My Wife Hates this Forum...Help Me Anyway

[garrelt1]

I spend so much time studying FTA stuff that my wife thinks I have a problem. The good news is that I will probably be ALLOWED to buy whatever system I want so that I quit studying this on the internet. Of course, she doesn't know that getting the system is probably the easiest part of this hobby.

I plan on buying a Pansat 3500s (I want the AC3 audio and Blind Scan). I also already have an assortment of analog C/KU recievers that I can piggyback to the Pansat 3500.

Anyway, I found this local place that could get me a 1m Wingard with no shipping cost. Then as I kept looking through their products today, I found that they also have a fine selection of BUDS that they are selling cheap (no longer going to carry). This has caused me quite a dilema...

Here are my dish options:

Winegard 6' 3"
KTI 6' 6" Polor Mount
KTI 5' AZEL mount (which rules it out--I think)
1.2 (No brand listed but it was listed as Ku dish and not a C band dish)

Here are my actuator options:

Vonweize 24" or 18"

Would the system work pretty good if I got the KTI 6' mesh and the 24" actuator with a VBOX or a VBOX II? And like a C/KU LNB (Corotor II or similar)? I have no idea what LNB setup to get. Has anyone had any luck with these c/ku BUDS and DVB receivers? I want to keep things simple and cheap. Would their be any advantage to using a 4dtv reciever instead?

Please let me know your thoughts. I want to get as many channels as possible as cheaply as possible.

 

[PSB]

I use the 6' KTI with the ASC-421 C-Band LNBF and LOVE it! It pulls in 95% of the C-Band DVB signals up there!
The dish will also work for KU-Band as the holes are pretty small!

 

[goaliebob99]

Pete can you also pick up ku with that lnbf?

 

[PSB]

ASC-421 Is C-Band only.

 

[Shawn95GT]

Simple and cheap... stick with the Ku dish and a SG2100 or similar.

I had a bulletproof Ku FTA sytem using a SG2100 and a Primestar 26x36 dish. It tracked 58w - 148w via USALS and even squeeked in a little bit of analog C band (like 3 channels - lol). I spent about $300 for the whole setup. The only things I didn't have to buy was the spool on RG6 I already had and the Primestar dish which I got free on bulk trash day .

I went ahead and setup a 5' mesh and I haven't had it setup as nice as my old setup yet.

The VBOX losing positions is 90% of my problem. Thomas's experience with the VBOX-II may dictate how I more forward with the BUD. If that doesn't work out I'll have my analog receiver steer the dish (Pain in the rear).

While the BUD has been a bit of a pain and I still haven't got it quite right, I was QUITE pleasantly suprised at how much is out there on C-band DVB.

It would have been easier to go witha 1.2M offset dish but I'm hoping all the effort ends up being worth it on my little BUD.

I've spent a little over $300 additional on setting up the BUD and that doesn't include the Norsat LNBs or what i paid out swapping my Coolsat 4000 Pro for a Pansat 3500s.

The spendy stuff was the Ribbon cable, VBOX, and the actuator. I paid $50 for the dish. I've since picked up an 8' Winegard for free. That's plan B .

 

[raydio]

Shawn there is an FTA box that has a 36 volt positioner built in. It is made by Manhattan, ST550 is the model and it's sold by Satellite SuperStore. Bad thing is it's about 350.00 including shipping to the US. From what I have read it's a pretty nice box. The thing is though, if you buy a new 3500 or new Coolsat and Vbox II you have pretty much paid for one!

 

[garrelt1]

If it had the 36V built in that means that it can power the actuator motor/arm using a the four wire (or whatever stuff) they use for BUDS. That would be pretty sweet. Right?

Are there any other DVB recievers that do this?
Anyone on the forum ever used on?

 

[raydio]

Yes that's what it does - via 4 wires and 36 VDC @ 5 amps. As far as I know, Manhattan is the only FTA box that has the positioner internal and built in. I do not know how well it works, but have heard it's not bad! I am going to purchase a V-Box II to see how well that works and very well may purchase the ST550.

 

[spindoctor]

this company http://www.adigitalife.com/ had the 550 for 263.00+shipping


i dont know if they still have it

 

[raydio]

Checked - they only have the 350 and that model does not have the positioner. www.satellitesuperstore.com it think is the dealer that has the best price at 199.95 GBP including shipping to USA.