8' C Band Antenna Dish Refurbishment

I have had a 6' C-Band dish for a few years now and have had great fun with it, I boast I can get 95% of C-Band signals...... 99% of the time. But after recently helping SPACEVIDCAST with the installation of their C-Band antenna I thought I too would "upgrade" to a larger dish. It's about 1' bigger all round as you can see from the picture where I have some petals from each dish standing next to each other. It's around 8' in dia.

I scanned craigslist and sure enough found one locally just across the border in WI. The drive there was amazing and a treat in it's self. Wisconsin is beautiful in springtime.

It takes me around 30 minutes to get there, (reminds me that I actually live closer to WI. than I do the Minneapolis Metro area!) only to find the dish was weather damaged, and perhaps bullet damaged judging by the holes : )

Anyway I get to work on one of the windiest days in my recent memory. RATS! Close to every nut and bolt was seized, luckily when I cranked on them most all snapped. In total it took me 45 mins to take the monster apart.

The refurbishment was fun, firstly I replaced most every nut and bolt, The main elevation screw was seized and I had to use my two decades in heavy mechanical engineering experience to free everything maintaining the thread. (WD 40)

I then beat out and repaired all the dents and bullet holes in the mesh, and painted everything with the obligatory MATT BLACK paint. As a long time mechanical Engineer and LICENSED satellite technician I measured everything before dismantling the antenna and when I reinstalled it, pointing it by eye............ BANG I had signal without doing any tweaking! I did eventually tinker with the skew a little, but to be fair C-Band signals are very forgiving and I was working with the BEST C-Band LNB around. The BSC421, it's the Beez Kneez! GREAT signals and stability, I have had mine for a few years now and never lets me down. VERY robust LNB! And so cheap too, there is no better LNB at any price!

The final test was tracking the Clarke Belt of course, but once again with all the correct angles and a PERFECTLY plumb and level pole/mast I was crack on there too!

C-Band is still VERY much worth the effort and this project was a LOT of fun! As for what I am going to be doing with my "wee" 6' C-band antenna..................... you will have to wait. But as a hint............. it will be mobile!

Thanks for watching by the way!

http://visionplus.us/smf/index.php?topic=6169.0

Forgot to say it came with a FREE actuator too!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• psbsatellite
• visionplus
• traxis
• c-band

[Nomoreidsleft]

I haven't been doing satellites for 5 years, but I bet the networks are sending more of their raw feeds on C band now that everyone switched over to Ku.

[psb2usa]

Your right all sorets now FTA on C

More details on my forum

satellitePlus  dot US

[coolbluelights]

can you still pick up signals with these old dishes?? I have no idea about these things what are they used for now?

[psb2usa]

WOW yes, lots of HD both Ku and C-Band FTA and 100% legal.

more info on SatellitePlus

[gccengineering1996]

@psb2usa That is what keeps my interest in satellite TV or HDTV up. Is FTA signals and pay signals in HD. Don't forget HD Satellite Radio it will be out soon. Music in 5.1 digital sound. I got me a WiFi radio, that's my alternative to satellite radio. FM broadcasts from over 900 miles away via the web.

[psb2usa]

That is very interesting, please keep me posted here or on my forum

Sateliteplus.us

[miviezgeneration]

i can't believe people call these things "big ugly dishes" i have always thought that they were very cool and futuristic looking, ever since i was a little kid

[sgtpepper1138]

I miss our old C-Band, when we finally get our own house I'm getting one.

[thehumangoing]

the lnb looks waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too big lol

[sonicxlc123]

can u contact space aliens??

[PetrosAthensGr]

Nice video. Where i can find this protective rubber boot for the actuator? Mine is 36' inch Thanks foe the updload

[semco72057]

I would love to have one of these myself and set it up on a tall steel pole. I have a Ku band dish and even though it works great, you can't get the local stations from around this country on it. A C band dish would complete the package for me since I have a new FTA receiver.

[ZumptheStump]

I'm also interested where you got that ground mount at. I'm waiting to put up a dish till I find that type of ground mount. Thanks.

[cangp08]

Thanks for sharing! I plan on putting up a 7.5ft dish myself. Can you tell me where I can purchase/obtain that type of ground mount?