Bottlehead Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doc B. on February 24, 2021, 08:04:36 AM

Title: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 24, 2021, 08:04:36 AM

Does anyone have an old satellite dish they would like to get rid of? Looking for one for a project.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Alonzo on February 24, 2021, 09:26:15 AM

If no one locally, I have an old DirectTv one I can part with.
Alonzo

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 24, 2021, 09:58:22 AM

Thanks Alonzo. I just thought to look on Amazon Prime and I can buy one for cheaper than it would cost to ship. The project is a parabolic mic for use when video recording landspeed runs at Bonneville from the pits. Hack off the LNB, replace with a cardioid mic. It's a few hundred yards to the course and would be nice to have a mic that can really hone in on the motor sound. Hearing some of those bikes running flat out is a spiritual experience for me.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Thermioniclife on February 24, 2021, 10:19:57 AM

How about a cheap stainless steel mixing bowl?

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 24, 2021, 10:32:50 AM

The parabolic shape of the satellite dish is optimal for focusing all of the sound on the mic capsule. Other bowl shapes will be less optimal. Plus, all I have to do is take off the LNB and mount the mic on the same support.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Alonzo on February 24, 2021, 10:37:00 AM

Sounds like a plan!!!

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Thermioniclife on February 24, 2021, 10:57:11 AM

Roger that.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: caffeinator on February 24, 2021, 11:58:10 AM

How soon do you need it? I have one on the roof that I've been meaning to remove...it's a DirecTV unit...so maybe only 16" or so in diameter.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 24, 2021, 12:05:24 PM

No hurry. I've just been doing some video and sound recording lately and the idea crossed my mind as I start to consider upgrading my video setup for Bonneville. Commercial parabolic mic rigs are crazy money so it looks like a good excuse to DIY. 16" sounds good. Too big and it will be too balky to use, as you have to track the bike thru about a 140 degree arc. I might even be able to mount something that size on top of the camera. Which makes for a good excuse to buy a commercial grade tripod.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Natural Sound on February 24, 2021, 12:40:45 PM

Dan, check your local Craigslist. There are usually some on there.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 24, 2021, 01:28:46 PM

I did. There weren't. I wonder if my neighbor would notice if I stole his?

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: caffeinator on February 24, 2021, 02:23:24 PM

Well, having been at home for like, a year, things are getting down to the very bottom of the to-do list,which is where that task has been lurking for quite some time. I'll let you know when I've got it down in case you still need one.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: joepiecuch on February 25, 2021, 03:17:49 AM

i've got a dish 'turbo hd' sitting in the garage that i could bring by; how soon do you need it?

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 25, 2021, 05:27:22 AM

Thanks David, I'll take Joe up on his offer since he is on this side of the Sound. Awesome Joe! Thanks! No big rush, I've got other projects going at the moment. Next time you're over this way would be great.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: joepiecuch on February 25, 2021, 01:50:09 PM

i should be going in to spectra some time in the next week or two so i'll pay you a visit.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 25, 2021, 02:04:13 PM

Cool, looking forward to it

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: caffeinator on February 28, 2021, 04:37:55 AM

No problem...I'll just find something else to do with it once I get if off the roof...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtzRAjW6KO0&t=0s

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: Doc B. on February 28, 2021, 11:57:00 AM

Yeow.

Title: Re: An odd request
Post by: erick.lehnert.baron@gmail on May 05, 2021, 05:42:07 AM

I'm a little late to this party. Several years ago I was at the Reno air races. I taped my phone to the inside of a garbage can lid. It worked remarkably well. I got a lot of wind noise at certain angles.