Just noticed today that the "Azimuth Bracket" already has 2 - predrilled holes on it right in the middle where the new Pivot Bolt could go - as Wescopc circled / described them in Picture 4. So would only need to drill holes on each side thru the "Supporting Bracket Square Pole" (as Fortec calls it). Maybe can do up on roof after all, once I pick up a proper Pivot Bolt somewhere. Then do the TurnBuckle re TurnBuckle Bills' & Anoles" ideas.
Need Help / Advice - How do you Fine Tune 1 meter Fortec Star Dish Elevation
- Thread starter jsattv
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 26
- Views 6K
- Status
The trick is to center absolutely the drilled hole with the one that is already there. If it is off just a little then the adjustment bolts will hang in the arcked slot they ride in.
Hence my suggestion of a centering punch, also know as a transfer punch. Then drill that center with a small pilot drill followed by the final pivot sized drill. With the right tools, you should be able to do this in place on the roof.
Bob
Hence my suggestion of a centering punch, also know as a transfer punch. Then drill that center with a small pilot drill followed by the final pivot sized drill. With the right tools, you should be able to do this in place on the roof.
Bob
pivot bolt & elevation bracket pictures
Pivot Bolt:
Here is a bolt I was suggesting.
Note the unthreaded portion by the head is bigger than the threads.
You don't want the kind where the threads are bigger than the shaft.
Use is described in the posts above.
Elevation Mod:
As for where to put the jack-screw to pull the dish to a higher elevation, as I described above, here is a picture of the bracket required.
Sorry for the lousy drawing - I used PAINT
You'd need to drill through the vertical support at the red circle, on both sides.
Then, you'd need to use a little file and square up the hole on the dish-side.
That would prevent the carriage bolt from turning.
The green line represents the carriage bolt.
It goes through the yellow bracket, and by tightening a nut on the end of the bolt, the dish is brought up to a higher elevation.
Well, that was my idea.
I thought even a poor picture was better than a lot of words.
Pivot Bolt:
Here is a bolt I was suggesting.
Note the unthreaded portion by the head is bigger than the threads.
You don't want the kind where the threads are bigger than the shaft.
Use is described in the posts above.
Elevation Mod:
As for where to put the jack-screw to pull the dish to a higher elevation, as I described above, here is a picture of the bracket required.
Sorry for the lousy drawing - I used PAINT
You'd need to drill through the vertical support at the red circle, on both sides.
Then, you'd need to use a little file and square up the hole on the dish-side.
That would prevent the carriage bolt from turning.
The green line represents the carriage bolt.
It goes through the yellow bracket, and by tightening a nut on the end of the bolt, the dish is brought up to a higher elevation.
Well, that was my idea.
I thought even a poor picture was better than a lot of words.
Attachments
Thanks Wescopc and wonderful drawing Anole, that is exactly what I had in mind. Picked up the 1/4 inch Plate today at a welding shop where the guy cut and grinded it to size. Also got a threaded rod for the fine tuning adjustments - (hope this is okay with Turnbuckle-bill).
Wescopc, I hadn't realized that the Centering of the Pivot Bolt was so critical, so we will be extra careful with center punching it, then drilling out with small & then larger bit. Thanks.
Great Drawing re the overall setup Anole, & re the Pivot Bolt picture will visit Hardware Store as it needs to be at least 2 .75 inches long, guess could settle for 3 inches. Phoned Winnipeg Fortec dealer that sold me the Dish, and they said individual parts such as extra Elevation Bolts are NOT available separately, (lady said these parts only come with the entire Fortec Dish Kits), so I'll try the Hardware Store route. Rain is forecast for tomorrow and Sat, - will post pics when done.
Guys, especially Anole, thankx very much, without doubt this is the best Satellite Help Site in the universe!!
Wescopc, I hadn't realized that the Centering of the Pivot Bolt was so critical, so we will be extra careful with center punching it, then drilling out with small & then larger bit. Thanks.
Great Drawing re the overall setup Anole, & re the Pivot Bolt picture will visit Hardware Store as it needs to be at least 2 .75 inches long, guess could settle for 3 inches. Phoned Winnipeg Fortec dealer that sold me the Dish, and they said individual parts such as extra Elevation Bolts are NOT available separately, (lady said these parts only come with the entire Fortec Dish Kits), so I'll try the Hardware Store route. Rain is forecast for tomorrow and Sat, - will post pics when done.
Guys, especially Anole, thankx very much, without doubt this is the best Satellite Help Site in the universe!!
jsattv, who is the Winnipeg Fortec dealer?
Canadian Tire has a pretty good selection of bolts. I'd recommend using a nylock nut so that you don't have to overtighten anything. CT also has stainless bolts and nylock nuts. I'd like to do the same kind of thing with my dish. Unless the weight of the dish falls back against the adjuster bolt, you need some sort of a pivot to acheive push /pull adjustment. Its a pain pushing on the top of a dish, getting a peak to the signal, then having it drop off when the flex in the arrangement changes the elevation when you let off.
Canadian Tire has a pretty good selection of bolts. I'd recommend using a nylock nut so that you don't have to overtighten anything. CT also has stainless bolts and nylock nuts. I'd like to do the same kind of thing with my dish. Unless the weight of the dish falls back against the adjuster bolt, you need some sort of a pivot to acheive push /pull adjustment. Its a pain pushing on the top of a dish, getting a peak to the signal, then having it drop off when the flex in the arrangement changes the elevation when you let off.
Yes, excellent idea!
It does not matter if you use a turnbuckle or a threaded rod. The basic idea is to be able to move the dish very slightly. Like 1 millimeter or even less! And you of course can't do this with the dish as is, losening the bolt and using your hand to move the dish up/down.
Also excellent idea for the pivot bolt!
Anyway when you get a signal meter and your hardware installed, then are on a satellite, you will see that turning the nut on the adjustment bolt just a quarter turn can be quite a difference in the signal meter reading. And when turning the nut a quarter turn, you probably would not be able to see the dish move the adjustment is so fine.
And by the way, my big 12 ft. dish came with adjustment screws like this. Why don't they make smaller dishes with similar adjustment screws? Small dishes need to be aligned just as precisely. I wonder if the people who manufacture these dishes have ever tried to aim one?
TiminMb, I'll check with Canadian Tire re the Pivot Bolt, thanks. The Winnipeg Fortec Dealer is: 21st Century Entertainment Inc on Richard Avenue. Contact Heather @ 786 2777. Also if you check back on these pages, you will find that about a month ago a magazine article was done by: TELE-satellite International. The Article was titled: "Satellite Business in Winnipeg", their web address is: www.TELE-satellite.com. Great article.
Also bill190 thanks for the comments. Yes trying to Fine Tune the Dish right now is almost a complete impossibility. Hopefully the new Steel Plate and Threaded Rod, & the new Pivot Bolt will help. I'll probably use the Sat Receiver & TV as a Signal Meter when we get finished, as I haven't had much success with cheaper Signal Meters.
Also bill190 thanks for the comments. Yes trying to Fine Tune the Dish right now is almost a complete impossibility. Hopefully the new Steel Plate and Threaded Rod, & the new Pivot Bolt will help. I'll probably use the Sat Receiver & TV as a Signal Meter when we get finished, as I haven't had much success with cheaper Signal Meters.
- Status
Similar threads
