C-band and Fiberglass covering questions

[scottc98]

Ok....bear with me on this but I've been trying to find a way to get a C-band dish installed at the house that won't be such an eyesore in my backyard.
I've been working in the backyard a lot recently and need to do a lot of landscaping back there. Plan on installing a fence, setting up a veg garden, deck extention and possibly a small pond with a waterfall.

All this brings me to this question: What can I do to hide a 6 foot dish in my backyard? I've got a corner of the yard that has a view roughly of 115w to 140w. I've seen the "Umbrella" dish but it won't work where I need the dish to be.

I've been told that fiberglass covering doesn't block sat signals (at least for KU). Is this true? and will the same effect work for C-band?

The other question is what part of the dish needs to be unblocked for the reflection of the signal to work (top half ?).

Since I have so much that I want to do with the backyard, I am trying to brainstorm now to fit a dish into the picture. If I can do it nice or hide it, I know that I can get the wife's approval.

So...any ideas?

 

[PSB]

I used a plastic cover over my C-Band dish LNBF, the signal quality dropped about 5 points on the meter. Not a big issue with C-Band as rain is not really an issue, but dropping 5 points with KU signals can mean trouble in the rain. The water collects on the plastic and seems to fragment the KU signals.

With a C-Band dish the whole dish points at the satellite (prime focus), also concider paining the dish the same color as the background, or nearby follage.


http://www.silvertv.co.uk/aerial/discrete_satellite_dish.htm

http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/paintingdishes.html

 

[PSB]

Forgot to add many truckers often have domed satellite antennas (Some in motion with a TV on the dash!!!) on top of their cabs, the satellite signal comes right through the fiberglass wind break on the roof, again they can expect around a loss of around 5-10 points on the signal (DBS) meter as the signal has to go through the dome and the fiberglass.

 

[scottc98]

The area I have to place the dish is pretty bare, so the follage idea would take some time to grow. If the entire dish needs a clear line of sight, then thats at least a 6 foot radius i'll need to expose.

From one of your links, there was a DBS dish installed inside, getting signal from a fiberglass skylight.

Would that same type of idea work for C-band?

Not saying I am going to put it in my attic and create a extremely large skylight,
but more or less looking at enclosing it in a fiberglass structure outside.

 

[scottc98]

Forgot to add many truckers often have domed satellite antennas (Some in motion with a TV on the dash!!!) on top of their cabs, the satellite signal comes right through the fiberglass wind break on the roof, again they can expect around a loss of around 5-10 points on the signal (DBS) meter as the signal has to go through the dome and the fiberglass.

I've seen those dishes. Very cool!!

 

[PSB]

"I've seen those dishes. Very cool!!"

True but these guys in GIANT rigs are watching satellite TV as they drive down the road


"Not saying I am going to put it in my attic and create a extremely large skylight,
but more or less looking at enclosing it in a fiberglass structure outside."

Sounds like a Radome

http://www.mfgratech.com/prod/prod_radome.html

 

[WyrTwister]

Camo net ?

wyr

Ok....bear with me on this but I've been trying to find a way to get a C-band dish installed at the house that won't be such an eyesore in my backyard.
I've been working in the backyard a lot recently and need to do a lot of landscaping back there. Plan on installing a fence, setting up a veg garden, deck extention and possibly a small pond with a waterfall.

All this brings me to this question: What can I do to hide a 6 foot dish in my backyard? I've got a corner of the yard that has a view roughly of 115w to 140w. I've seen the "Umbrella" dish but it won't work where I need the dish to be.

I've been told that fiberglass covering doesn't block sat signals (at least for KU). Is this true? and will the same effect work for C-band?

The other question is what part of the dish needs to be unblocked for the reflection of the signal to work (top half ?).

Since I have so much that I want to do with the backyard, I am trying to brainstorm now to fit a dish into the picture. If I can do it nice or hide it, I know that I can get the wife's approval.

So...any ideas?

 

[PSB]

Camo net ?

wyr

Like this only BIGGER!


http://www.satcover.com/weavdish.htm

 

[scottc98]

"Not saying I am going to put it in my attic and create a extremely large skylight,
but more or less looking at enclosing it in a fiberglass structure outside."

Sounds like a Radome

http://www.mfgratech.com/prod/prod_radome.html[/QUOTE]


looks like a bigger eyesore that the dish by itself

What about a large plexiglass rock formation that I could cover the dish with and use it for my waterfall/pond?

I take it that as long as the water flow down the front of the dish that I'd be ok?

 

[jayelem]

Ok....bear with me on this but I've been trying to find a way to get a C-band dish installed at the house that won't be such an eyesore in my backyard.

All this brings me to this question: What can I do to hide a 6 foot dish in my backyard?

If I can do it nice or hide it, I know that I can get the wife's approval.

So...any ideas?

I really like the painting scheme, so many dishes go un-noticed when they are somewhat camouflaged in their enviroment.

That is unless you own a dish yourself , just like your car or truck , you drive everyday and you can always spot your own vehicle when driving.

When I drive, I always look at dishes on Bars, Restaurants, buisnesses, homes, and when I walk down streets or alleys ( city development ) , I see dishes just about every location, the ones that get me are the fixed dishes sitting on the floor or on a short post in a bucket of cement.

 

[bryansr]

Build a big "Green House" over it and tell people you have taken up gardening? Use the cheap frosted fiberglass panels and some 2X2's and 2X4's to build it with.

BryanSR