post tonight or tomorrow ... what will happen ?
I fussed with the hair dryer and got the signal from 16 to 33 ... but still no cigar. As I played with the aiming, not loosening any screws, just pushing at the LNB, Sandy was calling out the numbers and it connected and started sending and receiving email.
Ok, I need a closer look at this thing. I removed the outer plastic cover (two screws) and found ... bat poop !!! ... all over the inside. Collected in the bottom of the plastic and all over the metal parts ... grrr. It could be that the acidic nature of poop got to the seals. So ... what do I do next ... hmmm.
Well, I decided to have a go at separating the horn part of the unit from the guts, as it were. That was a bit tedious because I could only turn the allen screws about 1/8 of a turn in the space allowed. Eventually, however, I did get it apart and brought the horn inside to try and remove moisture. It's not as easy as it sounds because you're poking cloth / paper towel etc. into the narrow part of the horn and trying to work it into the wider part. Eventually, however, I did get most of the moisture removed. That does nothing for moisture in the guts of the unit but at least it's a start. I did blow at the "guts" with the hair dryer (actually heat gun) to try and help. I reassembled and the signal was a few points stronger -- 38 I think, which produces a solid connection, -- running at 45 now -- and did some research, now that I had internet service.
When you don't have internet service, how do you do research on how to fix your unit ? Right.
It seems to be somewhat of a common problem. Recommendations range from using alcohol to air-in-a-can ... which I would have done except that I was all out. I hadn't thought of alcohol for drying.
If we were staying here for longer, I'd bring the unit into the house and do a thorough drying and re-sealing. Time will tell as to whether this will help tomorrow a.m.
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I went into town for the last run before going south. I picked up another dozen minnows and by the way, pulled in another good sized pike. I've also lost another couple of minnows today. At the General Store, I got flour and skim milk powder (for making yogurt) and headed back home with the temperature dropping. It started the day at 35F and is supposed to hit 5F overnight.
Sandy has been doing laundry all day, sheets, sheets and more sheets. Because she can only get one king-sized sheet at a time in this silly washer, it takes time.
What else ?
I used the JB Weld on that wheel weight. It takes a long time to set. I'll bring the wheel up to the barn tomorrow but won't be swapping wheels until Monday. I suppose that I could do the swap tomorrow after I get back from Mass ... whatever.
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I have service ! It's marginal, but it's there. 1000% improvement, although technically something over zero is infinite. I'd definitely have another go at this if we were staying for much longer than two more days.
Sandy continued to work the washing machine yesterday up into the evening. When I asked her how many more sheets she had to wash, I got an "I don't know". She must be making progress because I saw the clothesline full of sheets at one point, before it started snowing ...
There was no more action at the fishing rigs, that seems to fall off as dusk approaches.
We had stuffed rainbow trout for dinner -- one of my specialties -- along with coleslaw and leftover turnip. We're gradually cleaning out the fridge.
Speaking of cleaning out the fridge -- today we're going to move everything to the fridge downstairs and I'll shut-off the upstairs one first thing tomorrow morning and let it defrost. I'm still nervous about this fridge frosting up while we're away. It has mostly behaved itself although I did detect a buildup of ice one time. We have to defrost it during the day in case there is any build-up that would overflow the evaporator tray.
Today ... Mass in Britt; Jim and Bonnie are supposed to come over for a drink this afternoon.
Tomorrow ... swap tires and pack.
Onward !
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