Random FTA Receiver Question

[phpinfo]

I have a few older analog receivers, such as Uniden, President etc. These receivers have control for the actuator, skew, polarity etc.

I was curious to know, why no FTA receiver manufactures include this in their receivers. It is just the box to receive signal, and we have to get add-ons like the Gbox or Vbox.

Is this because of demand? Do most FTA'ers just have stationary dishes. Just curious.

 

[phlatwound]

I have a few older analog receivers, such as Uniden, President etc. These receivers have control for the actuator, skew, polarity etc.

I was curious to know, why no FTA receiver manufactures include this in their receivers. It is just the box to receive signal, and we have to get add-ons like the Gbox or Vbox.

Is this because of demand? Do most FTA'ers just have stationary dishes. Just curious.

Actually there are a few FTA receivers that will control an actuator, Pansat, for one, has 2-3 models that will.

I think since a lot (most?) "FTA" receivers are actually built to cater to the hacker crowd, the features you mentioned are not in big demand.

 

[phpinfo]

Actually there are a few FTA receivers that will control an actuator, Pansat, for one, has 2-3 models that will.

I think since a lot (most?) "FTA" receivers are actually built to cater to the hacker crowd, the features you mentioned are not in big demand.

I see. I will have to check out the Pansat's. - I was thinking about getting an HD receiver with some of my Christmas money. I was looking at the Coolsat and a Gbox combo.

Are there any HD receivers, with a built in positioner. - I looked at the Pansat 9200 and it didn't appear to have actuator control. A PVR would be good too.

That would be the ultimate receiver. - HD, PVR and actuator control (and an RF remote controller).

 

[SatPhreak]

None of the boxes sold here can control an actuator. The Pansat 2500/2700/3500 and I found out yesterday the Pansat 2100 can all control skew on a corotor. None of these are HD boxes.

There used to be a old box (maybe manhatten) that was a digital/analog that could control both skew and actuator. There is also a cheapo DVB-S box from asia that can control actuator but not skew, it was show in TELESATELLITE magazine a while ago.

 

[phlatwound]

None of the boxes sold here can control an actuator. The Pansat 2500/2700/3500 and I found out yesterday the Pansat 2100 can all control skew on a corotor. None of these are HD boxes.

There used to be a old box (maybe manhatten) that was a digital/analog that could control both skew and actuator. There is also a cheapo DVB-S box from asia that can control actuator but not skew, it was show in TELESATELLITE magazine a while ago.

Thanks for the correction, I meant skew not actuator.

DOH!

 

[Anole]

I was curious to know, why no FTA receiver manufactures include this in their receivers. It is just the box to receive signal, and we have to get add-ons like the Gbox or Vbox.

Is this because of demand? Do most FTA'ers just have stationary dishes. Just curious.

Maybe one of our long-time dealers would have more accurate info, but here's my opinion:
Over the last decade, the growth of Ku-band operation has been a large factor.

Consider the popularity of the concept of several small dishes or several LNBs on one dish.
Smaller dishes have led to a whole new breed of small USALS motors.
Voltage-switched LNBf's have replaced servo-driven feedhorns.

Then on top of all that, use of real FTA receivers for nefarious purposes has really caused a production spike.
Those receivers need no motors, no servos, and no blind scan.
It's only in the last couple of years (5?) that blind-scanning has become the norm on our boxes.

 

[mbarnes]

Thanks for the correction, I meant skew not actuator.

DOH!

Actually, don't you mean polarity, not skew? Most movable dishes are on polar mounts with an actuator to swing from horizon-to-horizon. The skew change is built in and shouldn't have to be changed. You do need to be able to change polarity between horizontal and vertical.

The only dishes I have seen with skew control used AZ/EL motorized mounts. Since the dish moved on the plane instead of the arc, the skew may need adjustment. Of course these are more for tracking moving satellites or other purposes. No point in having a motorized AZ/EL mount for FTA. Too much work!