I am actually quite new to the FTA satellite concept and have a problem that has been nagging me since I got my dish a few days ago. My receiver which is an older model Captiveworks CW-600S Premium is displaying a contant signal level of around 61 which fluctuates slightly despite the receiver working perfectly with a signal level of 0 when hooked up to a Dish Network branded dish on the roof of the building. It does manage to lock onto the Echostar 7 and Echostar 10 satellites easily but not much else.
Annoying noise floor issue
- Thread starter NMoon
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When connected to a working LNBF, the receiver's Signal Level reading will show the LNBF amplifier noise. This is completely normal. The Signal Quality reading is the important display for optimizing reception on a specific satellite. The satellite transponder is locked when Signal Quality reading is displayed. Occasionally a very low signal quality of no signal quality satellite signal will display programming, butr this is not normal and is likely a receiver problem.
The Dish Network dish and LNBFs will only receive the signals from Dish Network and DirecTV. These LNBF(s) are circular polarity and do not tune the lower power, lower frequency and linear polarity free to air satellites.
The Dish Network dish and LNBFs will only receive the signals from Dish Network and DirecTV. These LNBF(s) are circular polarity and do not tune the lower power, lower frequency and linear polarity free to air satellites.
You need a larger dish (3ft, IE: 39" minimum for KU) and a linear KU LNB.
I don't think your receiver will be good for receiving more than satellite 97W though. It's too old.
I don't think your receiver will be good for receiving more than satellite 97W though. It's too old.
Echostar 7 and 10 eh?
WARNING: If your intent is to illegally receive Dish Network...you are in the wrong place, and will not last long here.
If you are in the market for TRUE FTA, we will be glad to help.
WARNING: If your intent is to illegally receive Dish Network...you are in the wrong place, and will not last long here.
If you are in the market for TRUE FTA, we will be glad to help.
My intention is not to illegally receive Dish Network but rather to explore what is unencrypted and thus fair game. If I wanted to subscribe using my existing receiver I could (it does support their method of encryption) but would not due to its age. Sadly I am somewhat space constrained and can only play around with KU band stuff at the moment.
There is a decent amount on Ku but like others said you do need to get a bigger dish. A 3 foot dish is not much bigger than your dish network. It will also require a proper linear LNBF for FTA.
You can play around with 97W with that receiver once you have the proper set-up but you will want to upgrade your receiver also.
You can play around with 97W with that receiver once you have the proper set-up but you will want to upgrade your receiver also.
What I have is a generic dish which is 24 inches but dubious at best LNBs which is my likely suspect at the moment. These are generic no name ones that support circular along with both vertical and horizontal polarization.
If your serious about trying FTA I'd recommend this which includes a 90cm dish and mount plus a good pll linear lnb for $99 (shipping included).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-Inch-90-cm-Free-To-Air-FTA-Satellite-Dish-HD-LNBF-/140486803820
http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-Inch-90-cm-Free-To-Air-FTA-Satellite-Dish-HD-LNBF-/140486803820
I need to sell my existing dish and LNBs first. They were advertised as suitable for FTA but that was a lie and are only good for Dish Network or DirecTV.
The combo on ebay has been listed for a long time so it should still be there when you're ready.
I just feel like I was burned by too small a dish, honestly the only thing it is good for in my case is if I needed an oversized wok. The issue is I keep hearing varying opinions on how big a dish you need even for the KU band so it is hard to know who has the right idea.
That is exactly what I have found with many hobbyist groups I have gotten involved with. There is always someone who has been there and done that regardless of what it might be. I am an amateur radio operator myself and hold the distinction of one of the few 7 calls in Indiana.
Welcome to SatGuys, NMoon!
It sounds like you bought a dish and have a separate Dish Network dish on your roof, two separate dishes, not just one? If so, what is the model and or size of the one you just got a few days ago?
The reason why is I live in an apartment building and those are setup for people in the building who subscribe to Dish Network. Because the goal for me is to hopefully get FTA satellite TV I need my own separate dish.
Ok, I was asking only because I didn't see anywhere the size or model of the dish you bought posted and with that info a better estimate of what you could receive could be made, I didn't think you were doing anything wrong.
Looking back through the thread, I see that you did post that the dish is 24'', missed it before!
A 36'' [90cm] dish is what most people get for Ku FTA. Smaller can work, but not for everything up there. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 36''.
