Went fishing, but found dishes

[swampman]

Hey guys. Long time no see. Been kinda busy so I havent had much time to visit. I went fishing yesterday but didnt have much luck. On my way back I saw a few interesting dishes. The first one I came across(and Fred you know how long I've been waiting), is a perferated Birdview. It miraculously survived a 10 foot tidal surge from hurricane Rita about 2 years ago. If you'll notice in the first pic, (1 of 3)you can see where the force of that water pushed on the roof of the guy's house and bent it badly. The home itself was completely gutted! Tons of water just passed right through it. The only thing that saved the dish is the height of the post.

The last 5 pics are of a monster dish I found a little later. Maybe someone here can identify it. Nobody was home, so I couldnt get close enough to measure it or ask about it, but I did snap a few of pics. This baby has to be at least 16!

And the last pic is a first for me. Never new Zenith made satellite dishes. Check out the mount.

 

[linuxman]

Great find Swampman!!

That's the baby! Congratulations!!

All you have to do now is get permission and get it down. It will be a little tough, but you can do it!

I don't know what the bigger dish is. It is a monster!

Fred

 

[swampman]

Yeah I'm afraid the Birdview is gonna be too difficult. Not to mention they built the house around the post. Plus it's about a 2 hour drive. May keep that on the back burner for now.

I just added another pic of a Zenith dish next to the big one. Take a look. A first for me.

 

[djkurious]

Yeah I'm afraid the Birdview is gonna be too difficult. Not to mention they built the house around the post. Plus it's about a 2 hour drive. May keep that on the back burner for now.

I just added another pic of a Zenith dish next to the big one. Take a look. A first for me.

Swampman, I am with you on trying to get the Birdview dish down. I have one on the backburner waiting to be taken down, but being that high, I know it's going to be a pain! Also, I always wondered how in the world did they get them up there and aimed. I do know that every Birdview dish I have seen, they are still up and aimed. Maybe Incredible Hulk use to help them! I remember seeing those specialized trailers back in the day so maybe it was 100 men in the trailers!!

 

[PopcornNMore]

Nice find Swampman. Did you ever get that CM 1.8m dish you were looking to get? If so, how did you mount it?

 

[swampman]

Nice find Swampman. Did you ever get that CM 1.8m dish you were looking to get? If so, how did you mount it?

Actually I wasn't able to get it. It was a t radio station, and the guy I talked with said he didnt think it was being used. But that I'd have to talk with their tech guy about it. So the next day I see the tech guy and we go out and look at it. He says "Oh no, we still use that one." Kind of conflicting stories there but I guess the tech guy should know.

I know where there is another 1.8 Channelmaster atop an abandoned hospital. However they say everything about the building will be auctioned off, and things anyone wants will be bid only. The guy I talked with said all that has been very slow in developing. I asked him how many bids did he think he would get on an old (no good to anyone but me) dish? I told him probably 1... me.

 

[swampman]

Also, I always wondered how in the world did they get them up there and aimed.

My guess would be, plenty of help, or maybe one of those bucket trucks that the cable TV people use. I would think they installed the mount first, then the dish onto the mount. Otherwise it would be extremely heavy lifting both at once.

 

[linuxman]

Couple of things Swampman.

The Zenith dish I believe is a Winegard Pinnacle. It may have Zenith's name on it, but it certainly looks like a Pinnacle. Look at how deep it is, and look how close to the edge of the dish the feed-horn is. The outside rim is identical, and the ribs on the back are the same.

It is a Pinnacle in Zenith disguise. A very good perforated dish, but difficult to peak with a balance of C and Ku if you use a Co-Rotor II on it. Perforated aluminum. Very tough, and small holes.

Second thing about the dishes on poles. Think young men who are very strong with a couple of ladders against the pole, or lift truck. The dish by itself isn't that heavy. The mount weighs around 100 Lbs. Young strong men can do a lot.

Too bad those days are behind me.

Fred

 

[caddata]

...Young strong men can do a lot...

Just like the Marines-----A few good men.

Harold

 

[swampman]

The Zenith dish I believe is a Winegard Pinnacle. It may have Zenith's name on it, but it certainly looks like a Pinnacle. Look at how deep it is,

Yeah I noticed that. The dish is very deep. Good for separating those close sats, but tricky to lock on sometimes.

The mount weighs around 100 Lbs.

I know its heavy. I still have the one from my former employer on standby.

Too bad those days are behind me.

And WAY behind me as well my friend.

 

[gabshere]

well with a boom and or with a rope it might be possible to lower the dish and mount but several younger hands would also be a good idea. but its still viable option just mark the treasure map incase you need it in the future

 

[htownjoe]

yeah you never know what you will find when you go fishing down in the bayou! ... or gambling! last time i went to delta downs i saw a huge dish a few houses down from the casino, must have been at least 14 feet! and of course the monstrous dish at the casino surrounded by birdview after birdview. the casino must have been 25 ft at least. some talk about the gators in louisianna, some the casinos, some the cops in unmarked vehicles, here we are talking about the dishes. too funny! i love this game!

 

[voomvoom]

The first dish I ever looked into buying some 30 years ago was a Zenith. It was a 10' fiberglass and was sitting on a trailer. It was being displayed at a local Hardware Store and they were trying to sell some. They would take the trailer out to your place and give an on-site demonstration. They only wanted $6000 dollars for them, what a deal? Those were the days, I eventually bought one for $3200, I'm not sure who made the 10' fiberglass, but the receiver was a Drake and it had a 120 degree lna on it. Two handcranks for azimuth and elevation.
At any rate, I know Zenith was in the game at the start. They probably at some point contracted out the work, and finally got out of the game. Like most everyone did eventually?

Al

 

[htownjoe]

6000 back in the late 70s! damn i thought the 1500 nowdays was expensive! that would be equal to what 12000 or so today? damn buying a dish was like buying a car back then i guess? couldnt you get everything back then? like any sat communication outside of goverment?

 

[swampman]

well with a boom and or with a rope it might be possible to lower the dish and mount but several younger hands would also be a good idea. but its still viable option just mark the treasure map incase you need it in the future

I think thats what I'll do George. Gotta be some less challenging ones out there.

 

[swampman]

They would take the trailer out to your place and give an on-site demonstration.

Wow! Now THATS what I call service!

At any rate, I know Zenith was in the game at the start. They probably at some point contracted out the work, and finally got out of the game. Like most everyone did eventually?

Well thats what I first thought when I saw it. But like Fred pointed out it may be a "Pinnacle in Zenith disguise." Or maybe a Zenith in Pinnacle disguise.

 

[swampman]

6000 back in the late 70s! damn i thought the 1500 nowdays was expensive! that would be equal to what 12000 or so today? damn buying a dish was like buying a car back then i guess? couldnt you get everything back then? like any sat communication outside of goverment?

LOL Hey Joe thats the price you pay for buying into new technology. Case in point. In 1995 I paid $800 for a Directv receiver and another $600 for the second receiver! Never thought back then that someday they would give them away.:shocked

 

[tvropro]

Couple of things Swampman.

The Zenith dish I believe is a Winegard Pinnacle. It may have Zenith's name on it, but it certainly looks like a Pinnacle. Look at how deep it is, and look how close to the edge of the dish the feed-horn is. The outside rim is identical, and the ribs on the back are the same.

It is a Pinnacle in Zenith disguise. A very good perforated dish, but difficult to peak with a balance of C and Ku if you use a Co-Rotor II on it. Perforated aluminum. Very tough, and small holes.

Second thing about the dishes on poles. Think young men who are very strong with a couple of ladders against the pole, or lift truck. The dish by itself isn't that heavy. The mount weighs around 100 Lbs. Young strong men can do a lot.

Too bad those days are behind me.

Fred

If I remember right the Zenith dish was made by Winegard.

 

[tvropro]

The first dish I ever looked into buying some 30 years ago was a Zenith. It was a 10' fiberglass and was sitting on a trailer. It was being displayed at a local Hardware Store and they were trying to sell some. They would take the trailer out to your place and give an on-site demonstration. They only wanted $6000 dollars for them, what a deal? Those were the days, I eventually bought one for $3200, I'm not sure who made the 10' fiberglass, but the receiver was a Drake and it had a 120 degree lna on it. Two handcranks for azimuth and elevation.
At any rate, I know Zenith was in the game at the start. They probably at some point contracted out the work, and finally got out of the game. Like most everyone did eventually?

Al

I started looking at satellite systems back in 1979 they cost around $21,000.00 back then. I have about 7 grand invested in my C band system's since I started in 87 alone.