6.2 - Mount Assembly
Mount Assembly
(Section 6.2 in ODN Field Services Manual)
Double check satellite view from proposed location with a compass or satellite app before building the mount.
Each antenna mount will come with manufacturer instructions. Follow the manufacturer instructions for mount assembly.
For ease of pointing and long-term reliability, care should be taken to be properly assemble the mount. The mast should be no more than 3 degrees off-plumb. Footing should be solid & the mast should not be easily budged. Any mechanical slop will complicate the pointing process.
Note: A non-penetrating mount is a style that is not mechanically attached to the ground or a structure. It is weighted with cement blocks for ballast and so is secured in place by gravity. These blocks are important for securing the mount during instances of high winds. Wind-load effects have been calculated by the manufacturer. All non-penetrating antenna mounts must be weighted to their intended capacity with cement blocks! The non-pen mounts for 1.2-meter antennas each require 16 cement blocks and the non-pen mounts for the 1.8-meter antennas require 32 cement blocks per installation. The wind-loading of a satellite antenna reflector can be difficult to realize on a calm day but understand that all those blocks are necessary over the course of average yearly weather.