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 Subject :Converting a DTV Antenna For Initial Testing.. 2014-11-23- 18:43:23 
W6IDS
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Joined: 2013-08-22- 23:05:01
Posts: 12
Location: 

In East Central Indiana there is no Broadband activity and little knowledge of it, per se.

Has anyone successfully converted a Direct TV dish for use on BBHN to do testing and such?  Dual bow-ties or some such configuration.  I have two which I thought might be useful as a gain antenna instead of purchasing a "ready made" antenna.

I'd like to see what the activity can become after a "show and tell" meeting at our local EOC in December before I purchase a directional antenna.  My intention is to continue with the mesh work regardless but would prefer to move slowly if activity in the local area is negligible.


Thanks for Reading,


Howard W6IDS
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 Subject :Re:Converting a DTV Antenna For Initial Testing.. 2014-12-01- 16:11:47 
W7REA
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Joined: 2013-03-05- 21:13:59
Posts: 11
Location: Gillette Wy - DN74gg
 
A couple of the ISP's here, use a Ubiquiti radio in place of the feed horn. The dish is very easy to spot, as it tilts down toward the horizon, instead of the sky. Not sure of the gain, or their mounting scheme, but they use them like crazy.
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 Subject :Re:Converting a DTV Antenna For Initial Testing.. 2014-12-01- 17:08:12 
KG6JEI
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Joined: 2013-12-02- 19:52:05
Posts: 516
Location: 

There are some dish mounts that are made to accept a NanoStation. So they may not be old cable tv ones. I saw one location claim it added 10db over the radio built in antenna.

probably is doable I would imagine but I don't have enough knowledge on microwave antenna design to calculate the pattern and effect of the shape of the dish and the optimal mounting distance plus the effect the internal patch antenna on a NanoStation would have.
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 Subject :Re:Converting a DTV Antenna For Initial Testing.. 2014-12-20- 16:56:28 
W6IDS
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Joined: 2013-08-22- 23:05:01
Posts: 12
Location: 
Thanks for the input. I'll make note of it and do some searching. I have WRT54Gs already so I'm holding off on procuring the Ubiquity. HOWEVER, perhaps there is something I can do with that line as I progress along. Thanks much! Howard W6IDS
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 Subject :Re:Converting a DTV Antenna For Initial Testing.. 2014-12-20- 16:59:53 
W6IDS
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Joined: 2013-08-22- 23:05:01
Posts: 12
Location: 
Thank YOU too for the input. It sure sounds like what I've seen where the antenna used was an old Direct TV dish - upside down for one thing. I did not know about use of the Ubiquity product in such a scheme. Any chance of one of them passing along some details? Just thought I'd ask . Many thanks for the input. Howard W6IDS
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 Subject :Re:Converting a DTV Antenna For Initial Testing.. 2015-01-02- 16:03:20 
KY8T
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Joined: 2014-11-23- 06:11:03
Posts: 2
Location: 
You might want to consider something like a TP-Link grid parabolic before putting a lot of time into converting a dish. In any event it would give you a baseline for comparison on reconfiguring a dish with something you know is tuned for the frequency. You can pick one up on Amazon for around 45 bucks new.
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