BUD and winds

[ZetaMale]

I've been struggling for years to find a solution to my BUD shaking in high winds (25+ MPH) - especially gusts which can get as high at 65 MPH. I have one BUD that's shielded by the predominate wind but it still gets shook up causing intermittent loss of signal. So, putting up a shield to protect my other 12 foot BUD doesn't sound like a viable solution. Every nut and bolt is tightened down. I guess the problem is in the actuator but fixing the dish on one satellite just won't do. I don't know how well something like this would work:

https://www.google.com/patents/US3918065

 

[armadillo_115]

Check for play in the actuator.The old actuator that I put on mama's dish is worn out. I can pull the dish by hand on one side and it will extend another 4 inches.

It wasn't so bad on the 7.5, but the 10 footer whupped it.lol

 

[harshness]

The design appears to be for fixed dish. The elastomer membrane is only the narrow seal between the rigid outer structure and the dish rim that keeps wind out of the interior.

Notice also that the size of the igloo appears to be at least twice the diameter of the dish.

 

[iBoston]

Yea, if it's really windy, i just have to resort to my FIXED ku dishes or pop in a DVD. As long as everything is standing when I wake up, im happy.

 

[Radioguy41]

Depends on whether it's a solid dish or a mesh dish.. I've seen solid dishes (non H to H) shake all over in a heavy wind but my mesh has never lost the signal due to wind in 25 years. If the signal starts to disappear I know there's snow built up on it so it's time for galoshes and a broom.

 

[Titanium]

A mesh dish becomes a solid surface at about 35mph.

In high wind installs, have dug holes, built up earthen berms and erected fences around client dishes to provide a wind break.

 

[harshness]

A mesh dish becomes a solid surface at about 35mph

According to eHow, the mesh defeating wind speed is closer to 50mph. Either way, a 65mph gust isn't going to be tolerated without extensive protective measures such as you've used.

At least one manufacturer is rating their 12' mesh dish at a 90kph (56mph) operational wind speed (150kph survival).

 

[Titanium]

Sorry, was generalizing as the turbulence effect is dependent on mesh design, gauge and opening.

Several online calculators are available for determining windload based on many parameters.

 

[mr3p]

http://windspeed.atcouncil.org/

 

[ZetaMale]

Depends on whether it's a solid dish or a mesh dish.. I've seen solid dishes (non H to H) shake all over in a heavy wind but my mesh has never lost the signal due to wind in 25 years. If the signal starts to disappear I know there's snow built up on it so it's time for galoshes and a broom.

I guess that's why my first dish, a perforated 8 footer on an HH mount, stood up to the Wyoming winds while these mesh dishes on a polar mount don't. (?) Too bad there aren't any new HH C-band dishes available for the consumer market anymore. But, I don't recall any of the 6 meter Ku solid dishes with Az-El mounts having wind issues. OK, I'll shut up about this and just live with what I have - I'm not going to spend the time and money re-doing my installation (unless I win the lottery).