Now have 87w 91w 97w and 103w on one 76cm dish. Enjoying the hobby

[4sakntaln]

Using the winegard ds2076 I've got these 4 sats kind of 5 really. The funky p170ku+ from Eagle aspen is picking up 91w and the trece channel from 93...Kind of odd. I've installed these during cloudy days. Once even while raining.

I'm just tired of everyone saying to everyone else who is starting out in FTA that their dish is too small. I've been told that repeatedly. But I'm having fun and think I'm doing it well.

But just in case anyone is looking to get rid of a 39inch dish and or a motor I'm listening!

On my stb though, it has two diseqc spots. one does four way. One does 16 way...So will it work with the 8x1 or where do I find a cheap 16x1 or 2 or 3???

wsi lnbs x2
eagle aspen p170ku+
Amiko premium L104
X2 Premium STB
one ds2076.
One no name diseqc 4x1 switch

 

[FTA4PA]

Using the winegard ds2076 I've got these 4 sats kind of 5 really. The funky p170ku+ from Eagle aspen is picking up 91w and the trece channel from 93...Kind of odd. I've installed these during cloudy days. Once even while raining.

I'm just tired of everyone saying to everyone else who is starting out in FTA that their dish is too small. I've been told that repeatedly. But I'm having fun and think I'm doing it well.

But just in case anyone is looking to get rid of a 39inch dish and or a motor I'm listening!

On my stb though, it has two diseqc spots. one does four way. One does 16 way...So will it work with the 8x1 or where do I find a cheap 16x1 or 2 or 3???

wsi lnbs x2
eagle aspen p170ku+
Amiko premium L104
X2 Premium STB
one ds2076.
One no name diseqc 4x1 switch

Nice work! Most recommend starting on a larger dish to make it easier to lock channels and get the maximum return from the investment in equipment. If people get frustrated because they can't receive channels, they may abandon FTA and that's not good for the hobby. We are all free to experiment and I guess that goes to prove that if you are willing to put the extra effort into it and can get channels on any given dish then it isn't too small. Again, nice work!

 

[Wayn23]

The reason people warn others away from smaller dishes is to help them avoid disappointment when they are unable to receive some channels they were hoping to get, another thing to consider is that signal strength can vary depending on your location, what might come in for you might not come in for everybody, even if they have identical equipment.


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[Titanium]

Think of it this way.... someone asks you to recommend a good reliable vehicle for their family. You reply that they should by a Vespa scooter' because it can be driven on a road, gets good gas mileage and they could choose one kid to ride with them. Yes, both are modes of transportation, but will the person be helped by your suggestion?

Smaller dishes can be used to receive many channels reliably, but a reflector that is smaller than 90cm has a beam width that is wider than a single satellite position. Many channels will be difficult to receive because of adjacent satellite interference and other channels will not be received because the signals are to weak to be received on that small of reflector. This is the reality of link budgets and reliable reception. I can receive several 97w KU transponders with a 18" dish, but would I recommend it for anyone wanting reliable viewing?

Glad that you receive the channels that you want with a smaller dish, but you would be doing a disservice to recommend an undersized reflector to a newbie. For the minimal cost difference between and undersized dish and an appropriately sized dish, why suggest something that will not work on certain popular channels?

 

[ray224000]

Unfortunately you'll be limited on what you can hit. For over a year, I played around with different scenarios on my 76cm. I currently have 101, 97 and 91 but I have had as many as four lnbf's on the one dish at once. I've been able to get 105w through 83w without any issues. I've attempted as far west at 121w. Could have gone further but my house prevents me from doing so.

Eventually I got a 1m and with that one I placed 4 lnbf's on that one (103,99,95 and 87).

I believe I am more confident because of the challenge which was presented to me at first; small dish with limited knowledge and a wife who was not that supportive.

Anyway two years later, I am still playing and enjoying what I've started. Even my wife enjoys some of the programming.

Now I'm waiting for a larger; preferably a 1.2 for the cband on a small dish stuff. Good luck and have fun.

 

[FTA4PA]

I believe I am more confident because of the challenge which was presented to me at first; small dish with limited knowledge and a wife who was not that supportive. Anyway, two years later, I am still playing and enjoying what I've started. Even my wife enjoys some of the programming.

Been there, done that! My wife was not very supportive either. After I got the motorized ku set up, and later the motorized c band, she saw what was available FREE and doesn't complain anymore!

 

[ray224000]

I've been stocking up in the garage on different components I'll need. I just don't have the other dish I've been looking for.

What is sad, I can see six to eight dish's within 15 minutes that are not being used ranging from 1m to 8ft. I've contacted the owners but no one is budging.

 

[jorgek]

One overlooked factor is that a small dish is at the mercy of changing weather in particular rain fade.
If you depend on FTA as the primary source of TV then the small dish will be a disappointment and huge source of aggravation. My 25" dish does quite well receiving Hispasat 30W until it rains. Then it disappears. The 33" is more tolerant but also experiences rain fade.

 

[danristheman]

If you live in apartment like I do space is tight so small dishes are a must. I reuse old dn dishes they work alright but not a great as a 1 meter dish.

 

[4sakntaln]

That's awesome that people can be supportive. I just see what seems like so many being negative to others saying they will need a bigger dish. I think it's great to start with the smaller one to see if they will enjoy the hobby. Instead of investing in the larger dish. But the price for a 36 is twice that of the 30... 50 vs 100 shipped. Just seems to me like we discourage some people from trying and they just walk away from what could be fun...But I'm addicted to goofy FTA and OTA stuff anyways. Plus I'm getting friends and coworkers hooked on it too. They see my setup of my dual grey hoverman antennas that can be built for 5 bucks and receiving tv stations from 60 miles away.

But yeah I kind of regret not having a bigger dish. But on the same note I have several smaller dishes like my directv world direct I'd like to use to point at 30w. But worried that a tree may be in the way!

Speaking of wives; mine is not supportive at all. I just get told "oh go play with your satellite". Every week I ask if I can get a 8 foot but still get shot down. Depressing too as I have an acre of land. Just about the largest lot in my city. Plus with the way my city is passing rules. I'd like to get one before it becomes a damn socialist HOA. When building our house we were told the front can not exceed or go beyond the front of the neighbors. So no porch...Now no one can build a fence higher than 4ft. So no privacy fence Grrr....

Well ranting away. Back to my previous question about Diseqc if anyone knows...
On my stb though, it has two diseqc spots. one does four way. One does 16 way...So will it work with the 8x1 or where do I find a cheap 16x1 or 2 or 3???

Plus maybe I might be able to sneak a motor in...problem is I'm not able to get the pole plumb on the roof. Wondering if I may be able to use some washers under the base to level it. Has anyone had experience in doing something like that? I get plenty of ice here So I'm worried ice will build under the base and push the screws out ruining the roof of my garage.
Thanks guys

Oh yeah. Some of you pointed out that your wives had taken to liking FTA. Curious as to what programming and sats / channels that they took to watching. Only thing my wife watched with interest was the diy network stuff that appears on ktv2 once in a while.

 

[danristheman]

Pbs, ktv2, ebru, micro bud krbk metv, patient channel. I live with my mom she likes those channels.

 

[ray224000]

My wife likes the international news channels in English. Even though some may be propaganda, we like to see what others are saying about the US.

 

[ray224000]

I use both, 4 x 1 and 8 x 1. I have the three lnbfs on the small dish using the 4 x 1 with the output going into one of the inputs in the 8 x 1. The larger dish has the other 4 lnbf's feeding into four inputs in the 8 x 1. Then the output from the 8 x 1 goes to the receiver.

This did not work with by Traxis 6000 HD but it did fine with the Amiko Alien 2. My Amiko Nano had some issues with the switching.

 

[jorgek]

Here's another negative. The roof is probably the worst place for a motorized dish. Setup can be long and complicated. Yes the pole/mast must be perfectly plumb! If you like to tinker then up and down onto the roof is problematic.
I have my motor/dish on the south wall of the house. I can easily reach it with a 6 ft ladder.
You most likely will have to re inforce the roof. Lastly making sure the roof doesn't leak after the install.

 

[Mr Tony]

I used a 76cm dish here in Minnesota for almost 10 years and got probably 99% of the stuff up there on KU that I was "in the footprint" to get
(there were 2 satellites that I was on the fringe for reception and that was due to the footprint)