mast question - want to relocate my DTV dish

[johnm356]

KA/KU Pole Mount

I want to relocate my AT-9 KaKu 5-LNB dish.

It's currently mounted on the roof of my 2-story house. I was never a
big fan of locating it there because of high winds in this area, but
at the time the installer said that was the best place. Oh well, live
and learn - I've already had to climb up there and realign it twice
due to winds.

Anyway, I want to relocate it off to the side of a deck I have and
mount it onto a mast, into a concrete base. I've called Ironwood
Communications (the local installer) to inquire what is needed and
they say it --has-- to be a 2" OD pipe.

The local big-box places (Lowe's & Home Depot) only have back iron or
galvanized plumbing pipe and galvanized electrical conduit - the
closest sizes being 1-1/2" - that's 1-1/2" ID and 1-7/8" OD. I even
called a couple local fencing contractors and that's all they have
too. Fence posts also tend to be thinwall.

The question is; will 1-7/8" OD suffice? I can't seem to find any
heavywall pipe that's -EXACTLY- 2" OD anywhere.

Any ideas?

 

[dishrich]

No, you MUST use 2" OD pipe, otherwise it will not tighten properly...

 

[raoul5788]

KA/KU Pole Mount

I want to relocate my AT-9 KaKu 5-LNB dish.

It's currently mounted on the roof of my 2-story house. I was never a
big fan of locating it there because of high winds in this area, but
at the time the installer said that was the best place. Oh well, live
and learn - I've already had to climb up there and realign it twice
due to winds.

Anyway, I want to relocate it off to the side of a deck I have and
mount it onto a mast, into a concrete base. I've called Ironwood
Communications (the local installer) to inquire what is needed and
they say it --has-- to be a 2" OD pipe.

The local big-box places (Lowe's & Home Depot) only have back iron or
galvanized plumbing pipe and galvanized electrical conduit - the
closest sizes being 1-1/2" - that's 1-1/2" ID and 1-7/8" OD. I even
called a couple local fencing contractors and that's all they have
too. Fence posts also tend to be thinwall.

The question is; will 1-7/8" OD suffice? I can't seem to find any
heavywall pipe that's -EXACTLY- 2" OD anywhere.

Any ideas?

Hey, you get around! I saw your post on the newsgroup alt.dbs.directv (I think). Anyway, you can get 2" pipe at a good fence company. Be aware that the pole may be slightly smaller than 2" and you need to tighten the dish very securely to the pole. You may want to put a set screw in the pole, also. Good luck!

 

[Jimbo]

KA/KU Pole Mount

I want to relocate my AT-9 KaKu 5-LNB dish.

It's currently mounted on the roof of my 2-story house. I was never a
big fan of locating it there because of high winds in this area, but
at the time the installer said that was the best place. Oh well, live
and learn - I've already had to climb up there and realign it twice
due to winds.

Anyway, I want to relocate it off to the side of a deck I have and
mount it onto a mast, into a concrete base. I've called Ironwood
Communications (the local installer) to inquire what is needed and
they say it --has-- to be a 2" OD pipe.

The local big-box places (Lowe's & Home Depot) only have back iron or
galvanized plumbing pipe and galvanized electrical conduit - the
closest sizes being 1-1/2" - that's 1-1/2" ID and 1-7/8" OD. I even
called a couple local fencing contractors and that's all they have
too. Fence posts also tend to be thinwall.

The question is; will 1-7/8" OD suffice? I can't seem to find any
heavywall pipe that's -EXACTLY- 2" OD anywhere.

Any ideas?

No, you MUST use 2" OD pipe, otherwise it will not tighten properly...

Yes,
Go to the fence company and get the 1- 7/8"
Get the heaviest they have, make sure it's not the Sch. 20 as that will not work.
I have sch. 40 Galvinized fence post, 16' buried 30" in concrete, with a bolt thru the end to prevent any turning in the future.
This works great, it is a slight bit small (1/8") when setting up the pole make sure it is plumb, place the mast over the poleset up the dish, when it's where you want it, place a self tapping screw thru the mast into the pole , this will keep it in place as well as tighting the normal nuts and bolts
as well.
Mine has been this way for over 2 years now and have never had a problem with it.

Jimbo

 

[dishrich]

Wouldn't be MUCH simpler just getting the 2" pipe - it would sure seem so to me, especially when it comes to peaking on those Ka birds; but to each his own I guess...

 

[drbonbi]

I'm not sure how long you need it to be but six ft. length 2" O.D. pipe is available here 6ft Galvanized Ground Pole for SuperDISH | SKY5999 [Skywalker] | SKY5999 6-ft galvanized antenna mast 2.0 in O.D. Fits superDISH satellite mast antenna mast pole mast superdish mast superdish mount

Hope this helps.

Dana

 

[johnm356]

Thanks all - I found a local fencing contractor and bought 8' of 2" galvanized HW (sch 40). OD is reeeal close, like 1-31/32" - close enough.

Now I get to teach my teenage son what a post hole digger does.

 

[Jimbo]

Wouldn't be MUCH simpler just getting the 2" pipe - it would sure seem so to me, especially when it comes to peaking on those Ka birds; but to each his own I guess...

problem is, 2" OD pipe is not redily available anywhere that I know of.

Jimbo

 

[Jimbo]

I'm not sure how long you need it to be but six ft. length 2" O.D. pipe is available here 6ft Galvanized Ground Pole for SuperDISH | SKY5999 [Skywalker] | SKY5999 6-ft galvanized antenna mast 2.0 in O.D. Fits superDISH satellite mast antenna mast pole mast superdish mast superdish mount

Hope this helps.

Dana

Thats thin wall, I would not use that, although I know they do,do it. That looks like no more than fence pipe.

 

[Jimbo]

Thanks all - I found a local fencing contractor and bought 8' of 2" galvanized HW (sch 40). OD is reeeal close, like 1-31/32" - close enough.

Now I get to teach my teenage son what a post hole digger does.

He won't get much of a education, you only need 1 hole and anywhere from 24-36" deep, depending on your area, should take. what, all of 5-10 minutes ?

Jimbo

 

[stumo]

Thats thin wall, I would not use that, although I know they do,do it. That looks like no more than fence pipe.

Jimbo, do you think if he filled that pipe with concrete he'd be OK?

I'm in the same boat trying to find heavy gauge 2"OD pipe.

stumo

 

[raoul5788]

Jimbo, do you think if he filled that pipe with concrete he'd be OK?

I'm in the same boat trying to find heavy gauge 2"OD pipe.

stumo

Again, head to your local fence company. They should have 2" thick wall posts.

 

[Jimbo]

Jimbo, do you think if he filled that pipe with concrete he'd be OK?

I'm in the same boat trying to find heavy gauge 2"OD pipe.

stumo

It would help, but I would not do it, I look for the thick walled first, it's out there.

Jimbo

 

[dishcomm]

I'm not sure how long you need it to be but six ft. length 2" O.D. pipe is available here 6ft Galvanized Ground Pole for SuperDISH | SKY5999 [Skywalker] | SKY5999 6-ft galvanized antenna mast 2.0 in O.D. Fits superDISH satellite mast antenna mast pole mast superdish mast superdish mount

Hope this helps.

Dana

I found 2" od pipe readily available at electrical supply houses..

 

[Jimbo]

I found 2" od pipe readily available at electrical supply houses..

I hadn't thought about electrical supply places, thats a good thought ,if you don't need a license to buy there, I'll have to keep that in mind.

Is it heavy gauge ? The thin wall stuff I would not advise using.

Jimbo

 

[dishcomm]

I hadn't thought about electrical supply places, thats a good thought ,if you don't need a license to buy there, I'll have to keep that in mind.

Is it heavy gauge ? The thin wall stuff I would not advise using.

Jimbo

nahh...Every one is differnt though.. I needed a length (10') of threaded conduit. I told them I was in the satellite business and they were more than happy to sell me what I needed. They even cut it to length for me. Granted, some supply houses will not sell to the general public. But in my experience most will.
And yes it is sched 40..Thick walled stuff.

 

[Jimbo]

nahh...Every one is differnt though.. I needed a length (10') of threaded conduit. I told them I was in the satellite business and they were more than happy to sell me what I needed. They even cut it to length for me. Granted, some supply houses will not sell to the general public. But in my experience most will.
And yes it is sched 40..Thick walled stuff.

Thats a very good catch, thanks again, I hadn't even thought about them, but they probably have plenty of it.
I used a 16" piece from a local fence post place, sch 40 galvinized. Works great.

I wonder what kind of price the electrical supply place charges.
I got mine and the concrete for under 40-50 bucks.

Jimbo

 

[dishcomm]

Thats a very good catch, thanks again, I hadn't even thought about them, but they probably have plenty of it.
I used a 16" piece from a local fence post place, sch 40 galvinized. Works great.

I wonder what kind of price the electrical supply place charges.
I got mine and the concrete for under 40-50 bucks.

Jimbo

It wasn't cheap. I think the length was around $18.
I needed it. But I passed the expense along to the customer. I am paid as though I were a contractor so I have to buy my stuff.
I did pay contractor price. Buy in smaller quanitities and the price is higher.
And it's cheaper than the big box stores.

 

[Jimbo]

It wasn't cheap. I think the length was around $18.
I needed it. But I passed the expense along to the customer. I am paid as though I were a contractor so I have to buy my stuff.
I did pay contractor price. Buy in smaller quanitities and the price is higher.
And it's cheaper than the big box stores.

So could you do a 16' price and concrete, under $ 50 ?
If so, I'll recommend it to others as well.

Jimbo

 

[dishcomm]

So could you do a 16' price and concrete, under $ 50 ?
If so, I'll recommend it to others as well.

Jimbo

I am not sure if 16 footers are available. I'd have to check.
here's one place to order it from....
Galvanized Rigid Conduit, GRC - Allied Tube and Conduit - Tyco Electrical and Metal Products
If you have a City Electric Supply store near you, they are easy to deal with. They have no quantity minimums.