Thread: Need to buy new KU Band Sat!

I live in the Denver metro area and I am looking for a cheap ($100-$250) KU-Band Sat. Does anyone know of a physical store in the Denver area? I am new to this and really hesitant about buying something online without the knowledge that I can walk into the store and return it. Any recommendations on brands and models? Do I need to buy a Ku RX/TX, or just RX? An LNB? An Amplifier? A motor? Suggestions please!!!

Thanks a lot!

ColoSAT101,

Hi again!

Here is a good, inexpensive dish that you can trust for FTA purposes. The Winegard DS-2076. It is a little smaller than some of the others available (like a GEOSATpro 1.2 M dish), but I can guarantee that it is a very economical dish and can pull in almost all the signals that you desire from the DVB-S options. Add this dish to a DG-380 motor and the Coolsat 5000 receiver that I mentioned in your post in the AZBox area and you will have an excellent and very reasonably priced package. Now, all you need is the LNBF and the cables.

You can shop around and get an acceptable LNBF for $12-$22.

RADAR

When it comes to dish size especially with Ku bigger is best. I wouldn't go with anything smaller than a meter. I have a 36 inch and experience rain fade at times. Depending on the dish size make sure you check the specs on the motor to make sure it will handle the weight and size of the dish. There are a lot of receivers out there, just google fta receivers and start reading.

Originally Posted by ColoSat101

I live in the Denver metro area and I am looking for a cheap ($100-$250) KU-Band Sat. Does anyone know of a physical store in the Denver area? I am new to this and really hesitant about buying something online without the knowledge that I can walk into the store and return it. Any recommendations on brands and models? Do I need to buy a Ku RX/TX, or just RX? An LNB? An Amplifier? A motor? Suggestions please!!!

Thanks a lot!

Pm me I have a 90cm that will cost you just shipping and buying a few parts to assemble it

ColoSAT101,

Many may argue the point, but a larger dish is not always better. While a larger dish has advantages simply based on size of the reflector, they also have disadvantages. Weight and wind loading and also aiming practices.

I have tested many different dish sizes from 18" to 1.2M. The Winegard DS-2076 and the GeoSatpro 1.2 M are the ones that I found to be the best, thus far and they are almost at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Winegard DS-2076 is 76 cm (I think that is the rated effective aperture) is a great dish despite its size and I can match it up with just about any other dish, even the 1.2 M that I have set up now with my motor. If the geometry of the dish is matched to the LNBF and the LNBF is positioned properly, some smaller dishes work just as well as a larger dish.

Simply stated, don't take it for granted that just because a dish like the DS-2076 is smaller that it won't perform well. I can personally attest to this fact with at least that model.

One advantage to the smaller dish in this particular case is that they are much lighter and easier to manage if you are working atop a roof or an elevated mast. The digital DVB-S2 FTA signals may require the added pep from the larger dish, however. So, you just must weigh the differences based upon what your intentions are, just don't jump on the blanket statement that bigger is always better. Larger size is correct as a general rule, but it doesn't always hold water as there are more criteria than size which must be considered.

The main recommendation is: Don't pass up a sweet deal, an inexpensive dish or something that is free! Especially when you are first starting out.

RADAR

The Winegard DS-2076 was my first FTA dish. Very good dish. I'm still keep it up and running.

Radar,

What channels do receivers that only interpret DVB-S get vs DVB-S2? I looked at 'The list' on here and I assume that is most available channels on FTA. Is there some list of just DVB-S?

Thanks

ColoSAT101,

I can't specify too many off the top of my head nor exact numbers of each - I'd have to go looking at each channel. The HD PBS channels on AMC 14 (125W) would definitely not be detectable by a DVB-S receiver (i.e. The Coolsat 5000). But, there are still many standard DVB-S channels still available. RTV, TuffTV, PBJ, Cubavision, other PBS non HI DEF channels and on and on.

I think that currently on Ku band, there are probably more DVB-S channels than DVB-S2, but they are trending towards DBV-S2 and various formats and compression modes for Hi-Def that may eventually make DVB-S a thing of the past. I don't think that will happen any time real soon, though. Probably years away yet. Just a hunch.

RADAR

Any info on wiring? I know I need RG-6 coax < 100 ft or RG-6 Quad Shield > 100ft. I assume I need a power cord for the motor. Can I also splice into my cable box to feed the signal? Or do I need to open a new hole in the wall with a new box?