satellite dish paint

I think the short answer is NO.

My thinking is as follows.

Consider the vast amounts of time and effort spent by the military to try and find a paint which doesn't reflect microwaves (e.g Absorbs RADAR) to make stealth aircraft.

Del

Just as long as its a thin coat just use ordinary paint...

The stuff they use for absorbing microwaves is based on the fact that it is thick enough to match the frequency of the radar and therefore the reflected signal cancels itself out at the boundary of the surface...

They used this technique at Heathrow airport when some bloke built a warehouse blocking the radar for ground control, in fact it was so reflective it overloaded the radar making it useless. So the military were called in to paint it with their stuff and made it radar invisible.

John

Hi sthatty:

there is no special paint used on Satellite dishes. I painted mine a brick colour which matches my house, and it works fine.

babybear

Whatever you do, don't use Krylon flat-black!!! It will render your dish stealthy, and it will fly around the neighborhood bombing your neighbors!!!

Hi vermin,

can I surgest that 'closter bombs' should not be used? You can't beat a decent 'A' Bomb, can you? Such luvali colours!!!

babybear

Two thumbs up, Vermin! Good answer!

Unless the dish has chipped areas in it just use any pain you want.

Some makers use powered aluminium in the original pain some use a aluminum dish.

You could replace it with an invisible dish or protect it with a dish 'sock' or make it stand out with a decorated cover.

hey

thanks for those links I never knew such things existed.

sthatty

We have a microwave intrusion detection system here. We paint our radomes with automotive paint because the unpainted radomes require waxing (turtle wax) every few months. The regular automotive paint from a rattle can works fine, the brand doesn't seem to make any difference. The only color we have tried is white though, other colors may have some effect which you may not like.

The only paint to use, in my opinion is tartan paint.

Go to your local DIY store and order some tartan paint, it won't upset the dish at all...

John.

You mean...you can get paint that looks like...this?

WOW!

Hello Electroman,

I totally agree. Though when using tartan paint you really need a steady hand! It does look good though.

babybear

Just FYI

Try and keep the color light. Darker colors get hotter and will burn up the LNB faster.

My dish is at ground level next to my house. A couple of years back my wife planted flowers all around it to try and "hide" it.

Soon After. I took the pan off and painted a LARGE lovely Sunflower on it! She loved it!

bill12780

its more expensive (of course), but they make paint for inside microwave ovens.

I'd bet its great for microwave dishes, also probably pointless.

I have used some for touch ups. Its probably more its flammability than its reflectivity thats the issue. It seems to take longer to harden.

I have seen microwave ovens after they have had normal paint used in them, not pretty. It bubbles then burns.