Recently, I installed a 90cm motorized dish project on the roof of the shop. From assembly to aimed, tracking, peaked from 61w to 125w and walking away, 2 hours and 30 minutes! 
Here is a wide shot of the roof with the finished project.
To hit the Eastern satellites lower than 75w, the dish needed to be placed near the peak of the roof, but could not be placed where it would be seen from the public parking lot. I did a site survey last summer and decided if the dish was mounted on top of the stub (parapet) walls of the air conditioning cuddy, it would see an unobstructed range from approximately 61w to 160w.
In storage I had collected a VMP 166 NPRM (non pen roof mount), GEOSATpro 90cm dish, SG6100 motor, Titanium KS1PLL KU LNBF, 16' pressure treated 2x6, 5' pt 2x4, 3 - nail plates, and 4 - 90 degree corner brackets. I was almost ready to go, but first had to "fix" the new SG6100 to prevent the tube from flopping. Removed the tube from the motor and inserted several metal shims before remounting and "over-tightening" the bolt. The slop is gone. Too bad the factory doesn't know how to produce the SG6100 without this manufacturing error! BTW... what is the ridiculous counter LED for? Worthless eye candy that has no function...
With the chop saw I cut the 2x6 down to length with angled ends to create a triangle. Used the nail plates to join the corners. Strengthened the long leg of the 2x6 frame with a vertical 2x4 screwed to the bottom side. Placed the triangle frame over the stub wall metal flashing cap screwed the 90 degree angle brackets on the inside and outside of the 2x6 frame to minimize the chance of the assembly sliding off the stub walls.
Next came the hardest part of the process, hauling the assembled non-pen and 8 cement blocks 18' up to the roof with a rope.... hand over hand.... without damaging the gutters. I evidently need to work out more! I would die if I was laying blocks for a living!
Used lag screws to attach the NPRM onto the wood frame.
For safety, I installed a stainless steel wire rope line from the NPRM to an eyehook in a wall stud about 3' below in the dish.
Now its time to enjoy!
Here is a wide shot of the roof with the finished project.
To hit the Eastern satellites lower than 75w, the dish needed to be placed near the peak of the roof, but could not be placed where it would be seen from the public parking lot. I did a site survey last summer and decided if the dish was mounted on top of the stub (parapet) walls of the air conditioning cuddy, it would see an unobstructed range from approximately 61w to 160w.
In storage I had collected a VMP 166 NPRM (non pen roof mount), GEOSATpro 90cm dish, SG6100 motor, Titanium KS1PLL KU LNBF, 16' pressure treated 2x6, 5' pt 2x4, 3 - nail plates, and 4 - 90 degree corner brackets. I was almost ready to go, but first had to "fix" the new SG6100 to prevent the tube from flopping. Removed the tube from the motor and inserted several metal shims before remounting and "over-tightening" the bolt. The slop is gone. Too bad the factory doesn't know how to produce the SG6100 without this manufacturing error! BTW... what is the ridiculous counter LED for? Worthless eye candy that has no function...
With the chop saw I cut the 2x6 down to length with angled ends to create a triangle. Used the nail plates to join the corners. Strengthened the long leg of the 2x6 frame with a vertical 2x4 screwed to the bottom side. Placed the triangle frame over the stub wall metal flashing cap screwed the 90 degree angle brackets on the inside and outside of the 2x6 frame to minimize the chance of the assembly sliding off the stub walls.
Next came the hardest part of the process, hauling the assembled non-pen and 8 cement blocks 18' up to the roof with a rope.... hand over hand.... without damaging the gutters. I evidently need to work out more! I would die if I was laying blocks for a living!
Used lag screws to attach the NPRM onto the wood frame.For safety, I installed a stainless steel wire rope line from the NPRM to an eyehook in a wall stud about 3' below in the dish.
Now its time to enjoy!
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