Retrofit My Radioshack Dish Onto My KTI Mount

[JFOK]

Hi All,

Well I gave the old KTI mount its final coat of gloss after undercoating it with Rustoleum Rust Reformer.
I'm sure touch ups will be in order as I attach the RS hub to it and it gets a few scrapes.
The RS hub as you cab see, didn't fair as well as rodrigocn's finished product due to pitting of the metal. I removed all loose paint and sanded what was remaining. Short of doing auto body filler work (I'm not that anal about it) to smooth it out, it ended up like this.
Good enough for what I need and a hell of a lot better than it looked originally.

John

 

[JFOK]

Hi All...

Short update.
The RS hub is on the KTI mount. I still have to do some last minute adjustments and some touch up, but the big work is done.
The assembly of the RS dish should go quickly, if I remember correctly.
It didn't seem that hard to assemble back in 1991, but then again, I'm 28 years older now...

John

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

Another step closer to completion.
I attached the arms to the hub today.
It was kinda tight in spots where the KTI mount made it difficult to tighten some of the arm bolt nuts, but persistence and patience paid off.
After all the time the dish sat in storage (20 years), I had all but 2 arm bolt nuts. A quick trip to the hardware store remedied that.
Next I will be attaching the "button hook" arm and attaching the mesh to the arms.
That's for another day however...I'm beat after spending 4.5 hours working on this today.
I want to enjoy the waning days of summer here on the Cape.

John

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

Slow and steady progress as time allows.
This is the dish as of today.

John

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

I was able to get all but the last panel attached.
Spent and hour and a half trying to solve this issue.
Will look at it again tomorrow with a fresh set of eyes...weather permitting.

John

 

[primestar31]

Hi All,

I was able to get all but the last panel attached.
Spent and hour and a half trying to solve this issue.
Will look at it again tomorrow with a fresh set of eyes...weather permitting.

John

What's the issue with it? Can you let us know, and maybe follow with some photos so we can figure out a solution if you need help?

 

[JFOK]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply.
I'm having trouble sliding the last of 12 panels into place.
It fits between 2 others and then attaches to an arm at the top and bottom.
Too dark right now for photos, but can add some tomorrow.

John

 

[primestar31]

I'd lay the panel ON TOP, to check and see if there's any chance it could fit, as cut. If not, perhaps the other panels already installed could be temporarily loosened up if the nuts and bolts are already cranked tight, and that would create enough space to fit the last panel in.

Then just slowly work your way alternating back and forth to re-tighten everything once that panel is in...

 

[. Raine]

Hi John, The manual says to only tighten all of the bolts/nuts finger tight then there's 10 steps for tightening the bolts so the dish has the correct shape. I'd uploaded the installation manual here years ago, I'll try finding it.

Andy

 

[JFOK]

Hi Andy,

Believe it or not I still have the RS manual after all these years and I'm following the directions as stated.
I have only finger tightened the panels together, but this last panel is a bear to attach.
I've even loosened two ribs to see if that would help, but to no avail. Its so close to lining up, but refuses to cooperate.
I will try to post pics later as I told Mike I would do, to see if I'm missing something.
Thanks for responding.

John

 

[FTA4PA]

Hang in there and you will get it!

 

[JFOK]

FTA4PA,

I plan on seeing this thru.
Its just a small bump in the road.

John

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

It is done...
Now the fun part...tightening the bolts in a set pattern as required in the manual to pull it perfectly together, hooking up the arm and then finding satellites.
Its nice to see this dish up again after sitting idle for 20 years.
A special thanks to those who offered support, ideas and said that this mount conversion was possible in the first place.

John

 

[primestar31]

If your ELEVATION setting bolt is properly set to your modified Latitude degrees (which is 42.65 degrees, if you are at 42 degrees LAT), your Declination offset is 5.85 degrees.

42.65 + 5.85 = 48.5 degrees total. (meaning what the "face" of the dish should be at.

IF your dish is squared and at the TOP of its arc (NOT necessarily aimed at a satellite) AND pointed TRUE SOUTH, you could place a long 2x4 edgewise or something across the entire face of your dish top to bottom. Then, if you put your angle finder on the middle of that board, and set the declination bolt for 48.5 degrees, you should be right.

IF doing this that bolt is still too short, you'll need to figure some way to lengthen it, and chalk it up to mating two different dishes together, so things aren't always straight forward, and need MacGyvering a little more.

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

Now trying to acquire my fist due south satellite....gonna try Simon Bolivar at 78W.
But first, does anyone know what the f/d would be for a Radio Shack 9 foot dish.
I'm guessing .36 but not sure of that.
Thanks in advance for any responses.

John

 

[primestar31]

You can calculate it with this: Prime Focus Satellite Antenna reflector calculation

Input all the others that you know, (in Centimeters!) and leave that field blank. It'll calculate it.

 

[JFOK]

If your ELEVATION setting bolt is properly set to your modified Latitude degrees (which is 42.65 degrees, if you are at 42 degrees LAT), your Declination offset is 5.85 degrees.

42.65 + 5.85 = 48.5 degrees total. (meaning what the "face" of the dish should be at.

IF your dish is squared and at the TOP of its arc (NOT necessarily aimed at a satellite) AND pointed TRUE SOUTH, you could place a long 2x4 edgewise or something across the entire face of your dish top to bottom. Then, if you put your angle finder on the middle of that board, and set the declination bolt for 48.5 degrees, you should be right.

IF doing this that bolt is still too short, you'll need to figure some way to lengthen it, and chalk it up to mating two different dishes together, so things aren't always straight forward, and need MacGyvering a little more.

Hi Mike,

I guess I didn't delete this post fast enough before you caught it.
I'm using those very settings you mentioned.
I figured out this declination issue and chalk it up to working in the hot sun with a black 9 foot dish. Kinda like working in a frying pan.
Unusually warm on the Cape for this time of year...83 as I write this.
Thanks as always for your response.

John

 

[primestar31]

But you didn't tell us what the actual fix was, LOL.

Confusion between elevation and declination, OR you welded on a longer bolt?

P.S. I promise not to laugh...

 

[JFOK]

Mike,

My age + hot sun = just plain confusion.
I was turning the bolt the wrong way and assuming the dish was moving downward...it wasn't.

John

 

[FTA4PA]

Mike,

My age + hot sun = just plain confusion.
I was turning the bolt the wrong way and assuming the dish was moving downward...it wasn't.

John

We have all done something like that at some point whether from being in a hurry, tired, etc. Don't feel bad - you are in good company. You're making progress and that is what counts!