Sitting here with all this new FTA equipment...

[Cosmo Blatz]

The LNBF is blocking a very high percentage of the surface. Maybe 10% or more?

You might get a signal off of a high-powered Dish Network satellite with a circular DSS/DBS LNBF, but unlikely to lock anything on a FSS satellite unless every angle and position is perfect.

On the brightside, the design and execution certainly puts you into the running for "That Crazy Neighbor" award...

Yes, the LNBF is probably blocking at least 10% of the surface area. Not ideal.
I'm a consistent winner if the Crazy Neighbor award!
Recent comment from next door neighbor after viewing my customized mountain bike: "John, you have too much time on your hands."

Today, I'm working on 'sewer cam'. I think there is a broken sewer tile under the concrete basement floor. I'm putting together a camera system to feed into the floor drain to find the damaged tile.

 

[Cosmo Blatz]

by the coordinates you gave for 95w if you try to point at 97w i estimate that you need to skew the lnb 9.7 degrees
it looks straight up in your pic.
(it looks pretty cool though)

Dish was not set up for reception when pics were taken. Thanks for the complement.

 

[Cosmo Blatz]

Does the alum foil reflect visible light well? If yes, perhaps the focal spot could be made visible when this bowl is directed to the Sun or a distant reflector.
If the foil is "matte" and the reflection "hazy", why not to try a few small mirrors from Dollar Store Disco Ball? Sort of random sampling.
Another thing, your LNBF has certain Field Of View, similarly to photo camera, roughly 60 degree. For this bowl, the LNBF should be similar to "fish eye" lens, and for this to achieve, tinkering with its scalar is needed.

Just about ready to give up on this project. But I'll try your suggestions to see where the focal length really is at.

 

[Cosmo Blatz]

Does the alum foil reflect visible light well? If yes, perhaps the focal spot could be made visible when this bowl is directed to the Sun or a distant reflector.
If the foil is "matte" and the reflection "hazy", why not to try a few small mirrors from Dollar Store Disco Ball? Sort of random sampling.
Another thing, your LNBF has certain Field Of View, similarly to photo camera, roughly 60 degree. For this bowl, the LNBF should be similar to "fish eye" lens, and for this to achieve, tinkering with its scalar is needed.

Thanks for the suggestions polgyver. The surface is quite reflective. I cut a circle of typing paper and taped it to a length of wire coat hanger. I moved the paper around the dish looking for the 'hot spot'. The optical focal point seemed to be close to where I had had the LNBF positioned. Just for kicks, I did the same procedure using a metal garbage can lid. WoW! Found a "hot spot' that would burn my hand at about 9" off the surface. So, I glued (20) 3/4" mirrors to the can lid to see if the mirrors confirmed the 'hot spot'. LoL! No way! The mirror spot beams showed up all over the place using the typing paper. Oh well, no substitute for a real dish.

Good source of cheap mirrors in all different sizes and shapes:
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/3/4-round-craft-mirrors-242297/

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