I have always read books on Satellite systems and I have Dish Network, but I wanted to get into the FTA scene. I like to read Popular Communications and they had an feature article called "Surveillance In The Clear" where a hobbyist received on some satellite, surveillance pictures of some military base. He reported it and they verified it was not a secret project. Anyway, can anyone recommend a good mid-grade satellite system for picking up wild feeds, not your usual boring channels. Can you purchase a analog c/ku receiver and set it up immediately to receive unencrypted channels or do I have to go FTA? I am trying to learn more on FTA. Thanks.