Pansat 2100A

[hobodog]

Hi

New FTA forum member here and I have an old Pansat 2100A (actually, it is practically "new" as it has seldom been used and has been boxed up and in storage for years.

Is that receiver of any value these days? I hooked it up to a TV and it is still programmed for many satellites. But I don't have a antenna to test reception.

I have an spare Dish 500 dish and LNB - can I use it with the 2100A? If not, what dish and LNB will I need please.

Thanks

Pete

 

[Mr Tony]

DAMN...thought there werent any of those around except for the one I have

The receiver should still work just fine. I use to have one set up and it worked just fine to pick up some FTA stuff.

thoughts on it
-it has a polorotor...so if you have a C-Band dish it can control polarity...I blew mine out by hooking it up wrong
-no blind scan so everything has to be manually entered
-satellite list is grossly outdated. Names like "GE5", "W4" and "T5" have been renamed a few years ago
-it will control a motor but just Diseqc 1.2 (not USALS)
-you can hook up 4 LNB's to it but cant use a motor and diseqc switch
-meter isnt the best

bottom line...you have a basic receiver that will work as a secondary receiver or a single sat receiver. It will allow you to get your feet wet in FTA and you can always expand on it.

I have an spare Dish 500 dish and LNB - can I use it with the 2100A? If not, what dish and LNB will I need please.

you can get a couple free channels like NASA and Angel One. I guess you could try it first to make sure the receiver works. For FTA you need a 30" dish and a KU Band LNB. Check out the sponsers at the top

 

[Wescopc]

hobodog-



Save your coins - this FTA stuff is addictive! You will want a blind scan receiver and a bigger dish before you turn around twice. Have fun and enjoy the ride - we are here to help.
Bob

 

[hobodog]

Thanks for your inputs guys.

I had a Radio Shack BUD for years - with a Houston Tracker 8 - from the early free channels through the encrypted channels - I took the big dish down a few years ago and went with Dish Network.

Actually, I still have several of the old modified -21 modules (I think they were called that) - I guess they don't have much value these days.

I guess I will have to upgrade to a more modern FTA receiver - too bad, the 2100A is in mint condition - like new, still in the box.

Satellite TV is still quite exciting to me - plus I worked at Vandenberg AFB and Cape Canaveral AFS supporting the satellite launching programs for years.

Ok, well, I'm sure I will have more questions as I get further into FTA.

Thanks again for your inputs.

Pete

 

[Anole]

I've read discussions of old Radio Shack dishes.
I recall hearing about 5' size. They also had a bigger one.
Was it 8 or 9 feet?
If you had the larger size and still have it in the garage somewhere, it'd be useful today.

There's plenty of great reading and research material here.
But if you have a question, need guidance, or just want to bounce some ideas off the fellows, you'll get a warm reception.
I know I've sure learned a lot, and made many fine friends!

 

[Tron]

If you still have the BUD (Big Useful Dish) stored somewhere, you can put it back up and pick up lots of unencrypted DVB programming with that dish. Most full-time FTA HD is on C-Band NASA-TV has a mux on AMC-6, which now includes an HD feed...

 

[hobodog]

Well, it was an 8’ Radio Shack dish and I moved it from Southern Cal to central coast Cal and had it on top of a 16' pole (to clear the house next door) anchored to the eve of my house.

A funny story - the young children next door could see the big dish from their beds through the bedroom window. One night after watching a scary movie and going to bed - they woke up and saw the dish in the moonlight - they went running into their parent’s room screaming about aliens and flying saucers...

I no longer have the dish but I do have the motor and RS receiver along with the HT8 receiver. But I don't think I will install another big dish - maybe a smaller one just for FTA experimentation.