So I started the build/install this weekend.

[Kraven]

As most of you know by now, I've had a WSI 6 foot dish in a box since February.

Box contents:
6 panels
9 pieces of hardware
Over 100 nuts/washers/bolts
Instructiosn

First off, the instructions really suck! Just one page and it makes Ikea instructions look like NY Times Best Seller. We spent over 6 hours on the polar mount alone, since the instructions are literally useless, we used an assembled picture instead from the 'net (polar mount might be 50% to 100% complete... I really dont know). Fortec has a simillar dish on the market, so I hope its instructions are far better.

Spend an hour assembling the panels.... surprised how 'flimsy' it is, bending any which way. From my backyard, I roughly know where each sat is, so I thought I could lean it on a chair and aim to 89w as a test... no way! Darn thing would bend out of shape.

To conclude, the mount is in the basement shop (status is unknown), dish itself is in the garage (I was a bit suprised how *big* 6 feet is btw). However, unless I find better instructions, or someone w/ experience with this product, its staying put for now.

Cheers, K

BTW, the bag was missing some nuts and bolts, and from what i could make out, the instructions have a few mistakes in term of bolt sizes.

I photo-documented my progress but I can't seem to upload any pictures.

[dirtroad]

I for one look forward to seeing your install progress, so follow the instructions on photo uploads very carefully. As soon as I asked for help I figured it out. I assume you saw, http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=92167.

[Emerald_Boar]

Are the pics digitalize? (Digital camera vs Analog film camera)

There are many pic sharing sites.
But I use www.deviantart.com as people can look at your pics without being a member of the site themselves.

Read ya l8r,
Al

[Kraven]

I have all the pictures on the blackberry. I've been so disgusted w/ this dish and experience that am letting it sit for a few weeks until I try again...or throw it into the Saint-Lawrence.

Cheers, K

[majortom]

Kraven,
Refresh my memory... Where did you get the WSI dish from?
Do you know anyone else who has put them together that you can reach out to? Can ya scan the instructions to PDF or something and upload it somewhere, like dropbox, googledocs, etc? Just wanna see how bad it really is.

I have only put together one CBAND dish together from scratch, agree it can be challenging with bad instructions (ours must have been pretty good, but that was back in the early 90's). ya have to keep in mind they are probably written assuming the person installing it has done several just like it, so they tend to take liberties.
The friend I was working with had at least done his own before so we had that little bit of experience working for us. It still took the two of us probably about a week or so, on and off from start to finish if I remember right. It was a rooftop install for a friend of a friend's Pub.

[Kraven]

@MT... apologies for the last reply (life happened).

The dish came directly from WSI in Atlanta for under 70$. I looked over the mount this weekend and I might actually be done (except for some tightening here and there, and adding the actuator arm).

Later today am going to post the pictures (assembled picture from WSI, my progress and the instructions for a good laugh)

Cheers, K

[Kraven]

Better late than never. Below should be the instructions, parts and finished assembly of the dish and polar mount. Next step (i think) is to tighten the screws/nuts, and attach it to the dish (no clue how to do it).

Also, there was 1 major mistake w/ the instructions. There is a metal rod in an 'L' shape (#4 in the instructions) . Instructions state it requires 4 16mm nuts for it whereas it should be 14mm.

Cheers, K

PS- I got lazy so I took a picture of the instructions rather than walking to the MFD and scanning it. As you might notice, the instructions are far from the best.

[mrvanwinkles]

Pictures are good for me. Nice job.

[Kraven]

My bad, I didn't read the instructions and didnt post the proper URLs.

Cheers, K

[jjyec]

Looking at the WSI web site, there doesn't appear to be any prices... was $70 just for shipping or was that a total?

Being a 6 footer, what do you expect to receive from it? Looking forward to hearing about your results.

[majortom]

Originally Posted by Kraven

Next step (i think) is to tighten the screws/nuts, and attach it to the dish (no clue how to do it).

Yeah I would think so. Did you see my post about the string test? Maybe just to be a little proactive, try the string test now after the panels are all tightened up and it's still on the ground.
Shouldn't take much, but if it was warped as it went together, you'd know about now when u can do something about it rather than later when ur trying to align everything.
Do you have a friend as a helper there that can help ya get it up on the pipe when it's time?

[Kraven]

I decided am installing this on May 21st (Holiday for us Canadians). Still having trouble locating an affordable 3" wide pipe so am looking at other options. What do you think of these:








The actuator arm is in the mail, so all am left is the mount.

Cheers, K

[mrvanwinkles]

Originally Posted by Kraven

Still having trouble locating an affordable 3" wide pipe

Discarded, stand alone, driveway Basketball hoop stand ? The Main / long Support tube ?

The ones with the base that you fill with water for the weight ?

Main tube *might* be close to the right size. Not sure.
Also - not sure if strong enough or thick enough.


Commercial Fence corner vertical tube ? Galvanized? Scrap somewhere ?
(pretty heavy duty ... and I think NEAR 3 " ... not sure)


just some "Scravanging" ideas ...

I'm such a Low life Scavanger myself ... y'a know ... a Vulture ... Clean up artist. Re-use ... Green ... 3R's ... Reduce Reuse and Recycle. Acquire and re-purpose. Improvise.

Locate, surveil (as in surveillance), and perform a "Mission".

Wink wink ... knudge knudge ... say no more, say no more ....

Or Idea: search on Kijiji / other internet sale site : if you think the item will work ... and acquire low cost, used, from seller.

[Kraven]

Am really starting to get frustrated over this. Went to 3 hardware stores yesterday, and guy gave me a look like I was from outer space when I mentioned it was for a dish.

Last Sunday the spouse and I were walking in the neighbour when someone had a portable hoops set at the end of his driveway w/ a "to give away" sign on it. It never occured me to look at the pole itself. I did though make a crack about who would want it.

Fence pole..the idea did hit me when i was on the highway yesterday evening looking at the fence along the road ('nuff said).

Cheers, K

[majortom]

commercial plumbing, and / or heating / air conditioning suppliers carry schedule 40 pipe.
Ya might also find some at a metal scrap yard.
I bought mine from a local commercial plumbing supplier, then had a local welding shop cut it for me. Speakin of which, ya might wanna ask a local welder where he'd be going for schedule 40 pipe.