Anyone know anything about FTA (Free to Air) satellite?

[konichiwa]

I just sort of stumbled upon a little bit of information about FTA satellite systems...but have no idea where to start reading to learn about them

Seems almost too good to be true...a normal-sized (18") dish that can pick up channels from tons of satellites and get locals from all over the country (world) at no cost beyond purchasing the equipment and setting it up?

Somebody help me out...give me a crash course or point me to a place where I can learn the basics!

 

[George P Burdell]

ask this guy

thread

 

[The Stigenator]

first off your pizza sized directtv and dish tv wont pick up FTA channels.

You will need a minimum of 33" to pick up KU band FTA. A 6-8foot dish for FTA on C band.

http://70.84.18.5/ - has free to air list.
http://www.lyngsat.com/ for otehr info

you will need FTA decoder and dish.. to make it work.

 

[eelw]

Yup. If you are looking for true FTA (free European and Asian sats) you will need something larger than a DTV or DN oval dish. If you're looking at Nagra 2 sats (DishNet and Bell ExpressVu) then the 18" will be fine.

 

[csiro]

If I get one large dish, do I need to move it around to get all the free channels?

 

[eelw]

Yeah, you will need a H-H motor to move the dish around to get all the different satellites.

 

[csiro]

Originally posted by: eelw
Yeah, you will need a H-H motor to move the dish around to get all the different satellites.

Thanks. What's good deal of a system? Doing a search search on google, I saw this system for $220 shipped here. It includes

- TwinHan 102G PCI receiver
- Satcontrol SM3D12 Motor
- 31" FS80P Dish
- Universal 0.4dB Single KU LNBF

Also, there seems to be alot of upgrades available like larger dishes and dual LNBFs. Do they make any differences?

 

[Childs]

Buy this one and tell us how it goes.

 

[eelw]

Originally posted by: csiro
Thanks. What's good deal of a system? Doing a search search on google, I saw this system for $220 shipped here. It includes

- TwinHan 102G PCI receiver
- Satcontrol SM3D12 Motor
- 31" FS80P Dish
- Universal 0.4dB Single KU LNBF

Yeah, that's about right. $90 for the PCI card. Another $80 for the motor. $35 for the dish and $15 for the LNB.

Also, there seems to be alot of upgrades available like larger dishes

Shouldn't be needed. A 30" would have been fine.

and dual LNBFs. Do they make any differences?

If you plan to have setup for a 2nd room.

One note, setup for a motor is already difficult enough for a 1st timer, throw in a DVB-S card install, you will be pulling out your hair for a day or two. Just a warning.

 

[csiro]

Originally posted by: eelw

Originally posted by: csiro
Thanks. What's good deal of a system? Doing a search search on google, I saw this system for $220 shipped here. It includes

- TwinHan 102G PCI receiver
- Satcontrol SM3D12 Motor
- 31" FS80P Dish
- Universal 0.4dB Single KU LNBF

Yeah, that's about right. $90 for the PCI card. Another $80 for the motor. $35 for the dish and $15 for the LNB.

Also, there seems to be alot of upgrades available like larger dishes

Shouldn't be needed. A 30" would have been fine.

and dual LNBFs. Do they make any differences?

If you plan to have setup for a 2nd room.

One note, setup for a motor is already difficult enough for a 1st timer, throw in a DVB-S card install, you will be pulling out your hair for a day or two. Just a warning.

Thanks. I'll give the install a try. I'm already bored with what's available on regular cable so I want to try something different.

 

[The_Dude8]

go with a pansat brand fta reciever; most FTA can watch dish network by flashing w/ the right bin; you can use the old direct tv dish with the separate lnb to recieve dish network channels.

 

[Fausto]

More info than you'll ever need here.

http://forums.al7bar.tk/index.php?

I'm seriously thinking about chunking my Comcast for this.

 

[Pepsei]

also, since dishnetworks moved to nagra2 encryption, as someone mentioned earlier, you can actually use a pansat, like 2500A to get dishnetworks channel for free.. but it's illegal in USA.