Old, New User. Looking to restart and upgrade

[Inno]

Been out of the FTA hobby for a few years now but I'm thinking of diving back in before the snow hits and getting something set up again.
I have a few Ku band dishes, and know where there are a couple of other free ones. I also have one, maybe two 10' C band dishes and the space to set them up. I believe there's still a 6' mesh back there too.......I'd have to take inventory.
My question mostly pertains to the receiver. I have a handful of DVB receivers, a Pansat 9200 (I believe) and a couple of Coolsat models, nothing HD and nothing that'll do S2.
What is the most current format that I should be looking for and what receivers are there that are considered fairly stable or even upgradable? Thinking about possibly a motorized Ku unit. Used to use an old Uniden C-Band analog receiver to move my C-Band dish but something more modern that will integrate with FTA would be great. Open to suggestions.

 

[SatPhreak]

For a receiver the Amiko HD.265 seems to be a good new receiver, it does DVB-S2 and h.265. For a motorized ku dish use the biggest ku dish you have, along with a Stab HH-90 or HH-120. Titanium sells a DiSEqC 1.2 dish mover that would eliminate an old c band receiver, work with any new receiver and control a polerotator for your old c band feedhorn. You could also use multiple dishes since you have several. Just need a DiSEqC switch to add up to 8 dishes( possibly twice as many with an Ecoda 22kH switch.

Sent from my P00A using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[Inno]

Pretty sure I have a 4 way diseqc switch maybe a couple, and the Ecoda 22Khz switch I'm sure I have. Maybe I don't need that much after all.........just some time to get things set up.

 

[SatPhreak]

You could probably get a few channels with an old receiver that is DVB-S, especially on 97w. There are a few channels that are HD on 97w now, but you should still get over 200 channels.
Other sats that are good on ku include 87w, 91w, 103w, and 125w. Also 30w has a lot of Spanish language channels. I don't do C band so I can't comment on the channels available.

You should update to a new receiver that gets HD, but the rest of your storage ( dishes and switches) should be fine for getting some sats without motors. You can always add the motors later.

Sent from my P00A using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[primestar31]

Pretty sure I have a 4 way diseqc switch maybe a couple, and the Ecoda 22Khz switch I'm sure I have. Maybe I don't need that much after all.........just some time to get things set up.

Just know that you NEVER hook up switches with the power ON! Make sure the power cord is pulled from the sat receiver before connecting or disconnecting coaxes from switches. If not, you are very likely to fry them in some way.

 

[Inno]

Good advice.
I was getting 30°W but had to cut a path through the bush for that. Might have better luck in another location I'm thinking of. I recall some good stuff there. Pretty much had a wide open sky for most North American satellites.

 

[primestar31]

Good advice.
I was getting 30°W but had to cut a path through the bush for that. Might have better luck in another location I'm thinking of. I recall some good stuff there. Pretty much had a wide open sky for most North American satellites.

I set up a separate 1m dish on an eve mount above my garage for 30w, (about 12' off the ground) which is at 16.6 degrees. The dish points facing DOWN 8 degrees to get it, LOL.

 

[Inno]

Yes I had mine set up on the deck, a 1m dish on about a 8' pole, definitely pointing downward. Didn't look so good! I'm thinking of setting something up behind my garage where I have made a room for working on electronics and listening to music. Might have to get out the chainsaw again, we'll see!