For fixed QO-100 satellite communication installations, a satellite dish with a diameter of up to one metre can be an excellent choice. However, when taking the equipment into the field, size and portability become much more important. For portable operations, a 60 cm dish is often a better compromise between performance and practicality.

There is just one problem: even a 60 cm satellite dish is still a dish. Transporting it, together with its tripod and other equipment, can be rather inconvenient — especially when travelling by bicycle to a field location.

I was therefore looking for a simple solution that would make the dish and its tripod considerably more compact during transport.

The concept is deliberately simple. It does not require expensive components or specialised tools, and the modifications can be carried out with basic workshop equipment. The use of small hinges and IKEA Allen keys as hinge pins is a good example of how readily available materials can be used to solve a practical problem.

Cutting the dish into three sections

The solution turned out to be surprisingly simple. I cut the 60 cm satellite dish into three strips, cutting along the long axis of the dish. This can easily be done with an ordinary jigsaw. There is no need for specialised equipment, although care should of course be taken to make clean and accurate cuts.

The three sections can then be folded together, making the dish much easier to transport.

To connect the sections, I used small hinges. The hinge pins are made from something that is both inexpensive and readily available: the small Allen keys supplied free of charge with IKEA furniture.

The result is a hinged dish that can be folded into a much more compact package without significantly increasing its weight or complexity.

The cuts do not show any degradation of the signals for both transmitting as well as receiving. Even with two panels it is still possible to have a decent QSO over QO-100.

Small enough for a field-bed bag

The complete dish, together with its tripod, fits into a compact carrying bag originally intended for a field bed. The total weight is no more than approximately 2.5 kg.

This makes a significant difference when travelling to a portable QO-100 station. Instead of having to carry a large, awkward satellite dish, the entire assembly can be packed into a bag that is much easier to handle and can even be secured to a bicycle.

For field operations, this is particularly useful. The satellite equipment can be transported alongside the radio, power supply, cables and other accessories without the dish becoming the largest and most awkward item to carry.

Fast to assemble

Portability would be of limited value if setting up the dish took a long time. Fortunately, the hinged construction does not introduce much additional work.

Both assembly and disassembly take less than five minutes. Once the dish sections are unfolded and secured, the result is essentially a conventional 60 cm satellite dish.

This makes the design particularly suitable for temporary QO-100 operations, demonstrations, field days and other situations where equipment needs to be transported to a location and set up relatively quickly.

Compact, lightweight and practical

The main advantages of this portable QO-100 dish are therefore straightforward:

• A 60 cm dish provides a useful size for portable operation.

• The dish can be folded into three compact sections.

• A standard jigsaw is sufficient to make the cuts.

• Small hinges connect the individual sections.

• IKEA Allen keys can be used as inexpensive hinge pins.

• The dish and tripod fit into a compact field-bed carrying bag.

• Total weight is approximately 2.5 kg.

• Assembly and disassembly take less than five minutes.

• The packed system is much easier to transport, including by bicycle.