Dishes like that or the larger "BUD" (Big Ugly Dishes) that folks USED to use for TVRO can often be found FREE (for the removal) in many neighborhoods.
I have two "standard sized" BUD's, a 12'+ fiberglass monster (not likely to go up), and a "mini" ex-dish network one, and actuators for the 3 biggest ones... net cost for ALL: $50, and that was labor for a helper to take down the biggest one.
Separately I actually BOUGHT an N3IYR 3' dish a few years back, but it wasn't terribly expensive. It came with a helix feed.
Granted, it's not always something everyone has laying around but they CAN be had cheap or free for a little effort. If it were golf, people wouldn't just find a driver or putter in their yard, growing like a mushroom, either. :-)
The hobby of amateur radio is worth taking some time and effort to invest in.
Kind regards
Lowell K9LDW
------ Original Message ------ Received: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:08:56 PM CDT From: "John AA5JG" aa5jg@lcisp.com To: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org, Mark Vandewettering kf6kyi@gmail.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LEO's
On Jun 18, 2008, at 2:46 AM, i8cvs wrote:
A 3 to 4 foot dish with a 2400/144 MHz downconverter in the focal point and connected to any old 144 MHz CW/SSB receiver mounted on the balcony was sufficient to receive a nice downlink from all over the world by many users
Yeah, and most of us, especially new hams, just happen to have a 3 to 4 foot
dish laying around.
73s John AA5JG
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb