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I'm sure that I've mentioned that I have a Primestar aimed at AMC21 for PBS, and a few days ago replaced the Extreme LNBF with my old Invacom QPH-031. Well I got encouraged when I started getting the S2 signal on the sat, but got discouraged after the wind knocked me out of alignment, and a tree grew up partially blocking the sat. This dish was mounted on a PVC pipe screwed into a log.
So I decided to plant this dish permanently, in a spot that had a better view of AMC-21. I took a bunch of pictures of the process, which are at
NewPrimestarSetup
since the jpgs are pretty big (I should have compressed more I guess).
Yesterday, I used my Sears digital level to scope out a new site. I dug the hole, and mounted a metal pipe in concrete.
Today, I went to put the primestar on the new pipe.
!%#@^@&*# Darn pipe was too small for the Primestar mount. I knew it was a bit smaller than the PVC, but I thought the mount had enough range to tighten down more. It didn't.
Then I got the bright idea of taking a section of the PVC, and cutting a 1/8th inch slot along the edge, allowing me to expand it, and slip it over the metal pipe. I did this, and it looked good, except now it was too big. !^@%#%#
Fooey. Then I cut the section of PVC into thirds, and put two of the sections in the mount. Still too big. :-(
Finally, I just put in one of the 1/3rd sections, and that fit, and took up enough space so that I could tighten down the mount over the pole.
Once installed, aimed it at AMC21, and I now have a fairly stable signal, even on the DVB-S2 transponder. I still have a bit of tweaking to do though.
I tried finding the sat using my laptop/wireless net back to my Twinhan card. Didn't work very well. Despite moving the dish very slow, I was going past the signal, and missing it. Finally, my wife came out and said that the picture had been popping in and out on the TV inside, so I told her to yell when it popped in again. Finally found it, and refined the aim a bit with the wireless network back to the Twinhan.
It was a miserable day to work on a sat dish. Sunny and 75 deg...... I know, sounds pretty nice... but if you have ever seen the bug scene from African Queen, you'll get the idea. The blackflies and mosquitos were terrible. I was wearing a bug hat, but the bugs make my shirt look like someone had sprinkled pepper on it. I was just COVERED with blackflies and mosquitos, and my hands weren't protected, so I got bit up a bit. Anyway, I got the dish moved.
So I decided to plant this dish permanently, in a spot that had a better view of AMC-21. I took a bunch of pictures of the process, which are at
NewPrimestarSetup
since the jpgs are pretty big (I should have compressed more I guess).
Yesterday, I used my Sears digital level to scope out a new site. I dug the hole, and mounted a metal pipe in concrete.
Today, I went to put the primestar on the new pipe.
!%#@^@&*# Darn pipe was too small for the Primestar mount. I knew it was a bit smaller than the PVC, but I thought the mount had enough range to tighten down more. It didn't.
Then I got the bright idea of taking a section of the PVC, and cutting a 1/8th inch slot along the edge, allowing me to expand it, and slip it over the metal pipe. I did this, and it looked good, except now it was too big. !^@%#%#
Fooey. Then I cut the section of PVC into thirds, and put two of the sections in the mount. Still too big. :-(
Finally, I just put in one of the 1/3rd sections, and that fit, and took up enough space so that I could tighten down the mount over the pole.
Once installed, aimed it at AMC21, and I now have a fairly stable signal, even on the DVB-S2 transponder. I still have a bit of tweaking to do though.
I tried finding the sat using my laptop/wireless net back to my Twinhan card. Didn't work very well. Despite moving the dish very slow, I was going past the signal, and missing it. Finally, my wife came out and said that the picture had been popping in and out on the TV inside, so I told her to yell when it popped in again. Finally found it, and refined the aim a bit with the wireless network back to the Twinhan.
It was a miserable day to work on a sat dish. Sunny and 75 deg...... I know, sounds pretty nice... but if you have ever seen the bug scene from African Queen, you'll get the idea. The blackflies and mosquitos were terrible. I was wearing a bug hat, but the bugs make my shirt look like someone had sprinkled pepper on it. I was just COVERED with blackflies and mosquitos, and my hands weren't protected, so I got bit up a bit. Anyway, I got the dish moved.
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1596 views
very nice pics BJ!
All those trees could be a bugger
The trees have been a constant struggle. I had been keeping up with it by cutting trees and tree limbs, so that I could point under some limbs and over other trees, but it's almost out of control now. Only reason I got the view of AMC21 is that I had to cut down a BIG beech last year. At least keeping the view of the sats is keeping me well supplied with firewood.
Great pictures BJ!
For the first time here I am having trouble getting a couple satellites due to tree growth! It looks quiet and peaceful out there where you are! Those are some nice looking C-Band dishes out there!
I would be getting that 6' C-band dish on that tree trunk aimed at something!
Did great with the PVC on the Primestar! Loved that dude! Works! :up
Thanks for the great pictures; we all love to see the other guy's setups!
K E V I N
For the first time here I am having trouble getting a couple satellites due to tree growth! It looks quiet and peaceful out there where you are! Those are some nice looking C-Band dishes out there!
I would be getting that 6' C-band dish on that tree trunk aimed at something!
Did great with the PVC on the Primestar! Loved that dude! Works! :up
Thanks for the great pictures; we all love to see the other guy's setups!
K E V I N
Except when a flight of F-15s fly over at 200', 500kts.
Both are in pretty bad shape. The big one from banging snow and ice off in the winter. The 6' from having stored it in an orientation where the ribs filled with water and froze and expanded a bit, so i't warped a bit. Both are OK on C-band, but don't work very well anymore on Ku.
I originally put it there to pick up AMC3 Ku for PBS and IA6/G26 for NFL preseason. However it didn't work very well on Ku, so I never used it much, and now neither of those sats are of interest to me anymore. It did work OK on C-band, but it couldn't see anything that my 10' couldn't see, so it wasn't worth the extra coax and my 4x1 switch is full. When I WAS using it briefly, I was driving the actuator with a battery powered hand drill. I recently found out that the Ku probe in the feedhorn was bent quite a bit, so polarity may have been part of the problem on KU. I may give it another try, perhaps with a Ku lnbf. If it can pick up Ku, there is one other sat it is in a good position to see that the other dishes can't see.I would be getting that 6' C-band dish on that tree trunk aimed at something!
That worked out OK, but for a while I was kicking myself for not measuring better first. I probably could have found some other better solution, but I was in a hurry, because I had lost AMC21 on the other dishes since the leaves came out.
It's amazing though, that the Bud can look through some of the little holes between branches to get reception. Usually, I can get AMC11 even in the summer, through one of the little holes, and was getting a fairly good signal a week ago, but I just went there looking for the Weather channel, and I can't get anything on it now, so I guess that hole filled in with leaves. It's always exciting in the fall, when satellites come back into view.
Who says dinner or lunch has to be the only good meals of the day?
Honey butter grits with scrambled eggs and grilled boneless pork ribs on flakey biscuits washed down with cranberry juice.
Honey butter grits with scrambled eggs and grilled boneless pork ribs on flakey biscuits washed down with cranberry juice.
6630 Replies
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379366 views
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Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68511 Replies
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2671575 views
Lifetime Supporter
Continuing the Kilauea thread in the Pub here. Perhaps the Iceland one too next time there's remarkable activity.
Currently there is precursory lava flowing into the crater, leading to the next episode that'll probably start within the next day.
You can see the pace of inflation / deflation here. It serves as the primary predictor for when the expect the eruptions, which coincide w/ inflation turning into significant deflation and last for several hours on average with significant fountaining.
www.usgs.gov
View: https://youtu.be/Uecu2seh4b4
Wife and I like the AfarTV feeds, for the discussion along w/ them, though they're otherwise just mirrors of the official USGS feeds.
View: https://youtu.be/iws3rh5vLAQ
Currently there is precursory lava flowing into the crater, leading to the next episode that'll probably start within the next day.
You can see the pace of inflation / deflation here. It serves as the primary predictor for when the expect the eruptions, which coincide w/ inflation turning into significant deflation and last for several hours on average with significant fountaining.
Monitoring Data for Kīlauea
For more information on how electronic tiltmeters and GPS receivers help monitor the deformation of Kīlauea volcano, see the HVO Deformation page.
View: https://youtu.be/Uecu2seh4b4
Wife and I like the AfarTV feeds, for the discussion along w/ them, though they're otherwise just mirrors of the official USGS feeds.
View: https://youtu.be/iws3rh5vLAQ
119 Replies
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3228 views
Oooo, quite the show now. All three vents have doming and overflows. The cone that built up around the North vent lost its upper quarter at 02:50 Oct 17 and is now spewing lava at a healthy rate. Don't know if I would say it's a fountain, but it's close.
edit: The USGS has called the official start of Episode 55 as starting at 03:19 HST Oct 17, 2026:
Alert Level: WATCH, Color Code: ORANGE 2026-10-17 13:43:56 UTC
HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice
Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Issued: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 3:43 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H488
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii
Summary: Episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.
Volcanic Activity:
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.
Fountain heights are relatively low at about 100-150 feet (30-45 m), and it is not clear whether this episode will evolve to the same heights as previous episodes. Continuous overflows from the vents began yesterday, October 16, just before 6 a.m. HST and transitioned into episode 55 fountains at 3:19 a.m. HST this morning. The current forecast is for winds are blowing from the north-northeast direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the south-southwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu.
edit: The USGS has called the official start of Episode 55 as starting at 03:19 HST Oct 17, 2026:
Alert Level: WATCH, Color Code: ORANGE 2026-10-17 13:43:56 UTC
HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice
Volcano: Kilauea (VNUM #332010)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Issued: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 3:43 AM HST
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2026/H488
Location: N 19 deg 25 min W 155 deg 17 min
Elevation: 4091 ft (1247 m)
Area: Hawaii
Summary: Episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.
Volcanic Activity:
Episode 55 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:19 AM HST on October 17, 2026.
Fountain heights are relatively low at about 100-150 feet (30-45 m), and it is not clear whether this episode will evolve to the same heights as previous episodes. Continuous overflows from the vents began yesterday, October 16, just before 6 a.m. HST and transitioned into episode 55 fountains at 3:19 a.m. HST this morning. The current forecast is for winds are blowing from the north-northeast direction, which suggests that volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may be distributed to the south-southwest direction from Halemaʻumaʻu.
- All eruptive vents and lava flows are confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Tephra fall from volcanic ash clouds is greatest within 3 miles (5 km) of the vents, lighter ash and Pele's Hair may stay suspended for large distances from the vents.
Kīlauea seems to be returning to the "normal" eruption script, impressive fountaining from the North Vent. For once, the V2 Cam has the best overall shot:
The lava flows have covered a good portion of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
Supporting Founder
Since the Reds have there thread we should too!
Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
5390 Replies
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510343 views
Y
Simple, charming. Entire premise is quite silly but Cary Grant carries it across the line in good fashion.
Simple, charming. Entire premise is quite silly but Cary Grant carries it across the line in good fashion.
Ham Radio 2.0
Time for another AWESOME video from Ham Radio 2.0!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4zC_3Blkjus
Direct YouTube Link - Military grade antenna for your off-grid setup #hamradio #satcom #offgrid
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4zC_3Blkjus
Direct YouTube Link - Military grade antenna for your off-grid setup #hamradio #satcom #offgrid
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook
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Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Anyone making their own breakfast sausage? I've recently been trying different recipes, found some I like, some I've modified...
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dw_V2FYKRUk
Direct YouTube Link - AI Model Poisoned: Uncovering Hidden Dangers #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dw_V2FYKRUk
Direct YouTube Link - AI Model Poisoned: Uncovering Hidden Dangers #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1R9ZVnuUpw
Direct YouTube Link - Club TWiT: Mikah's Crafting Corner #25 - Ray Gun Papercraft Part 6
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1R9ZVnuUpw
Direct YouTube Link - Club TWiT: Mikah's Crafting Corner #25 - Ray Gun Papercraft Part 6
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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Anyone else watch this show? Any guesses as to what was in the box Gibbs gave to Abby that was on her desk? It look liked it was glowing.
I also heard that someone was leaving the show at the end of this season. Any guesses as to who thats going to be?
I also heard that someone was leaving the show at the end of this season. Any guesses as to who thats going to be?
2134 Replies
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214759 views
Tony as the director.
Would you rather have LaRoche ???Tony as the director.
No. Bring in someone new.
Tony is not serious enough for me. Parker is too close to the team and Tim is too young to take over IMO.
I don't think Tim and Tony are that far apart in Age ...No. Bring in someone new.
Remember what Tony said to Tim when they first got back together ...
Tony said: I am the New Tony, Tim .... (something to that effect)
Tony has changed, he's been running his Security Business ... I'm sure he has grown up.
Give it time ... your judging the New Tony from the old Tony.
It sounds like Tim won't be around the Team much longer either.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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26 views