VERY new user

[ncamara]

I'm looking to get into FTA in order to pick up AMC-4 to watch RTPi along with other foreign channels. I've been browsing these posts for the past two days, but haven't really seen any "FTA for dummies" posts. I've got a couple of questions.
You guys are saying I need a clear view of the sky. Ok, what clear direction do I need? I'm in Hampton, VA. I've got some obstructions, and need to know if it'll be feasible to place a sat dish in the backyard pointing to the direction that I need without any obstructions.
Where do you recommend I purchase my stuff? Here's a link I found browsing through ebay looking for equipment:
http://www.adventistsat.com/customkititems.asp?CartId=15271297KDHW-ACCWARE-O33&ic=HOPE5&tpc=

FortecStar Lifetime Ultra receiver
Full function remote control
DiSEcQ 2x1 Switch
36" / 90cm SatelliteAV dish
Dish mounting hardware for roof or wall installation
Invacom Linear SNH-031 .3 dB high-gain lnbf
High Quality Dish Motor DiSEcQ 1.2 with GOTO X

What do you think of the items this comes with? They are looking for $349 for the total package? Is this a good price, and will this work to pick up AMC-4? Or do you suggest something different?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[PSB]

Hello and welcome to the SatelliteGuys.US FTA MPEG-2 forum, great choice of system. I use an SG2100 motor otherwise I have the same system. First class company. Exactly what you need for the channels you are after! And if you need any assistance in the set up we are all here to help. You are going to get a lot of fun and entertainment from your new system good luck!

Give us your zip code and we can give you all the angles you need for the satellites in your area, then with a compass you will be able to do your own site survey.

 

[ncamara]

23669
Thanks for the help in advance.

What about substituting a 76cm Winegard satellite? Will it degrade the ability to pick up as many satellites?

 

[Wholeshoe]

In general you need a clear view of the southern sky.

Wholeshoe

 

[PSB]

Hampton, VA 23669
Latitude 37° 2.616'N Longitude 76° 20.556'W

Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m) El Skew
-------------------------------------------------------------

*** All Satellites 61W - 160W ***

EchoStar 3 61.5W 156.3 167.4 44.3 -18.7
Rainbow 1 61.5W 156.3 167.4 44.3 -18.7
Brasilsat A2 (incl. 5.8 deg) 63.0W 158.5 169.7 44.8 -17.0
Brasilsat B2 65.0W 161.6 172.8 45.4 -14.6
Brasilsat B1 70.0W 169.5 180.7 46.5 -8.3
Nahuel 1 71.8W 172.5 183.7 46.8 -6.0
AMC 6 72.0W 172.8 184.0 46.8 -5.7
Galaxy 12 74.0W 176.1 187.3 47.0 -3.1
SBS 6 74.0W 176.1 187.3 47.0 -3.1
GOES 12 75.0W 177.8 189.0 47.0 -1.8
AMC 5 79.0W 184.4 195.6 46.9 3.5
DirecTV 3 81.8W 189.0 200.2 46.7 7.2
Nimiq 2 82.0W 189.3 200.5 46.6 7.4
Brasilsat B3 84.0W 192.6 203.8 46.3 10.0
XM Roll 85.0W 194.2 205.4 46.1 11.3
AMC 9 85.0W 194.2 205.4 46.1 11.3
AMC 3 87.0W 197.3 208.5 45.6 13.8
Galaxy 11 91.0W 203.5 214.7 44.3 18.5
Nimiq 1 91.0W 203.5 214.7 44.3 18.5
Brasilsat B4 92.0W 205.0 216.1 44.0 19.7
Telstar 6 93.0W 206.4 217.6 43.6 20.8
Galaxy 8I (incl. 1.0 deg) 95.0W 209.3 220.5 42.8 23.0
Galaxy 3C 95.0W 209.3 220.5 42.8 23.0
Telstar 5 97.0W 212.0 223.2 41.8 25.1
Inmarsat 2 f2 (incl. 1.7 deg) 98.0W 213.4 224.6 41.4 26.1
Galaxy 4R 99.0W 214.7 225.9 40.9 27.0
DirecTV 2 100.8W 217.1 228.2 39.9 28.7
DirecTV 1R 100.8W 217.1 228.2 39.9 28.7
AMC 4 101.0W 217.3 228.5 39.8 28.9
DirecTV 1 101.0W 217.3 228.5 39.8 28.9
AMSC 1 101.1W 217.4 228.6 39.8 29.0
DirecTV 4S 101.2W 217.6 228.8 39.7 29.1
AMC 1 103.0W 219.8 231.0 38.7 30.7
Solidaridad 1 (incl. 2.8 deg) 103.5W 220.4 231.6 38.4 31.2
AMC 2 105.0W 222.2 233.4 37.6 32.4
G-Star 3 (incl. 11.5 deg) 105.0W 222.2 233.4 37.6 32.4
G-Star 1 (incl. 6.0 deg) 105.0W 222.2 233.4 37.6 32.4
MSAT 1 106.5W 224.0 235.2 36.7 33.6
Anik F1 107.3W 224.9 236.1 36.2 34.3
Anik E1 109.2W 227.0 238.2 35.0 35.7
DirecTV 6 109.8W 227.6 238.8 34.6 36.1
EchoStar 6 110.0W 227.9 239.1 34.5 36.3
EchoStar 8 110.0W 227.9 239.1 34.5 36.3
Anik E2R 111.1W 229.0 240.2 33.8 37.1
Solidaridad 2 113.0W 231.0 242.2 32.5 38.3
Morelos 2 (incl. 4.4 deg) 114.9W 232.9 244.1 31.2 39.6
XM Rock 115.0W 233.0 244.2 31.1 39.6
SatMex 5 116.8W 234.8 246.0 29.9 40.7
Anik E2 118.7W 236.5 247.7 28.5 41.8
DirecTV 5 119.0W 236.8 248.0 28.3 41.9
EchoStar 7 119.0W 236.8 248.0 28.3 41.9
EchoStar 5 119.0W 236.8 248.0 28.3 41.9
EchoStar 9/Telstar 13 121.0W 238.6 249.8 26.8 43.0
Galaxy 10R 123.0W 240.4 251.6 25.4 43.9
Galaxy 5 125.0W 242.1 253.3 23.9 44.8
Galaxy 9 127.0W 243.7 254.9 22.4 45.7
Telstar 7 129.0W 245.3 256.5 20.8 46.5
Satcom C3 131.0W 246.9 258.1 19.3 47.2
Galaxy 1R 133.0W 248.4 259.6 17.7 47.9
Satcom C4 135.0W 249.9 261.0 16.2 48.5
GOES 10 135.5W 250.2 261.4 15.8 48.7
AMC 7 137.0W 251.3 262.5 14.6 49.1
AMC 8 139.0W 252.7 263.9 13.0 49.6
Inmarsat 2 f3 (incl. 1.9 deg) 142.0W 254.8 265.9 10.7 50.4
EchoStar 1 148.0W 258.7 269.9 5.9 51.5
EchoStar 2 148.0W 258.7 269.9 5.9 51.5
TDRS 9 (incl. 7.4 deg) 151.0W 260.6 271.8 3.5 52.0
TDRS 10 (incl. 6.2 deg) 151.0W 260.6 271.8 3.5 52.0
EchoStar 4 157.0W 264.3 275.5 -1.3 52.6

 

[ncamara]

DAMN that was quick. Thanks for the help! So I should pick up a bunch of these with that setup I mentioned? And the motor will automatically move the dish over to the next satellite without having to go outside and manually move it over? How do you set up the motor, do you have to set it at 0 or something and then it knows where it's at?

 

[PSB]

You set up your dish (usually) by pointing at your true south satellite, and the rest is done using the remote control, well theres a bit more to it than that but thats the basic principle, after all the angles are set the dish moves automatically from satellite to satellite. The receiver has USALS this function helps you find the satellites a lot faster and really speeds up the set up of your motorized system.

You want to see as many of the satellites as possible, make sure you have line of sight before you get a motor to make sure it is worth while, take your time with this site survey and find the best place for the dish. With such a big dish its always best keeping it as low as it can go, but sometimes to get as many satellites as possible it has to go up higher, a roof is the last place you want to put it, but some people have no choice.

Looks like you may have to use SBS6 as you true south satellite as its the closest to true south for you (180deg) again using the USALS function its easy enough done. The System and motor come with manuals and the motor set up is included, the fun starts here.

Forgot to say I recommend you stick with the 90cm dish, otherwise you will regret it, you will always be saying "I should have got the 90cm dish" IMO

 

[Mr Tony]

I should have got the 90cm dish

I also recommend the 90cm dish. I have a 76cm and keep kicking myself that when I got a second dish, I didnt get a 90cm

 

[drhydro]

i third that motion, ive only had my 76cm since thanksgiving and i already wish i had gone with a bigger dish for KU.

 

[ncamara]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I think I'm going to pick up that package, does anyone recommend them, or should I get these items piece meal from somebody else? I don't think I'll be able get all of this for cheaper than what they are advertising, $349, which includes shipping.

 

[rjc3895]

FTA for dummies

Actually, if you spend enough time reading through the posts, you'll find many of us are FTA dummies . I started this hobby in November, and I'm still learning. Trying to get my motor working properly right now. On behalf of all dummies in this forum, welcome!

 

[raydio]

I have the 78cm as well and will skip the 90 and go directly to the 1 meter! Pete, do you think the Stab HH120 would do alright turning this?

 

[PSB]

The specs say it will be fine but as I have said before the last HH 100/120 I seen had play in the shaft making it unusable (IMO) in the wind, so at least watch out for this, maybe someone who has one in operation can tell us some more about them, and reassure us.
When you buy your 1m dish make sure to ask if it will fit on the HH120. But size wise it should not be a problem.