Please help me redesign my system

[PopcornNMore]

Please help me redesign my system...

Dishes installed:

• 8' Stationary Dish
• 6' Stationary Dish
• 4' Motorized Dish
• Primestar Stationary Dish

Receivers I use the most:

• Openbox S9 DVB-S / DVB-S2 HD
• Coolsat 4000 Pro
• Coolsat 6100
• Mixture of older standard receivers

Current Setup:
8' Dish = Galaxy 17 (C-Band) used mostly for now scrambled programming
6' Dish = Galaxy 16 (C-Band) used for networks and Leasea programming
4' motorized = KU Band (entire arc)
Primestar = Used for ocassional EchoStar satellite ITC programming

All four dishes currently go into a 4 port DISEQC switch and then to the Openbox S9.

Now since I have the new Opensat S9 receiver I believe this system should change before winter gets here. Snow showers are predicted this weekend, so I must act fast.

To get the most bang for my buck I'm thinking of tuning the 8' to AMC1 to gain access to the RTV channels since DVB-S2 signals require the largest dish available. I can then add other C or KU band LNB's to it by attaching to the main C band feed. In fact, if I got a C/KU LNBF I could also enjoy the NBC HD channels on KU band (AMC1) as well.

What do you think, or should I consider another satellite for the 8' dish?
Should I keep the 6' aimed at Galaxy 16 (c-band) or is there a better choice? Perhaps AMC3 to gain access to the ION channels. Again perhaps a C/KU LNBF to receive the most signals on a single receiver.

I tried C-band on the motorized 4' and got very good results, but then I lost or reduced the KU signals due to the feed position.

What is the BEST C/KU band LNBF currently available? Where to buy?

What would the Primestar dish be best used for?

Thank you guys.

 

[Dishman Dan]

What would the Primestar dish be best used for?

As to where it should be used is in my backyard!!!


Back to your system,

I was wondering why your 8 foot BUD is not motorized???

 

[Mikey11]

I was wondering why your 8 foot BUD is not motorized???

thats what i was just going to say....throw a motor on that 6 or 8 footer

motorized c-band dish and a motorized ku-band dish = best setup possible

 

[PopcornNMore]

As to where it should be used is in my backyard!!!


Back to your system,

I was wondering why your 8 foot BUD is not motorized???

That would be ideal, but time and money is not available right now.

 

[Mr Tony]

G16 is good for a 6 foot fixed...since you dont have 4:2:2 the GDMX channels with the syndicated programming does you no good

 

[PopcornNMore]

G16 is good for a 6 foot fixed...since you dont have 4:2:2 the GDMX channels with the syndicated programming does you no good

I read that I could record the 4:2:2 programming and then play it back I'm guessing on a computer. However, this is too much work to make it worth it for me. I printed "The List" (which by the way needs updating), so that I can go over which satellites I want to receive the most.

 

[Jim S.]

You mentioned the NBC HD channels on AMC1 Ku. If you haven't already found them, be aware that they have each component of the audio program on different PIDs. That is to say, one PID will have the dialog, another will have ambient sound, etc. You can certainly watch most programming while listening to only the dialog channel, but it might be annoying, depending on how much of an audio purist you are and whether you have any other sources for NBC HD. You'll probably also have to find the PID each time you go to the channel, because if I remember rightly (partial obstruction of the bird makes it almost impossible to get S2 signals now), it's not the default one.

As far as what to do with the Primestar if you have a motorized Ku dish already... can you really see all of the arc, or could you put it somewhere else to get something way east like Hispasat or way west like PBS at 125?

 

[Jim S.]

I forgot to mention, one of the NBC S2 tp's does have Universal Sports (or did the last time I could check), but it's SD. Better than nothing though if you like winter sports.

 

[Dishman Dan]

As far as what to do with the Primestar if you have a motorized Ku dish already... can you really see all of the arc, or could you put it somewhere else to get something way east like Hispasat or way west like PBS at 125?

Great suggestion!! :up

I have one that when (if) I get the time I was going to point it towards Hispasat.

 

[Dishman Dan]

That would be ideal, but time and money is not available right now.

I understand the time thing! As for the money, go dish hunting and bring home a BUD for the mount. In my area there are quite a few BUDs in the 6 foot size range waiting for homes. Last year I gave a mount from a damaged 6 foot to a buddy with a motor and he motorized his 6 footer. But then again, the time factor!

 

[Pixl]

Don't bother with the RTV channels on AMC1, It's just a repeat over and over of the same shows you can easily get from AMC9 Ku.

 

[Anole]

hands tied...

Well, with the "no time", and the "no money" limits, I won't suggest the following... -

- Motor on the BUD(s)
- Gbox v3000 to move the BUD
- dual C-band LNBFs on the BUDs. (C2 from Sadoun/SatAV or DMX242 @ WSI/Galaxy - we have reviews for more info)
... or, C-only orthomode feed (here's a recent ortho thread, plus Stogie discussed installing his)
- 4x8 multiswitch for each two LNBFs. Recommend: one of Pendragon's choices. How to wire 'em.
- dual output LNBFs for the Ku dishes, too.

 

[PopcornNMore]

As far as what to do with the Primestar if you have a motorized Ku dish already... can you really see all of the arc, or could you put it somewhere else to get something way east like Hispasat or way west like PBS at 125?

Excellent idea!

 

[PopcornNMore]

Don't bother with the RTV channels on AMC1, It's just a repeat over and over of the same shows you can easily get from AMC9 Ku.

Some have slightly different programming schedules. For example RTV Pittsburgh airs the Munsters and Addams Family M-F while the others don't. Plus there is probably a variety of time zones.

 

[MrVideo]

You mentioned the NBC HD channels on AMC1 Ku. If you haven't already found them, be aware that they have each component of the audio program on different PIDs.

The better way to describe this is that the first three PIDs contain the discrete audio that makes up the DD5.1 AC3.

1) Left/Right
2) Center/LFE
3) Left Surround/Right Surround

There is no stereo downmix. There is only a mono downmix on the 4th PID's left channel. For affiliates that need a stereo downmix, NBC provided a separate piece of equipment that is in the rack they provided to the affiliates.

Don't forget that NBC is also available on C-band - AMC18. But it is DVB-S2/H.264, just like the Ku feed.

To get DD5.1 audio reconstructed from the ABC and NBC feeds, you must use a computer to capture the feed and use free programs to do the work.

 

[PopcornNMore]

After today I'm thinking that I probably should motorize my 8' dish. I tried adjusting it this afternoon from Galaxy 17 to AMC 3 to receive the RTN channels and it was very hard moving such a big dish when the base is mounted using the supplied brackets fastened to the concrete pad. I couldn't move it enough to receive AMC 3, so I simply kept it on Galaxy 28 after moving it part way. WOW the CBS College Sports channel looked awesome in HD as well as an ABC HD channel on that same satellite that was also broadcasting a college football game. Now I'm thinking what am I missing on all the other C band satellites. I'm also enjoying my new Openbox S9 receiver. I never knew just how many HD, DVB-S2 and channels having AC3 audio that I was missing on both KU and C band. Just on AMC21 alone there are a large amount of programming that I had been missing.

 

[stanleyjohn]

Yep! Still lots out there! I would motorize that puppy and make life easier,Winters comeing so i would do it soon or it will make a good spring project.

 

[rv1pop]

Please help me redesign my system...


Dishes installed:

• 8' Stationary Dish
• 6' Stationary Dish
• 4' Motorized Dish
• Primestar Stationary Dish

Receivers I use the most:

• Openbox S9 DVB-S / DVB-S2 HD
• Coolsat 4000 Pro
• Coolsat 6100
• Mixture of older standard receivers

Current Setup:
8' Dish = Galaxy 17 (C-Band) used mostly for now scrambled programming
6' Dish = Galaxy 16 (C-Band) used for networks and Leasea programming
4' motorized = KU Band (entire arc)
Primestar = Used for ocassional EchoStar satellite ITC programming

All four dishes currently go into a 4 port DISEQC switch and then to the Openbox S9.

Now since I have the new Opensat S9 receiver I believe this system should change before winter gets here. Snow showers are predicted this weekend, so I must act fast.

To get the most bang for my buck I'm thinking of tuning the 8' to AMC1 to gain access to the RTV channels since DVB-S2 signals require the largest dish available. I can then add other C or KU band LNB's to it by attaching to the main C band feed. In fact, if I got a C/KU LNBF I could also enjoy the NBC HD channels on KU band (AMC1) as well.

What do you think, or should I consider another satellite for the 8' dish?
Should I keep the 6' aimed at Galaxy 16 (c-band) or is there a better choice? Perhaps AMC3 to gain access to the ION channels. Again perhaps a C/KU LNBF to receive the most signals on a single receiver.

I tried C-band on the motorized 4' and got very good results, but then I lost or reduced the KU signals due to the feed position.

What is the BEST C/KU band LNBF currently available? Where to buy?

What would the Primestar dish be best used for?

Thank you guys.

The best way for me to help you redesign your system would be to have you bring it over here and set it up in my yard... No HOA and few LOS problems!

Just send me a PM requesting directions and I will PM you back with them!

All said with tounge in cheek - almost! I wanted to say that when I first saw the heading, but I have been very busy so just now got "a round TUIT"!
POP

 

[PopcornNMore]

Question:
If you had a DVB-S2 and HD compatible FTA receiver like the Openbox S9 as well as an 8' stationary dish what C band satellite would the dish be aimed at for the most channel choices?

I'm thinking perhaps Galaxy 17 and then adding additional LNB's on the sides to possibly receive AMC 3 and Galaxy 3C.