What size actuator?

[bobvick]

I am sorry to keep bothering everybody with my questions, but I have one more. I am getting a 7.5' dish. It comes with a 18'' actuator. Do you think that one that size will allow me to see most of the arc, or would you all recommend getting a bigger one while I am at it. I like to do things right the first time, even if it may cost a little bit more up front, I belivive that time is money, and that doing it right to start with will be the best. I had a 10' dish for several years back in the VCII days, and I cant remember what size that it had on it. I know that I could see from 69W to 137W with it though. I am putting the new dish in approximately the same place the old one was in. I could kick myself in the arse for not keeping that 10 footer.

 

[hd fan]

69W to 137W. Do you still have an obstruction further east or was it the stroke lenght the limiting factor? My true South is 79 and here in Toronto I can go from 53W to 137W and it only extends 12 inches (now I use an old 24" Von Weisse). But ultimately the type of dish (weight, how and where the arm attaches) plays a big role. time is money but this is a hobby for most of us I guess, so if I were you I would try the 18 inch first and see how far it points (just set the angles roughly). I would say that if it came with the 18 inch arm then you should be fine, more likely it is a local dish, isnt it?

 

[bobvick]

Well, I can't say for sure about going past 69W, to the east. I can see farther to the east past that. 69 was as far east as I went back then, because that is where Spacenet 2 was, and at that time there was nothing much that I cared about seeing farther to the east. I suppose that I will try the 18'' actuator. It is a Venture Mini-T, so it should be pretty good. I have managed to find the old actuator that I used with that 10 footer I had, and I will measure and see what size it is later on. Thanks