If you had only a couple of choices what is your favorite satellite and why? Please list a couple of your favorites and why it's your favorite keeping in mind you only have a couple of choices. Limited space or budget or for whatever reasons might would keep you from having but only a couple. I'm very sure this has been asked before, but what the heck...

Reason I am asking, I am looking for information to help my friend who lives in a very limited space. His landlord has given me permission to setup FTA satellite for this older gentalman and has allowed me a 4x4 area to set his dish in. It must be a fixed dish system that can be hidden with some shrubs. Which I also have to supply...His interests would be PBS I am sure and maybe some news, a couple of networks. I suggested OTA but the landlord would only agree to a dish. Was hoping maybe to get 2 satellites that would offer him some decent tv shows. I am sure he would love the older shows.

If he has a exclusive area he can put up a OTA antenna

OTARD covers him under that

FCC Fact Sheet on Placement of Antennas (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html)


Q: What types of antennas are covered by the rule?

A: The rule applies to the following types of antennas:

(1) A "dish" antenna that is one meter (39.37") or less in diameter (or any size dish if located in Alaska) and is designed to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct-to-home satellite service, or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals via satellite.

(2) An antenna that is one meter or less in diameter or diagonal measurement and is designed to receive video programming services via broadband radio service (wireless cable) or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals other than via satellite.

(3) An antenna that is designed to receive local television broadcast signals. Masts higher than 12 feet above the roofline may be subject to local permitting requirements.

I could have pushed the idea of OTA and used the FCC to back me up, but I know both the landlord and the older gentelman and didn't wish to upset the apple cart. He agreed on a dish because they appear neater and easier to hide which I do agree with. It would be much cheaper on me to go the dish route as I have all the items needed on hand. As it is I have to supply everything including the shrubs and labor.

If he likes old tv shows, RTV, formerly RTN is on one satellite. I think 93W? You get two different time zones, East and West of RTN. If you go to RTV's website you can print out a weekly program guide. Same shows all week, weekends different lineup.

Correction, its 83W, I have 93W on the brain after last weekend.

well depending on where he lives respect to the transmitters maybe the OTA antenna is a better solution. Heck it could even be indoors!. if you are planning on hiding it with shrubbs then the sat has to be relatively high in the sky or in other words relatively close to your longitude.

If he likes old tv shows, RTV, formerly RTN is on one satellite. I think 93W? You get two different time zones, East and West of RTN. If you go to RTV's website you can print out a weekly program guide. Same shows all week, weekends different lineup.

Correction, its 83W, I have 93W on the brain after last weekend.


RTV is on 83.0°W not on 93.0°W.


His interests would be PBS I am sure and maybe some news, a couple of networks.
Since the gentle man wants PBS, you could point the dish towards 63.0°W or 125.0°W all KU Band.

83 would be a good choice for the old tv shows! We live in NC and at his location we have a good los... The OTA thing would be good but for one thing, I would have to buy an antenna with at least 150 mile range plus a booster and a rotor chances are. Rabbit ears in my area are best left for rabbits! I have all the necessary things for a simple FTA setup including the receiver and mounting pole. I was thinking of using one of my spare Prime* dishes but I hate to part with it. I might take another but haven't made up my mind as of yet. The only things I need purchase for this project is cement and coax, which I might have but not sure...

Any other suggestions would be great and thank you for those that have made suggestions.

Ironsides,

I am not sure what the reception quality would be in the specific area, but if it is good, an OTA digital antenna would seem the better way to go. What I am referring to is an indoor antenna that the landloard absolutely could not object to.

I bought one at Walmart for $35. It is slightly smaller in width and length than a piece of typing paper and about 1/2" deep. It looks like a small hot-plate.

You can hang it on a wall, lay it flat on top of a shelf or stand it up like a picture frame on a cabinet top (maybe even incorporate it into an actual picture frame to hide it). Orientation and location depends upon the signal level you can achieve.

I am able to receive 12-14 digital TV channels with really excellent quality and I am more than 40 miles from the nearest broadcast antenna.

He would need a digital ready TV or else a converter box.

For ideas on receivable channels, try this site: The Digital TV Transition: Reception Maps (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/)

As for a satellite for FTA, I would have a hard time limiting it to one or two satellites. I would have to have 30.0°W, 83.0°W, 97.0°W, 101.0°W and 125.0°W and that is why I use a motorized system.

RADAR

Guys trust when I say an indoor antenna will not cut it where we live no way no how. We live in a very difficult area for TV digital or analog.

I have been in Ham Radio near 25 years and I can say honestly an indoor antenna has no chance to work here...

Anyway, what's your favorite satellite?

OTA: take a look at a tiny "hentenna (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=104305)", larger Centipede (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=120479&page=5),or a "portable Gray Hoverman (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=109042)" which could be hidden indoors behind a door, bookcase, picture frame etc

barring that, 83w

Wow For a Second There I thought I was lurking in a FTA Satellite Forum. Turns out, its an OTA Fan-boy Club Forum :p

LOL ok forget I asked What your favorites satellites are... :)

In my 1st post I mentioned OTA and I had suggested it to both my friends. They both resisted the notion and have valid reasons for doing so. Money has been spent in the past for OTA it was a waste. Besides the OTA is harder to hide and neither want another Antenna on the home. They don't like the appearences of the OTA and the indoor antenna is not a solution as that has been tried.

I'll just try for 83 or for the PBS as suggested by an early poster...Thanks The Retro shows would be something they both can enjoy.

Yea Jimmy I was starting to think I didn't ask what the favorite satellite was, had to go back and check to see the Thread Title again...LOL wow..I am terrible at conveying my questions...

you can make him a small OTA antenna out of coat-hangers and put a 15 dbi amp on it. it will be easy to hide and will pull in most everything. I am able to get channels ~100 miles away. you can mount one along with the dish if you wanted to (terk style) or indoor as mentioned. i bet it will work and doesn't hurt to try.

Guys trust when I say an indoor antenna will not cut it where we live no way no how. We live in a very difficult area for TV digital or analog.

I know what you mean. Even though the FCC says that 95% of all households can get at least one digital channel, there are some spots where it's just not feasible. I'm in the same situation here. There is only one channel that I could possibly receive, and I would need one of the largest OTA antennas made with a pre-amp to get it.

83W is a good sat. RTV is great. One thing to watch on 125W is that some of the channels are AC3 audio.

Thank Goodness for you Lotech! Yes, you are right about the digital signals here! Very hard to get and IF you are lucky to get one if the wind blows or you take a pee it's gone....pity people don't understand that.

Thank You for your input and the warning about the AC3 audio...Thank you very much!

no ota and only 1 dish,
he needs a motor!!
101 for history and bio.
83 for rtv.
125 for pbs.

What about taking them through a guided tour of The List, and see what they think about that?

SatelliteGuys.US - TheList (http://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/)

And yes, they need a motor. :)

If budget and LOS permits...how about a dish with a motor? That would get many more satellites while only using one dish and still would be able to be hidden. Personally I would find it hard to choose between just one or two satellites. Plus things have a tendency to move around.

Hi Ironsides and the group, have you looked into one of the basic subscription packages like Dish Family? Does not cost much and your friend could then get the locals. I would think he would want the locals for local news and weather. If that is out of the question then maybe consider a dual LNB setup for the PrimeStar. Maybe something like 83W and 72W for RTV and the NBC Mux. That would get your friend a nice mix of Old TV shows and current news and WX. It not that pair then maybe another - any pair of satellites that is at least 4 degrees apart but less then 15 or so should be doable with one dish and an adjustable multi LNB holder. Hope this helps, DC

My vote would be for EITHER 83 or 101, but you forgot to mention something in your first posting. HOW BIG is the dish going to be? You might try searching eBay for a multi sat bracket. I don't know how to post links without putting the whole string of the address, but I just bought two of these to go on 1.2m non moving dishes, and if I aim the 1.2m dish correctly, I can have four different sats on EACH dish.

If you'd like, I can send you a PM with the link, and they are only @12.99, free shipping.

Photto

It must be a fixed dish system that can be hidden with some shrubs.

Do you mind if I ask why it must be a fixed dish? You can get a dish motor for about $50. It would greatly add to his channel options, and they are almost silent.

I discussed that yesterday and they are willing to let us install a motor. They will have to purchase that. I suggested they check out WS or Sodoun and get a complete system. So we'll wait and see what they do... I will still supply the dish and receiver and mounting pole if they decide to go that direction for free. The motor will be up to them to purchase or a complete system. They thought it would be really expensive but now that they know how cheaply they can get their stuff it's now an opt!

Thanks For your Help!

Wow For a Second There I thought I was lurking in a FTA Satellite Forum. Turns out, its an OTA Fan-boy Club Forum :p


Jimmy

Now you're just being silly! Ha Ha! :)

Seriously, I don't think that we should rule out OTA terrestrial TV in all cases. Obviously, this is a satellite TV forum, but we don't need to limit ourselves to this discussion entirely. We won't be branded as outlaws for suggesting other options for TV reception.

Personally, with my motorized Ku-Band satellite antenna, I don't have time to watch what comes free to me OTA via the terrestrial waves and I am not exactly interested in its content. So, after setting it up initially just to see what I could receive, I have pretty much abandoned it. And, it wasn't too bad, reception-wise, but I just wasn't interested as I don't watch TV for the sake of watching TV. I watch TV as part of my satellite hobby. For the same reason, I don't have a DSL line for my internet, I use Wild-Blue satellite internet which is slower, but it is via satellite. Why? Shoot, I don't know. I just picked satellite technology as a hobby.

C-Band on a "Mini-BUD" coming this spring. Woohoo! :) Why? I don't know, same reason I guess... Just part of my hobby. ;)

RADAR

I think what Jimmy was meaning is the Topic was

"What's your Favorite Satellite" the thread was taken off topic from the start with the discussion of OTA. I clearly stated several times OTA is not going to work in this area. I live here and I stated OTA wouldn't work at this mans location. OTA could've been ruled out before it ever started to take over the conversation.

If you look back in the thread, only a couple of posters actually answered the original question "What's your favorite Satellite".

So that being said,

what's your favorite satellite?

I love 83.0W but hope to add others. I am in the same boat right now. I can only grab one satellite. RTV or RTN whatever is a good channel.

97W might be good for some ethnicity (arab / east indian?) or religious content. I can't find much there that interests me though. Its not particularly "mainstream" America (or Canada!).

I think what Jimmy was meaning is the Topic was

"What's your Favorite Satellite" the thread was taken off topic from the start with the discussion of OTA. I clearly stated several times OTA is not going to work in this area. I live here and I stated OTA wouldn't work at this mans location. OTA could've been ruled out before it ever started to take over the conversation.

If you look back in the thread, only a couple of posters actually answered the original question "What's your favorite Satellite".

So that being said,

what's your favorite satellite?

Ironsides,

I did answer the original question, in the same post where I spoke of the OTA terrestrial option. However, I could not limit the choice to just one or two satellites. They were 30.0°W, 83.0°W, 97.0°W, 101.0°W and 125.0°W.

It is difficult to limit the choices this way. When you have a motorized system, you can watch just about everything.

Your intial post stated that the "landlord wouldn't allow" an OTA terrestrial antenna (which I cannot comprehend). Therefore, I was not aware of the signal strength issue when I posted my thoughts. I thought it was more of an aesthetic problem from your first description. Your subsequent post told the rest of the story, that it would be necessary to set up a huge OTA antenna in order to get good reception.

Maybe you could convince the landlord that a motorized Ku-Band dish would be unobtrusive. They are not that big, 76cm will do fine.

RADAR

FTA wouldn't be worth my time if I were to lose 99, 95, 91, 121 C Band

Jimmy

Now you're just being silly! Ha Ha! :)

Seriously, I don't think that we should rule out OTA terrestrial TV in all cases. Obviously, this is a satellite TV forum, but we don't need to limit ourselves to this discussion entirely. We won't be branded as outlaws for suggesting other options for TV reception.

(snip)

RADAR

Radar,

Yes I was being silly and Ironsides got the joke. :angel: Of course there is room for OTA, it was the relentless trail of people pushing for OTA even after Ironsides said "No OTA."

Just basically THE definition of fanboy.


Fanboy is a term used to describe a male who is highly devoted and biased in opinion towards a single subject or hobby within a given field.

In all honest if I could find a descent BUD in Oregon that someone was wanting to part with, I'm pretty sure I'd turn into a FTA Fanboy.

Radar,

Yes I was being silly and Ironsides got the joke. :angel: Of course there is room for OTA, it was the relentless trail of people pushing for OTA even after Ironsides said "No OTA."

Just basically THE definition of fanboy.



In all honest if I could find a descent BUD in Oregon that someone was wanting to part with, I'm pretty sure I'd turn into a FTA Fanboy.

There is a whole mess of them in SW Washington, north of Vancouver.
I don't see any mention of where you're from, but that's what I know.

FTA wouldn't be worth my time if I were to lose 99, 95, 91, 121 C Band

I understand your position here, John. Walrus keeps harping on me to set up my mini-BUD for C-band reception. Unfortunately, the weather and work and auto-repairs are not cooperating with me to provide the time to get set up.

I started on this project last summer, but didn't get it perfected and hadn't learned what I wanted by the summer's end, so I put my Ku-Band LNBF back on and retweaked the dish to get me through the winter.

I wish I could nail down one sat for Ironside's request, but this is a really daunting task. I guess I am going to have to say 125.0°W AMC 21 for PBS, if you must squeeze me to make a decision. Here, you can get quite a variety of television, including news programs. Something for the kids, some great nature programs, news programs and debates, some concerts and sometimes maybe a movie or comedy episode.

Yes, I guess if you had to pull my teeth over it, I would go with AMC 21. No commercials, that's a plus. No infomercials! I can dig that! And plenty of STEM programs! (STEM = Science Technology Engineering and Math).

If I must decide upon ONE, it will have to be this one. AMC 21 @ 125.0°W. I had to think this over really strongly, mind you. It's like turning a teenage boy loose in a room full of supermodels! AHHH! "What do you mean, only one?" :eek:

RADAR

There is a whole mess of them in SW Washington, north of Vancouver.
I don't see any mention of where you're from, but that's what I know.

About an hour SW of Portland.

How far north? Where? :D

Thanks.

About an hour SW of Portland.

How far north? Where? :D

Thanks.
Get on I-5 North
Exit onto SR 503 and head east-bound

Let some one else drive while you rubber-neck.

About the time you lose sight of one you will see another within a minute the farther out you go. We didn't go past the Swift Reservoir though...

If you strike out, I may be able to part with a 10 foot mesh that will work for C-band only. Maybe we can work something out.

Ha! Well good news they are going to get a motorized system so that leaves me off the hook almost. They contacted a local guy who "supposedly" can install it for them and do all the leg work and supply everything. The only thing I have to do is show up. He wanted to supply a Viewsat but I personally do not care for those so I suggested a Fortec HD or AZbox. They are deciding on that now!