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Lawrence Lile
Last reply · posted in C-BAND Satellite Discussion

Recommended C-Band actuator for Solar Tracker

I am building a solar tracker. The mechanics are amazingly similar to a C-Band antenna - a pole, an actuator, some electronics, and a big ugly thing that can move around one axis to point at the sky. Only this one receives sun - light, not satel - light. (sorry)



Why the hell would anyone want to build such a thing? Well, why the hell not? Mostly because it is an interesting technical challenge to build from scratch. And a fantastic piece of yard art that makes electricity.:D

Now, I got an old 8 foot C-Band antenna, but the motor was frozen up, so that didn't work.:tombstone: I'd like some recommendations on a reliable new actuator motor.

The solar array will be pretty big - 10 foot square. However, the assembly is well balanced. Unlike an antenna, it will not present much unbalanced weight to haul around. It does present a significant surface area for wind to catch like a sail.

Also unlike an antennae, it will move all the time. The electronics will drive it to the east every morning, and then it will track the sun to the west until it sets, then return to the east. So the motor will get a real workout. It will need a 24" actuator to span the angle range it is built for.

I am looking at some 24" actuators on Ebay = Harl 3624 and Powermax PM24. Are either of these any good? I found some threads about quality issues with Harl. What would you recommend for such an application?
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toucan-man
toucan-man
For what it's worth, here's the actuator used by our city.

label.jpgunder.jpgcollectors.jpg
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T4Runner
T4Runner
toucan-man said:
For what it's worth, here's the actuator used by our city.

View attachment 76948View attachment 76949View attachment 76950
Click to expand...

Here in California that would last about 24 hrs without barbed wire and concertina wire on top of a chain link fence around it....;))
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toucan-man
toucan-man
T4Runner said:
Here in California that would last about 24 hrs without barbed wire and concertina wire on top of a chain link fence around it....;))
Click to expand...
The cop shop is next door -- maybe that helps?
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I
i4tas
toucan-man said:
For what it's worth, here's the actuator used by our city.

View attachment 76948View attachment 76949View attachment 76950
Click to expand...

well in that case the actuator takes 6 months to extend and 6 months to go down, since it is only tracking elevation.

Would love to have a solar power system to power my FTA receivers and TVs, then it would really be a Free (FTA) system, after the upfront costs.
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toucan-man
toucan-man
The panels do track the sun, the photo is not clear about this.
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rv1pop
rv1pop
i4tas said:
Would love to have a solar power system to power my FTA receivers and TVs, then it would really be a Free (FTA) system, after the upfront costs.
Click to expand...
That is the way it is here! And if you know where to buy, the costs are not that bad! Tracking for me was not a viable option... the cost for the rack and tracking equipment was more than the cost of enough panels to give me the dawn to dark coverage, at $1.50/watt. BTW, inverters waste a lot of power, microHD and 12VDC LED/LCD tv's are the way to go.

It sounds like the OP is using 12 to 20 panels, depending on the brand, and that is 2000 to 4500 watts! I have only 400 watts now, but before winter I need to add 4 more 230 watt panels, which will give me another honest 800 watts.
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Ham Radio 2.0
· posted in Ham Radio 2.0

The Best Black Friday Deals for Off-Grid Comms Right Now!

Time for another AWESOME video from Ham Radio 2.0!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFoqfrcM8pw


Direct YouTube Link - The Best Black Friday Deals for Off-Grid Comms Right Now!
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

AI Hiking Advice Nearly Turns Deadly on Mount Shasta #shorts

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V6XzeaKDC0Y


Direct YouTube Link - AI Hiking Advice Nearly Turns Deadly on Mount Shasta #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Google's AI Ultimatum for Schools

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH-9zj0f7jQ


Direct YouTube Link - Google's AI Ultimatum for Schools
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Religious Exemption from Using AI?

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m4uwajewUU


Direct YouTube Link - Religious Exemption from Using AI?
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

The Binance Crypto Heist

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd5TCAV3Cek


Direct YouTube Link - The Binance Crypto Heist
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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Lon.TV
· posted in Lon.TV

HP’s Answer to the MacBook Neo? OmniBook 5 14 Review

Time for another AWESOME video from Lon Seidman of LON.TV!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o62FsJ2V5Cc


Direct YouTube Link - HP's Answer to the MacBook Neo? OmniBook 5 14 Review
The Official LON.TV Website
Lon on Facebook
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ewindowman
ewindowman
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Dish Bankruptcy - Business as Usual

Looks like dish is Bankrupt. Filling tomorrow Tuesday June 30th
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nelson61
nelson61
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
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Scott Greczkowski
Scott Greczkowski
nelson61 said:
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
Click to expand...
Can't remember where or who I saw predict this. :D

It wouldn't surprise me to see Elon soon own all of DISH / Echostar in the future.
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Bruce
Bruce
Scott Greczkowski said:
It wouldn't surprise me to see Elon soon own all of DISH / Echostar in the future.
Click to expand...
Again, why would Musk want a TV Service, specially one that is losing over a million subscribers a year.

Phone service…maybe, but not TV.
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Scott Greczkowski
Scott Greczkowski
Bruce said:
Again, why would Musk want a TV Service, specially one that is losing over a million subscribers a year.

Phone service…maybe, but not TV.
Click to expand...
I know he wants TV. He wants to deliver EVERYTHING to EVERYWHERE.
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Bruce
Bruce
Scott Greczkowski said:
I know he wants TV. He wants to deliver EVERYTHING to EVERYWHERE.
Click to expand...
Again, if so, why would he want Dish/Sling of all the providers?

He could deliver anything without actually owning, for example, watching the Lions game in my Tesla Y on it's screen via the YT app, while on the way to my future in-laws on Sunday.
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Bruce
Bruce
www.lightreading.com

SpaceX boldly goes into 'huge' 5G network rollout with Qualcomm

After trying satellites and small cells, Elon Musk's SpaceX is to build a terrestrial mobile network across tens of thousands of sites with Qualcomm.
www.lightreading.com
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Bruce
Bruce
nelson61 said:
Washington Post

SpaceX has held talks with Boost's parent company EchoStar in recent months about launching its own signature wireless service through a deal with the company, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
Musk, the SpaceX CEO, has discussed the deal personally, meeting with EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last month, according to the people. The potential deal may result in SpaceX acquiring Boost Mobile or SpaceX gaining access to its network, which it leases from AT&T and T-Mobile US, the people said.
Access to those lease agreements would be a coup for SpaceX. The back door would allow Musk to make a play for a U.S. wireless market that equity research firm MoffettNathanson estimates is worth $235 billion. But the proposed service may need consent from those carriers for the service to actually launch, the people said.
Click to expand...
If Musk really wants to buy Boost, he might get a great price once Dish Wireless is out of Chapter 11.

Boost just lost 182,000 subs in the 3rd quarter-

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M
man00
Is Dish like Iran in one way...they both will totally collapse by end of week :)
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Foxbat
Foxbat
Other than the price, my experience with Boost is not that different than what I experienced with my years with Cricket. I will be curious to see what happens if SpaceX takes the reins.
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S
slow_poke_pete
Bruce said:
Again, if so, why would he want Dish/Sling of all the providers?

He could deliver anything without actually owning, for example, watching the Lions game in my Tesla Y on it's screen via the YT app, while on the way to my future in-laws on Sunday.
Click to expand...
dish has new sats dtv does not
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Scott Greczkowski
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

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....
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gms49ers
gms49ers
Shooz - Styx
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dishstaller
dishstaller
Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx
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sdfntx
sdfntx
Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers
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long_time_Dish
long_time_Dish
No Time - The Guess Who
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H
hwkn
TIME Won't Let Me-The Outsiders
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dishstaller
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club

I think we could all use a laugh - Rodney Dangerfield on Carson

Good...simple humor. Enjoy


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E92AtfTLge4

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJy0WnejlF4
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dishstaller
dishstaller
Sorry for posting the wrong link. Just corrected it.
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dfergie
dfergie
I loved it when Rodney was on the Tonight Show...
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Foxbat
Foxbat
dishstaller said:
Sorry for posting the wrong link. Just corrected it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I wasn't sure if you had the wrong Subject or the wrong YouTube link.
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osu1991
osu1991
Was a Don Rickles fan. I've dvr'd most of his appearances on Carson from the antenna tv replays.

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dishstaller
dishstaller
More Dangerfield rapid fire on Carson.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scEQFHQHHhU
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dishdude
dishdude
Rodney Dangerfield is great. One of his best one liners - "My wife likes to talk to me during sex, last night she called me from Florida!"

Jackie Gleason is another one of the greats.


View: https://youtu.be/ciUV77AzIB4
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dfergie
dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk

Godzilla Minus Zero


View: https://youtu.be/n-NDYWPXpKg?si=hcI4ueMkFCreZ8Qq
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primestar31
primestar31
dfergie said:

View: https://youtu.be/n-NDYWPXpKg?si=hcI4ueMkFCreZ8Qq
Click to expand...

Wait, didn't this one come out a few years ago? It was all in Japanese. It was also VERY good!

OK, looked it up, that was Godzilla Minus One
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Bruce
Bruce
primestar31 said:
Wait, didn't this one come out a few years ago? It was all in Japanese. It was also VERY good!

OK, looked it up, that was Godzilla Minus One
Click to expand...
At theaters, only in Japanese, on Disc and Netflix, available in English.
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Foxbat
Foxbat
New trailer has dropped:
​
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dishstaller
long_time_Dish
long_time_Dish
Looks good! I'm interested...
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