GOOD idea to own a true FREE TO AIR satellite system

[Sadoun]

A while back, we asked members, "why in your opinion it is a GOOD idea for someone to own a true FREE TO AIR satellite system ?"

We received the following answers. enjoy!

1. World news, get the full story without the fox and cnn filters.
2. Music and entertainment. hollywood, disney and nyc not required
3. Its free, its fun and almost everybody will find something they like
4. By utilizing a true FTA system, you are able to gain access to programming and information from non-mainstream sources, and therefore not necessarily adversely influenced by conflicting sources.
5. By utilizing a true FTA system, you are in control of your TV viewing expenses. You spend as much as you want to on equipment in order to receive quality, meaningful programming, and you are not required to spend more and more each month to gain access to this programming. Of course, if you like what you see, you are certainly welcome, in most instances, to forward donations to help the cause of many of the organizations that broadcast on FTA.
6. FTA systems are a good hobby, and a good fellow-shipping tool. Once you have learned the benefits of FTA programming, you have the opportunity to learn more in-depth concepts of the satellite reception process in order to tweak and enhance reception. Utilizing this knowledge gives you an avenue to reach out to others with similar interests and help them to attain the same excellent programming in their home - in many cases religious or ethnic programming specifically related to the cause of spreading the gospel to those individuals.
7. It keeps the riffraff off the streets.
8. There are programs that show what else is happening around the world.
9. The toothpaste and soap companies can't control what we watch.
10. You always find something new to watch.
11. Nothing better than "news feeds"
12. I watch TV from my country without ties
13. I can choose which "package" I want.
14. Free choice of equipment
15. I am my own support hotline
16. There is always something new to discover
17. I feel like a spy finding new signals.
18. It's free to use.
19. It is pure fun, can't get into trouble with anyone (well almost).
20. Unique international channels, not found on cable or OTA
21. Feed channels, get the news before it is aired.
22. Digital quality picture, no fuzzy stuff, or shadows
23. AC3 sound from PBS, works great with my stereo
24. Don't forget about the numerous radio channels, lots of unique music. Sometimes, I will just run the signal to the stereo and listen to the music while the TV is off.
25. Very reliable equipment from Sadoun; going 2 years so far which pays for itself.
26. Easy to use ONCE you have it setup.
27. Discovering new channels and posting it here!!
28. Affordable, can't beat these prices
29. Channels and perspectives from around the world. If you're sick of celebrity gossip disguised as news, check out a few of the 24-hour English News channels or a number of International English news programs.
30. Wild Feeds - catch a small town high school game, a local reporter live on the scene, or even national announcers goofing around during the commercial break.
31. Watch a large number of PBS channels and programs
32. Variety- I got my FTA receiver up and running the night before the Olympics began. On the next morning, I flipped it on to see if I could catch highlights of the opening ceremony, and wound up seeing the whole ceremony live with no commercials and no annoying announcer telling me what I was seeing (at least not in english anyway)
33. I stayed tuned to Abu Dhabi Sports for the next two weeks to see the Olympics from a non American-centric and non Beach Volleyball-centric viewpoint. The whole thing wrapped up with being able to see the gold medal volleyball match live last Saturday night.
34. Definitely worthwhile to have FTA for that!
35. Global Perspectives- What do the Russians think of Solzenitzen's death? What do they think they're doing in Georgia? How do the Chinese view the Olympic Games? Tune in to the english broadcasts of Russia Today or CCTV9 and find out. In addition, both have excellent travel reports about places you've never heard of.
36. Channel surfing- Do you find that you start looping back through the local off the air channels too quickly when looking for something to watch? With hundreds of FTA channels, there's a lot more surfing to do.
37. Geeky sense of accomplishment-- When you get your dish motor successfully scanning the whole Clarke Belt +/- a half degree or so, you get a sense of accomplishment that most non-techies can't even begin to understand.
38. Keeps me informed of World News w/ perspectives not found in U.S. newscasts.
39. It's a hobby full of surprises especially when you blindscan a particular satellite and find a great feed like a sporting event or awesome breaking news, that's what I call fulfillment.
40. The most frugal way to add fun channels to your existing OTA lineup.
41. Who needs a monthly satellite or cable bill.
42. The funniest thing about FTA is all the complimenting accessories such as motors, switches, and extra LNB brackets that allows us to watch more satellites with ease and makes me feel as if I have my own independent cable company LOL.
43. News feeds giving you access long before anyone else ie: debates and court rooms etc.
44. International and us news from everywhere. Coast to coast in every time zone us and access to world news in many languages
    
45. It is free tv! Network channels and movies [even though they might not be brand spanking new movies] However scans can provide feeds of sporting events and movies.
46. No Contract, no monthly bills.
47. Anytime I want, I can sell some of my equipment and recoup some of my money back.
    

 

[Mr Tony]

very cool list

[*]World news, get the full story without the fox and cnn filters.

so true

[*]Its free, its fun and almost everybody will find something they like

yep. kids love it. I love it. Heck my neighbor loves it (its called finding a feed for his FB Team that he cant see on "cable")

[*]By utilizing a true FTA system, you are in control of your TV viewing expenses. You spend as much as you want to on equipment in order to receive quality, meaningful programming, and you are not required to spend more and more each month to gain access to this programming. Of course, if you like what you see, you are certainly welcome, in most instances, to forward donations to help the cause of many of the organizations that broadcast on FTA.

sadly spending more on receivers might be the disadvantage to this...

[*]FTA systems are a good hobby, and a good fellow-shipping tool. Once you have learned the benefits of FTA programming, you have the opportunity to learn more in-depth concepts of the satellite reception process in order to tweak and enhance reception. Utilizing this knowledge gives you an avenue to reach out to others with similar interests and help them to attain the same excellent programming in their home - in many cases religious or ethnic programming specifically related to the cause of spreading the gospel to those individuals.

true

[*]It keeps the riffraff off the streets.

not if they end up at my house to watch a game

[*]There are programs that show what else is happening around the world.

one of the best features of FTA...can see other news perspectives

[*]You always find something new to watch.

and if you don't, there's always Dr Gene Scott

[*]Nothing better than "news feeds"

sports feeds

[*]I am my own support hotline

so is satelliteguys

[*]It's free to use.

free=good

[*]Unique international channels, not found on cable or OTA

unique channel period not anywhere else

[*]AC3 sound from PBS, works great with my stereo

even better when the box can output it without an extra decoder

[*]Channels and perspectives from around the world. If you're sick of celebrity gossip disguised as news, check out a few of the 24-hour English News channels or a number of International English news programs.

so true

[*]Wild Feeds - catch a small town high school game, a local reporter live on the scene, or even national announcers goofing around during the commercial break.

best thing about FTA in my mind

[*]Geeky sense of accomplishment-- When you get your dish motor successfully scanning the whole Clarke Belt +/- a half degree or so, you get a sense of accomplishment that most non-techies can't even begin to understand.

been there done that

[*]It's a hobby full of surprises especially when you blindscan a particular satellite and find a great feed like a sporting event or awesome breaking news, that's what I call fulfillment.

so true

[*]The funniest thing about FTA is all the complimenting accessories such as motors, switches, and extra LNB brackets that allows us to watch more satellites with ease and makes me feel as if I have my own independent cable company LOL.

so true.....they forget the extra dishes to get 1 or 2 extra channels

[*]Anytime I want, I can sell some of my equipment and recoup some of my money back.

which I use to spend on more equipment

 

[Mr Tony]

my 5 reasons for FTA...well it rurned into 6
1. sports feeds from various spots...whether its a high school game or much bigger its fun to find them
2. news from around the world
3. oddball channels. Whether a international channel or domestic, there are some cool channels on FTA...got insomnia? Watch Doc Scott for a while
4. you get to meet so many interesting people and share ideas here. Other parts of the board folks just answer questions. Here we work through the issues and help each other. And that's what makes FTA awesome
5. learn about other areas of the world
6. commercials from other areas...some good..some...well
....dont be a ditz in the ditch
[youtube]OwmWD7_ZmR4[/youtube]

or our friend Ted Stadtler
[youtube]eldbPUqhFZk[/youtube]

[youtube]ICppcKiwrPw[/youtube]

 

[Sadoun]

I know you will have more to add to the list. If not you, who else?

 

[Lak7]

Keeps the neighbors guessing.

 

[Cadsulfide]

I get up at 5 am, it's nice to watch the NYC news with my first cup of coffee.

 

[toucan-man]

Keeps the neighbors guessing.

Sure does. One local guy, kidding around, asked if I was a spy. He still has no clue what I have those dishes for.

My short list:

* Turkish television, especially the music shows. Great stuff.

* The cooking shows in Arabic make me hungry for middle-eastern food I can't even pronounce.

* Watching foreign tv can help with the study of other languages. I watch the Persian and Spanish channels specifically for this reason.

* I'm a Cambodian music video junkie, and can now have my fix.

* Zelenny Ibarra, the morning weather babe, Monterrey, Mexico. (KMCC Laughlin)

* I know more about cutting edge orthopedic surgical procedures than some local doctors, courtesy of the University of Washington. Just kidding.

* Against all odds, I'm now a Friends of Montana PBS supporting member and proud of it. Seriously.

* The chatter in the FTA forum makes me want to run out and get a BUD.