On 26 jun, 14:35, "amdx" wrote:
I have a Directv dish 35 inches wide x 20 inches tall 4inches deep.
I calculated the focus as F=D*2 / 16d where D =diameter and d=depth
F=18 inches Ok so far.
How do you find beamwidth? I think the 35" dimensiom would have a tighter
pattern than the 20 ", but how do you calculate,

Second, The feed antenna, There can be different feeds.
A simple monopole, dipole, biquad, patch, yagi, helix.
How does the feed antenna affect the gain of the dish, if at all?
Yea, it my be difficult to light the yagi or helix, so if you like throw
those out.
Thank You,
Mike

Hello Mike,

In case of uniform illumination, gain is maximum, side lobes are
maximum also and beam width is about 60*lambda/diameter (degrees).

You will certainly not reach this, for several reasons. The beam width
will be more, it can be twice as high (depending on the illuminator).

The maximum gain that you can obtain with a certain aperture antenna
is about 4*pi*A/lambda^2. In reality it will be less:

When you want uniform illumination, you will have "spill over" (part
of the radiated power will not reach the dish). To get most power onto
the dish, you must accept that the edges of the dish do receive less
power flux density.

In addition, the phase center of your illuminator will change versus
off-main beam direction. This causes phase differences so a non-planar
field. Also polarization may change for off-beam directions.

Other things are deviation from optimal parabolic shape, non correctly
positioned illuminator, etc. This will all reduce maximum gain.

Hope this helps a bit.

Best regards,

Wim
PA3DJS
www.tetech.nl

"Wimpie" wrote in message
...
On 26 jun, 14:35, "amdx" wrote:
I have a Directv dish 35 inches wide x 20 inches tall 4inches deep.
I calculated the focus as F=D*2 / 16d where D =diameter and d=depth
F=18 inches Ok so far.
How do you find beamwidth? I think the 35" dimensiom would have a tighter
pattern than the 20 ", but how do you calculate,

Second, The feed antenna, There can be different feeds.
A simple monopole, dipole, biquad, patch, yagi, helix.
How does the feed antenna affect the gain of the dish, if at all?
Yea, it my be difficult to light the yagi or helix, so if you like throw
those out.
Thank You,
Mike

Hello Mike,

In case of uniform illumination, gain is maximum, side lobes are
maximum also and beam width is about 60*lambda/diameter (degrees).

My dish is 35" wide x 20"tall
So if Lambda=4.89" Then 60 x 4.89 / 35 = 8.38*
and 60 x 4.89 / 20 = 14.67*
Then my beamwidth will be taller than it is wide.

You will certainly not reach this, for several reasons. The beam width
will be more, it can be twice as high (depending on the illuminator).

Yes. it's always something.

The maximum gain that you can obtain with a certain aperture antenna
is about 4*pi*A/lambda^2. In reality it will be less:

I was going to attempt this but I don't know how to calculate the area (A)
of my non circular dish. Any help there?

Thanks, Mike

amdx wrote:
I was going to attempt this but I don't know how to calculate the area (A)
of my non circular dish. Any help there?

Calculus? Graphic solution?
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

Area = PI*a*b, as defined below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse

Frank


"Cecil Moore" wrote in message
...
amdx wrote:
I was going to attempt this but I don't know how to calculate the area
(A)
of my non circular dish. Any help there?

Calculus? Graphic solution?
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

"Frank" wrote in message
news:0R89k.658$7%6.42@edtnps82...
Area = PI*a*b, as defined below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse

Frank
Thanks Frank,
From the wiki "The area enclosed by an ellipse is ?ab, where (as before) a
and b are the ellipse's semimajor and semiminor axes."
Now back to, why did I want to now that.
Mike

amdx wrote:
I have a Directv dish 35 inches wide x 20 inches tall 4inches deep.
I calculated the focus as F=D*2 / 16d where D =diameter and d=depth
F=18 inches Ok so far.
How do you find beamwidth? I think the 35" dimensiom would have a tighter
pattern than the 20 ", but how do you calculate,

Second, The feed antenna, There can be different feeds.
A simple monopole, dipole, biquad, patch, yagi, helix.
How does the feed antenna affect the gain of the dish, if at all?
Yea, it my be difficult to light the yagi or helix, so if you like throw
those out.
Thank You,
Mike

Some guys at the local club were trying to use a TV dish like yours.
They eventually decided it was easier to build a dish from scratch.
The old TVRO dishes can be useful and there are plenty of them around
that can be had just for the asking.

Jimmie

Some guys at the local club were trying to use a TV dish like yours.
They eventually decided it was easier to build a dish from scratch.
The old TVRO dishes can be useful and there are plenty of them around
that can be had just for the asking.

Jimmie
I don't know why it would be easier to build one, but yes, I ask and got
three different dishes, so I stopped asking.
Mike

"amdx" wrote in message
...


Some guys at the local club were trying to use a TV dish like yours.
They eventually decided it was easier to build a dish from scratch.
The old TVRO dishes can be useful and there are plenty of them around
that can be had just for the asking.

Jimmie
I don't know why it would be easier to build one, but yes, I ask and got
three different dishes, so I stopped asking.
Mike

Hi Mike I missed the post where you said why you wanted the dishes and
what you intend to use them for. What do you intend to use the dishes for?

Jerry KD6JDJ

"Jerry" wrote in message
news:2rc9k.26$HY.21@trnddc01...

"amdx" wrote in message
...


Some guys at the local club were trying to use a TV dish like yours.
They eventually decided it was easier to build a dish from scratch.
The old TVRO dishes can be useful and there are plenty of them around
that can be had just for the asking.

Jimmie
I don't know why it would be easier to build one, but yes, I ask and got
three different dishes, so I stopped asking.
Mike

Hi Mike I missed the post where you said why you wanted the dishes and
what you intend to use them for. What do you intend to use the dishes
for?

Jerry KD6JDJ
I didn't say.

Oh, ok. I want to increase the strength of a wifi signal.
Mike

"amdx" wrote in
:

....
I didn't say.

Oh, ok. I want to increase the strength of a wifi signal.


Gee, getting relevant information from you is a chore, and you seem to
delight in supplying a partial picture.

Now, what frequency WiFi?

If you are thinking of 2.4GHz, you must already have worked out a feed
solution that efficiently illuminates the small dish, a considerable
challenge.

While you are obsessing about calculating the area of an elipse, you
haven't had a look at the disk from the distant end, have you? It is
probably very close to circular in cross section when viewed from afar in
the direction of the beam.

When you have worked through some of this, you might see why offset feed
dishes made for Ku band aren't widely used by informed people at 2.4GHz.
Of course, there will always be the 'innovaters' with a USB wireless
stick pointing at a garbage tin lid or wok... but that says it all,
doesn't it!

Owen