Buying Fortec Star 2.4m petalised dish from Maplins

[BGonaSTICK]

OK, the forum software didn't want to do that!

Let's try again...

[BGonaSTICK]

And this is what the rear of the Fortec petalised dishes looks like...

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And here's what I believe is the original specification sheet for this baby...

So as you can see, there does appear to be a polar mount available for this dish... or maybe it's just an az/el? It's not a very clear picture, and there is no accompanying text.

[BGonaSTICK]

The description on the Jonsa site does says it's 'trackable' though 

"Satellite Dish, 2.4 m, Prime, 6 Panels, Pole Mount, Trackable"

http://www.jonsa.com.au/products.php?cPath=0_13_80_166&id=1639

[BGonaSTICK]

Hey guys the ground anchor has been completed, the dish is in stock and mine is on it's way, confirmed today, there is another 10 as nuts as me, as mine was one of 11 on back order, yipeeeeeeee

[Mike22]

I think that is fixed satellite pole mount conversion,as I see no means of tracking the arc without 2 adjustments. If a lug was welded to the top and bottom of the back ring and a tube placed between and then a bolt through the too lugs and the tube would allow it to rock and a lug welded to the centre of the tube, would provide elevation and declination. The tube should be set to the lattitude of the location pointing the dish up and the top and bottom lugs provide the rocking motion on the arc, and a jack arm provide the horse power converted to DISQ by a Motec box. I will be posting a picture of this when it is all done, as my technomate TM 5400 is going to be driving this. Its gets too cold in winter here for going outside playing

[BGonaSTICK]

'Trackable' has to mean arc tracking, surely.

I think it's a polar mount, but a pretty flimsy one by the look of it.

I reckon there's a shaft between the pole mount and the dish ring/adaptor - and there would be no other reason to have the braced outrigger on the right otherwise?   It has to be for a 36V actuator jack IMO.

The elevation adjustment looks to be a twin-threaded affair at the top.

Doesn't look to be much meat holding it all together though.

[Mike22]

'Trackable' has to mean arc tracking, surely.

I think it's a polar mount, but a pretty flimsy one by the look of it.

I reckon there's a shaft between the pole mount and the dish ring/adaptor - and there would be no other reason to have the braced outrigger on the right otherwise?   It has to be for a 36V actuator jack IMO.

The elevation adjustment looks to be a twin-threaded affair at the top.

Doesn't look to be much meat holding it all together though.

You could be right, it rocks between those too plates, but it looks a bit flimsey to hold a 2.4 metre dish on. They dont even use the whole of the ring. they say trackable well it is lol if ya go out there and adjust it.My will be a lot more chunky that that, that 2x1 box steel is only £3.50. a metre and thats here. I will motorise it just for the hell of it, be quite a site seeing that lot in motion, have to see if I can find a way to send you an mpeg of it

[BGonaSTICK]

I'm sure yours will be much stronger.

You can upload your own pictures, videos etc. directly to the Nosky site using the Additional Options... link below the Post Reply box. It will take an mpeg file of up to 8Mb.

[Mike22]

I'm sure yours will be much stronger.

You can upload your own pictures, videos etc. directly to the Nosky site using the Additional Options... link below the Post Reply box. It will take an mpeg file of up to 8Mb.

I will try that, when I have more to show. Fresh thoughts are occurring here for the engineering types among you, Track rod ends, no they steer an arc on a ball joint and there is elevation movement with the suspension, be very strong too as the support the front wheels of a car, and with MOT restrictions being so tight now, I am sure amny would give them to us and with little play in them too. It would need one at the top and bottom of the back ring so they moved in parallel, and from there I will leave you to think among yourselves

[BGonaSTICK]

An update from Mike:

Hi guys
 
well the walked the Fortec Star up the drive on Thursday afternoon. Where is this flimsy piece of C**P , as one certainly did not arrive here. This thing is huge,and tiny pictures can't even begin to show its size, or construction.
 
Mind you this could well be a revised issue, as we know these have just arrived from Canada. I have spoken with Fortec a few times.
 
The base and elevation are one inch box section steel, as is the petal support ring. plus there are extra supports too. The petals are joined by 6 ,8mm nuts and bolts. I would leave this dish up in a force 9 or storm 10 and not worry at all, it is that sturdy.
 
Construction too us 2 hours and everything is a nice "interference fit" which is very good for mass production.
 
We left fitting the feed and alignment until today, when unfortunately a force 8 began to blow.
 
We did set the dish up on 1W and first impressions are 6db more gain than the TD110 the manufacturers state 8 so maybe there is a couple more db to be found yet on a calmer day, when we can adjust the feed properly.
 
12.054 was coming in at 60% verses 48% on the TD110.
 
I am very impressed with this purchase, and today's gale just caused it to shudder a tad, but the TD 110 is far more flimsy than this, and the Fortec will certainly show it what a dish is.
 
This thing could even wake up a Foxsat Box, to scan the skies in HD.
 
BTW where are they getting those freezing plates from on DR Dish, I'd like to try those.
 
Mike 22

[BGonaSTICK]

More pics and updates from Mike 

Great project, and nice fab!

This is it set up on 1w the steel rule is one metre long, the pictures can be blown up and looked at quite closely.

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And another from the side...

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Since then, Mike has built from scratch a very smart looking polarmount!

[BGonaSTICK]

With dish mounted...