My name is Dan from Indiana. I am a newbie to the FTA hobby does anyone have advice for me about FTA?
Dan
Dan
Just sayin hi.
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Welcome to SatelliteGuys!
Read, Read , Read...... This site has a ton of great information dealing with about every aspect of satellite reception.
Hi Dan and
As SatelliteAV says read read read, but if you have a specific question then ask, as there are no dumb questions here. We were ALL newbies at one time or another.
Again welcome!
As SatelliteAV says read read read, but if you have a specific question then ask, as there are no dumb questions here. We were ALL newbies at one time or another.
Again welcome!
Dan,
Theres a wealth of info on Sat Guys. Read until you can't read anymore...then if you're confused thats normal. What kind of setup are you looking to put together? There's plenty to watch....Blind
Theres a wealth of info on Sat Guys. Read until you can't read anymore...then if you're confused thats normal. What kind of setup are you looking to put together? There's plenty to watch....Blind
FTA advice?
Patience. Patience. Did I mention lots and lots of patience?
Welcome to the addiction, err, hobby!
Patience. Patience. Did I mention lots and lots of patience?
Welcome to the addiction, err, hobby!
Dan, this hobby is like another out there GOLF. Frustrating at times but very rewarding when you hit that perfect shot.
I have a left over superdish and i heard from my local tv antenna guy he said that it came with linear lnbs. Also the company globalcast uses a oval dish for thier programming anyinfo on thier setup? Also I have a zinwell 4x4 switch I just don't have a FTA box yet I am looking around for what I can get for cheap.
Dan Rose
Dan Rose
Dan,
Welcome to SatelliteGuys! You are definitely in the right place to learn about everything to do with satellites. I do mean everything. FTA, Dish Network, DirecTV, other providers, overseas satellite information and internet satellite stuff, too! Someone here knows something about one thing or another.
As others have elluded to, FTA itself is a "hobby". It should not be misconstrued as a replacement for subscription satellite services. It is a scientific research hobby that continues on and on and the rewards for your research are a few neat channels here and there and the satisfaction that you know much more about satellite technology than anyone else. It is fun, it is interesting and you get to meet new friends as well. If you have the right mindset, you are going to enjoy it immensely.
FTA doesn't cost much to get started, and the programming you get is free (obviously) but you must be cautious. It can be VERY addictive and you can end up buying lots of toys in this hobby!
So, just pace yourself and as everyone says, read and research so that you are not buying toys you really don't need.
There is a HUGE amount of information to learn about satellites and satellite technology, so don't figure on this to be an easy or quick venture. If you are a blank slate now, you will have a long ways to go to get to the "A-Ha!" or "Eureka" moment. Here at SatelliteGuys, we can help you speed up that trek somewhat and assist you with some of the technical information and help you avoid some of the pitfalls so that you don't make the same mistakes that we may have made when we started out as greenhorns ourselves.
Obviously, read enough of the help tips and tricks and FAQs so that you can lead yourself into posing questions which reflect that you understand some of the basic concepts. It is easier to assist you when we know that you have the basics under your belt already. We can fill in the gaps and clear the doubts easier then.
Remember that this is a DIY hobby. What you do is purely for your own satisfaction and totally on your own time schedule. You set the pace according to what is natural for you and according to your abilities at the time. This should be comfortable for you. Don't allow yourself to feel frustrated. If you feel frustrated, back off and take a break and then ask a question of us. When you ask a question, be very specific with all your information. Don't make guesses or assumptions. Get all your facts ready to present in order and in detail. This will help you post your questions with authority and those who read your posts will understand what is going on with your system more quickly. Troubleshooting will be simpler this way and answers may be more expedient.
Have a great time, Dan! Enjoy it all and soak it in! Browse around and get familiar with the entire site (forum) so that you can navigate around with ease.
Good luck to you, enjoy and again...
RADAR
Dan,
First advice on the SuperDish... You might be able to use it for some things, but you are better off purchasing a dedicated dish for FTA signals. 76 cm minimum with a standard linear LNBF. Go up to 1.2 M dish for Ku-Band if you can. Save the Superdish for the purpose that it was intended for (DN).
As for a FTA receiver, my favorite is the Coolsat 5000 or Coolsat 6000. These are no longer manufactured, but can be obtained used for dirt cheap. They are excellent learning receivers for anyone, I still use mine and I have eight or more of them and I will not part with them! Yes, to me they are like gold.
There are many other brands that are very good as well. Check our sponsors at the top of the page and browse their selections. They will talk things over with you and help you make an educated decision for a NEW receiver if you go that route. They are not GOLD sponsors for no reason! I have purchased something from probably every one of them and more and they are all excellent to do business with. Most are members of this site and will jump in on a conversation to assist you as well with excellent advice. Check them all out.
The Zinwell switch will come in handy down the road. Make sure you save that. When you first start out, try not to incorporate the switch, though. It makes things a lot easier if you start with the very basics until you master the dish alignment process. Later you can start being more creative. Take your time.
RADAR
Thank you guys for giving me some advice. Another big question is their anyway that an apartment complex be able to BAN satillite dishes. I live in low income housing and I had a dish for about 10 years then a couple of years ago they tried to ban dishes and only go with cable. I fought to keep my dish and the housing authority board said I could keep my dish and my tv antenna but new people couldn't. The manmegent hates my guts for that and everytime I move my dish they get on to me but new residents can put a 30'' dish and get no trouble from them doesn't make one bit of sense don't it. I have live in that apartment complex for 16 years electrioncs is my passion tv antennas, satillite dishes, T.V's its peaceful but when people try to take my passion away from me it makes me mad. The only thing I agree on with the housing authority on is when people do things wrong with electrioncs and make me look bad plus I get the blame. What is your thoughts on this?
Dan Rose
Dan Rose
I have showed them the FCC papers their stupid lawyer said it does not apply to us since I live in low income housing. I said its for everyone that lives in the US.
Dan Rose
Dan Rose
No! That does not apply. It is for everyone, as far as I know, rich and famous or regular joe blow, the law is the law! I think they are trying to buffalo you. Now, I am not absolutely certain of this, but I believe the law makes no exceptions here. Someone posted the actual regulations either here or directed us to a site where it was spelled out and I don't recall ever witnessing any loophole that was otherwise in dis-favor of your situation.
We would want to check this out before you make any claims, just to be certain, but I think you are within your rights no matter what.
Hopefully, someone with a really good background in this subject will chime in and tell us all about the nitty gritty aspects.
Don't do anything that will piss them off until you get absoulte authority to do so, of course. After the fact, I would thumb my nose at them just to rub it in, but you had better ensure that right first.
RADAR
The only way they can "ban" dishes is if you dont have an exclusive spot on your apt to put it like a patio/deck. The roof would be their right to allow them or not. My buddy is in low income housing (section 8 apartment) and he has a dish on his deck (in a 5 gallon bucket of concrete)
The Superdish would be a start but wouldnt get all the KU out there as it is on the small side. You would want at minimum a 30" round or egg shaped dish. The SD are 36x20 if I remember right. The LNB will work for FTA as it is KU Band (the SD 121 LNB works fine). The 4x4 is not needed in this case because the LNB only has one output and you would need 2 for the 4x4 to work right.
Radar gave some good receiver models (Coolsat 5000/6000) or even a Pansat/Fortec. Those are good "starter" models
Globecast is a subscription service. Some channels are scrambled but most are free. If you do with a scrambled channel (mainly international channels) you have to use their receiver which frankly is a pile. Very old and clunky bu they will only activate their receiver.
My dish is in ground mounted on a pole by the apartment I followed the rules on the FCC papers. My patio is on the Northeast of the apartment my dish is on the corner of south to south west. The housing authority wanted me to put it in bucket and i said that would fall over in a high wind on the back porch. Also something else A new person moved in a different apartment after they ban them they had thiers in a bucket and they still have theirs up and working. My apartment manager says I need her permission to do anything with my dish or anything. Basiclly she wants my head on a platter she hates me that bad cause of standing up for whats right.
Dan Rose
Dan Rose
1- Call her boss. When your calm
Or
2- Do what you want and tell them to sue you.
Her boss is just as evil the board is the only one that will listen to me. But I have idea on what I am going to do. Is thier paper work from the FCC about being a HAM radio operator?
Dan Rose
Dan Rose
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