Primestar found in the bushes

[Corrado]

In my search this past week for a 4DTV receiver locally, I finally found a Primestar dish. I never paid that much attention to them before becoming a member and reading about them here. I brought it home this morning. The former owner said it was used briefly in place of an old BUD that leans against a tree now.

These things seem to ruggedly built compared to the FTA dishes I have. I just need to locate some 3" pipe. The one it was on was so rusted I didn't bother to cut it off.

I'll be doing some research on old posts to learn about the LNBs and tips.

 

[Gary Z]

Nice find!

I have 3 of the oval shaped primestar dishes all set up and working... on 2 of them I used the original LNB's

 

[Mr Tony]

you got the big dish version

Primestar had 3 model dishes
37x27 oblong
40x30 oblong
1m round

That will be a nice dish for a fixed spot

 

[Anole]

* congratulations *

I think that model would be my first choice.
Appears to be the round dish, not the elliptical one.

Finding a larger dish of that type, such as the 1.2m, is relatively rare.

On the forum there are:
- Plenty of threads on how to mount them on anything from an SG2100 motor to a jack screw.
- Quite a few posts on mounting more LNBs to get more satellites.
- A little info on optimizing by replacing the LNB, but it's pretty good as-is.
(from what I've read)

 

[linuxman]

Great find!!!

It took me months to find the 1 Meter Round Primestar dish.

I have several of the 84e eliptical dishes. The original LNBf should work fine unless damaged physically.

Everyone that I have tried has worked, even one with the lens off, no coax hooked up, and been in the elements for a few years.

Have fun!

Fred

 

[ChuckBoozer]

you got the big dish version

Primestar had 3 model dishes
37x27 oblong
40x30 oblong
1m round

That will be a nice dish for a fixed spot

Don't forget the 70E Primestar oblong - 33x25. Got one sitting in my garage right now!

 

[turbosat]

Great find there Corrado!! Seems like the round ones are scarce around here, I'm always watching for them. Have one in use, works great.
You can put that one on a chain-link fence corner post, for a fixed-dish setup-I've got 2 setup that way. Some people say for a motorized satellite you may want a pole thats a bit thicker. I think I have a pdf of the original Primestar install manual if you need it.

 

[iafirebuff]

Nice find! I would love one of those! There is a high rise hotel downtown that has one on the side that I am sure they do not use anymore. Good luck!

 

[gabshere]

yes great find i have two rounds and located two more . they are good dishes

 

[Corrado]

I measured it at 43" tall by 40" wide. I think it will gather a good signal. I think I will point it at G10 to try it out and eventually to X4 when I find another DSR905.

I remember seeing many Primestar dishes years ago but most were the smaller oblong ones. Even when the first USSB dishes appeared and later disappeared, I still liked my C band.

 

[swampman]

Yep. Thats one just like mine. Actually I have another as a spare. Some came with a 3" pipe(as mine did), and others had the smaller 2 3/8 pipe. I have mine set @ G10 pulling in a 91 quality with the original lnb. I know where there are 5 more like it(40X43).

I know you'll enjoy it.

 

[swampman]

you got the big dish version

Primestar had 3 model dishes
37x27 oblong
40x30 oblong
1m round

That will be a nice dish for a fixed spot

And dont forget the monster 1.2 meter Primestars(48X52). As someone stated, those are VERY illusive and were only used in certain areas of the country.

 

[stogie5150]

Must be a Southern Thang...I have a 1m P* too. Mine didn't have the nice LNB cover, so thats a bonus for ya. Find yourself a DirecWay LNB so you won't have a multiswitch to deal with. Mine is a Ku-signal grabbing monster!

Congrats! :up

 

[gabshere]

keith
i have a cover if you need it.

 

[tvropro]

Great find! I love my 90cm P* on X4 (G-16) I get quality constant in the upper high 90's, 99 on most stuff most of the time. Looked and looked and looked in my area for another one but sadly couldn't find any more. So I ended up with the ADTH 81 cm for free for G-10R and G-27. The P* is still better though.

 

[Tron]

I have mine pointed at G-10R as a fixed dish It was not used in a Primestar system, but is the same dish. Could you take some shots of the LNB? I have a fixed polarity Norsat on mine, adjusted for vertical since most of G-10R is vertical polarity. As for the mount, mine has a 2 3/8" az-el mount, but I have a mount from a 1.2M Channel Master that uses a 3" pole. Unfortunately, the dish that mount came from was hopelessly cracked by Katrina when I found it

 

[voomvoom]

I have my (actually my sisters now) 1m P* pointed at G10 (for RTN), with a side strapped lnbf pointed at T7/IA7/G27 (for WSTV), and another side strapped lnbf pointed at E7 (for NASA, Angel One & audio). I think they are very Good dishes. I have a single lnbf for G27, and a twin lnbf for E7, with the P* lnbf for G10, and the P* is used for a complement of a T90 dish with twin lnbf's for 72, 74, 79, 83, 87, 89, 93, 97, 101, 103, and 113, with a reversed twin lnbf for 110.

Al

 

[swampman]

I have my (actually my sisters now) 1m P* pointed at G10 (for RTN), with a side strapped lnbf pointed at T7/IA7/G27 (for WSTV), and another side strapped lnbf pointed at E7 (for NASA, Angel One & audio). I think they are very Good dishes. I have a single lnbf for G27, and a twin lnbf for E7, with the P* lnbf for G10, and the P* is used for a complement of a T90 dish with twin lnbf's for 72, 74, 79, 83, 87, 89, 93, 97, 101, 103, and 113, with a reversed twin lnbf for 110.

Al

Hey Al how bout a pic of that setup if you can. I was thinking of doing the same.

 

[voomvoom]

I'll give it shot, bare with me, my 1st attempt at pictures??????

Al

Edit: the first four are from the ground, the first 2 looking south, next looking north, next looking east.
the last four are the switches in the attic. 2 @ EMP-CENTAURI bx1, 7 @ Zinwell 4x4 Multi-Switches
all the remainder are from the roof of the 2 story garage/house/shop.

 

[linuxman]

Hey Al!

Those are fabulous pictures!!!

You are a brave man to make all those adjustments on the peak of the roof like that.

It takes everything I have just to get on my roof. I can put it out of my mind as long as I don't get too near the edge. But you, you must have been hanging out over space tuning those dishes in.

WooHoo!!

Fred