1st Birdview score!

[Cadsulfide]

It must be spring on the Northern Prarie. Stopped by an old building in a small town 50 miles from here yesterday to ask about the "old dish" out front. The owner and I went out to take a peek, a 10' birdview! I offered him $100, he accepted. Has a minor ding on the bottom edge but otherwise complete, down to the plastic covers and molex connectors. Will get pix when I retrieve it next week.

Spotted an 8' BV last winter, no lnb's or support rods, have to do a follow up. Only spoke to the hired man when I last stopped.

Checked the phone messages when I got home, the son of a guy I know had called asking me if I wanted an old big dish in his yard. I returned the call, went to town and it looked to be a 10" CM with a von Weise actuator. It's on a tripod stand. I asked if I could wait a week or so to come get it , no problem.

I'm thinking of using some of those cardboard Sonotubes to pour support columns for the tripod with bolts welded to rebar for leveling. Any experiance with that, anyone?

 

[Anole]

Congratulations on the Birdview find.
If you do have an actual 10 foot model, it may be the first one confirmed.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy! - :up

 

[gabshere]

yes pictures of a 10 ft birdview would be great

and congrats on the find

 

[HIFI]

congrats! lookin forward to those pics

 

[Cadsulfide]

The good, bad and ugly all appeared at lunch today.

I went over to pay for the birdview, the owner, his wife and 50 year old son were there. They sold and installed birdveiws back in the 80's.

The old man told me there was another reflector in the bushes that I could have if I wanted it. Went to look, and it was a birdview soild reflector! Started dissassembling and loading components when the father and son came out to inform me the $100 did NOT include the LNA, and if I wanted the other reflector and mount that was in the weeds it would be another $100. After haggeling for 45 minutes, I ended up with a complete dish assembly consisting of the solid reflector that was in the weeds, the mount from the mesh reflector, and a slab mount post with a birdveiw "trailer mount" sticker. It has the 10 turn pot as a sensor, will have to fab up a magnet wheel. The other mount was missing the motor, but had the worm drive intact.

Funny how something that was worth $35/ton as scrap is suddenly very, very valuable if someone shows an interest. will try to take some pix tonight after I get it home.

My bad in the first post, it is not the legendary 10 footer, but an 8.

 

[phlatwound]

Rats, was hoping you had located the first confirmed 10 footer.

The old LNA is just a door stop anyway, no loss there.

Can't wait to see the pics!

 

[Anole]

another 8½' Birdview:

Hey, don't worry about it. You did fine.
I invested a little over $100 in cash and gifts for mine, too.

I have the original dual LNB, some sort of multi-switch that went with it, two original BV receivers, and a BV motor controller with remote.
I literally disassembled a complete working (well, 4 years ago) system, whole.
It's all garbage. Should be in a museum somewhere.

The original scalar is nice in that it and the support arms are a set.

Sounds like you got the solid, which was in better condition...?
So, did you leave the perf BV and motor-less mount behind?
Wasn't clear in your post.
In fact, this is the first we've heard there was a BV perforated...?

 

[Cadsulfide]

Yep the mesh dish looked to be a single piece of perferated metal that was spun. I left the partial mount and the full post in the ground. It was the dual lna the old guy insisted on keeping. I did get a complete set of rods in great condition, the scalar, and all the plastic covers. The mesh reflector had had a truck backed into it at one time, rolled the bottom edge up a bit. If he had asked for $25 more, I would have paid it gladly and taken the whole works. The solid reflector is in pretty good condition, need to chase the threads, but nothing broken off, the moss should scrub off without any issues. As for the mount fresh coat of paint and an overhaul of the mechanism, a magnet wheel, and "Bob's Your Uncle"!

I tried to explain FTA and what I was going to use it for, but got that blank expression from the son. Some folks you can convert, some............well.

I've seen a few tripod mounts, and have to collect a 10" mesh on one in a week or so. This was my first sighting of an official trailer mount from Birdview.

I'm thinking of welding some bolts to some rebar, and using those cardboard sonotubes, pouring some mini concrete piers to mount and level the tripod on. Any thoughts/warnings about this approach would be appreciated.

 

[turbosat]

Cadsulfide sounds like they were trying to rook you, I prob would've told them to take it to the shredder and walked. (Just the principle of the thing!). There are more honest people to deal with out there. But, if you're satisfied with the deal, good for ya.

 

[Anole]

I think you got the best of what was there.
Yea, the extra dish, mount, post would have been okay for another $25, but now you don't have a backyard full of junk!
(or as some would say: "spare parts" ) -

That dish looks nominal. Don't seen any damage.
It'll clean up fine - no painting required.
It's got some sort of baked-on or powder-coated finish that's tough as hell.
The aluminum under it must've been well prepped, 'cause that paint doesn't lift nor peel! -

The mount looks a little rusty, like many I've seen here on the forum.
Mine shows less rust, and I'm still contemplating what (if anything) to do to the black-oxide covered metal.
Original thought was to give it a scrub, two coats of rust-converting primer, then some Hammerite black.
Might test-paint the inside and where it goes up against the dish, and decide later.

Use serious care with the scalar support arms.
Made of aluminum, I believe.
I've seen fellows damage them.
When you assemble to the dish and to the scalar, use some anti-seize compound that's good for aluminum!
I am afraid of those joints, and will probably leave mine as they have been for the last 25 years.

 

[Cadsulfide]

Cadsulfide sounds like they were trying to rook you, I prob would've told them to take it to the shredder and walked. (Just the principle of the thing!). There are more honest people to deal with out there. But, if you're satisfied with the deal, good for ya.

Yea, my carpetbagger radar was going off dealing with them.
I'm just glad they thought I got the dirty end of the stick.

But I picked up the Caddilac of dishes with all the goodies for $100!
Now if I can just take my time and go through everything......like Stogie did. C/Ku heaven.

Anole, we have almost 6 months every year mostly above freezing ....I'm thinking rustoleum rattle can metal primer followed by brush on enamel. Seen that combo used on outdoor equipment that still looks good 20 years later.

And plenty of assembly lube.

 

[phlatwound]

Cad, can you get your hands on any J-hook anchor bolts? They are commonly used to attach pre-engineered and structural steel building framing to concrete piers and pilasters. I would go with a 5/8" or 3/4" J-bolt that will go at least 12" into your concrete.

You can even just make them if you have some long bolts, just bend the hook into them.....if not, your idea of welding bolts to rebar will work also, either way I would bend a 90 degree into whatever you choose.

Your tri-sonotube idea should work fine, I think I would use 12 inch tube at a minumum, at least 3' into the ground. *

*disclaimer....my engineering degree came out of a Cracker Jacks box.

 

[melgarga]

Good score Cad. It's a shame how some folks think, I've come across a few welchers myself. When that happens I've always told them to go ahead and scrap it, and left my number if they decide they want me to come get it. Had a few call me back after Ike blew thru.
On my solid BV, we did the Mexican flea market dance, ended up getting it for a Franklin, fair enough, and the perf was "Come and get it.....imediately!" They were sure they would have to pay to have it removed.
I know where there are five more, all solid ones. I dont think any are 10 footers though. Two no's, a maybe, one in a fenced yard with a "No Solicitors" sign on the gate, and a recent one I found last week and havent checked back on.
Foundation is the reason I've not done any BV projects. It is going to be an undertaking.
Oh,I just remembered, six. There is a perf'd one that is on a pole that is above a house roof I saw, I just remembered. Havent checked on that one either but it would prolly be a bitch to get it down.

 

[Anole]

all those BV's:

Mel -
Ya gotta go out with a decent camera, and document some of those beauties!
We even have a special bragging thread for your dish finds, and Birdviews are sure welcome:

Adventures in Dish Hunting 2009

 

[stogie5150]

Yea, my carpetbagger radar was going off dealing with them.
I'm just glad they thought I got the dirty end of the stick.

But I picked up the Caddilac of dishes with all the goodies for $100!
Now if I can just take my time and go through everything......like Stogie did. C/Ku heaven.

Anole, we have almost 6 months every year mostly above freezing ....I'm thinking rustoleum rattle can metal primer followed by brush on enamel. Seen that combo used on outdoor equipment that still looks good 20 years later.

And plenty of assembly lube.

Good work, Brother! I'd have been loathe like some of the other guys about the runaround the owners gave you, but that happens sometimes...

Your mount is VERY clean....they don't have spiders in Canada? Must be too cold! LOL

Looking forward to seeing more when you tear into it, and if you need anything, post away and I'll do my best.

 

[melgarga]

Mel -
Ya gotta go out with a decent camera, and document some of those beauties!
We even have a special bragging thread for your dish finds, and Birdviews are sure welcome:

Adventures in Dish Hunting 2009

I knew as soon as I proofed that post I was going to here that from you......lol
I do have pics of all of then I think. My digital cam goes everywhere with me. I use it for memory enhancement....IOW, "Now where the hell did I see that!"........lol. If not I can get some and post 'em up. Two are partially obscured by cedar fences, and the 'No Solicitors' one is a stretch for my Zoom limits. The other three are the 'potentials' and should be no problem.

 

[madd]

I have also located what I think is a BV. It is located is a fenced area owned by a local cable provider. The subsation was purchase by CableOne. They now use fiber optics to deliver serivice to their clients. There are 4 reflectors that are not in use. I am in the process of contacting them to see if they would like them removed or if I can purchase at least one of them. I wiil post pics by the weekend. They look like they all are 10' or larger and I am for sure that one looks similar to the one that Anole had in his BV project , but from the distance I saw it , it looks solid not perf. I will get a better look this weekend. Are there BV's that are solid?

 

[Anole]

BV history:

See this thread for scans of Birdview original sales material.
They call out 8, 9, and 10 foot dishes (zoom in), in solid and perforated.

First thing is this: the 9' dishes are what we call 8½ foot, measured straight across from rim to rim.
That's the honest way to measure a dish.

Second thing: some members have solid and perf in the 8½ size, but no others.
Linuxman has both, and they apparently both perform equally on C & Ku.

So, all solids are one size: 8½
The only perf we've seen is: 8½
Nobody has come up with the smaller nor larger perf, from Birdview.
There are a number of similar dishes around of equal and larger size, but if they're not on the unique Birdview mount, then they aren't even related to Birdviews.


Yes, there was a queer offset dish the company came up with just before they went out of business, but only one or two members have them.
The have regular BV motorized mounts, but I don't know of any put into service.
And due to their smaller size, I would not be anxious to fire one up.
They were called the Spoon, and if you must know more, I'm sure it'll come up on a search, here.

 

[madd]

Anole,

Thanks for the BV101!!! I am searching through archieves for the info now. I am at my old place of employment doing some consulting work and the subsation is just across the street. I will attempt to take pics today. Thanks again for the info.


madd

 

[lonewolf85]

Yes, there was a queer offset dish the company came up with just before they went out of business, but only one or two members have them.
The have regular BV motorized mounts, but I don't know of any put into service.
And due to their smaller size, I would not be anxious to fire one up.
They were called the Spoon, and if you must know more, I'm sure it'll come up on a search, here.

Anole that queer offset dish that I have measures 8½ foot by 7foot. Second everyone forgets that I also have one of the perf birdviews and it measures 8½ foot.