RVers love satellite TV because they can take it with them wherever they go. In order to receive satellite programming you must set up your dish and aim it at the appropriate satellite. Many RVers have a satellite antenna on the roof of their RV that automatically "finds" the satellite while other models are operated manually.
Many RVers use a tripod system or some other way of setting up and aiming the dish. This RVer used the picnic table for his set-up. The only problem is that the dish hogs up the table.
My friend Stet Elliot uses a PVC stand that has a low profile, is wind resistant and turns the satellite dish upside down.
Stet has used this system for three years and loves it.
You can make a four pier stand or a three pier stand out of PVC fittings.
Some RVers fill the PVC stand with cement or sand to give it extra weight and stability.
You can make this stand yourself from PVC parts available at your local hardware store. If you will be using it in Canada or Alaska, you should make the riser about four inches taller so you can aim lower on the horrizon. You aim the dish with the assistance of some basic math. Pull the elevation off the TV for the zip code where you are located then subtract that number from 90 and use that number to set the elevation scale on the dish. The azimuth is the same. If you don’t glue everything together, you can easily break this stand down for compact RV storage. Yet another application affording you more flexibility in your RV travels. Jim
9 comments:
Nice picnic table!
How do you aim a satellite antenna when it is upside down?
Bruce
I have used the PVC stand for several years, cost was about $5.00. I mount my dish in the conventional vertical manner. I don't think the wind has ever moved it. I have drilled out the rivits holding the LNB arm and replaced with 5/16 stainless bolts, so I can fold the arm down flat for travel. I have a bolt through the vertical support post that the dish mounts on so that I can remove the post. The dish, arm and base all pack fairly flat for travel.
Would this same setup work for internet satalites, (Hughesnet) ?
Also, why invert the dish ?
Bruce asked "How do you aim a satellite antenna when it is upside down?"
Here is the instructions:
For Satellite Elevation correction; take elevation given for a particular zip code and subtract it from 90 to obtain corrected Elevation.
Example: Elevation (90° - 41.2° = 48.8° corrected)
Skew (180° - 82° = 98° corrected)
Azimuth remains unchanged
note: skew is only used on multi lnb dishes that are picking up several different satellites. It is not used on the standard Directv & Dish network single lnb dishes.
I have used this system of mounting a satellite dish for many years and the only problem with it being mounted this way is SNOW build up on the dish. Solution, pick up and move to a warmer area!
For the Anonymous poster who asked, Would this same setup work for internet satalites(Hughesnet)?
Yes it would, I tried it just for the fun of it. But before you go making a mount, remember the FCC requirements for Internet Satellite dishes. You are much better off just staying with the standard tripod mount when it comes to Internet Sat. dish.
This is a terrific idea but where does one get a basic satellite? The only ones I've seen are DirecTV ect.
Can anyone provide a shopping list for the sizes and measurements of pipe needed to make this? What a great idea and looks so portable. Thanks!
Does anyone have a shopping list and measurements for this setup? It looks great, and so portable. Thanks!
Here's a link to instructions:
http://www.bbrv.dreamstation.com/sat.html
HI Jim,
My parents are Lou and Linda Carrillo. Are you the Jim and Marilyn that were stationed at Travis AFB around 1982? If so, I'd love to get you all in contact.
Thanks, Lisa Carrillo
Holywillexpressing (at) yahoo.com
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