Looking to buy FTA system and need advice

[nightwolf_x4]

I am looking to buy a FTA setup but not sure which one to go with. I would like to be able to receive both Ku & C band signals. Hoping someone could recommend what setup to go with such as box and dish.

Thanks

 

[Kraven]

First question... how much space do you have? Are you limited to a 36"- 48" dish or can you go as large as 12 feet?
Either or, best receiver, IMO, is the MicroHD.

 

[nightwolf_x4]

I have the room to go up to 12 feet but would like to keep the dish as small as possible. Not sure if there are any regulations in the subdivision where I live. As for the box you suggested what model number is that?

 

[FaT Air]

Geosatpro microHD They have a complete Ku system on 'bay.
To add C band, At LEAST a 6 ft dish, and bigger is better. May find one to SAVE here: Kijiji, eBay, and Craigslist dishes for you to take a look at
In the mean time check out the FTA / MPEG2 FAQ's
There are also product reviews that can be gone over: FTA/MPEG2 Equipment Reviews
if you'd rather 'get a feel' for what' is being used by members.
NOTE: there's more than one satellite, You'll probably want to move the Ku dish around with a motor(after getting a 'feel' for aiming it on a stationary mount) Think the SG6100 is the most recommended lately. Gotcband.com , I know, has 'em.
to Satellitguys

 

[richyrich]

Well, the choices are widely recognized as the technology; in reality, this is how it works.

What channels do you want? Since you have room for a big dish, will a motorized system have a clear view of the satellite arc from where you want to put it? C Band is big on channels in English (though other languages broadcast there too. Motor systems are high maintenance, requiring skills in programming the STB for reception. In a system, or technology of the products; many go with multiple dishes and switches pointing the dishes at the satellites that have only channels they want to watch. Has anybody shown you a list of channels based on what they are selling? Can you or do you want to install and program it yourself?

i M watching KTVA from Alaska CBS on AMC 7; available in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Only available with a 6 foot dish or larger.

 

[northgeorgia]

Not sure if there are any regulations in the subdivision where I live.

Do find out! Legally, you're allowed up to a meter (a little over 3 feet) in length, but even then some HOAs and neighbors will make your life miserable if they're super strict.

 

[nightwolf_x4]

Hello. I am familiar with the 10ft c band dishes as I owned one years ago. I may still have the dish if my brother-n-law hasn't junked it yet. I would most likely need to replace the feed horn and motorized arm. Its in Arkansas and I live in Louisiana now. I can probably install it myself as I have installed DirecTV and Dish Network for friends/family in the past. The FTA thing is just new to me. I sorta understand it but I know technology has changed some. I have seen some channel lists. Just mainly want to be able to get a one size fits all setup. Thanks for the reply.

 

[KJ6EO]

The small dish has some good stuff to offer like NBC and PBS. I ended up with about 75 channels I liked on my favorites list. However, the big dish is where
it's at in my opinion. As previously said, there are ALOT more English channels on the big dish. ABC is there, Movies!, MeTv, RT News, NHK World, The
Nashville Network (WSM), DW News, CTV, ION Channel, The Pentagon Channel, PBS, Outdoor Channel, Fox Sports Ohio, Fight Channel, these are just a
few I can remember. A good place to look for available channels would be http://www.lyngsat.com. On the West Coast, my range is from 55.5w - 139w. If
you're down South, you'd be able to pull in some Atlantic Birds. I just installed a new receiver recently. I set up 47 sats (C & Ku), and after a 3 hour blind
scan I came up with 1100 channels in the clear. After you throw out all the foreign language channels, religious channels, you should end up with around
150 channels or so. That total can be more or less depending upon your listening taste. I would definately go Big Dish if you can (motorized). If you buy a
used BUD most likely it'll have a servo horn on it. In my opinion, I'd replace it with a Chaparral Ortho Mode Feed with a couple Norsat 8115 LNB's. The
purpose of the Orthomode feed is to receive both Vertical and Horizontal at the same time.

Good luck to you. You're in the right place to receive the best help and support available. I'm just a newbie myself, but with all the giru's here on the board,
you can be up and running in no time, and avoid alot of costly mistakes.

 

[cyberham]

... would like to keep the dish as small as possible.

You have it backwards. For richest FTA experience, you want a dish as large as possible. Everything else is detail.

 

[richyrich]

Do find out! Legally, you're allowed up to a meter (a little over 3 feet) in length, but even then some HOAs and neighbors will make your life miserable if they're super strict.

Actually, legally; it means that "if you are putting into a contract reliant on the fixture that adds value to a property; then it must be planned (cities have these departments available) through a permit process" which the Contractor must perform the correct work; put onto the original plot map the planned improvement. The contractor also must keep to the plan the.correct timing for each phase of the plan to be (foundation; assemblys; cables INSPected! Then the improvement is added to the "plots map"; which is then added to the plots (property) VALUE!!!

Any other constuctive activity is considered to be of an accessory of a plot; plants, sheds, gazebos, stereos; antennas, ETC......

HOA's own the rights of the outside of an area of a home owner who pays them to do so; colors plants gazebos etc; so that the. Value of the "looks and feels" are looked after. They say what.an owner can do outside their home because they signed up for it. Legally, they must allow variances within reason (hiding of aspects they do not want seen) of which plants and fences do). Can they stop you? No! But they can say how you can!!! And a "variance" is done through County plan depts. who have legality on their side; because it is the owner of the property who says what they want.

Dick and dave dishes always then say "its bigger" or "you have to buy theirs" or many other reasons ;; where the words they really mean is "give me your rated credit per month at 99.99 and we will provide tv services to you; because your credited payment is now our credit rating; because you must pay it for the length of the contract; legally!! No homeowner then receives any value from the product! With any FTA, free tv, system that has VALUE, they also say they own the word free and all references to it mean me, me, me!

All equipment that is legal has value because you can buy it; can and should be put on one of two "Insured" lists. It only is legal that way! And if you want free tv, there are many products that "provide" them. And with a big ugly dish; you own something every rebroadcaster has; studio quality pictures to preuse!

New channels sprout on a bud. Other channels disappear forever. So goes the days of bud channel life!!!

 

[FaT Air]

Said this, at least, once before:
HOA = The BORG, You will be assimilated.
OTARD (Over the air reception device) at the FCC website
and this in the OTA section
Sticky: FCC Says you CAN put up that antenna - HoA can't stop you (FCC OTARD reference)

and a reference to one member running into a neighbor with a complaint
http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/308888-Satellite-Dish-Complaint-OTARD-Response-Letter

 

[richyrich]

Syndication

The mantis tills your ground; the hoa does not! One day, an Hoa tryed to stop me with words alone; and I replied "this dish is legal mamm; so is their antenna you say they cannot have; sue me, because i sold it to them" !!?? She left the scene of her crime!!! Still there Jim?

The previous post is the proof no crime is being committed when a big ugly dish or an antenna system is installed. Let alone how it must "work".