New to FTA and seeking advice

[kilowatt]

I am slowly moving towards FTA and need the expertise of the people on this site to be successful.

I have a superdish that I have acquired and have decided that this will be my starting point for FTA. From what I have gleaned from this site this dish will work for FTA. This dish has 2 digital LNBF and 1 FSS stacked LNB PN 122677 Lot # Q57. Is the FSS the only LNB that will be functional for FTA on this dish?

My plans are to get this setup functional and then upgrade along the way. In the future I would like to add a poistioner. Will this dish work later on with a positioner? What receiver would work best with this dish starting out and allow me to move forward with other upgrades? Is anyone using an HD receiver? Is it best to go with a HD receiver?

I was planning on looking around my area for an old primestar or hughsnet dish as a future upgrade or maybe even a 6ft mesh.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[turbosat]

I believe those dishes have been used for some fta before, not sure how big they are though, kinda on the small size for linear satellite signals. The primestar dishes are better, as they are bigger dishes. You could prob motorize that dish too, if you don't find another. Lots of us have used, and still use, primestars & motorize them too. Search threads for motorized primestar to see some of the engineering steps to do it. I'd start with a simple SD rec and learn how they work before shopping for HD, as there is not that much regular programming avail in HD right now. (more on C-band than KU, so grab that 6-8' dish if you see one!). There are sports, events, newsfeeds sometimes in HD but they are not advertised, and just things found while scanning the satellites. Look to our sponsors at the top of the page, for receivers and other parts. We usually recommend the better known brands like Pansat, Coolsat, Fortec for reliable blind-scan receivers.

 

[melgarga]

Yes, poke around and try to locate a Primestar or Direcway if possible. Ku linear is touchy and until you get the 'feel' for it you should probably stay with one of the bigger, easier to align dishes. By all means hang on to the Super, you will want to raise the bar once you get in a bit deeper.
If you find anything C band, and you have nothing that would keep you from setting up a C band system (HOA, wife approval etc) then be sure to snap it up. Be sure to ask about the analog rx with it if possible. You will need a means of controlling the dish position and that is one of several (and cheapest if you can get it) options available.
There were some legacy Coolsat units (5000 & 6000) on Fleabay this week and one went for 27 bucks +S&H I think it was. I have a 6K, great entry level unit, especially for the price you can get them for these days. It makes my Viewsat Platinum seem to be deaf as ol' Duke the houndawg.
If you are having trouble piecemilling a system, the sponsors do offer deals on package systems, and are always readily available here on the forum for guidence and support.
Good luck and welcome to the scene.

 

[kilowatt]

Today I picked up a HughesNet dish to use for my first attemp and later I will add the Superdish into the mix. The Hughesnet dish appears to be the same width as the SD but it is 4 inches taller. I measured 34 X 28 for the hughes net. Are there any modifications to be done to the Hughesnet dish?

What all do I need on my shopping list to get started with this? I have a pipe for the mount already and I have this dish. So far I only have a receiver on my list of stuff to order.

 

[phlatwound]

Today I picked up a HughesNet dish to use for my first attemp and later I will add the Superdish into the mix. The Hughesnet dish appears to be the same width as the SD but it is 4 inches taller. I measured 34 X 28 for the hughes net. Are there any modifications to be done to the Hughesnet dish?

What all do I need on my shopping list to get started with this? I have a pipe for the mount already and I have this dish. So far I only have a receiver on my list of stuff to order.

kw, you should be able to use the Hughesnet dish as-is, just need a receiver, and coax to hook it up.

Search the FTA forums for Hughesnet and Direcway, you'll find several threads where those dishes have been used successfully.

Where in "show-me" land are you located?

 

[kilowatt]

I am in Carthage, south and east of. Where abouts in SW Mo are you?

 

[pedrogarcia]

Hi KW welcome to the forum.

I started with a smaller Hughes net dish accross the lake from you, just east of Kzoo and managed to pickup 123 west.
Let us know how you get on.
good luck

 

[phlatwound]

I am in Carthage, south and east of. Where abouts in SW Mo are you?

I'm between Republic and Mount Vernon (Chesapeake area).

Howdy neighbor! :

 

[lownote2]

Had to pipe up and add a howdy to the Missourians. I'm in Nixa myself.

 

[phlatwound]

Had to pipe up and add a howdy to the Missourians. I'm in Nixa myself.

Ya mean Nixee?

Drove through there this afternoon, howdy to ye also.