Why choose FTA?

[freetoairalaska]

Hello, everyone

Before I go into the purpose of this post, I would like to kindly introduce myself. My name is Brandin Hess, and I am a satellite installer/technician based in Kodiak, Alaska. I have been selling Dish/Directv and satellite internet up here since 2006. Recently I had branched out and expanded to selling Free-To-Air satellite systems, but I have had no takers. I personally have been a proud supporter of free satellite for a very long time, and it is so sad to hear how foreign of a concept it is up here. So, as a newcomer to this forum and a seasoned satellite installer, I come to you all for some much-needed help. Each customer that asks me about FTA satellite up here want to see input from those who are already set up with a system and what they think about it. Would all of you, as a free-to-air community, be willing to assist me in providing your testimonials on your experience with these satellite systems? I would be looking for things such as: your city/state, how long you have had an FTA system, comments pertaining to having FTA satellite as a source of information and entertainment, and if you would recommend this to someone such as a family member or friend?

I know this may be a lot of information to be asking for, but here in Alaska FTA satellite is so unknown that I am willing to do whatever it takes to show these people that they do have another choice in television entertainment and the best part...it's free! In closing, I do thank you all in advance for providing your testimonials and valued input, as they are very much and greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

 

[tdti1]

You can always tell them to come here

Are you doing ku, c/ku motorized installs?

 

[Lucky53]

Hello, everyone

Before I go into the purpose of this post, I would like to kindly introduce myself. My name is Brandin Hess, and I am a satellite installer/technician based in Kodiak, Alaska. I have been selling Dish/Directv and satellite internet up here since 2006. Recently I had branched out and expanded to selling Free-To-Air satellite systems, but I have had no takers. I personally have been a proud supporter of free satellite for a very long time, and it is so sad to hear how foreign of a concept it is up here. So, as a newcomer to this forum and a seasoned satellite installer, I come to you all for some much-needed help. Each customer that asks me about FTA satellite up here want to see input from those who are already set up with a system and what they think about it. Would all of you, as a free-to-air community, be willing to assist me in providing your testimonials on your experience with these satellite systems? I would be looking for things such as: your city/state, how long you have had an FTA system, comments pertaining to having FTA satellite as a source of information and entertainment, and if you would recommend this to someone such as a family member or friend?

I know this may be a lot of information to be asking for, but here in Alaska FTA satellite is so unknown that I am willing to do whatever it takes to show these people that they do have another choice in television entertainment and the best part...it's free! In closing, I do thank you all in advance for providing your testimonials and valued input, as they are very much and greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Seen ur exact post on another forum..and like HC said there..Do ur homework..

 

[KE4EST]

Welcome to the site. Spend a few hours reading here and you will see very quick how rewarding FTA can be.

 

[xtgold]

set up a motorized dish and see

 

[DK_Sat]

I think you got in to late for selling Free-To-Air satellite systems

 

[Kraven]

Curious... why would you say too late? IMO, FTA isnt going away anytime soon.

IMO, FTA isnt for everyone and is best used as an "ad-on". Besides major networks (ABC, NBC, ABC, FOX, PBS) and local affiliates (ION, RETRO, THIS, COZI etc) the sky is filled with various live news/sports feeds.



Cheers, K

 

[SatelliteAV]

Probably the best sales tool would be having a demo set up. If you don't have a store front, connect one to a Slingbox and take a tablet to the potential customers home. If they don't have a fast enough connection for a Slingbox demo, record some programming examples.

Most of your customers probably remember the time when homes had a BUD. They would likely relate to a comparison to FTA being the digital equivalent.

I agree that FTA isn't for everyone, but combine it with Netflix/Hulu and you have quite a selection of programming!

 

[Tron]

The big draw of FTA (to me) is that you never know what you'll stumble across. There are tons of unedited newsfeeds, backhauls, and sports events you'd never see otherwise. Nothing like subscription TV.... Thankfully.

 

[Kraven]

Also, I'd be a bit concerned of the satellites "footprints" and if they reach Alaska.

Cheers, K

 

[DK_Sat]

Selling and installing FTA satellite equipment and making money this days is flat. The market is over saturated FTA satellite equipment.

 

[Magic Static]

The mainstream TV viewer is not interested in learning "how to FTA" There basically is no guide for FTA channels and feeds are another concept alltogether. I have refurbed a couple of C-Band dishes for people interested in FTA and I find myself spending a lot of time providing "how to" info and updateing firmware and channel lists. I'm thinking that's where some money is, providing support for folks who like to watch but don't want to learn how to. Go to a church function and demo a GloryStar system, you will get some interest with the FREE part and then you can lead into FTA. But I have to admit, location is not in your favor

 

[Lone Gunman]

I'm in Central Virginia I've been into BUD stuff since back in 1988 and even though those systems were somewhat user friendly, they still required the owner to do "tweaks" now and then to keep good receiption. Orbit magazine was my main source for info back then.

I started converting my BUD system to FTA back in late 2011 partly due to the fact that Cband programming was due to cease some time in December of that year. I haven't had a sub to anything since and don't plan to in the future either. Around that time I also put up an OTA antenna and now I receive 17 digital channels from that, some of which are in HD.

So my FTA system is basically a supplement to my OTA programming and I consider it more of a hobby than anything else since the programming you find on it is mostly come and go type stuff, ie, here today, and it may be gone tomorrow. There are some exceptions to this but I never look at anything in FTA as something I can depend on being here tomorrow.

Then as some have already mentioned, the footprint of some of these satellites may not be good enough for reception there in AK. That and dish size for Cband can be a PITA especially if you're in a marginal area to begin with. A LOT of the good programming is on Cband and I'd venture to guess that you'd need at least a 10 footer in AK in order to receive much of anything up there. And, in winter time with snow accumulation on the dish is a problem also.

Both my systems are C and Ku band and from what I've seen, I don't think I'd like it if I couldn't get both. Ku seems to me has less programming available than Cband but I don't have a dedicated Ku dish and only get what my BUD will lock with a C/Ku LNBF.

So having said all this, I'm not sure how much money could be made working on these systems. As you can see, there's a bunch of help available on this board and also on the others on the internet. In other words, don't quit your day job to do FTA full time!!

 

[SatelliteAV]

Surprisingly, we sell many Glorystar systems in Alaska. Work well as the 97w satellite has an excellent footprint into Alaska and a 90cm reflector works fine.

Are you registered on the www.FTAInstall.com referral website?

 

[freetoairalaska]

I do thank you all for the responses so far. Here in Alaska, there are many challenges to receiving FTA satellite, especially with C-Band. The most substantial challenges are not only the size of dish, but the cost of getting equipment shipped here is rediculous. So, where would a person proceed from here?

 

[SatelliteAV]

Do you have your own FTA set-up? If not, I would start by first owning one so I could be familiar with the channels and comfortable with the operation.

You will be the customers first call for support, so it is best to know the operation and menus inside and out! Selling one or two models will simplify your support knowledge base.

I understand that it is quite inexpensive to ship a pallet out of Seattle. We typically ship 10-20 systems at a time to a Seattle based freight company that customers have arranged to load for ocean delivery. Takes about 10 days for delivery.

 

[freetoairalaska]

I do have my own FTA setup. Up here I havr a 3 meter prime focus dish with an actuator and I have an Omegasat DSB5701 FTA receiver. I personally am very familiar with the systems, but my problem is gathering the resources to educate people on FTA.

 

[AcWxRadar]

I do have my own FTA setup. Up here I havr a 3 meter prime focus dish with an actuator and I have an Omegasat DSB5701 FTA receiver. I personally am very familiar with the systems, but my problem is gathering the resources to educate people on FTA.

FTAalaska,

FTA satellite TV is primarily a hobbyists endeavor today. It does not replace or substitute for the programs that can be found through pay-subscription services like DN or DirecTV or Shaw/BellExpress etc.
However, it can be a really engaging hobby for those with the background knowledge and expertise... and the patience... to set up and experiment with the equipment. I don't really know how you would go about promoting someone to engage in a hobby like this, other than through word of mouth and existing customer base, via fliers or emails etc.

Beyond what other members have mentioned here regarding having some working "DISPLAY" model or at least a video on tape/disc or a You-Tube example, I cannot think of a way to really promote this avenue in Alaska. If there were a lot more, many more specialty channels available for free today than there is, I could entertain making an argument for FTA as a direct replacement for subscription services and that would promote sales of the equipment, but I don't believe this to be the case today.

On the other hand, if there is very limited or nonexistant coverage from the subscription services in a specific area, but some FTA satellites have footprints there, now we would be talking a different ballgame as FTA satellite TV would be to the consumer's advantage. I don't know what the case is where you are in Kodiak, Alaska, so I don't know what is offered there via subscription satellite services.

Your original question does present a certain complexity for the answer.

How do you get the knowledge and the information and the desire to pursue something to people who don't realize they are missing out on anything?
How about a HAM Radio club? Are you a HAM? Get involved and keep in touch with the other HAM operators and use word of mouth among local club members to promote the opportunities of FTA.
HAM radio operators would definitely find this hobby to be rewarding and they can spread the information to their family and friends and co-workers, etc.

RADAR

 

[SatelliteAV]

That is an older DVBS MPEG 2 receiver. You might consider upgrading to a newer MPEG4, h264 receiver and see all of the HD programming on C-band. You are in a great part of Alaska for many satellite footprints.

Since you already have a system, what do you like about it? C-band? KU-Band? What programming do you watch?

Based on the programming that you watch on your FTA system, why do you think others around you would be interested and buy a system? Maybe put together a list of the channels that are available along with an equipment and standard install price list and see what potential customers think.

 

[freetoairalaska]

That is a good idea. I have already started compiling that information, and just about have enough information to present, but it may not scratch the surface. I do know that here in Kodiak signals are pretty easy to come by, but north of the Alaska Range is another issue in and of itself. Villages such as Kotzebue, Barrow and Prudhoe Bay are off the footprints of most DirecTV and Dish Network programming, which would be good for FTA, but up there you need a 4 meter dish if you have any remote hope of receiving FTA signals. That can be discouraging to most people.

Personally, I generally view 137°W and 139°W for the Alaska programming on C-Band, but for me it's about having a mixture of everything, that way it relieves the repetitiveness that paid satellite offers on both C and Ku Band. One big letdown with potential customers up here is the cost to get equipment sent here from the States. Otherwise, for me having FTA has been a blessing from day one. If I could successfully market this here, I think people would be relieved to have a different lineup of programming with the excitement of having various wildfeeds of programming that one wouldn't normally receive with paid satellite television. I guess I would have to really ask myself if I should continue selling and advertising FTA satellite, or pull my inventory and not worry about it?