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I hope someone can give me some direction here - I spent a while searching the forums before posting, but my searches return way, way, way too many posts or none at all, so either I'm in the dark or dead in the water... Help!
I was recently asked by a friend to remove a BUD from his backyard that was left by the previous homeowners. It's a 12' fiberglass multi-segment dish with a center-mounted LNB/feedhorn assembly, that is on a ridiculously huge articulating mount with actuator arm. The LNB and feedhorn assembly that is mounted on it right now is a Chaparral, and as it has its own pair of wires, I assume it has the ability to change polarization ("co-rotor", I believe?) as well as the actuator arm has several wires - the whole bundle goes into the ground to someplace unknown.
The dish itself is in okay condition, it's multi-sectioned fiberglass panels,and after undoing each section's bolts, I was able to take it down fairly easily without breaking anything - but the bolts were an absolute pain in the butt. Why each panel requires 16 frigging bolts is beyond me, other than supporting against wind shear. I had to remove the actuator arm from the mount to manipulate the mount to accessible angles, but it should reattach just fine.
Questions, though. With it being fiberglass, I was not expecting it to have a non-smooth surface. Each panel has a fine dimple pattern on the face. I plan to power-wash the panels before re-mounting the dish, as they are absolutely filthy with algae, dirt, et cetera. Do I need to be careful that the power-washing does not destroy this surface's finish?
I should have no problems re-aligning the mount, as it's only moving roughly 40 or so miles north, so the azimuth should remain relatively the same I expect. Just point the center of the dish due south, and move the actuator all the way west to maximum then back east to maximum, set the limits, and voila - yes?
I'm pretty sure that the actuator just pulses back the output from a rotary encoder, and is completely dumb, e.g., non-DiSeqC. Unfortunately, what I can find in the way of "modern" receivers (e.g, DVB-S2, MPEG-2/4, BISS support, etc) seem to all lack the expected 5-wire polarotor connections in lieu of DiSeqC signal/22 khz support... Options? External rotator? Pass-through from my Chaparral 90 to a new FTA box? Arduino? Open to suggestions here.
I have a great interest in sky-scanning, not just for wildfeeds or unpublished transponder/channel information, but eventually I will be adding transmitting to this earth station for EME/scatter contact fun. I saw a video on Youtube by a guy who used a Dreambox, with custom Python scripting, to assist in this sort of thing, and it piqued my interest considerably. Comments? Dreambox vs. DVB-S2 PCI/PCI-e card?
Regarding the actuator assembly, if indeed it does what I think it does with the rotary encoder pulshing, is it standard or manufacturer specific ? If it's standard, I should be able to convince an Arduino board to shack up cozy with some relays and a bit of code to do what I want. Opinions?
Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction - thank you in advance
If I find anything interesting, I'll be glad to share it in the right forum, the one that isn't Google-indexed.
-- Jake
I was recently asked by a friend to remove a BUD from his backyard that was left by the previous homeowners. It's a 12' fiberglass multi-segment dish with a center-mounted LNB/feedhorn assembly, that is on a ridiculously huge articulating mount with actuator arm. The LNB and feedhorn assembly that is mounted on it right now is a Chaparral, and as it has its own pair of wires, I assume it has the ability to change polarization ("co-rotor", I believe?) as well as the actuator arm has several wires - the whole bundle goes into the ground to someplace unknown.
The dish itself is in okay condition, it's multi-sectioned fiberglass panels,and after undoing each section's bolts, I was able to take it down fairly easily without breaking anything - but the bolts were an absolute pain in the butt. Why each panel requires 16 frigging bolts is beyond me, other than supporting against wind shear. I had to remove the actuator arm from the mount to manipulate the mount to accessible angles, but it should reattach just fine.
Questions, though. With it being fiberglass, I was not expecting it to have a non-smooth surface. Each panel has a fine dimple pattern on the face. I plan to power-wash the panels before re-mounting the dish, as they are absolutely filthy with algae, dirt, et cetera. Do I need to be careful that the power-washing does not destroy this surface's finish?
I should have no problems re-aligning the mount, as it's only moving roughly 40 or so miles north, so the azimuth should remain relatively the same I expect. Just point the center of the dish due south, and move the actuator all the way west to maximum then back east to maximum, set the limits, and voila - yes?
I'm pretty sure that the actuator just pulses back the output from a rotary encoder, and is completely dumb, e.g., non-DiSeqC. Unfortunately, what I can find in the way of "modern" receivers (e.g, DVB-S2, MPEG-2/4, BISS support, etc) seem to all lack the expected 5-wire polarotor connections in lieu of DiSeqC signal/22 khz support... Options? External rotator? Pass-through from my Chaparral 90 to a new FTA box? Arduino? Open to suggestions here.
I have a great interest in sky-scanning, not just for wildfeeds or unpublished transponder/channel information, but eventually I will be adding transmitting to this earth station for EME/scatter contact fun. I saw a video on Youtube by a guy who used a Dreambox, with custom Python scripting, to assist in this sort of thing, and it piqued my interest considerably. Comments? Dreambox vs. DVB-S2 PCI/PCI-e card?
Regarding the actuator assembly, if indeed it does what I think it does with the rotary encoder pulshing, is it standard or manufacturer specific ? If it's standard, I should be able to convince an Arduino board to shack up cozy with some relays and a bit of code to do what I want. Opinions?
Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction - thank you in advance
If I find anything interesting, I'll be glad to share it in the right forum, the one that isn't Google-indexed.-- Jake
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1997 views
M
to the forum Jake. Sounds like you have found a great dish to restore! This is a good place to post about it too. We all like pictures, so post lots of those too. 
The dish's reflective surface is a wire mesh in the fiberglass. Don't be afraid to scrub it clean. Sounds like you have a Co-rotor feed horn with both a C-Band LNB and a KU band LNB. Very nice
Modern receivers do not have dish control systems built in. They do use DiSEqC to communicate with DiSEqC devices, switches and motor controllers. There also are no connections to control a polar-rotor motor in an old style feed horn.
There is one dish controller that can do it all and that is the Titanium ASC1. No others have polar-rotor control. But there are plans for simple electrical circuits you can build to control a polar-rotor motor. I have built a few of those An Arduino may be a little bit of overkill for the project 
I started my satellite hobby with a PCI DVB receiver. Big learning curve there
The dish actuator has gone through quite an evolution. new actuators use a magnet wheel and reed switch for a position sensor. Old school actuators started with potentiometers for sensors. Later replaced with optical switches or hall effect switches. There is an adapter for the ASC1 that allows you to connect optical and hall effect switches.
to the forum Jake. Sounds like you have found a great dish to restore! This is a good place to post about it too. We all like pictures, so post lots of those too. The dish's reflective surface is a wire mesh in the fiberglass. Don't be afraid to scrub it clean. Sounds like you have a Co-rotor feed horn with both a C-Band LNB and a KU band LNB.
Very nice Modern receivers do not have dish control systems built in. They do use DiSEqC to communicate with DiSEqC devices, switches and motor controllers. There also are no connections to control a polar-rotor motor in an old style feed horn.
There is one dish controller that can do it all and that is the Titanium ASC1. No others have polar-rotor control. But there are plans for simple electrical circuits you can build to control a polar-rotor motor. I have built a few of those
An Arduino may be a little bit of overkill for the project I started my satellite hobby with a PCI DVB receiver. Big learning curve there
The dish actuator has gone through quite an evolution. new actuators use a magnet wheel and reed switch for a position sensor. Old school actuators started with potentiometers for sensors. Later replaced with optical switches or hall effect switches. There is an adapter for the ASC1 that allows you to connect optical and hall effect switches.
Thank you for the welcome - I look forward to being a contributing member and supporter While I would love to say that the LNBF assembly does C-band and Ku-band, it does not, it is C-band only. I probably should mention that this entire setup has been unused for at least 18 years, as it was there when my buddy bought the house that long ago, and I found markings on the back of one of the panels that I think are alignment marks scratched into it by the people who installed it, along with what looks like a signature and a date that appears to be May 8th 1989. My friend said that was a year after the house was built, so the dish (and probably the LNBF as well) probably dates from at least the late 80's.
The LNBF seems to be in good shape, even if it's a bit weathered. The plastic cap on the feedhorn and the rear of the assembly are both badly weathered and chalky, and I am trying to not handle those plastic parts as much as possible because it seems they are disintegrating with every touch.
Should I look into replacing the LNBF assembly before I get into this? Certainly couldn't hurt to modernize the whole thing, but I really don't want to start chucking money at this project until I can at least verify my installation efforts are going to be successful.
If I do decide to modernize, I understand that I would be looking at a new LNBF that will do C and Ku-band and a new actuator assembly at the least - and probably a DiSeqC switch and actuator controller. It's surprising to me, but understandable the amount of influence that DSS technology has had on the direction the entire industry has been moving toward,and I wonder what's next...
While I would love to say that the LNBF assembly does C-band and Ku-band, it does not, it is C-band only. I probably should mention that this entire setup has been unused for at least 18 years, as it was there when my buddy bought the house that long ago, and I found markings on the back of one of the panels that I think are alignment marks scratched into it by the people who installed it, along with what looks like a signature and a date that appears to be May 8th 1989. My friend said that was a year after the house was built, so the dish (and probably the LNBF as well) probably dates from at least the late 80's. The LNBF seems to be in good shape, even if it's a bit weathered. The plastic cap on the feedhorn and the rear of the assembly are both badly weathered and chalky, and I am trying to not handle those plastic parts as much as possible because it seems they are disintegrating with every touch.
Should I look into replacing the LNBF assembly before I get into this? Certainly couldn't hurt to modernize the whole thing, but I really don't want to start chucking money at this project until I can at least verify my installation efforts are going to be successful.
If I do decide to modernize, I understand that I would be looking at a new LNBF that will do C and Ku-band and a new actuator assembly at the least - and probably a DiSeqC switch and actuator controller. It's surprising to me, but understandable the amount of influence that DSS technology has had on the direction the entire industry has been moving toward,and I wonder what's next...
Jake!Age shouldn't matter as long as the dish has not warped and it is mechanically sound. The actuator should be cleaned and the arm/gears lubricated before applying any power. Connect a 18v drill battery or a 12Vdc car/ATV battery to the two motor wires in the motor housing to slowly move the jack. Reverse the leads to reverse the direction of travel. Legacy actuators rarely fail, but often the brushes are worn or the reed switch will fail after long-term storage, but these are usually cheap and easy to replace.
It would be easier and more simple to learn the system operation to first buy a C-band LNBF to install and align the dish. Once you have some experience with operating the system, install the servo feedhorn and consider upgrading older LNBFs if they are failing. LNBFs are easier to install and use, but a properly installed servo feedhorn will provide the ability to optimize reception for each satellite and transponder.
We look forward to assisting with your project and welcome to an addictive hobby!
I managed to get a few pictures, so here goes...
This is the dish, on its mount - half-way disassembled. The brush and grass around it was waist-high, but nothing that I couldn't tackle, armed with a razor-sharp cutlass and sheer determination
From what I can find, this appears to be a pretty decent assembly, complete with feedhorn, LNB, and polarotor ...?
From what I can find, this appears to be a pretty decent assembly, complete with feedhorn, LNB, and polarotor ...?
M
Very nice! Now all you need is to enter and win the contest in this forum for a new Titanium Satellite ASC1 dish controller.
Why are ViP922s So rare? like its crazy how ebay has none, i checked everywhere, also, i got a ViP222k now, which is actually activated!
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My year was almost up and we got the new bill for a year of service for $ 360.00 insane sat radio is becoming like cable!!! i logged into my acct and hopped onto chat and told the rep that i wanted to cancel. she understood my concern and went quiet for a few minutes. i figured that she was canceling my service. she comes back and said that she seen that i have been a sub since 07 and then offers me the same package for a year for 120.00 with taxes and fee's!!! i grabbed it. after almost having a stroke 
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Mrs. Foxbat reminded me it's that time of the year to do the Cancel Tango
The A.I. agent appears to be better than in the past. It got to the acceptable price quicker than previous years, no human operator involved. $5/mo and I still have over $50 in SiriusXM credit from my FordPartner benefits.
The A.I. agent appears to be better than in the past. It got to the acceptable price quicker than previous years, no human operator involved. $5/mo and I still have over $50 in SiriusXM credit from my FordPartner benefits.
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
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....
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Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Stumbled across this ... http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_ZipSearch.asp
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy
Ethanol Free Stations
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy
Ethanol Free Stations
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460613 views
Here in Indiana, the difference between Regular and Premium is usually a dollar, but some charge even more:
Ok, I'm bored .... actually - to be more precise - I'm bored of eating the same rotation of 9 or 10 meals that are currently my "go-to" meals. My wife works the long hours - I work from home as and when i feel like it ... which means i generally do most of the cooking ... and so by default - i also make out the shopping list ...
We cook at home 5 or even 6 nights a week - but we always seem to fall back on the same old tried and tested "quick and easy but tastes ok" meals. Week in week out.
Pot Roast - mash and Peas.
Spaghetti
Chicken Pasta in cheese sauce.
Curry & rice
(these are some of mine)
Now it's not that I'm not adventurous in the kitchen ... I'll try anything once or twice ... but we all do it. Unless your name is Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray .. we all eventually fall back on our 8-10 favorite "meals"
So i thought - if we shared some of our own go-to meals with each other ... we might be able to add a few "new" ones to our own arsenal of meals.
So again - I ask you ...
What's for dinner tonight ?
Please give me something new to add to my rotation ... its our weekly shop tomorrow - so i want to pull together a few idea's and try and eat a meal each day next week that I've never had before .. or at least something that is not on my current "go-to" meal plan.
What meal do you always seem to fall back on in your house ? Maybe its something that I've never tried or not had in a while. I need inspiration !! I've got a blank shopping list in front of me - and nothing sounds good .. HELP !
We cook at home 5 or even 6 nights a week - but we always seem to fall back on the same old tried and tested "quick and easy but tastes ok" meals. Week in week out.
Pot Roast - mash and Peas.
Spaghetti
Chicken Pasta in cheese sauce.
Curry & rice
(these are some of mine)
Now it's not that I'm not adventurous in the kitchen ... I'll try anything once or twice ... but we all do it. Unless your name is Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray .. we all eventually fall back on our 8-10 favorite "meals"
So i thought - if we shared some of our own go-to meals with each other ... we might be able to add a few "new" ones to our own arsenal of meals.
So again - I ask you ...
What's for dinner tonight ?
Please give me something new to add to my rotation ... its our weekly shop tomorrow - so i want to pull together a few idea's and try and eat a meal each day next week that I've never had before .. or at least something that is not on my current "go-to" meal plan.
What meal do you always seem to fall back on in your house ? Maybe its something that I've never tried or not had in a while. I need inspiration !! I've got a blank shopping list in front of me - and nothing sounds good .. HELP !
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Smoked some salmon on the grill while enjoying some Blue Moon beer. Kinda cool tonight so I fired up the heaters. Here in FL, we fire up heaters once the temps get below 60 
As for the salmon, I seared them first, then flipped them off to the side not over the coals and brushed on some lemon pepper marinade followed by some salmon seasoning. Threw some hickory chips on the coals and then closed the vents to about 10% airflow. Yum.
As for the salmon, I seared them first, then flipped them off to the side not over the coals and brushed on some lemon pepper marinade followed by some salmon seasoning. Threw some hickory chips on the coals and then closed the vents to about 10% airflow. Yum.
Pub Member / Supporter
America’s Fastest-Growing EV State Isn’t California—Not by a Long Shot
New data shows electric vehicle adoption is increasingly driven by state policies, electricity prices and charging access—not federal incentives
www.autoweek.com
The number-one US state for EV growth, according to the June 22 Yardi report?
Oklahoma.
It has no ZEV mandates and "minimal" incentives, Yardi says, but also has cheap electricity, high multi-car household rates (so, for example, a non-Lightning Ford F-150 pulls their trailers), and a consumer base willing to switch.
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tomwellborn3rd (@wellborn.net)
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bsky.app
Never realized that Tesla is losing to BYD at manufacturing too, which IMO is Tesla's biggest accomplishment and area of innovation. Nice writeup about the state of play and how we got here though. I have no faith that we're moving any productive direction though sadly, most changes and efforts feel reactionary rather than rooted in making use of the time being bought by tariffs, with few exceptions.
So: how are the cars so cheap, and what is being cut to get there? The best public accounting comes from the Rhodium Group, which compared BYD, Geely, and Leapmotor against Tesla's Chinese operation, a fair comparison because it removes labor costs and shipping from the equation entirely. Their estimate is that BYD builds a car for about $4,700 less than Tesla builds a Model 3 in Shanghai, roughly 15 percent of the Model 3's price. The breakdown is the interesting part. Direct government grants account for about $292 per vehicle, which is 5 percent of the gap. The biggest single factor is vertical integration: BYD makes about 80 percent of its top-tier components in-house, against 37 percent for Tesla, and that eliminates roughly $2,369 per vehicle in supplier markups. Lower overhead, meaning cheaper engineering talent and administrative cost spread across enormous volume, accounts for another $1,719. And BYD pays its suppliers on 155-day terms, against Tesla's 60, which is worth about $214 per car in float. When people say the Chinese advantage is subsidies, the per-vehicle number says otherwise. When people say it is slave wages, the Tesla Shanghai comparison says otherwise too. The advantage is mostly that BYD decided, twenty years ago, to make its own batteries, its own motors, its own power electronics, and its own semiconductors, and Western automakers decided the opposite.
US EV sales are rising again. Here’s why the recovery is set to last.
Even though sales tanked last year after the end of federal incentives, the American EV sector is on the mend as drivers face sky-high gasoline prices.
www.canarymedia.com
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO_nW-BTlv4
Direct YouTube Link - Microsoft Defender Arriving on Linux
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO_nW-BTlv4
Direct YouTube Link - Microsoft Defender Arriving on Linux
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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17 views
Ham Radio 2.0
Time for another AWESOME video from Ham Radio 2.0!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDeuQ1SLkQU
Direct YouTube Link - LIVE!
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDeuQ1SLkQU
Direct YouTube Link - LIVE!
Ham Radio 2.0 Website
Ham Radio 2.0 on Facebook
0 Replies
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13 views
Supporting Founder
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.
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1741 views
Was thinking same thing. It should be a good week for sec shorts and roll callThey ought to have fun with this…