I bought the 12 foot dish too. I got it for a TV station down in Phoenix. I ordered it May 31 (or June 1st) after waiting for them to "get them in stock", and it took a month and a half or more to receive it. They kept telling me it was shipped, then it will be shipped and shipped in a few days and then one day they gave me an actual link to track the shipment. I had to open a complaint through paypal to start addressing the issue as I had prepaid for it.
Meanwhile this station was asking where there dish was, getting all bent out of shape that I didn't have it. But then once I got it, I had to wait on them to allow me to install it. They were waiting for the station to become available. Last week I went down to install it. (The week before I went down to plant the pole.)
I am an old Satellite Dealer, since 1984. A few of you know me from Dishretailer.com. (Hi Scott.)
Yeah, this dish doesn't have instructions, and what I saw online seemed a little ridiculous, and I did it the way I have always done it- on the ground. Actually, some against a fence. Once you put the bolts on, hold your flat edges level and snug them up, but not too tight. Do the tip, then the outside and work in, keeping the flat edges level with each other. First I did sets of twos, then fours (to make two halves), then the two halves last (on the ground).
It seemed to take me longer than I expected and I didn't finish. I'm going back tomorrow to finish.
One issue I still have to work out is the focal distance. It calls for 51" on the paper they give you, using the 63" rods. It says to use the holes 20 inches from the rim. However the scaler measures 48 inches, leaving me short by 5 1/4". So in my efforts, I will have to do the old formula of verifying it is supposed to be 51" and then figure out where to drill some new holes. I'm horrible at math but did a half-brain calculation they will be at 26.2" based on the other sizes and numbers given.
I had searched Google over and over looking for someone who had this issue to no avail. Seems this place had the most recent posts, so I thought I'd come in to say "Hi" and add my two cents. I couldn't remember my login here from years ago, so I just signed up again. I'll try to grab some pics while I'm down there tomorrow.