3m mesh dish in the UK
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smithysmudger
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You probably better rethink your plan as a mesh dish will experience the same wind load forces as a solid dish once the wind speed exceeds 50mph
If you decide to proceed, your best bet is to import one from China in a wooden crate. I think you could struggle to source one directly in the UK unless you pay over the odds for it?
There are suppliers on Ali Baba who will ship a 3.0m mesh dish in a custom built wooden crate to the UK at reasonable prices.
All you need to do is order and pay for it, specify wooden crate for packaging, organise a freight forwarder to clear it from UK customs for you and deliver it.
Most of the big name couriers who operate in the UK can do this along with quite a few independents.
Depending where you are in the UK defines which port it can be shipped to. The main options are Tilbury or Lowestoft.
Pictures attached below of what to expect with a Chinese 3.0m "mesher"
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The US and European suppliers get them from China, stick their label on them, treble the price and spread your cheeks.
If you want a genuine USA model look out for a 3.0m Winegard dish on eBay USA and import it in a wooden crate.
They are no longer manufactured, however in their day they were possibly one of the best mesh dishes ever made.
Hi. I enjoyed my vacation.
Reviews of the chinesium dishes here in the US are iffy at best. Assemebly instructions. Missing hardware. Holes not exactly matching up.
They are satellite dishes for satellite dish sakes. And when carefully assembled, seem to work quite well.
I sort of have to kindly disagree with wind load issues as large mesh dishes have been used here for many years and many are still working quite well.
I would be more worried with ice and heavy snow buildup. A good wiping with a water repellent coating like what you would put on boots is a good idea before winter sets in.
Gentle sweeping off or a leaf blower is wise. If motorized, then parking at the lowest horizon during a heavy storm is wise also.
Also from experience. An extra coat of rust resistant paint on the steel parts would be wise. They are pretty sparse with the paint.
Space steel to aluminum parts with something like rubber roof underlayment or such and head to the hardware store for stainless steel fasteners where they do meet.
Just some fyi from personal experience.
Reviews of the chinesium dishes here in the US are iffy at best. Assemebly instructions. Missing hardware. Holes not exactly matching up.
They are satellite dishes for satellite dish sakes. And when carefully assembled, seem to work quite well.
I sort of have to kindly disagree with wind load issues as large mesh dishes have been used here for many years and many are still working quite well.
I would be more worried with ice and heavy snow buildup. A good wiping with a water repellent coating like what you would put on boots is a good idea before winter sets in.
Gentle sweeping off or a leaf blower is wise. If motorized, then parking at the lowest horizon during a heavy storm is wise also.
Also from experience. An extra coat of rust resistant paint on the steel parts would be wise. They are pretty sparse with the paint.
Space steel to aluminum parts with something like rubber roof underlayment or such and head to the hardware store for stainless steel fasteners where they do meet.
Just some fyi from personal experience.
I remember a fellow enthusiast who fell out of love with the hobby maybe having a spare 3.6m mesh dish for sale? (which was fully refurbished)
It was scrapped after being advertised on eBay without a sale.
What a waste
A point I forgot to ask earlier, I assume the dish is for C-Band or X-Band?
If it is for Ku-Band then a smaller solid dish will perform as well as a 3.0m mesh dish.
I should like to add. Distributing rebagded Chinese satellite dishes and kits here is pretty unheard of. Shipping and import duties plus the fact a business is in fact there to make a profit is understandable. But, as many new installations would be for government usage. Foreign products would be frowned upon.
It was my assumption that the UK has a 2.4m size limit or similar on satellite antennas for personal use. So the rarity of them there is understandable.
How DO you get past the "dish police"?
And please understand that the heyday of large C band dishes in every yard in the US came to an abrupt end in the 80's when strong encryption was initiated.
Many of the fiberglass dishes became fish ponds, gazebos, hunting shelters. Or land fill. The aluminum mesh dishes were scrapped. Or just left to weather away.
On a 100 mile round trip the other day I noticed probably 10-15 unused dishes in peoples yards that they would be happy for someone to offer to take down if the pole were also taken.
An idea. Just an idea. Cable headends are largely migrating or have migrated to fiber optic. Mine has a dish farm of 4m and larger dishes and several fiberglass ones scattered at the edge of the facility. Could those be a source? How about Skybrokers from the NL?
Techincally you need planning for anything over 130cm if the building is over 15m high (rules are stricter for shorter buildings) but planning is only a problem if someone complains. My old dish was up for more than 4 years and after that you have default permission. Location is semi-industrial so less likely to get complaints. A 3m dish in a house, even ground based, would probably be a problem.
I used to have a house near Toronto with a 3m dish there. Had to sell the house and leave the dish behind. I was initially worried about planning in North America, so rang an installer. "That dish is allowed everywhere as long as there's no housing association", was the reply. Wish those rules applied here!
I used to have a house near Toronto with a 3m dish there. Had to sell the house and leave the dish behind. I was initially worried about planning in North America, so rang an installer. "That dish is allowed everywhere as long as there's no housing association", was the reply. Wish those rules applied here!
C band yes. I have a 1.8 Raven/ Channel Master already.
And a couple of 1.2's.
All bought from Satellite Superstore, and I did speak to the guy (Dave?) there about a 3m. No matter how much stuff I've bought there over the years. he always gives me patronising lectures like I'm a complete novice. The original 3m was from there (originally a 2.7 but with extension panels I think it was actually 3.1 in the end). They don't have anything over 2.4 any more, and a that's a Raven. Too big and heavy to get on the roof here. I need something in segments.
I used to use Duncan from Purplesat for installations. I loved that guy. He installed the 1.2's overnight at 3am in winter in pouring rain. But he's disappeared. Think he might have been in poor health. So installed the 1.8 myself and am delighted that it works well. With declination too!
manic01
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He's back again if you want to contact him.
Anything c band from 68.5e to 58w. There's a ton of stuff.
Or there used to be. Not been able to check for a while.
There still is plenty of stuff in C-Band on that arc range.
Loads of South American soccer feeds on 55.5W and some on 58.0W.
47.5W is also still active with regular feeds.
Francescone
Member
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Hi,
I have my Raven/CM 2.4m from about one year, bought from SSS (David and Noel).
When you call them, yes they begin speaking, explaining.... but I think the purpose is just to help all customers, without knowing who is at the other side. They are both great, believe me.
This 2.4m dish is FANTASTIC. I use it in Ku band with a motorised Viking feed following a proper adaptation made by them, and it works great. As I know, they made a specific adaptation kit for C band, too. You can view it in SSS web page or calling them.
I doubt that you can get better results with a larger mesh dish. Yes C band is not Ku, but a solid dish is always better than a mesh one.
Also, as other members explained above, wind load is not always better using a mesh, especially during very powerful storms.
Obviously such dish requires proper installation including a strong concrete, but if you proceed in the right way you would be very happy.
So, my advice is: call SSS again, buy that dish with C band adaptation and will not regret.
bunkoknotty
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I purchased a 3m and a 4m direct from a Chinese manufacturer.I asked for polar mount on both and they sent me two stationary reflectors.When I contacted them,they told me the missing parts would be added to my next order.That is the kind of service you can expect.I modified it myself and salute them with the "bird"!Buy local if possible and avoid the drama.BN