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B.J.
Last reply · posted in C-BAND Satellite Discussion
My 10' Orbitron is on an Ajax H-H. This drive has developed quite a bit of slop, which I assume must be in the worm drive. Before I waste a lot of time trying to fix this, I thought I'd ask whether anyone here knows how to get rid of this free play?
There are 2 big bolts holding the motor/worm drive to the mount, and it looks like *IF* the holes are oversized a bit, that if I'd loosen these bolts, then I might be able to push the whole assembly up closer to the big semi-circular gear, thus taking up the free play. On the other hand, if the holes that the bolts go through are tight fitting, then I wouldn't be able to move the assembly.
What I was HOPING was that maybe one of the holes is tight fitting, and the other one might be elliptical, so that it might swing up rather than having to lift both sides.
I'd just take the nut off, and look, except that I'm afraid if I do that, that the thing might drop down, then the gears will let loose, let go, and the whole dish might come flying down. So first I have to figure out a way of locking the dish at the top of it's arc while I'm working on it.
Anyway, just curious if anyone has done this before. Too bad I didn't take pictures of this thing when I put it together about 14 years ago. Seems like somewhere I have the assembly instructions, but I don't think they were in much detail at all.
7 Replies · 1977 views
M
B J, I think you will everything about the Ajax h-h in this thread. May have to read the entire thread to find it. But there's a weath of information there. It was a big help to me. Hope this helps.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/c-band-satellite-discussion/163147-need-docs-ajak-mount.html
1
morning Bill.

yes the 2 big bolts are how you will set the play with the worm gear and 1/2 moon gear. the bolts are 1/2" fine tread and are taped into the motor bracket, most of the time they have some kind of epoxy over the head of the bolt to stop them from becoming louse, so that will need to be removed if it has not been already scrap off. both holes are egg shaped and the motor bracket need to move evenly up to the 1/2-moon gear. by all means do NOT swing it or tilt it to the 1/2-moon gear. now you should also see a bunch of shims behind the motor mount and the main bracket, if for some reason you want to remove the motor bracket make note on which bunch of shims go to each of their locations, and remember to block the dish up if you remove the motor bracket.

one thing that also can cause this and the problems that you are having. is the tube that the 1/2moon gear is welded to, it is about 3/32" smaller than the tube it rides in where the zerk fitting is at. and what Ajak did to take up this play they put shims of plastic in and around this tube (on the inside) strips too. and in time I have seen them crack and break up to where they will cause a major bind in the dishes rotation. had a customer that this happen to, and he snaped the end right off the motor that drives the small gear on the chain. the only repair for this is the dish has to come off the Ajak mount.

if I was having this problem of the dish having a hard time come up from a low satellite, what I would do is remove the motor bracket (motor, chain and worm gear) an have some one holding the dish when it is being removed. now the dish should move freely up an down then by hand move the dish threw its ark to see if their is any bind in the mount, and if their is you may want to run a lot of grease in the zerk fitting and keep working it by hand to try to free it up.

good luck Bill, check you're pm box.
B.J.
Thanks all.
The egg shaped holes is what I was hoping to hear.
I think that if I can support the dish temporarily, I will take the motor/worm gear assembly completely off, because it has been hard to get grease in there, and it hasn't had a proper grease job for years. I'm not sure how or why, but it seems like mice or chipmunks like to build nests inside the plastic housing, and the sticks jam the gears too.
Back when I used an actuator on another dish, it was easy to support the dish, just using a short length of chain, sort of replacing the actuator, but this darn dish swings high above the rotation axis, and since I also have the darn spinclination type dish, it isn't really good to support it via a point on the dish itself, but will probably have to somehow block the movement of the mount itself.
I used to have a big metal bar bolted onto the mount, to which I connected a big log as a counter-weight on a chain also connected to a nearby flexible pine tree limb, both of which gave me a bit of pull to help the motor pull the thing up from it's low point. Perhaps I could put that back on, and run a tight chain to a tree to hold the dish up.
I'm really wishing that I had bought an actuator mount instead of this thing. When I first got it, I wanted the H-H because I had visions of seeing all the sats over the atlantic, and initially I had LOS from 135W thru somewhere around 20W, but now the trees have grown so much that I can only see from ~125 to ~50W, and I could do that with an actuator, and an actuator would have been MUCH easier to service, and is much better for getting the dish down and back from near the horizon. Ie actuators have best mechanical advantage near horizon and have problems near flop point, while H-H have problems down low near horizon, and are fine high in the arc.
Anole
whoa, now:

... Ie actuators have best mechanical advantage near horizon [1] and have problems near flop point [2], while H-H have problems down low near horizon[3], and are fine high in the arc [4].
I hope I haven't taken this out of context.
But of the four claims, I take issue with several. - :rolleyes:
B.J.
I hope I haven't taken this out of context.
But of the four claims, I take issue with several. - :rolleyes:

? Which do you take issue with? Unless there is some mis-communication due to poor wording on my part, re to what I was saying, I was pretty sure that all 4 should be non-controversial?

Ie
(1) For an actuator, near the horizon, the mechanical advantage I was referring to is that the actuator is more in line with the motion it is creating, whereas the higher it gets, the motion created is more perpindicular to the extension of the actuator, so near the horizon a higher percentage of the actuator's force goes into moving the dish. Yes, there is more weight to lift near the horizon, but the mechanical advantage is greater down there. Said another way high in the arc, a small actuator movement generates a greater angular motion, so it's like a big gear moving a small gear, ie more speed but less mechanical advantage.
(2) Actuators are known to even self destruct once you get past the flop point too much, because it takes an incredible amount of force to pull the dish back, because only a fraction of the force goes in the direction of the motion. Of course this is highly dependent on the design of where the connection points are, but I've read many posts from people who went past the flop point, and the actuator basically pulled the guts out of the tube and the dish flopped over to the ground. I had an old SAMI dish, where the actuator attached fairly far out on the dish, and you get past a point where the actuator actually would bump into the side of the dish and dent it, and it would have had to rip the dish apart to pull the dish back. I had to go out and move the dish by hand to get it back.
(3) & (4) Down near the horizon, a H-H is lifting the full weight of the dish, usually extended out past the rotation axis, which requires a LOT of force for the motor to lift it. At the top of the arc, the motor doesn't have to lift ANY of the dish's weight, so it doesn't have any problem up there. I've never had any problems with my H-H moving a dish when it's high in the arc, but I've gotten stuck hundreds of times when low near the horizon. The actual mechanical advantage of the H-H should be constant everwhere, but there is more weight to lift when low. Sort of like sticking a bowling ball on a broom stick, and pointing it straight up, you don't have any problems supporting it or moving it, however if you hold the stick out horizontal, it would be extremely hard to lift since you have the lift the entire weight of the ball.

Anyway, that's what I was referring to. I assume that my comments came across as saying something else?
JSheridan
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
I know HipKat said that they were working on conversions but we got the official news yesterday right from Dish that starting next month all DMA's will be on the western arc, and all customers will be assigned to that. That's gonna mean a lot of customers around here aren't gonna get Dish unless there are exceptions. Too many mountains and trees.
171 Replies · 4736 views
MikeD-C05
I don't know why DISH doesn't just start a streaming version of DISH and then if you can't see the western arc you go with streaming versions and then they could keep customers if they had good internet speeds. I mean Sling TV could be changed to Streaming DISH TV if they wanted since both companies are under Echostar. Then you would still be able to use your ota antenna with Air TV devices like I do with Air TV Anywhere with 4 ota tuners.
Scott Greczkowski
I don't know why DISH doesn't just start a streaming version of DISH
I have the same wish.
S
Even if you are broadcasting old SD-only shows, I would think advertisers would still want their commercials to look good.
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Jimbo
Even if you are broadcasting old SD-only shows, I would think advertisers would still want their commercials to look good.
Advertisers on SD channels are probably Far and Few, very hard to find, they have very few viewers to watch them.
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Mister B
Advertisers on SD channels are probably Far and Few, very hard to find, they have very few viewers to watch them.
I watch mostly SD channels (H&I, Start and ION, etc.). There are plenty of advertisers, this time of the year it is mostly Medicare Advantage plans, auto extended warranties and the occasional walk-in-tub. They know who is watching.
S
I watch mostly SD channels (H&I, Start and ION, etc.). There are plenty of advertisers, this time of the year it is mostly Medicare Advantage plans, auto extended warranties and the occasional walk-in-tub. They know who is watching.
can't forget the little blue m&m's
charlesrshell
can't forget the little blue m&m's
That's what my wife calls my Viagra!!
B
I have the same wish.
Why?
A lot of people do not have fast internet.
That is why they use satellite
NYDutch
Why?
A lot of people do not have fast internet.
That is why they use satellite
DISH will happily sell them a Starlink system and service.
T
Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink
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Foxbat
Why didn't Charlie end up launching starlink
Because he didn't have a fleet of reusable rockets. Starlink works because SpaceX is able to launch hundreds (thousands?) of their Starlink satellites for what a single geostationary Internet satellite costs to build and launch on a disposable launcher.
T
But how is it reusable if it's disposable
S
That's what my wife calls my Viagra!!
My gf is 29 years younger than me :shh
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
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....
68623 Replies · 2678422 views
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long_time_Dish
Change Of The Guard - Steely Dan
dishstaller
Owner Of a Lonely Heart - Yes
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long_time_Dish
Lonely Street - Kansas
dishstaller
Lonely is the Night - Billy Squier
long_time_Dish
Lonely People - America
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
RIP dude. Always liked his music. He was 83


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Arbm47IQ
1 Replies · 12 views
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
· posted in The Chit Chat Club
This video was put up shortly after I was able to take my family out to Yosemite in 2011. No AI.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6-2fVsFV8E
0 Replies · 7 views
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Love this guy's channel. Looks like Walmart has thrown in the towel when it comes to conventional car batteries.

I bought a new AGM battery from Walmart about a year ago, it is already needing replacing. I thought about just buying a regular battery but from what I've read, that might not be a smart move. Might check my Forscan program and see if I can change the battery type from AGM.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awe7kY5nvdU
18 Replies · 195 views
harshness
When you need a battery, you need a battery.

If you can wait, new technologies are on the not-too-distant horizon.

You're probably doing something wrong if you're only getting a year out of an AGM battery. Heat and infrequent charging both significantly reduce lifetime.
dishstaller
You're probably doing something wrong if you're only getting a year out of an AGM battery. Heat and infrequent charging both significantly reduce lifetime.
Huh? How can I be doing something wrong.....I took out the original battery, that was 6 yrs old and put in a new one.....kinda hard to screw that up. I figure it was just a bad battery....it happens.


The biggest takeaway I got from this video was the Walmart batteries only had something like 85% of battery life left even though they were brand NEW. The ones from O'Reilly all tested 100% of life left.
Jimbo
Huh? How can I be doing something wrong.....I took out the original battery, that was 6 yrs old and put in a new one.....kinda hard to screw that up. I figure it was just a bad battery....it happens.


The biggest takeaway I got from this video was the Walmart batteries only had something like 85% of battery life left even though they were brand NEW. The ones from O'Reilly all tested 100% of life left.
And the Walmart ones mostly had very little warranty.

My last AGM (using now) I got from O Rielly's, its the Super Start ... I got the Platnium, they had several to choose from.
T
He sounds like he's trying to sell me a pocket hose.

I just had to replace a car battery this week and thought I'd look into LiFePo4. Amazon has plenty of them, but all have top posts and only one 'also' has side connections (Group 75).Then I read that they're really lousy in the cold. So, an AGM, but again, almost nothing with side terminals instead of top. In researching that, I read that most mfrs in recent years have dropped side terminals and gone back to the old top posts, which is surprising to me since those are more corrosion-prone, cause the battery to need more space and are generally more hazardous. Finally I just threw up my hands and bought a regular lead-acid at Sam's Club. They had a Group 75 "Duracell" with side terminals only. It was virtually the only such battery with side posts on their shelves
arlo
Had a Die Hard in my folks cellar for over 6 years. Pulled it out, slapped it on a charger for a day. Put it in my 'Cuda and drove it around for a week of my vacation. Next year, the same. But my dad kept it topped off for me.It was a mid 80's battery in early 1990.

Flooded acid batteries like a float voltage of around 13.5-13.8 voltage.
AGM needs a float of 14.2 volts. So if you slap an AGM in where a flooded was. It never gets a full charge.
"Why do they die so fast?" Question answered. There are folks who sell voltage regulators for alternators that are designed to boost float voltage for AGM batteries.
The other way around? Flooded will gas-off a little at 14.2 volts. But seems to tolerate it pretty good.

Lithium car/bike/atv batteries. After 3 batteries in my Harley. The OEM flooded and two AGM's (before the 14.2 volt float requirement to let them live was learned). I bought a lithium for it. 4 year, no gripe warranty after having it tested by an approved store.
The thing started like Thor himself sent a bolt from the sky. Except......try to start it around freezing? Nope. Needed a heating pad.
And I usually like to park it around events in the evening with the parking light on. Looks cool like that.
We could traipse around for a few hours no worries. Hop on, fire it up, and go putt around.
Lithium? A Dakota Lithium at least. The BMS shuts it right down if it discharges below <something>.
Come back. Parking lights off. Won't start. And you know the rest. But it lasted 6 years. A lot better than 'new every two'. And the fact that powersports batteries are warranted for six, maybe nine months. Ludicrous.

I called Noco. Asked all of the right questions. Great warranty. Save some bucks ordering directly, faster service that the wally world alternative.
They addressed (or claimed over the phone) that the shut down was addressed. Sure. The BMS keeps it form being damaged. But if it is shut down because it does become low. Shut down any load (key on, parking or headlights left on) for 10-15 minutes and you get a second try to start your rig. Not a bad thing if it really works. Right?!

Exide, Interstate? Be very afraid. They ain't what they used to be. In Florida my '70 Cutlass had an Interstate (early 90') that lasted 6 years until it dropped its plates at an intersection and boiled over. In Florida, mind you. The last Interstate.....done in 2. Guys down there would suck out the acid and put water in shortly before the warranty ran out. Make it to the auto parts, get them tested. And get a new one pro rated. No more pro rating.
You can't beat an Odyssey. Napa, AC Deco (the better ones). Yup.
The mom and pop Car Quest only sells Die Hard. For a reason, the old man says. So they convinced that a Die HArd Platinum was the hot ticket for me. l will see. Stand by!

You can't cut Mr. Project Farm down. He does great tests of all sorts of things. Not sponsored and pressured to slap a little sugar on his comparisons and reviews. Compared to the Brits and Aussies with their constant overzealous and same sounding (Dave from EEVblog) rant. I like P-Farm a lot. Of course I like AvE (Boltr) too.
Reminds me to beware when wearing shorts around the garage vice.


Opinions may vary.
harshness
And the Walmart ones mostly had very little warranty.
The days of the 84-month warranty appear long gone, regardless of brand or where you acquired it. Warranties tend to be shorter, with much greater dependence on quick prorating.

The big problem for lead-acid batteries (whether flooded or AGM) is that the US no longer produces lead (the last smelter closed in 2013) and must import it.

Recycling covers a good chunk of the need (~70%), but it isn't free.
EarDemon
I've always got regular OEM Ford Motorcraft batteries from the dealership and have never really had an issue. On my old Lincoln Aviator (the SUV from the early 00s, not the CUV of today), I had some phantom drain and went though a few batteries, but that was an anomaly and with the standard warranty I got free replacements. Taking the Aviator out of the picture, I've bought two batteries in my 24 years of driving. One battery replacement in my Mountaineer, one in my Navigator. But I probably would have had another one had I kept it around longer. Didn't have the Bronco long enough, and so far still on the factory battery for my Expedition.

I run more than the average bear. Dash cam, two radar detectors (yes, I'm aware that can be problematic when using simultaneously), laser jammers and a police scanner. I'm in Buffalo, 90 degree summers and 0 degree winters. Once in a while in the dead of winter I'll get an alert from the Ford app saying remote features have been disabled to conserve battery, but it starts right up.
dishstaller
I run more than the average bear. Dash cam, two radar detectors (yes, I'm aware that can be problematic when using simultaneously), laser jammers and a police scanner.
warrior.webp
Ramy
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in The Sports Section
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
168 Replies · 2373 views
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Jimbo
AI Overview


College Football Playoff bracket, schedule, scores, rankings ...

The 2025–26 College Football Playoff concluded with the Indiana Hoosiers winning the national championship by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27–21. [1, 2, 3]

Playoff Results Summary
The 12-team playoff bracket featured the following key results across each round: [1]
    • First Round: Alabama defeated Oklahoma (34–24), Miami (Fla.) beat Texas A&M (10–3), Ole Miss topped Tulane (41–10), and Oregon defeated James Madison (51–34) at higher-seeded campus sites.
    • Quarterfinals: Miami (Fla.) upset Ohio State (24–14), Oregon shut out Texas Tech (23–0), top-ranked Indiana rolled past Alabama (38–3), and Ole Miss edged Georgia (39–34) across the New Year's Six bowls.
    • Semifinals: Miami (Fla.) advanced past Ole Miss (31–27) in the Peach Bowl, while Indiana dominant-defeated Oregon (56–22) in the Fiesta Bowl.
    • National Championship: Indiana secured the title with a 27–21 victory over Miami (Fla.) at Hard Rock Stadium. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Unfortunately, there was not rankings listed in this summary
AZ.
AZ.
And no teams deserve a bye! Injuries are the largest part of the game that you cant practice for them. Any team can suffer the worst injury at any position on any play. No favorites.
Jimbo
And no teams deserve a bye! Injuries are the largest part of the game that you cant practice for them. Any team can suffer the worst injury at any position on any play. No favorites.
I think they are actually discussing the Top 8 get a Bye this time, if they go to 24.
Then again, I heard something about Play in games for the 16-24 teams ...

Nothing is official yet, so lots of moving parts ...

Can't wait, lets do 24, 3 years later they will want 32 :sick
Y
And no teams deserve a bye! Injuries are the largest part of the game that you cant practice for them. Any team can suffer the worst injury at any position on any play. No favorites.
While the bye can help the top four teams and those the Cartels would like to protect in the playoff, I think the bye is also about making the Cartel championships mean something. One problem with a playoff is it does diminish the conference title a bit.
Jimbo
While the bye can help the top four teams and those the Cartels would like to protect in the playoff, I think the bye is also about making the Cartel championships mean something. One problem with a playoff is it does diminish the conference title a bit.
Once the 24 gets here, there won't be anymore Conference Championships .... or so they say.

Oh what the hell, we really don't need Conferences anymore either ...:coco:(
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dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
· posted in The Chit Chat Club
0 Replies · 23 views
osu1991
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
4 Replies · 62 views
Bobby
Rest in peace. Together again with Spock, Doc, Uhura, and Scotty...
long_time_Dish
Rest in peace, Checkov, and Bester too...
FTA4PA
Rest In Peace 😢
Foxbat
Rest in Peace…
Bobby
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
This is a thread that will keep you apprised of 4K events that will be showing on Dish channel 540. Keep looking here for information.

As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
768 Replies · 167922 views
Bobby
MLB, Rays at Brewers, Friday 10-23, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.
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Bobby
MLB, Rays at Brewers, Saturday 10-24, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.
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Bobby
MLB, Brewers at Rays, Monday 10-26, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.
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Bobby
MLB, Brewers at Rays, Tuesday 10-27, 5PM PDT, Channel 148-01.
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Bobby
CFB, Florida vs Georgia, Saturday 10-31, 12:30PM PDT, Channel 148-03.
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