[NOTE: We asked LW Blenis for his opinion on how to simplify carrying around a portable satellite dish -- an awkward piece of equipment which also requires some tools to set it up properly. LW is the inventer of what we think is the absolute best portable mounting system for these dishes, and which we've described in some detail in our "Products Review" Section. We weren't surprised to learn that LW has a prescription for solving this problem:]
1. Replace the two lock-nuts on the elevation adjustment with stainless steel wing-nuts and washers.
2. Replace the middle lock-nut on the azimuth adjustment with a S/S "L" clamping lever. You can leave the upper and lower lock-nuts loose or replace them with wing nuts. I just leave them loose and haven't had any problems. The "L" clamping lever works great in most of the states, but unless you file a small clearance slot in the dish mounting bracket, it limits elevation to a minimum of about 33 degrees. This creates a problem as you approach Friday Harbor and Bangor, Maine. Even without the slot, it is worth using in the rest of the country. You can use a wing-nut in the problem areas.
3. Replace the four lock-nuts holding the dish to the bracket with stainless steel wing-nuts. Then, remove the bolts and wing-nuts one at a time, apply a two part epoxy to the backside of the bolt head, and re-install with the wing-nuts until the epoxy cures. Do not use a super fast curing epoxy, or it will set up before you can do all four bolts. Do not get epoxy on the threads. You can use the washers to help keep the epoxy from squeezing thru, but you won't need them in normal use.
It sounds like a lot of details, but it really is not, and it will simplify things a lot to not have to use any tools to set up. I used only the clamping lever on the center bolt for lots of tests in the wind with no problems.
Regards,