Thread: What's your favorite Satellite?

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

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.

Originally Posted by TiminMb

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

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?