Newby Here, Interested in Cband
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I have the Ku Band motorized dish and got interested in it because I got to use a friend's system which he had before changing over to Dish Network. The system was great in my opinion and wondered why he decided to get subscribed television which he is paying a fortune a month for like myself with Directv.
I found Sadoun satellite sales and ordered a complete kit and it works fine, but Ku band don't pick up the local stations which I want for watching the news and football games on. You can only get those on C Band dishes. C band is a good choice to get local channels as well as other decent channels as well. I hear that they are on the way out, but there are still 25 satellites which operate on C band and with the best programs. I checked out the new dishes and they are not as heavy as the old ones which required several people to assemble.
I found Sadoun satellite sales and ordered a complete kit and it works fine, but Ku band don't pick up the local stations which I want for watching the news and football games on. You can only get those on C Band dishes. C band is a good choice to get local channels as well as other decent channels as well. I hear that they are on the way out, but there are still 25 satellites which operate on C band and with the best programs. I checked out the new dishes and they are not as heavy as the old ones which required several people to assemble.
This is true, but the problem is getting it assembled which is more difficult than the Ku band system. I have part of a C band mounting pole, and other mounting equipment along with a subscription dish and box from a friend who wanted to get it out of his house. The mesh dish was too large for me to get so I had to leave it. After finding that the new C band dishes are much lighter and easier to assemble. I have to ask around about a motor to put on one since I would prefer to have more than one satellite to receive from.
Thanks bill.
Not sure if i am ready to buy yet. I feel like i need to do some more learning first. But i WILL look at it.
What are some of the good quality dishes out there?
Do Cband dishes turn 180 degrees?
Thanks
G3's picture quality is bitstarved but that's all NPS is going to provide. NPS has been asked and even promised to improve them but that has never happened, and never will. If you must have the G3 channels you will be dealing with pizza quality on them.
The G3 channels make up a small percentage of the total C channels available, The rest are good to excellent.
I would bid on it, but it is 176 miles from here or 3 hours one way. If it was the springtime I would not mind the drive.
You take it apart and move it unless you have a big big trailer. But I think anything over 8 1/2' wide requires a permit to move on public highways so just dismantle it-they come apart in pieces. Yoou might be able to just take it into halves or quarters and not completely dis-assemble, either way 60miles is not bad for a dish if it's in good shape. Plus you might land a good receiver along with it if you start talking to the guy!
Well the seller has an HD decoder and a 4dtv receiver for sale. The receiver has a reserve on it. Think the decoder did, but reserve has been met. I assume the dish is in good shape. Like i said befor, i am on a learning curve.
I just sent the seller a message about the taking the dish apart. Man 12 foot is a big SOB. I am also a little intimidated with all the cband stuff anyway. Almost scared to make a purchase.
I just sent the seller a message about the taking the dish apart. Man 12 foot is a big SOB. I am also a little intimidated with all the cband stuff anyway. Almost scared to make a purchase.
12 foot is big but for C-Band the bigger the better. And you will not ever experience rain fade!
It will no doubt easily come apart. You'll probably want another set of hands when you take it down.........if you do decide to go for it. I have done many by myself but it is a bit of a challenge. For the most part they are delivered un-assembled so they are meant to come apart for shipping.
With the 4DTV and HD decoder you will have access to some really good TV at a great price! Add a FTA receiver and you have a first class entertainment system. If you have average mechanical skills the members here can talk you through any problem you might have with setup and alignment.
It seems like a lot to take in all at once but if you are starting with a known working system, that is half the battle! And if it is close to where you live the settings for elevation and declination should already be set correctly or close to it.
Keep us posted if you get it and post some pictures of it if possible. We'll tell ya the best way to take it apart.
It will no doubt easily come apart. You'll probably want another set of hands when you take it down.........if you do decide to go for it. I have done many by myself but it is a bit of a challenge. For the most part they are delivered un-assembled so they are meant to come apart for shipping.
With the 4DTV and HD decoder you will have access to some really good TV at a great price! Add a FTA receiver and you have a first class entertainment system. If you have average mechanical skills the members here can talk you through any problem you might have with setup and alignment.
It seems like a lot to take in all at once but if you are starting with a known working system, that is half the battle! And if it is close to where you live the settings for elevation and declination should already be set correctly or close to it.
Keep us posted if you get it and post some pictures of it if possible. We'll tell ya the best way to take it apart.
Well i found out that this thing is around 60 miles or so from my house. I am interested, but dont know how to get that dish home. 12 foot, man that thing is huge.
Steve, 60 miles is worth the trip. You can disassemble the dish, just mark the parts and take pictures before you take it apart and again as you are taking it apart. Perhaps the seller might even assist. I believe that you can fit it in a pickup truck or van disassembled.
There are others here who disassembled a C-Band dish and reassembled the dish, you have many people here who can give you expert advice and guide you along the way. I think there is a active thread in this section C-Band dish disassembly.
I wont have trouble getting it apart or re assembled. I just dont know how picky this dish or lnb is. The seller and i have made contact. I will be taking a friend with me as well. The seller thought it would be best NOT to disassemble. Which i agree. But, if i have to. Then i have to.
Oh, i forgot. Can anyone replace the battery in those 4dtv receivers? I figure once i get one, i would go ahead and replace it.
You guys are SO helpful. I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you.
steve
I wont have trouble getting it apart or re assembled. I just dont know how picky this dish or lnb is. The seller and i have made contact. I will be taking a friend with me as well. The seller thought it would be best NOT to disassemble. Which i agree. But, if i have to. Then i have to.
Oh, i forgot. Can anyone replace the battery in those 4dtv receivers? I figure once i get one, i would go ahead and replace it.
You guys are SO helpful. I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you.
steve
If it's easier to disassemble then go for it. Moving a 12 foot dish is no piece of cake in one piece. My 12 foot came in 4 pieces delivered to me from 50 miles away. This is when it was new in 89.
The 4DTV batteries can be changed. If you don't feel confident you can send it to ATS. Welcome to ATS Electronics, Inc.
EDIT:
I took a look at the EBAY listing on that dish. It's in very nice shape, its a button hook feed so it's an older dish I say mid 80's. Quad legs were used more in the newer ones late 80 and beyond. All in all go for it. It has a ball screw actuator that is a plus. I Don't think it's a Saginaw but a Venture. The Astrotel LNB is not the best but will work fine. A 12 foot is the best. I've had mine for 20.5 years and love it.
The 4DTV is worth getting, the HDD-200 I wouldn't get. All thats left in HD for the 4D is PBS and Wealth Tv. Next Month Starz HD goes MPEG 4. The SD masters on the 4DTV will give you Pizza or better HD type quality.
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How many cables or wires go from the receiver to the dish? I am just wanting to get an idea of what size conduit i need.
Also, i noticed that the 4dtv receiver best output connection is an S video
. I have an DVI out on my sony sat receiver now. Man, there is a huge difference between the s video and dvi quality in the picture. I have a sony LCD projection tv. So you know what the blurry can mean on that tv. I have heard some bragging about the Cband quality versus pizza. Is there really that much difference?
Also, i noticed that the 4dtv receiver best output connection is an S video
. I have an DVI out on my sony sat receiver now. Man, there is a huge difference between the s video and dvi quality in the picture. I have a sony LCD projection tv. So you know what the blurry can mean on that tv. I have heard some bragging about the Cband quality versus pizza. Is there really that much difference?
How many cables or wires go from the receiver to the dish? I am just wanting to get an idea of what size conduit i need.
Also, i noticed that the 4dtv receiver best output connection is an S video
On my C-band, There are three separate wires. The box is a General Instrument analog which I use as a dish mover.
#1 one coax going from the dish to the box.
#2 another wire with three small wires.
#3 another wire with four wires.
May I suggest, as long as you are running conduit, add some additional coax wires in case you decide to add more dishes later on.
Attachments
I would use the direct burial satellite ribbon cable they sell and use PVC if you want to encase it.
I use S video out of my 4DTV to my HDTV. I get a great picture with it. When I bought my Sharp AQUOS 1080P HDTV last March It was hooked up on the showroom floor (I bought a floor model) connected to Direct Tv. I saw there HD on it. When I got it home the ABC Family/Disney SD master mux was ITC. (it has a beautiful picture) It looked BETTER than the Direct TV HD Lite that was connected in the store using component input. The 4DTV using a master feed puts out one hell of a SD picture that will rival or surpass the Pizza HD quality every time.Also, i noticed that the 4dtv receiver best output connection is an S video
Also, i noticed that the 4dtv receiver best output connection is an S video
I use a HDD201 (HDD200) side car which has Component outputs and lets you set output resolution from 480 up
HDD-200 Motorola Satellite Decoder
Well thats kinda what i had in mind with the 200. I have seen it on my tv. I first tried an "S" video from my receiver then tried DVI. MAN, what i difference.
Do you think that someone will make an mpeg4 receiver? I have a sony hd300 sat receiver (directv), and it will only decode mpeg2. But its also a great terestrial receiver that will integrate over the air channels into the directv menu. Which is nice.
UPDATE:
Well i decided to pass on that 12ft dish that was on ebay. I was fine with the price, and fine with the drive. However, i found out that one of my co-workers has an aluminum mesh 10ft dish. She told me that i could have it. She just wants it out of her way. She also told md i could have the receivers too if i wanted them. I havent seen the dish yet though. I suppose i wont fool with it until the weather starts to warm.
I dont know what manufacture of the dish or receivers. She told me it was around 15 years old. I would guess that i might need an actuator arm, maybe an LNB.
I greatly appreciate everyones help on this forum. There are alot of helpful members here.......Thank you.
Once i get a this thing, i'll be aggrivating the crap outta you guys on how to set this thing up.
Anyway, i am excited. I will still be here on this site reading/learing/memorizing and asking stupid questions though. I am tired of pizza, i wanna BIG dish!
I am still looking around for a 4dtv receiver. I found one at orbitcommunications.com that they have NEW and Repaired 4dtv receivers. I dont know crap about this Cband stuff, but i am under the impression that those receivers hadnt been made for several years. And orbitcommunications have NEW ones?
??
Thanks men.....
steve
Well i decided to pass on that 12ft dish that was on ebay. I was fine with the price, and fine with the drive. However, i found out that one of my co-workers has an aluminum mesh 10ft dish. She told me that i could have it. She just wants it out of her way. She also told md i could have the receivers too if i wanted them. I havent seen the dish yet though. I suppose i wont fool with it until the weather starts to warm.
I dont know what manufacture of the dish or receivers. She told me it was around 15 years old. I would guess that i might need an actuator arm, maybe an LNB.
I greatly appreciate everyones help on this forum. There are alot of helpful members here.......Thank you.
Once i get a this thing, i'll be aggrivating the crap outta you guys on how to set this thing up.
Anyway, i am excited. I will still be here on this site reading/learing/memorizing and asking stupid questions though. I am tired of pizza, i wanna BIG dish!I am still looking around for a 4dtv receiver. I found one at orbitcommunications.com that they have NEW and Repaired 4dtv receivers. I dont know crap about this Cband stuff, but i am under the impression that those receivers hadnt been made for several years. And orbitcommunications have NEW ones?
??
Thanks men.....
steve
Just an FYI about 4DTV receivers...
They have an On Board Battery, and once it dies, the receiver is dead.
Be sure to verify that a unit still has a Valid Unit ID (good battery).
When buying a used, have the seller email a Pic of the Menu with the Unit ID.
Ask them to Press
Options, 6, 5 on the remote, the top line is the unit ID.
Call a Channel Provider to verify.
There is no cheap way to repair a dead battery, however a new battery can be installed before the existing battery dies.
They have an On Board Battery, and once it dies, the receiver is dead.
Be sure to verify that a unit still has a Valid Unit ID (good battery).
When buying a used, have the seller email a Pic of the Menu with the Unit ID.
Ask them to Press
Options, 6, 5 on the remote, the top line is the unit ID.
Call a Channel Provider to verify.
There is no cheap way to repair a dead battery, however a new battery can be installed before the existing battery dies.
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