Upcoming Cband project - Looking for a good parts supplier

[pacificrim]

I really appreciate all of your help. I had no idea it would be so hard to find good parts - well I had some idea which is why I posted this here. I'm still open to suggestions. Thanks to everyone.

 

[mmewrench]

I'm doing my best at selling the concept of a 7.5, a 10 footer would not fly. I just found another perfect dish on the Res, though only a 6 ft.

Its much easierto ask for forgiveness that to ask for permission. Get a 10 footer, a six foot dish won't get you nearly as much.

 

[pacificrim]

Its crazy looking for the Inverto Black Pro - they are all from europe, specifically Spain and UK. Ebay is probably easiest to order one from. Might be able to get the C120 feed horn from a more local dealer. If anyone has a common recommendation for an actuator - like a quick online order or ebay - I'd love to know. I don't want to spend $250 on an actuator but don't want junk. Amazon is a problem for me to order as the Amazon US is different from Amazon.ca
Really appreciate the input. Thanks everyone.

I found a Von Weise here:
http://www.tvantenna.com/products/satellite/cband/actuators/vonweise.html

Never been to this dealer before.

 

[pacificrim]

The Von Weise works out to about $400 CDN, so I'm looking for something else.

In Canada the options seem to be:
http://www.drsat.ca/product_details.cfm?ID=58
or
http://www.tek2000.com/cgi-bin/web.cgi?command=product&item=24-inch Linear SuperJack Actuator-ND

So doesn't seem to be much else on ebay either...

 

[beavs2112]

The Von Weise works out to about $400 CDN, so I'm looking for something else.

In Canada the options seem to be:
http://www.drsat.ca/product_details.cfm?ID=58
or
http://www.tek2000.com/cgi-bin/web.cgi?command=product&item=24-inch Linear SuperJack Actuator-ND

So doesn't seem to be much else on ebay either...

I was under the impression that on the Asian superjack actuators the one with the oval rod end was the standard duty version & the one with the straight clevis end was the heavy duty version. on teks website they say its a "heavy duty" superjack. so if i'm correct either their picture is wrong or the description is.
another sat dealer( I've had excellent service from) is Roger from rps satellite in vaudreuil-dorion Quebec. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Super-PowerJ...te-Actuator-/262026483459?hash=item3d01fed703

 

[pacificrim]

This is what makes it tough to choose parts where knock-offs and junk make it into dealer sites. I really don't know which way to go on this.
I'm cool paying close to $280 CDN for an ASC1 because I trust Titanium versus a $75 Motek or whatever. It gets tricky on actuators pretty quickly. I thought that would be the easy part.
The 3 CDN dealers are now:
Dr Sat http://www.drsat.ca/product_details.cfm?ID=58
or
Tek2000 http://www.tek2000.com/cgi-bin/web.cgi?command=product&item=24-inch Linear SuperJack Actuator-ND
or
RPS http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Super-PowerJ...te-Actuator-/262026483459?hash=item3d01fed703

Dr Sat also have the C120 feedhorn but does not seem to have a primefocus LNB to go with it, at least on the site

 

[primestar31]

Qarl actuators are GARBAGE Chinese Superjack clones. I had one for my 6 foot dish, and I wouldn't dare use it for anything larger if you are in any area of winds. One good wind storm and your dish and actuator is history. I've seen people post photos of them bent in half.

Ebay used to sell them for $40 U.S.

 

[pacificrim]

Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately, that pretty much means I'm out of luck. I can't find anything else.

 

[pacificrim]

There is always a chance I'll find a working or rebuildable unit on the Res.
I'm stuck if I don't want to spend $500 including shipping for a friggin actuator or else buy chinese junk. Neither interests me. I appreciate all the input you guys.

 

[FaT Air]

Find a distributor in Canada, Find one willing to sell single unit or who they sell to and call, call, call. That's about the best I can think of.
http://www.thomsonlinear.com/website/com/eng/support/global_customer_service_distributor.php

 

[waylew]

Try googling linear actuators,they do use these things for more than just moving sat dishes.

 

[pacificrim]

I just talked to Rick and can order a Venture from him.

 

[pacificrim]

Thanks for everyone's help. It looks like I've ordered all of the major pieces now.
I'm heading out tomorrow on the boat to get the dish or at least start its disassembly.

 

[sgs]

Qarl actuators are GARBAGE Chinese Superjack clones. I had one for my 6 foot dish, and I wouldn't dare use it for anything larger if you are in any area of winds. One good wind storm and your dish and actuator is history. I've seen people post photos of them bent in half.

Ebay used to sell them for $40 U.S.

Are there different kinds of QARL actuators? I have a couple QARL 36 inch "superjack" actuators, and they have been pushing my 10 foot dishes for a couple of years now with no problems, even in high winds.

I have an old used Von Weiss (sp?) actuator too and definitely it's better overall quality, but happens to be too short.

Maybe the QARL actuators you're describing are different / smaller diameter? I've seen some smaller ones, maybe 1.25 inch diameter. The larger ones that I have are about 2 inch diameter.

I too have seen pics of actuators bent in half, but I think they were the smaller ones, not meant for pushing an 8 or 10 foot dish, and it's not surprising they bent.

sgs

 

[primestar31]

Yes, there are at least two versions of Qarl's, and one is supposedly higher-duty and priced higher. They are probably just like the KU DisEqc motors, in that different Chinese factories run them off all under the same name, but with all sorts of different quality levels.

You might get lucky and get a good one, but the ones I've seen aren't very good quality.

 

[Comptech]

Rick's is a good choice he stands behind his products and is a very honest man.

 

[pacificrim]

I'm back with my adopted 7.5
It came apart pretty well and got on and off the boat safely.
Its a Unimesh - I found the sticker - it's made in the USA, which is nice if you like imports ;-)
Under the dome was a Chaporal single with a Nexus NXB-455 C band lnb - no plans for it
The actuator is a giant Uniden. I might see if it is seized, but I've got a new one coming
This dish is substantial - very heavily built.

I have to clean off 30 years of moss, algae and lichens, replace all the bolts, but all in all this looks pretty good
I'll post some pics tomorrow

 

[phlatwound]

Cool, think you will like it, Unimesh is my favorite of the commonly available consumer-grade mesh BUDs, they seem to be slightly heavier built than other brands I own.

I have a Unimesh 7.5 in my dish harem, it stays on 58W most of the time.

It should serve you well, till you get a 10 footer.

 

[pacificrim]

So today I got the panels all cleaned up straightened out the bent rod.

The weird thing was when I removed the actuator, I expected the ring to move free but it didn't.
I started to loosen the bolts and realized that the ring was bolted in place.
I have attached some pics and am trying to get my head around this. I don't see how this unit can do declination while also moving freely.
I took out this bolt

Then loosened this one
Then loosened this one
And it would then swing in one direction.

I don't see how this is supposed to be motorized and be adjusted without tightening it in a way that locks the ring ...hmmmm

 

[pacificrim]

I just took this pic. A bit dark, but easier to understand the above pics I think.