Hi All,

I'm running a 10 foot dish and have built a drive system including controler that works "very well". Please look at my web page and contact me if you wish.. www.qsl.net/kb9ups

Steve/kb9ups ARISS Mentor AMSAT area coordinator, Toledo, Oh. AMSAT area coordinator, Streator, IL. www.qsl.net/kb9ups

-----Original Message----- From: "Edward Cole" [kl7uw@acsalaska.net] Date: 03/07/2009 03:38 PM To: "Mark L. Hammond" marklhammond@gmail.com, amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Limits of G-5500?

At 05:25 AM 3/7/2009, Mark L. Hammond wrote:

Hi All,

Recently I acquired a 7.5' dish. It's aluminum with a steel ring mount. I estimate the dish weights maybe 50 lbs?

What is a realistic limit for a Yaesu G-5500 rotator? Would it handle a dish of this size/weight if carefully counterbalanced? Or is it too big and silly to even consider?

I know wind load is a concern of course, too. But I imagine keeping it close to the ground...

I've thought about cutting it down in size to reduce weight and wind load, but would rather not go that route...

73,

Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

Mark,

Is the G-5500 the same as the B5500? I would not recommend that. The issue is not the weight but the wind area forces. A 7.5 foot dish can have 2000-lbs of wind force at 70mph. What is recommended is a HD azimuth rotator coupled with a satellite dish actuator arm for elevation. I do this with my 2m-eme array (four 21-foot booms on a 12x12 foot H-frame). The B5500/B5400 will handle up to a 3-foot dish probably at maximum. I have had a 33-inch offset feed dish on my B5400 along with a long 432 and 1296 yagis with no problems (knock on wood).

Satellite actuators are pretty cheap for running a dish.

73, Ed - KL7UW

_______________________________________________ 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