide strips of aluminum (1/8 inch thick), which can be found in the metals sections of many hardware stores in lengths of 3, 4 and sometimes 6 and eight feet.
Place it over the rib from the outer perimeter to as close as you can get to the center plate, and do some seat of the pants engineering.
Guesstimate where it would be mechanically sound to attach the strip to the rib with either sheet metal screws or pop rivets. Using a 1/8 inch drill bit on a drill press, center holes at 18 to 24 inch intervals (or whatever you wish) and drill one of these strips. Hold in place over the rib and drill outer hole through the top of the rib with a hand drill, using the predrilled strip as your template.
Depending upon what you wish to use for fasteners, (sheet metal screws or pop rivets), drill slightly larger hole as required and install one. I prefer aluminum or stainless steel pop rivets. Depending upon the antenna, I have used either the 1/8 inch or the 3/16 inch type. Your call. Install one near the outer edge to complete your experiment. Repeat with the rest of the strip, drilling inward one at a time until you get to the center of the antenna. Install the remaining strips.
Watch those fingers!
Place it over the rib from the outer perimeter to as close as you can get to the center plate, and do some seat of the pants engineering.
Guesstimate where it would be mechanically sound to attach the strip to the rib with either sheet metal screws or pop rivets. Using a 1/8 inch drill bit on a drill press, center holes at 18 to 24 inch intervals (or whatever you wish) and drill one of these strips. Hold in place over the rib and drill outer hole through the top of the rib with a hand drill, using the predrilled strip as your template.
Depending upon what you wish to use for fasteners, (sheet metal screws or pop rivets), drill slightly larger hole as required and install one. I prefer aluminum or stainless steel pop rivets. Depending upon the antenna, I have used either the 1/8 inch or the 3/16 inch type. Your call. Install one near the outer edge to complete your experiment. Repeat with the rest of the strip, drilling inward one at a time until you get to the center of the antenna. Install the remaining strips.
Watch those fingers!
Thaks for the info Mike, I would have done exactly that, but my dish has the grooves.
I went this morning to presumably order the trim, but the guy had found what I needed in his warehouse on site, in the grey color I wanted, so, 43 bucks later, I have 4-12' pieces of trim ready to go.
I finished changing out the rib bolts today for all new ones, I only have a couple of hub bolts left to change out and it will have all new bolts holding it together.
I also removed the old plastic strips..they were a real PAIN to get out, had to drive them out with a punch and plastic hammer, just as you advised, Mauiguy.
So this weekend I will concentrate on making clips, so next week I can pull all the mesh off, turn it over, and begin putting it back.
I am having fun with this, in spite of all the aches and pains...:up
Mike, where does the Paraclipse dish fit into the dish world, effciency-wise? (gain and stuff?) I was always under the impression that it was the best of the dish world, fill me in, wouldja?
I went this morning to presumably order the trim, but the guy had found what I needed in his warehouse on site, in the grey color I wanted, so, 43 bucks later, I have 4-12' pieces of trim ready to go.
I finished changing out the rib bolts today for all new ones, I only have a couple of hub bolts left to change out and it will have all new bolts holding it together.
I also removed the old plastic strips..they were a real PAIN to get out, had to drive them out with a punch and plastic hammer, just as you advised, Mauiguy.
So this weekend I will concentrate on making clips, so next week I can pull all the mesh off, turn it over, and begin putting it back.
I am having fun with this, in spite of all the aches and pains...:up
Mike, where does the Paraclipse dish fit into the dish world, effciency-wise? (gain and stuff?) I was always under the impression that it was the best of the dish world, fill me in, wouldja?
Thaks for the info Mike, I would have done exactly that, but my dish has the grooves.
I went this morning to presumably order the trim, but the guy had found what I needed in his warehouse on site, in the grey color I wanted, so, 43 bucks later, I have 4-12' pieces of trim ready to go.
I finished changing out the rib bolts today for all new ones, I only have a couple of hub bolts left to change out and it will have all new bolts holding it together.
I also removed the old plastic strips..they were a real PAIN to get out, had to drive them out with a punch and plastic hammer, just as you advised, Mauiguy.
So this weekend I will concentrate on making clips, so next week I can pull all the mesh off, turn it over, and begin putting it back.
I am having fun with this, in spite of all the aches and pains...:up
Mike, where does the Paraclipse dish fit into the dish world, effciency-wise? (gain and stuff?) I was always under the impression that it was the best of the dish world, fill me in, wouldja?
I love it when I have part of an answer.... In the Chain Drive book I sent, on the last page, it has the gain info. For the 12 foot it says 70 percent efficiency. C band gain 42,3 dB, and for Ku 50.0 dB. It also has noise temperatures etc...
I am not sure Paraclypse was the best, but i can assure it has to be one of the best built....
That book also says focal distance is 53.375. Mine has proved to be much better at 52.625.
I will be interested to see what your focal distance is....
Just in case y'all think I have been laying down on you this weekend...here's 600 clips, ready to go.
Oh, and my fingers hurt, too....LOL
I am jealous of your organization. I just made mine and tossed them in to a bucket.
Not jealous of sore fingers though. Been there....
I got a machinist buddy. Two, actually. And they have friends . . .
Wonder what it'd take to build a machine or an adapter, to crank those at a rate of about 20 per minute?
Think there's a market for clips?
Or that anyone is crazy enough to want some?
Just hope I never get a Paraclipse, or I'll find out. -
Wonder what it'd take to build a machine or an adapter, to crank those at a rate of about 20 per minute?
Think there's a market for clips?
Or that anyone is crazy enough to want some?
Just hope I never get a Paraclipse, or I'll find out. -
I got a machinist buddy. Two, actually. And they have friends . . .
Wonder what it'd take to build a machine or an adapter, to crank those at a rate of about 20 per minute?
Think there's a market for clips?
Or that anyone is crazy enough to want some?
Just hope I never get a Paraclipse, or I'll find out. -
Its wasn't that bad...a couple cups of coffee....I did it in shifts, make a hundred, take a break, make a hundred, take a break, make a hundred....you get the picture....as far as a market, heck I know of only one other Paraclipse within 100 miles of my front door, doesn't mean they don't exist, but they weren't that popular down here, no doubt due to their astronomically high price compared to other dishes back in the day, and size. Lets face it, 12' is a LOT of dish.
Only reason I sold my wife on it is she saw how much we used our 7.5 the past year, and how the HD signals wash out in heavy rain, due to marginal signal to begin with. AND she likes the S2 signals on G28, and they are marginal too. So that made it an easy sale, especially when it was free.
I remember when "she who must be obeyed " didn't like the idea of a big dish boy times have changed
boy times have changed
Only reason I sold my wife on it is she saw how much we used our 7.5 the past year, and how the HD signals wash out in heavy rain, due to marginal signal to begin with.
AND she likes the S2 signals on G28, and they are marginal too.
So that made it an easy sale, especially when it was free.
Wait , wait !gabshere said:I remember when "she who must be obeyed " didn't like the idea of a big dish
Is this the wife ya had to fight with to put in a little bud, but you actually snuck in a bigger one . . . ?
Was that you ?
I think I remember this story.
Something about her Dad having one when she grew up and still had a bad taste in her mouth?
Wow, then, is all I can say!
. . . and congratulations! - :up
I have a great lady, my Brother. No doubt.:up
I finally started re-meshing today...got one panel done in about an hour and a half....voila....
If I thought it needed a clip, I put two.
I still have to go back and put a couple more in the seam, the mesh was ripped and what I put isn't holding it flat.
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You're doing a great job Stogie!
If there were Paraclipse factory workers watching you, I think they would think you are doing a factory installation.
If there were Paraclipse factory workers watching you, I think they would think you are doing a factory installation.
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