Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Discussion of large prime focus satellite dishes used for C-Band signal reception.
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Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by gtalover1 » Tue Apr 06, 2021 1:12 pm

Is it OK to repaint a 35 year old C/KU mesh dish? Will there be signal degradation??? Spray paint or brush paint? Ideas???

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by Captain Ron » Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:42 am

A thin coat of flat (non gloss) paint won't hurt reception but from what i've read it won't help it a whole bunch either, a dish of bare metal would reflect more signal as a rule than a painted one but you need to protect it from rust. If your dish is damaged or badly rusted you want to affect repairs first before painting.

I've read that its best to use a flat or non gloss paint as its said that glossy paint and metallic paints can actually cause stray satellite signals to bounce around and enter the feedhorn causing extra noise and may even damage the LNB if the sun blinds it, not sure if that is true but its what I read somewhere. I also read that you don't want to paint the cap or (scaler ring) around the LNB that faces towards the dish as its said that can hurt reception (reflect signal away from the LNB). Again don't know if that is true but sounds logical.

**** You want to take a garden hose, bucket and dish soap and long broom to scrub and wash the face of the dish, the paint will stick and seal better and last longer if it doesn't have to fight a 20 year layer of dirt and bird poop. Rinse and let dry for a day before painting.

Aerosol paint is going to be a smoother coating than a brushed on paint. I would use spray on cans of ((Krylon brand)) flat black paint (if thats the original color) as Krylon is made to fight rust and most of it can be used without first painting with a primer and you want to have a smooth coat. (Should be able to find Krylon at any hardware store or maybe even a Walmart and they might be cheaper.)

Both spraying and brush on paints - one or two light coats are always better than one thick heavy coat.

Krylon also makes cans of (brush on) paint called "Tough Coat" so if you want to also paint the mounting and pole you might want to do that if rust is an issue.

Good Luck !

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by Arion » Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:29 pm

I've painted my KU band 1.2 meter dish a few times already and have never noticed any signal degradation.
10' Tek C-band dish, 1.2 meter KU band dish, ASC1 mover, Octagon/Zgemma/Edison dual band STB's. Running OpenPli on all.

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by Captain Ron » Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:30 pm

Arion wrote:
Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:29 pm
I've painted my KU band 1.2 meter dish a few times already and have never noticed any signal degradation.
What type paint did you use?

I would point out that its a bit different for small dishes like for (Dishnet or Directv) as they are not mesh and those Ku Satellites transmit their beams at a lot higher power than C-Band Satellites do (for BUD dishes) and small dish Ku satellites run a much smaller more focused beam which is why you cannot keep the signal on a small Ku dish if you bump it like you can when moving or bumping a big Bud C-Band dish with its motor. C-Band Bud is lower power and larger beam thus requiring a large dish.

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by tek2000 » Tue Apr 13, 2021 5:25 am

Gloss black spray paint works great for our mesh antennas and will make it look like new. The paint will not cause performance issues since the thickness of the layer of paint on the reflector is minuscule and will not absorb much energy.
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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by gtalover1 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:57 am

Captain Ron wrote:
Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:42 am
A thin coat of flat (non gloss) paint won't hurt reception but from what i've read it won't help it a whole bunch either, a dish of bare metal would reflect more signal as a rule than a painted one but you need to protect it from rust. If your dish is damaged or badly rusted you want to affect repairs first before painting.

I've read that its best to use a flat or non gloss paint as its said that glossy paint and metallic paints can actually cause stray satellite signals to bounce around and enter the feedhorn causing extra noise and may even damage the LNB if the sun blinds it, not sure if that is true but its what I read somewhere. I also read that you don't want to paint the cap or (scaler ring) around the LNB that faces towards the dish as its said that can hurt reception (reflect signal away from the LNB). Again don't know if that is true but sounds logical.

**** You want to take a garden hose, bucket and dish soap and long broom to scrub and wash the face of the dish, the paint will stick and seal better and last longer if it doesn't have to fight a 20 year layer of dirt and bird poop. Rinse and let dry for a day before painting.

Aerosol paint is going to be a smoother coating than a brushed on paint. I would use spray on cans of ((Krylon brand)) flat black paint (if thats the original color) as Krylon is made to fight rust and most of it can be used without first painting with a primer and you want to have a smooth coat. (Should be able to find Krylon at any hardware store or maybe even a Walmart and they might be cheaper.)

Both spraying and brush on paints - one or two light coats are always better than one thick heavy coat.

Krylon also makes cans of (brush on) paint called "Tough Coat" so if you want to also paint the mounting and pole you might want to do that if rust is an issue.

Good Luck !
Thanks for your input. I painted it white last Saturday. It turned out to be my MASTERPIECE. Beautiful. It turned out MUCH BETTER than expected.

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by gtalover1 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:02 am

Arion wrote:
Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:29 pm
I've painted my KU band 1.2 meter dish a few times already and have never noticed any signal degradation.

Thanks for your input. I painted it white last Saturday. Beautiful. It turned out MUCH BETTER than expected.

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by gtalover1 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:04 am

tek2000 wrote:
Tue Apr 13, 2021 5:25 am
Gloss black spray paint works great for our mesh antennas and will make it look like new. The paint will not cause performance issues since the thickness of the layer of paint on the reflector is minuscule and will not absorb much energy.

Thanks for your input. I painted it white last Saturday. It turned out to be my MASTERPIECE. Beautiful. It turned out MUCH BETTER than expected.

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by gtalover1 » Wed Apr 21, 2021 1:22 pm

gtalover1 wrote:
Tue Apr 06, 2021 1:12 pm
Is it OK to repaint a 35 year old C/KU mesh dish? Will there be signal degradation??? Spray paint or brush paint? Ideas???


Here's my MASTERPIECE
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20210421_131037.jpg

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Re: Mesh Antenna Repaint ???

Post by Captain Ron » Wed Apr 21, 2021 5:38 pm

Nicely done !

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