[amsat-bb] Re: Limits of G-5500?

[Mark L. Hammond]

Hello all,

Thank you for the feedback.  The overwhelming consensus is that a 7-8' dish is a BAD IDEA for a G-5500, mostly because of wind load.  I got some interesting links and pictures of folks with big dishes.  Most "rotators" were a variation of the standard dish setup, and a few folks mentioned the Alph Spid as a viable option for such a dish.

I currently have the following on my G-5500:  short M2 2M array, short M2 435 array, 8 turn 435 helix, 20 turn 1.2G helix, and a 32" dish.  It's a pretty full load :)

Guess I'll store the dish for while and dream....

73,

Mark N8MH


At 09:25 AM 3/7/2009 -0500, 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]