BUD Mesh

[easily confused]

Just wondering if anyone has ever recovered their mesh using something like metal window screening. The 12 footer I have appears to have quite large holes compared to my 7 1/2' so I am very sure I will not be able to pull in Ku band. I was wondering if I were to take metal screening, cut to fit each section of the dish and lay it over the existing mesh held in place by glue would it work. With holes being small as they are on a metal window screening, this would almost equate to a light weight solid dish. Opinions?

[rrob311]

I've never had to repair one. As long as it is reflective I guess.

[easily confused]

I had kind of thought that with the mesh being so fine it should work. Still looking around to see if I can find anywhere selling replacement mesh for the 12'

[rrob311]

Maybe you could remove a section of mesh from your 7.5 if it is easy to remove and replace it with screen and do before and after signal/quality checks with your receiver.

[bruster]

Just wondering if anyone has ever recovered their mesh using something like metal window screening. The 12 footer I have appears to have quite large holes compared to my 7 1/2' so I am very sure I will not be able to pull in Ku band. I was wondering if I were to take metal screening, cut to fit each section of the dish and lay it over the existing mesh held in place by glue would it work. With holes being small as they are on a metal window screening, this would almost equate to a light weight solid dish. Opinions?

several years ago I had limbs fall off a tree on my 8 ft dish & I used galvanized metal lath to repair it, worked like a charm!!!!!

[Costactc]

If you can fit a pencil tip through the holes then it was intended for c band use only. I've never attempted to replace mesh but did repair a couple of spots on my 10' bud with fish string. Why don't you use it exclusively for c band and use the 7.5' for ku band?

[eastof111]

A few months ago I went to see a Winegard 10 footer that was brought back to life after extreme hail damage. The individual replaced all mesh panels with very thin sheet metal cut into appropriate sized petals. He used self tapping sheet metals screws to fasten the petals.

It didn't look bad, just rather bright since he didn't paint it. He said it improved his signal level by 2-4 points on his receiver. It did increase dish movement in high wind though. He said he was very pleased with the results.

[easily confused]

If you can fit a pencil tip through the holes then it was intended for c band use only. I've never attempted to replace mesh but did repair a couple of spots on my 10' bud with fish string. Why don't you use it exclusively for c band and use the 7.5' for ku band?

Actually, Costa, I get better Ku reception on my 39" then the 7 1/2'. I get some Ku but nothing on 83 (RTV/TUFF). From what the guy told me, this dish is around 20 years old. The holes, in the mesh, appear to be about 1/8', not round but diamond shape. If I use the original mesh, will this still get good reception on all c-band?

[Costactc]

Back in the day they were mainly manufactured just for c band, you should get excellent results with it. Keep in touch with me when installing it so we can get you the Atlantic sats as well.

[easily confused]

Will definitely do that. I am trying to figure out whether I will need to buy another actuator or if I am ok with what I have. I currently have a 24" vonweise on the 7 1/2' BUD and I have 2 spare 24" actuators, one vonweise and the other has no identifying name plate. It is about 2/3 the weight of the vonweise. Would I need to go to a heavier actuator for the 12 foot dish?