What do you think of this email I got from Winegard

[mshaffer]

I sent them an email asking what the F/D ratio is for my dish, so i can order the Seavey feedhorn for it. They didn't send me the F/D, in fact they said i shouldn't even buy the feedhorn..

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Please do not spend that kind of money on the system that you got used. That system is the RD-9900 series system, it has not been manufactured through the Winegard plant since 1998.
I’m sure that the part that you want to get for this system, is not going to work, the pinnacle positioner on this system controls what satellite that it will search for. Either the 119 satellite for Dishnetwork or the 101 for Directv. It will not lock on more than 1 satellite at a time.
We do not even have replacement parts for this system, should anything go wrong with it.

Thank you for your e-mail.

Kathy

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[Techfizzle]

focal distance is the centermost part of the dish to the feedhorn. it can be measured with a tape measure or a yard stick

 

[14karat]

Wow. Sounds like Kathy really knows her stuff, eh?

I use string and a tape measure to calculate the F/D myself.

 

[gabshere]

i agree with spending the money on a seavey feedhorn, it a expensive feedhorn

 

[rv1pop]

What dish did you say you had? That sounds like the dish on the roof of my motorhome she is describing! RD 9903! I Think - by the paper on the closet door.

 

[AudioFox]

F/D is I think diameter squared divided by 16 x depth

Anyway, you're kind of lucky they responded at all, most of the queries I have like that go unanswered. I have this feeling that English isn't "Kathy"s first language...

 

[14karat]

AudioFox is correct
See F/D explanation here:
Footprints by Dish Size - Adjusting the Polar Mount for Prime Focus Antenna - C/Ku-Band Satellite Systems - Tuning, Tracking, Azimuth, Elevation, Declination Angles, F/D Ratio, Focal Distance, Inclinometer, LNB/Feedhorn Assembly, Actuator Assembly, C