Large TV Dishes

Forums Radio Astronomy Large TV Dishes

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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  • #574602
    Michael O’Connell
    Participant

    In the pre Sky & Virgin Media days, there was a time when some people used to have a large dish for satellite TV. I’m guessing they must have been in the 2.5 to 3m range.

    Are they completely obsolete now?

    Anyone tried using them for radio astronomy? 

    Michael.

    #582392
    Alan Thomas
    Participant
    #582393
    David Swan
    Spectator

    It is BAA member Robin Leadbeater at the Three Hills Observatory.

    #582394
    Robin Leadbeater
    Participant

    That is my simple  small dish setup using currently used sat TV frequencies. I think the big ones used lower frequencies (C band ?) and I believe are good for making Hydrogen line receivers if you can find one (more popular in the US I think)

    #582395
    Michael O’Connell
    Participant

    Thanks guys. I’ll take a look.

    Regards,

    Michael.

    #582398
    Dominic Ford
    Keymaster

    It’s not just amateurs using off-the-shelf communications hardware to do radio astronomy, incidentally.

    On a larger scale, I believe the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) is built out of standard 12-metre dishes that are used by telecoms companies. Of course, the detectors and mounts needed to be bespoke, though.

    #582400
    Neil Morrison
    Participant

    Many  years ago now we had a Society  visit  to the home of John “Radio” Smith, which was near to Rudgwick in West Sussex/  He  had a very large  Ex Radar  Ariel  which was in the  range of 20 to 25ft  size.  This was  guarded by his Bees !!!!!

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