'Free To Air' Satellite?

[John66]

Looking at the two normal choices for RV satellite (Dish Network and DirecTV), when a friend of mine called gushing about his new 'Free To Air' satellite setup. He claims that he gets about 600 channels 'for free' after the equipment costs (he paid around $200). Including Pay Per View and premium channels, he claims. Looking at the published lists of channels available, it does not look that fabulous.

Anyone have any experiance with this, particulary in an RV setting?

[John66]

Looking at the two normal choices for RV satellite (Dish Network and DirecTV), when a friend of mine called gushing about his new 'Free To Air' satellite setup. He claims that he gets about 600 channels 'for free' after the equipment costs (he paid around $200). Including Pay Per View and premium channels, he claims. Looking at the published lists of channels available, it does not look that fabulous.

Anyone have any experiance with this, particulary in an RV setting?

[Lorna]

I think he is talking about C-Band/KU-Band or the MPEG-2 Free-to-Air (most likely) or even a combination of the two. The KU dishes are larger than the DBS dishes (usually around 36" & up). You will need to reset everytime you move them (both side to side & up & down). To put it nicely it would be a PITA. We left our C-Band dish when we moved mostly becasue so many of our pay channels and free channels were going digital (which involved a new much pricier receiver). Some (like Hallmark) went to a digital that we couldn't get unless we went to DBS. We really liked Hallmark. We will be going with Directv (and Directway for computer) when we resetup for satellite.

MPEG-2 Channel guide (pdf)

Moveable 75cm dish kit ($350)

Moveable 85cm dish kit ($370)

The links take you to a company I used to buy parts for our C-Band dish. Skyvision was a good company to deal with.

I would reccommend that you look up the individaul stations via a search engine to find their programming offers first. Many of these stations on MPEG-2 are broadcasting in foreign languages from foreign countries. Many are not on air all the time while others are "feeds" for local tv stations (feeds are fun but tend to move to a different satellite and/or time with out warning). We used to watch the feeds all the time (primetime shows tend to air in the morning... sometimes VERY early... sindicated shows tend to show a weeks worth at 1 time).

[zetron]

I am just getting into this FTA Ku-band satellite thing. I have got a offset sat dish 90 cm and I am going to extend the boom on the Winegard crankup Direct TV mount so I can put the bigger dish up there.

I was already to purchase a CoolSat 4000+ but they ran out of stock. On Ebay I won a General Instruments DSP4200C DigiCipher II MPEG II commercial receiver. I want to see the Annenberg CPB channel and others with education programing. I have read that with this receiver I will not be able to receive DVB satellite programs which is what the FTA is? But it calls itself a MPEGII machine so maybe it will?

I still need an LNB. I am going to get the lowest noise figure and both spiral and lenear
in one.

I did not know you can receive the feeds?

A friend setsp a 4 foot dish (he says) while camping for C band and does OK. He says he has holes on the carpet that he places in front of his door and when properly positioned he just moves the tripod feet to different holes for a different C-band satellite.

I am still learning.

David zetron

[FLYTYER]

There are several FTA receivers capable of being programmed with downloaded software that opens ALL of the Dish Network channels...

This is called stealing, ie. theft of service.

On the other hand, these same receivers are great true Free to Air TV receivers. With one of these receivers and a 30 inch motorized dish, there are hundreds of free channels to watch. The standard TV networks are available too, but you have watch them from Puerto Rico or Anchorage Alaska. Additionally there are all kinds of sport feeds and foreign stations to watch.

There are several websites which have the "How to" instructions and guidelines. Do a Google search.

[Blaster]

Sounds good! I don't think it is stealing service as long as you don't alter Dish network service card in receivers, if you can get programable receiver it is up to them to block siginal. the airway is free!

[zetron]

It is considered illegal to take dish or direct without the proper subscription.

I received my 0.3 Ku LNB with circular and linear outputs. Now I am waiting on a motor and LNB holder for my Fortec 36 inch dish.

I will just have to try my GI DSR4200 Digicypher II MPEG 2 receiver and see what I can get.

I went back to Direct TV since I recently purchased a HDTV and wanted to see the difference it could make on SDTV and EDTV from a satellite. Sometimes, even with a 99% signal I notice digital artifacts, especially in large dark areas in the movie. These artifacts are not there on all channels and all programs and movies.

Eventually I will get evrything up and running. With all my Ham and Satellite and computer equipment the inside of my motorhome looks like an Apollo Capsule.

David/zetron