C band question

[BYX]

I'm looking to buy a C band motorized special.
There are two kits posted on Sadoun's site.
One is the Mkit-5 and the other is the Mkit-6.
A 6 footer is going to be enough for what I need.
Anything bigger is out of the question because of budget restrictions.
I have a beautiful horizon to work a motorized dish where I live in Florida ZIP 33024.
With Ku I can receive from 15°W to 129°W.
I'm inclined to buy the Mkit-5 and now the question is that I read on this forum that in order to install the H180 you have to modify the dish cutting some tubing and so on.
I need to know if that is already corrected in the packages shipped by Sadoun or do I still have to modify the dish.
Would it be less problem and hassle if I buy the Mkit-6 as it ships with a polar mount?
Am I going to lose half of the horizon if I go with an actuator?
I like to have the whole arc I have today, as there are channels I like to see that are scattered through the satellites.
Any of the forum members recommendation is highly appreciated.

[rainman]

Originally Posted by BYX

I'm looking to buy a C band motorized special.
There are two kits posted on Sadoun's site.
One is the Mkit-5 and the other is the Mkit-6.
A 6 footer is going to be enough for what I need.
Anything bigger is out of the question because of budget restrictions.
I have a beautiful horizon to work a motorized dish where I live in Florida ZIP 33024.
With Ku I can receive from 15°W to 129°W.
I'm inclined to buy the Mkit-5 and now the question is that I read on this forum that in order to install the H180 you have to modify the dish cutting some tubing and so on.
I need to know if that is already corrected in the packages shipped by Sadoun or do I still have to modify the dish.
Would it be less problem and hassle if I buy the Mkit-6 as it ships with a polar mount?
Am I going to lose half of the horizon if I go with an actuator?
I like to have the whole arc I have today, as there are channels I like to see that are scattered through the satellites.
Any of the forum members recommendation is highly appreciated.

yes you will have to modify the dish to install the H180 motor. a few of the guys have had problems with the 180 motor breaking in half I would recommend the polar mount a lot stronger and more stable.

[BYX]

Rainman:
Thanks for the prompt answer.
How much of the arc can I get with a polar mount dish, in this case if I buy the Mkit-6.
My true south is the AMC-5 @ 79°W.
I would like to see at least from the SATMEX satellites to the NNS806.
In other words how many degrees east and west of my true south I can see if I go with the actuator solution?

[rainman]

Originally Posted by BYX

Rainman:
Thanks for the prompt answer.
How much of the arc can I get with a polar mount dish, in this case if I buy the Mkit-6.
My true south is the AMC-5 @ 79°W.
I would like to see at least from the SATMEX satellites to the NNS806.
In other words how many degrees east and west of my true south I can see if I go with the actuator solution?

you should be able to get to 137 degrees west with no problems as far as east goes you may be able to get to 58 degrees.

[BYX]

Rainman:
Is it possible like in the old days of C band to put the actuator on either side to make the antenna more easterly or westernly.
In my case as a spanish speaker if I would like to see more of the Atlantic satellites even if I have to sacrifice some of the west birds by changing the position of the actuator.
I'm asking all of these questions because I'm not that mechanically inclined and I prefer to put a package together without modifications.
Your kindness in replying to all my questions is highly appreciated.

[rainman]

It doesn't really say if you can or not but most dishes will let you do this. given Sadoun a call before you order and someone there should be able to tell you if it will or not.

[BYX]

OK, I will call them for the final details.

[Sadoun]

Originally Posted by BYX

Rainman:
Is it possible like in the old days of C band to put the actuator on either side to make the antenna more easterly or westernly?

Yes, you can. You will have to drill a hole on the left hand side of the polar mount. See attached picture

[BYX]

I'm ready to place my order today.
Let me ask you something......and I believe should be the last question.
If I drill the hole to reverse the actuator for eastern movement can you predict the arc I will have in reference to my true south being 79°W?
The reason for this specific question is that I don't want to lose G10R on Ku and Hispasat.
In other words if my antenna can travel from 30°W to 123.0 W, I will have what I need on Ku and also have what I'm looking to have on C.
By the way do you guys sell a motor cable other than ribbon?
For a C/Ku LNBF all I need is the coax with the motor cable, the ribbon is an overkill.
Thanks for your interest in potential customers.

[elgemcdlf]

It should not matter what side you mount the actuator on. You are almost dead center of the arc you want so moving to the east side changes nothing. The key is actuator stroke and positioning in the mount. You are wanting to move 49 degrees east which should be no problem and 44 to the west which again should be no problem. I have a 24" actuator on a 8.5' dish. I would guess you would want a 24" as well to get the stroke you would need. Do not think a 18" unit will do the trick but I could be wrong. Maybe some folks with 18" units can chime in and tell you how much travel they are getting.

[BYX]

I have no problem waiting a day or two if I can get a good prediction of how much the actuator will travel based on my location at 79.0°W.

[rainman]

I would go with the 24 I have the 18 and it gets from 72w to 137w.

[BYX]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

It should not matter what side you mount the actuator on. You are almost dead center of the arc you want so moving to the east side changes nothing. The key is actuator stroke and positioning in the mount. You are wanting to move 49 degrees east which should be no problem and 44 to the west which again should be no problem. I have a 24" actuator on a 8.5' dish. I would guess you would want a 24" as well to get the stroke you would need. Do not think a 18" unit will do the trick but I could be wrong. Maybe some folks with 18" units can chime in and tell you how much travel they are getting.

The Mkit-6 as advertised by sadoun comes with a 24" actuator, therefore by the answers received should be the one that will suit my needs.
If I understand this right, If I'm parking at AMC5 (my true south) the motor stroke is not fully extended and not fully retracted, should be half way per say and if that is the case I will have enough to run east and west of AMC5 to reaching all the birds that I am interested.
Am I right?

[Sadoun]

You don't need and we don't sell a ribbon coaxial cable. All you will need is a single rg6 coaxial cable and a 4-wire 18-ga electric cable from the positioner to the actuator.

Yes, at true south, the actuator will need to be half way extended. Good luck and I am glad you are asking questions before buying.

[BYX]

Thanks to Sadoun and forum members for your prompt and corteous answers.
As said before, I placed my order today.
Once I have it installed, I will post the picture to brag about it.