nu-b to sat, but old time engineer w/couple questions

[chgoldtv]

I've been lurking, learning best I can for a month or so before I start to put my first system together, and haven't found answers to a few Q's, but first a little background.

1) I've decided I want a motorized system with at least some c-band capability for the strong c-birds along with Ku.
2) I must mount to north wall of my 2.5 story south facing house w/dish centered and looking over peak of gable - only place to get clear sky view in crowded Chicago neighborhood (sardine can packed lots and tall trees). Have to do the install/mount while hanging out rear attic window, as roof is dangerously steep and peak is 35ft above ground. Besides I'm unwilling to penetrate the roof.
3) 1.2meter max dish under consideration (possibly CM120). Size limit based on getting it through attic window, manageable weight during install, and cosmetic size limit. Have read others c-band success w/1.2m. Know about the adjacent sat interference issue due to beamwidth of main dish lobe.

Now the major Questions (rants)!!!!

1) Can't find (haven't seen or read about) a polar mount motor drive/controller that also has a secondary motorized elevation (declination?) capability. I want this for the following reasons:
a) I've read that some have dealt with adjacent sat interference by slightly mis aiming away from the interfering bird. This wont work if bird you want is sandwiched between 2 other equal powered c-band birds. However, if you could mis aim up or down say a degree or two(an OFFSET to the nominal declination) you might be able to push both interfering signals far enough down the mainlobe slope to help, without losing too much on the middle bird.
b) With the nasty installation conditions I'll have, I want complete remote motorized control for tweaking purposes, because I don't want to deal with mechanical tweaking once installed unless something outright breaks.

2) Assuming the motorized drives/(actuators??) to do this are readily available, is there a controller (hopefully built into an FTA receiver) that could store in memory AND USE BOTH parameters so the declination offset parameter (ie, my tweak) will be automated?

If I can get past these hurdles, then I'll start thinking about wind loads (It is the Windy City after all!) and mechanical strength issues of mounting.

Thanks in advance,
Jim

 

[Anole]

a few answers

1) I've decided I want a motorized system with at least some c-band capability for the strong c-birds along with Ku.

On the ground, with a decent view of the sky, that would be reasonable.

2) I must mount to north wall of my 2.5 story south facing house w/dish centered and looking over peak of gable - only place to get clear sky view in crowded Chicago neighborhood (sardine can packed lots and tall trees). Have to do the install/mount while hanging out rear attic window, as roof is dangerously steep and peak is 35ft above ground. Besides I'm unwilling to penetrate the roof.

Now, you've just left reasonable, and entered dangerous-land.
I suggest you post us a few pictures - maybe there are some options.
Both the house, land, and that roof/window.

3) 1.2meter max dish under consideration (possibly CM120). Size limit based on getting it through attic window, manageable weight during install, and cosmetic size limit. Have read others c-band success w/1.2m. Know about the adjacent sat interference issue due to beamwidth of main dish lobe.

Well, even if it won't go through the window, it's possible to rope it up the outside.
It's all the mounting and aiming bracketry that worries me...

Now the major Questions (rants)!!!!

1) Can't find (haven't seen or read about) a polar mount motor drive/controller that also has a secondary motorized elevation (declination?) capability. I want this for the following reasons:

I've seen 'em , but only in Europe.

a) I've read that some have dealt with adjacent sat interference by slightly mis aiming away from the interfering bird.

Sounds like a bad bandaid to using too-small a dish in the first place.

2) Assuming the motorized drives/(actuators??) to do this are readily available, is there a controller (hopefully built into an FTA receiver) that could store in memory AND USE BOTH parameters so the declination offset parameter (ie, my tweak) will be automated?

You might be able to get commands sent to two motors.
It's not a supported thing, and no method comes to mind, immediately.
What you can have, is the remote for the secondary dish-mover in your hand, and fine-tune as you move to each bird.

 

[SatelliteAV]

We have tested the Superjack SMR 1224EL SUPERJACK H-H MOUNT , and would highly recommend the unit! The unit is one of the most well built dish actuators on the market. It has dual actuators for tracking the arc and for adjusting elevation for inclined satellites. The main tracking would be controlled by a V-Box receiving commands from the receiver and the inclined orbit adjustments are made with a manually controlled V-Box.

There were several receivers that supported dual diSEqC or 36VDC controls, but the information slips me at this time.

 

[chgoldtv]

thanks for good stating points

I figured this had to have been done before. The Superjack looks to fill the bill! I'll still hope to find a receiver that can handle dual diSEqC or 36VDC controls.

I'll be in the planning/learning stage for some time. Time demands are too high for me to plunge head forward into this, so I'll be chipping away at this little by little.

As for other places to mount a dish, any others have very limited clear view. Even if I was content with a very limited arc, I use my garden space as an outdoor living room/tropical jungle in the summer, and don't want to be looking at a dish. At some point I'll post some pictures as requested, but until the leaves finish falling you can't begin to see the the window in question.

Anyway, thanks again to both of you till next time.

Jim