[BC] Comtech Dish...

[Burt I. Weiner]

Edwin,

My experience has been that the 3-section Comtech dishes do not hold 
shape.  After a few years they begin to sag.  The 3.7 and 4.2 Meter 
Patriots seem to be pretty sturdy, at least the ones I've installed 
in Southern California.  They are very labor intensive to assemble.

Burt

>I would take a used Comtech in need of repair over a brand new Patriot.
>
>Beyond 1-Meter, the Patriots suck unless you want to put lots of 
>labor into putting them together, getting them properly aligned and 
>keeping them there.  They are not built for high wind and climate 
>extremes.  The suckers warp, bend and twist way too much to be 
>reliable at the gain and noise margins we need with 2-deg 
>spacing.  In particular, I would not count on them to remain locked 
>on a signal in a drenching rain and wind of a hurricane when your 
>audience most needs your reliable service.
>
>Edwin Bukont CSRE, DRB, CBNT