Hi all, I am a new member here and don't know anything about FTA just heard about FTA from my friend. Recently, purchase a HDTV and want to find out more about FTA HD and stumble across this post. So in order to watch HD thru FTA I have to purchase CoolSat 8000 and what kind of disk do I need ( I want to be able to receive international channels as well). If anyone knows please help greatly appreciated.
Looking to get HDTV on FTA
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Well first you need to know, that most FTA HD (as in more) is on C-band. You would need at least a 6' dish, I would recommend an 8' dish. There is only one regular HD channel (PBS HD) on ku-band. There are occassional HD feeds for sporting events, but you have to find them. There's really not a lot up there in HD. Half of the Networks can be found, the other half can't. You will be able to get International channels. You can find some unique programming, but don't expect to find HBO or Lifetime or TBS or any of the major Cable channels. Good Luck on your decision!
Al
Al
When it comes to FTA don't count on anything being a "regular" channel. This may especially be true of HD feeds which might be considered "premium" content and may be encrypted or switched to a different format at any time. In fact PBS HD may be changing in the future. Rumor has it there are changes being made at PBS that will eventually result in that signal going to DVB IP based distribution system. The first phase of this transistion is already complete and involved moving the signal to it's current transponder and switching some of thier SD feeds from digicipher II to DVB. The final phase is said to involve switching the HD feed to a non-realtime IP based delivery method.
So even the receiver Coolsat 8000 says HD but it's not going to pickup hold hold lot HD?
I didn't say that. I'm merely saying don't count on always being able to receive the PBS HD satellite feed. The nature of FTA is that signals can come and go at anytime. Therefore you should think of it as more of a hobby than regular TV viewing. As for what HD signals you'll be able to receive with the coolsat, that depends on what the futures holds and none of us can predict the future. It depends on whether networks continue to uplink feeds in the clear or whether they encrypt. It also depends on whether or not they switch to different formats for their signals which might only be receiveable through expensive commerical equipment.
lawvil , FTA is great anyways and though I realize your interest is HD, as a 1st timer thinking about taking the plunge into this great hobby there are plenty of channels not HD that might justify picking one of these receivers up , and whatever you pick up HD will definitely compliment your HDTV.
The Coolsat 8000 has recently gone down in price, if youre seriously thinking about FTA you can start off with a motorized 90cm Dish , I do not have a HDTV but had I started this hobby today with what I know now then my 1st STB would be the CS 8000 (well with exception of Blindscan which I hope they are working on).
I'd also like to get a HDTV but as of 4 months ago I won a 20 inch RCA TV in a drawing ( exstatic cuz I never win anything ) and I am so happy with it especially because it replaced my 13 inch Commodore 64 Monitor from 1985 which IMO has a better picture than any Flat Screen Tube TV ,even has S-video which I got a cord adapter for.
The Coolsat 8000 has recently gone down in price, if youre seriously thinking about FTA you can start off with a motorized 90cm Dish , I do not have a HDTV but had I started this hobby today with what I know now then my 1st STB would be the CS 8000 (well with exception of Blindscan which I hope they are working on).
I'd also like to get a HDTV but as of 4 months ago I won a 20 inch RCA TV in a drawing ( exstatic cuz I never win anything ) and I am so happy with it especially because it replaced my 13 inch Commodore 64 Monitor from 1985 which IMO has a better picture than any Flat Screen Tube TV ,even has S-video which I got a cord adapter for.
I keep hearing rumors that soon there will be hd fta recievers out there - could they be true? Only time will tell.
Thanks for clarifying that cuz as you know I know nothing about FTA yet. want to do more research before I get one.
Thank you for you suggestion but I live in a townhome and they do not allow us to mount this on the roof top and my backyard is very small so is there anything smaller? I saw on craigslist one guy selling Coolsat 8000 with a SuperDish from Dish Network. would that work?
the one on craigslist with the superdish is most likely being used by a hacker who realized after he got the setup that the 8000 can't handle dish's signal for HD. If it's a good price though, you might think about it just for the receiver.
so you mean the Super Dish that he's selling with Coolsat 8000 the combo setup doesn't work?
You could use the linear Ku LNB on the Superdish to pick up Ku FTA birds, but it is not the best dish/LNB for the job. The size of the Superdish is marginal (although usable) for Ku, and the stacked LNBs are not the best for FTA.
I'm in a similar situation to the original poster. I want to explore FTA, primarily to get PBS HD. I still have my old dish from DISH Network as well as the LNB. Is there someone way for me to use one or both of those in combination with the Coolsat 8000 to do this? I'm not opposed to buying a different dish or LNB or both, but I would love to use what I have since they're just sitting in the garage. Additionally, I have a home theater pc which I could use instead of the 8000 if there is an adequate PCI or USB component that will accomplish the same thing. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Eggroll
P.S. I'm interested in other channels as well, but PBS HD is the priority. I can't put up a large dish, so I assume I'm limited to Ku.
(I'm hoping I'm not hijacking the thread considering the similarities to the other posts in the thread. If I am, my apologies.)
Eggroll
P.S. I'm interested in other channels as well, but PBS HD is the priority. I can't put up a large dish, so I assume I'm limited to Ku.
(I'm hoping I'm not hijacking the thread considering the similarities to the other posts in the thread. If I am, my apologies.)
The Dish Network dish is too small and the LNB isn't the right type
You would need a 30" (36" preferred) and a KU Band LNB. Check out the sponsers above for some deals
You would need a 30" (36" preferred) and a KU Band LNB. Check out the sponsers above for some deals
Thanks, good to know. Will a TwinHan 1025 (or 1027) PCI card in my HTPC, a Winegard 31" dish and whatever single FTA LNB that is packaged with the dish at GOsatellite do the trick?
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remember bigger is better. I have a 39" and there are still some signals out there I get that I barley get ... Im looking for a good deal on a 1.2m
A 30 inch (or better, 36 inch) single-LNBF dish should do the trick very nicely. Check some of our sponsors such as Sadoun, GoSatellite, and SatelliteAV for a single bird Ku dish that will work well for FTA. Such dishes are designed to pick up one satellite at a time, as on a motor, unlike the Superdish.
The shape (and size) of the Superdish is optimized for picking up both Dish circular sats (110w and 119w), and, in the case of the Superdish 121 which is used down here, 121w. 121w is a linear Ku bird, but it transmits at a high power so that a less-than-ideal dish of smaller vertical size (the Superdish) will work. A Superdish will not pick up many of the weaker transponders due to the relatively small vertical axis (less than 24 inches) that its working with. It WILL work as a freebie, but not optimally, and I wouldn't spend money to acquire one for FTA.
The shape (and size) of the Superdish is optimized for picking up both Dish circular sats (110w and 119w), and, in the case of the Superdish 121 which is used down here, 121w. 121w is a linear Ku bird, but it transmits at a high power so that a less-than-ideal dish of smaller vertical size (the Superdish) will work. A Superdish will not pick up many of the weaker transponders due to the relatively small vertical axis (less than 24 inches) that its working with. It WILL work as a freebie, but not optimally, and I wouldn't spend money to acquire one for FTA.
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