Buying Fortec Star 2.4m petalised dish from Maplins

[Mike22]

Hi Guys

After much deliberation and my quest for 7 W, I discovered Maplin are selling off the Fortec Star 2.4 metre prime focus at  £180 and the 1.8 metre at £99 quid.

Yes I have read all the stories on the forums....but.....have you heard this one, direct from the horses mouth in a phone call today to Fortec.....I quote, He said ," We are not actually using the 2.4 dish as a prime focus. The dish is supplied with a 40mm bracket which is set slightly lower, and we are using a standard off set dish LNB". he went on to say "our aim for this dish is flat pack petelised take it anywhere"

Maplin will send free of any carrier charges to anywhere in the U.K by DHL. new stocks are expected on Septemeber 22nd.

Mike 22

[BGonaSTICK]

Hi Mike...

I've had three emails bounced back from your address, so I'm not sure if you've had my latest reply. I'll post it here in case not.

Maybe you could forget the 3” pole concreted in, and concrete in some heavy duty studding instead? Then three or four homemade ‘U’ shaped brackets to bolt it down.

You would then be able to slacken them off, adjust your azimuth and then tighten them all up again.

Picture attached

Apologies for the quality of the artwork!

STICK

[wod]

surely you would have been better to keep check on ebay for a andrews 1.8m offset or prime focus dish as they do appear on ebay and would get it for a good price

[BGonaSTICK]

I think Mike was up for a challenge, plus he lives in the Outer Hebrides, so I'm not sure that pickup would likely be too easy!

[Mike22]

I think Mike was up for a challenge, plus he lives in the Outer Hebrides, so I'm not sure that pickup would likely be too easy!

I don't understand why you can't mail me.I am on line 24/7. I got that ground mount idea. I am just waiting to find out, how big that base circle is.

I want to play with a big prime focus dish, never had one before.I doubt if I'll suceed but it will be fun trying, and see what else I can get.

[BGonaSTICK]

I've had a lot of trouble getting mail to you. Your ISP's mail server has been offline two or three times in the last week, and mail has been bounced back to me even if you've been online with www access 

[Mike22]

Hi Mike...

I've had three emails bounced back from your address, so I'm not sure if you've had my latest reply. I'll post it here in case not.

At last today the Fortec Star 2.4m dish requires a concrete base of 1m x 1m x30cm deep the base ring is 76cm and in old money a tad over a yard by a tad over a yard and a foot deep, the base ring is two and a half feet in diameter. 

[BGonaSTICK]

I like old money. What the hell is a Centimetre anyway?!?!

Surprised it doesn't need to be deeper than that. I'd go for a bit extra for piece of mind, but that's just me 

[Mike22]

I like old money. What the hell is a Centimetre anyway?!?!

Surprised it doesn't need to be deeper than that. I'd go for a bit extra for piece of mind, but that's just me 

If you consider that takes 3 bags of cement to mix at 4 to 1 aggregate, it weighs 15cwt, when its dry, and as concrete takes 7 years to fully cure, it will weigh more, and that is above ground, meant for roof mounting,plus there will be some big stones in there, it will weigh around a ton.I think that belt and braces. The rods you suggest with go right through it, with steel welded on the bottom.

[BGonaSTICK]

Can't wait to see some pictures 

[Robbo]

Good luck with it

Mike,I take it that you are aiming for the horizontals as well with that monster.


I don't envy you, making all that concrete, can't you just chuck a bag o' sand on the base.

[Mike22]

Good luck with it

Mike,I take it that you are aiming for the horizontals as well with that monster.


I don't envy you, making all that concrete, can't you just chuck a bag o' sand on the base.

Just have to see really. I do intend to get the last onze from it and set it up with mirrors. Then the plan is one west, to see how well it performs on the East spot beams.If when set up properly it doesn't walk all over the TD110 I will be amazed. I am hoping it will be sharp enough, to seperate 7W from 8W too and loose the over spill

[Mike22]

Hi Mike...

I've had three emails bounced back from your address, so I'm not sure if you've had my latest reply. I'll post it here in case not.

The idea of the looped studs is ok.....but,I can't see they could be placed in the wet cement,due to the structure of the stand. All I can see is one stud being placed in the centre of the circle. The rest will have to be expanding rawl bolts, when we know the directions.

[Mike22]

The idea of the looped studs is ok.....but,I can't see they could be placed in the wet cement,due to the structure of the stand. All I can see is one stud being placed in the centre of the circle. The rest will have to be expanding rawl bolts, when we know the directions.

The idea I have is a cross made out of angle iron, with a hole in the centre the ends are welded to the circle and the centre stud, stops it from moving, loosen the centre bolt, turn it any direction. If you could draw the idea, that would be good. Also in windy weather if the nut was loose, the wind would turn it like a sail, to offer least resistance.

[Mike22]

The idea I have is a cross made out of angle iron, with a hole in the centre the ends are welded to the circle and the centre stud, stops it from moving, loosen the centre bolt, turn it any direction. If you could draw the idea, that would be good. Also in windy weather if the nut was loose, the wind would turn it like a sail, to offer least resistance.

There is a new software update, for those fortunate enough to own the delightful Phillips DVDR 3570H. It is said to fix the jitters on SAT 1 a german entertainment channel, though I have never noticed this.....Here is the link http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?scy=GB&slg=ENG&cat=DVD_HOME_THEATER_CA&sct=DVD_HARDDISK_RECORDERS_SU&grp=HOME_ENTERTAINMENT_GR&session=20080814054942_86.134.173.145&ctn=DVDR3570H/05&mid=Link_Software&hlt=Link_Software

Mike22