Primestar 84E/BSC621-2 LNBF Experiment

[satcom1]

Primestar 84E/BSC621-2 LNBF Experiment


Well, as you’ve heard “What’s old is new” I decided to see if I could get any C-Band channels on my 1 meter by .7-meter dish. After searching this site and Sadouns’ forum I found the following links, which add so much to the story.


http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/39119-40-c-ku-band-dish.html

http://www.sadoun.net/forums/installation-support/5829-using-bsc621-2-c-ku-lnbf-3.html

http://www.satelliteguys.us/fta-mpeg2-equipment-reviews/68243-bsc621-2-c-ku-lnbf-5.html

http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/131748-prime-star-offset-scaler-ring-cband-lnbf.html


There is interesting reading from others as well as pictures of their work with C-Band and the Primestar 84E dish.

This post puts most of it in one place to tie things together. Also I have posted photos of my own project.

After a couple days of construction and fabrication, yesterday I put the new LNBF and Holder on the dish. I had taken the old arm and LNB support to use as a pattern for the new holder. I made sure that the LNBF would be situated in the best focus of the dish. I did allow for additional adjustment for the new LNBF. Precise dish to LNBF measurements were taken and then checked against the new holder and aperture. I also made PVC pipe bushings from 1 ½” and 2” pipe. This adapted the Stab 40 mm dish tube to the 2 5/16” dish bracket. I have inverted the bracket to adapt it to the motor.

Last night I enjoyed a whole evening of C-Band programming, well worth the enjoyment I get out of this hobby. I have just started tweaking and balancing the setup. I don’t know how many channels I will get but the few strong channels I get are enjoyable. I attached some screen shots from last night.

 

[Anole]

Two extra points for getting the LNB in the right place - :up

Kinda surprised the plastic pipe will hold up the LNB without sagging, though.
Looks like you used the heat gun to bend it. Clever.

Since you're motorized, you'll have to sweep the birds and give us a list.
I think the C-band satellites listed in TheList can be received with a 4' (1.2m), but they probably also list weaker ones... (unclear).

 

[Mr Tony]

very cool

I think the C-band satellites listed in TheList can be received with a 4' (1.2m), but they probably also list weaker ones... (unclear).

correct. Some of the scan I did with the 6 footer


I know on 99W you can get World Harvest TV (I could with my primestar). On 121 you should get Cox Sports, Sportstime Ohio, HITN (as you proved) and maybe a couple more

 

[Mr Tony]

here is the thread where I tried it
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/130619-mini-bud.html

 

[satcom1]

Iceberg,

That's just the link I am looking for. Makes some good targets for me to shoot.

 

[satcom1]

More Project Pictures

More details about Experiment.

The hand truck with the 2" post is how we set up test transmitters for cellular field testing, included Ericsson digital transmitter and Astron 12 VDC power supply. Just wheel the whole thing including the antenna to the roof of a buiding and plug in the extnsion cord. Then get in car and run field rf survey data collection.

The inner most PVC sleeve is 1 1/2" and is heated in the toaster oven for 3-5 minutes then slipped over the 40 mm dish tube of the H-H motor.

 

[DocRobster]

I would like to know is you can get the NASA C-Band channels. I have a Direcway dish ready to modify.

 

[Corrado]

Excellent work and thanks for the pics, Satcom1.

Keep us advised of what you can get, personally I'm curious if it can lock anything DCII on 105°

Just thinking out loud.

 

[cracklincrotch]

I noticed the avatar with the P* dish and c-band lnb on it and it's got me thinking about that 40" round star choice dish I've got.

The P* 84e is looks like an 84cm dish right?

I'm thinking it might be worth the $$$ for a good lnb and if it works, a motor.

 

[amc1]

well done bro . nice to see how people are doing ,interesting stuff.

 

[Mr Tony]

satcom1
what channels besides HITN did you get on 121W? Thinking of trying this again

 

[empiretc]

same here. what all could you lock on Galaxy 16 (99w)?

 

[Mr Tony]

on 99 (per the link I posted) I could get world harvest and a feed that is 4:2:2
couldnt get the nets (if that's what you were asking)

 

[satcom1]

Update

I noticed the avatar with the P* dish and c-band lnb on it and it's got me thinking about that 40" round star choice dish I've got.

The P* 84e is looks like an 84cm dish right?

I'm thinking it might be worth the $$$ for a good lnb and if it works, a motor.

The Mold number on the dish is 1.0m X 0.7 m - 4 Generic name may be 84E but is actually a one meter elliptical dish. My guess is that Primestar had comments about the one meter offset dish and this dish had less of a visual impact but provided almost as good performance.

This is a picture taken at the original installation site in 1994 and where I removed it from.

 

[osu1991]

I now know what I will be doing this weekend. Thanks for the photos, I think I will be making a new arm for my 84e dish. Yours is a bigger dish, the 84e actually has 84e as the mold number.

 

[satcom1]

Experiment outline

satcom1
what channels besides HITN did you get on 121W? Thinking of trying this again

I took the BSC-621-2 down today. I want to get good data for this project and I noticed that there is a 3/4" adjustment range between peak C-band signal and peak KU band signal in the focal depth field. This concerns me and indicates a possibility of too great of a tradeoff between the two. I put the original P* LNBF back up and set everything to track the Clarke belt the best I can. Next i Will put the BSC-621-2 on the original arm just as you had done for the jerry rig testing. Then I will elevate the dish to refocus the LNBF and document how much elevation adjustment is requred and the maximum Quality levels. I will then scan as many sats as can give me a C-Band signal and then a KU Band signal and report the results.

Now removing the original P* LNBF arm I will install the arm that I fabricated and install the BSC-621-2 then peak it for C-band and scan the arc and report the signals received. Then peak the KU Band signal and report the signal levels for this test. The idea is to let everyone form their own opinions of the use of the BSC-621-2 for their needs.

Today I ordered a C-Band only LNBF from Sadoun and will run it thru all the same tests. This may indicate that some people might want to use a small dish for C-Band and another small dish for KU Band.

If the C-Band tests bear out that six or more channels are achievable then some people that live in restricted areas will have more options for satellite service.

I kinda got sidetracked today with all the new stuff coming up on Galaxy 17.

 

[satcom1]

Thanks for the support

Excellent work and thanks for the pics, Satcom1.

Keep us advised of what you can get, personally I'm curious if it can lock anything DCII on 105°

Just thinking out loud.

Thanks for the good words and hopefully these tests will put the Mini-BUD in a practical perspective.

Far cry from our RCA Americom Earth Station in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

 

[satcom1]

Dish Forensics

I now know what I will be doing this weekend. Thanks for the photos, I think I will be making a new arm for my 84e dish. Yours is a bigger dish, the 84e actually has 84e as the mold number.

Here is a picture of the layout board and a ruler. It may help in making your own layout and new arm.

 

[osu1991]

Thanks satcom1

My 84e has the wrong arm on it now. It has the arm for a primestar 75e. I have had some success using it, but it is right at the limit of dropping signal as I move away from true south. The weather has been rainy here and I haven't had time to do anything this past week. This coming weekend is supposed to be dry and mid 80's so hopefully I can work on this. You have definitely given me a new direction to go in manufacturing a new arm. Looks like an easier mod and less time consuming than the extension I was looking to make.

My cband dish is in pieces still, so I might have to take a stab at some cband reception on the 84e while I am at it. I don't really expect much on it though.

 

[DREAMFOX1]

Here is my setup.