Green laser and dish obstructions.

[ken2400]

Just wanted to pass on an idea.
I used a green laser at night to see if my dish was getting obstructed.

I mounted off the LNB arm. Not sure this was the best place my 30" Offset dish?

Be careful they are bright.
Do use too long they are very visible.

Good luck

 

[SpiffWilkie]

I've thought about doing this on my motorized dish. I'll play with the laser any chance I get.

 

[Larobpra]

I used a red one when checking LOS for mine.

 

[toucan-man]

I used a red one when checking LOS for mine.

I got a red one in the shape of a mouse at Walmart in the pet department for around $3. Was playing with it tonight and am amazed at how far it goes. Could really irritate the neighbors with it if someone was so inclined (which I am not!).

 

[SpiffWilkie]

Green ones are awesome when it's pitch black. We were without power for a few days earlier in the year and I would take it outside at night to play with it without interference from streetlights. It's also very good for pointing out stars since the beam is visible.

 

[skysurfer]

It's also very good for pointing out stars since the beam is visible.

It's also a good way to potentially go to jail. It's illegal to shine lasers at airplanes/police choppers and people have gone to jail for it.

I use my laser to check feedhorn centering (pointing it into the dish). I never point one into the sky so I don't run any reason for an aircraft operator to blame me for potential safety issues.

I do visual (or use the sun during those two times a year) for obstruction checks.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

It's also a good way to potentially go to jail. It's illegal to shine lasers at airplanes/police choppers and people have gone to jail for it.

That is true. However they are used extensively by the astronomy crowd. The chances of shining them into an aircraft accidentally are very slim. That being said, I would not use one near an airport and make sure it IS a star and not the light from a plane before pointing that thing around elsewhere.

 

[Anole]

one concern:

My local 99¢ store chain carries red laser pointers . . . for . . . 99¢ !

I bought a handful to use for dish alignment and similar projects.
Sometimes it can cost more for replacement button batteries, unless you can find them at the 99¢ store, too.

Just one problem: the laser is never Coaxial - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:RG-59.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/RG-59.jpg/220px-RG-59.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/7/73/RG-59.jpg/220px-RG-59.jpg with the body of the cheap pointer.
So, if you use one, be sure you align the beam, not just the body.

 

[redilyn]

I just bought a green laser pointer for this purpose a few weeks ago.

Was having troubles getting 15w. Turns out my dish doesn't quite clear the tree

But green laser pointers do work good for this purpose, and besides, they are fun to play with too.

Pot mod anyone?

 

[Stargazer]

I have read that there are different qualities of the green lasers, that some are not near as good as the others (such as the cheaper ones) and that there are certain things to look out for.

 

[SpiffWilkie]

I have read that there are different qualities of the green lasers, that some are not near as good as the others (such as the cheaper ones) and that there are certain things to look out for.

Some of the cheaper ones don't have IR filters and can be very dangerous. The radiation can damage your eye without you realizing it since it is infrared. You won't blink or close your eyes. The diodes are also of varying quality and can burn out on cheaper lasers.
The cheap red lasers you get at the dollar store or gas station are really not much of a danger and have little risk of damaging your eyes but higher power ones of any color should be treated much like a gun. Don't point it at anything you don't plan on shooting it at. I have hit myself in the eye with my 50mW green laser and it's not pleasant. A brief flash won't do any harm but prolonged exposure could.

My BIL has a 300mW green laser and if you shine it on your skin it feels like a bee sting. It will light a match as well. Imagine shining that into your eye.

 

[1ADAM12]

Some of the cheaper ones don't have IR filters and can be very dangerous. The radiation can damage your eye without you realizing it since it is infrared. You won't blink or close your eyes. The diodes are also of varying quality and can burn out on cheaper lasers.
The cheap red lasers you get at the dollar store or gas station are really not much of a danger and have little risk of damaging your eyes but higher power ones of any color should be treated much like a gun. Don't point it at anything you don't plan on shooting it at. I have hit myself in the eye with my 50mW green laser and it's not pleasant. A brief flash won't do any harm but prolonged exposure could.

My BIL has a 300mW green laser and if you shine it on your skin it feels like a bee sting. It will light a match as well. Imagine shining that into your eye.

Thanks for posting that helpful information.

Whenever I go to a meeting and the presenter is using a laser pointer I cringe. You have no assurance of what the device can do.

 

[ken2400]

Agree the red ones will work too and can be found at $1 stores.
Good luck pointing your dish.