[Wswss] 1296 dish

[Len Gwinn]

Hi all,

I have been using a 10 foot TVRO dish on 1296.  It works great BUT BUT,  I have a question.

Situation.---The dish presently has small spaced wire mesh for its surface. OK, that is smooth.  BUT when I get high winds it is more like a solid surface I have been told.  I am getting some structure damage from the high wind vibration where the dish is braced back into the house at the center of the dish.  I have tried turning the dish sideways into the wind but no change in conditions.  Wind in the winter runs up to 70 mph  !!

Question---How much do I lose in gain--if at all--if I change the dish surface to half inch hardware cloth/wire/screen,   OR to one inch similiar material???  This should greatly cut down any vibration/acting like a solid dish ie, wind load would be much much less.  Does this also maybe allow more power to go thru the dish thus affecting anyone behind the dish  ???

I am planning on moving up to 300 watts output to the dish and would rather use the dish than a 22 element beam !!!

Any ideas or help  ?? or places to go read about it  ??

Thanks

Len  WA6KLK