Completely new to FTA, need advice

[drhydro]

If you look around, you can probably find a c band dish for free, that is how I acquired all of mine. None of mine had c/ku feedhorns, but those are not that expensive. Most c-band dishs will already have the actuator you need to move the dish.

To move the dish you can do a few things. Sadoun will have the vbox II available soon, those are used to interface in between a diseqc compatable reciever and the actuator so the reciever can move the dish. Another way to do it is to slave your dvb reciever to an analog reciever.

I havent used a computer card yet, so i really cant say how well they will work.

 

[PSB]

No software available for DVB PC Cards to blind scan. I use the DVB World USB receiver with my PC to watch HD and 4:2:2 broadcasts from both C and Ku bands FTA! I use in conjunction with my blind scan STB receiver.

 

[GMFreak8]

If you look around, you can probably find a c band dish for free, that is how I acquired all of mine. None of mine had c/ku feedhorns, but those are not that expensive. Most c-band dishs will already have the actuator you need to move the dish.

To move the dish you can do a few things. Sadoun will have the vbox II available soon, those are used to interface in between a diseqc compatable reciever and the actuator so the reciever can move the dish. Another way to do it is to slave your dvb reciever to an analog reciever.

I'm completely new to FTA, and I have no idea what a Vbox II, or an actuator is. Can you explain all this to me like you would a monkey?

The way I'm interpreting it now, the actuator moves the older C-band dishes, but the newer receivers aren't capable of controlling the older motors, so for the newer receivers to work with the older dishes the Vbox II comes into play. Is that correct? I don't have any older receivers so the Vbox II sounds like something I would need.

How in the world would I word a wanted ad for one of these things? I know everyone here knows what I mean when I say... Wanted: old C-band dish with all mounts, LNB, and if possible the receiver. But I doubt, many people around my area know what that means.

 

[GMFreak8]

No software available for DVB PC Cards to blind scan. I use the DVB World USB receiver with my PC to watch HD and 4:2:2 broadcasts from both C and Ku bands FTA! I use in conjunction with my blind scan STB receiver.

So a computer based solution probably wouldn't be the best for me then.... Damn I was hoping something would be availabe, because it's cheaper, and I'd personally rather have a PC based solution.

 

[drhydro]

The way I'm interpreting it now, the actuator moves the older C-band dishes, but the newer receivers aren't capable of controlling the older motors, so for the newer receivers to work with the older dishes the Vbox II comes into play. Is that correct?

Your intrepretation is 100% correct. You can find used analog recievers for fairly cheap on fleabay, etc. or look in the classifieds here.

I had a vbox II and liked it while it was working, but it died before i had it long enough to really test it. BEWARE there are two types of vbox, the vbox and the vbox II by moteck. From everything i have read, the vbox II works very well, I was just unlucky enough to get a dud.

You dont want a standard vbox (dp710) as everyone i know that tried one had bad luck with it.

There is one series of receivers by Manhattan that do DVB and will control an actuator, but i havent really looked into them that much.

 

[GMFreak8]

Your intrepretation is 100% correct. You can find used analog recievers for fairly cheap on fleabay, etc. or look in the classifieds here.

I had a vbox II and liked it while it was working, but it died before i had it long enough to really test it. BEWARE there are two types of vbox, the vbox and the vbox II by moteck. From everything i have read, the vbox II works very well, I was just unlucky enough to get a dud.

You dont want a standard vbox (dp710) as everyone i know that tried one had bad luck with it.

There is one series of receivers by Manhattan that do DVB and will control an actuator, but i havent really looked into them that much.

*yea* I do know a little bit.

If I do go that way, I'll just end up getting a Vbox II. Be my luck the actuator on the dish will die after I use it once.

I could go knocking on the door of a few people who have a BUD sitting in their yard...

I want C-band so bad, but unless I can come across a used motorized dish in good working condition, I'll probably end up with a KU band motorized dish setup from Sadoun.

I wish the PC based receiver had blind scan on it. How hard is it to find stuff without a blind scan feature? Is there hope that software will come out that has a blind scan option?

 

[Tron]

Edit: Would you recommend a computer based tuner for someone who's just starting out with FTA? I know they don't have the blind search feature, is there software that'll allow you to do that?

One problem with using ONLY a PC card/USB tuner is that it is VERY difficult to use them to initially aim your dish. You can't take them out to the dish with a small TV like you can with a STB receiver. And, of course, no blind scan.

Best to add a PC-based DVB solution after you get a STB.

 

[GMFreak8]

One problem with using ONLY a PC card/USB tuner is that it is VERY difficult to use them to initially aim your dish. You can't take them out to the dish with a small TV like you can with a STB receiver. And, of course, no blind scan.

Best to add a PC-based DVB solution after you get a STB.

Yeah, I'd love a PC based setup, but no blind scan is a deal breaker. Maybe eventually.

I would think a USB tuner connected to a laptop would be easier to take outside though. It's smaller and more compact.

 

[Mr Tony]

I could go knocking on the door of a few people who have a BUD sitting in their yard...

dishes facing down, north or straight east are usually a sign that the dish isnt being used

 

[GMFreak8]

dishes facing down, north or straight east are usually a sign that the dish isnt being used

I talked to my father, and he knows someone who has a motorized BUD, but he thinks he's still using it, he's not sure though. I may go ask him if he wants to part with it.

 

[scottc98]

I wish the PC based receiver had blind scan on it. How hard is it to find stuff without a blind scan feature? Is there hope that software will come out that has a blind scan option?

Get a Skystar2 DVB card. There is software that works for ver 2.3 (all drivers) and 2.6 (using driver 4.2.8 only ). The 2.3 can be hard to find (been trying to get one for the last few weeks; no longer made). I might pull the trigger on the 2.6 but I heard that the driver that you must use has some quirks.

I think the only thing that sucks about DVB cards is that I've heard that they can burn out when driving a motor.

If you were to use the Skystar card for C-band only and use the VBOX II, I wonder if it will save the PCI card some. I assume that the voltage for the motor would be drawn of the VBOX and not the PCI card in this setup. The PCI card should be just sending Disquec commands to the VBOX II; which I assume would be about the same as sending cmds to a disq switch.

 

[GMFreak8]

Get a Skystar2 DVB card. There is software that works for ver 2.3 (all drivers) and 2.6 (using driver 4.2.8 only ). The 2.3 can be hard to find (been trying to get one for the last few weeks; no longer made). I might pull the trigger on the 2.6 but I heard that the driver that you must use has some quirks.

I think the only thing that sucks about DVB cards is that I've heard that they can burn out when driving a motor.

If you were to use the Skystar card for C-band only and use the VBOX II, I wonder if it will save the PCI card some. I assume that the voltage for the motor would be drawn of the VBOX and not the PCI card in this setup. The PCI card should be just sending Disquec commands to the VBOX II; which I assume would be about the same as sending cmds to a disq switch.

My computer has no PCI card slots left (my graphics card is oversized and leaves no space to install a new card in the one slot left), so my only option would be a USB powered device.

 

[scottc98]

I was in the same boat before. When I upgraded my HTPC, I made sure the the Mb had plenty of PCI slots.

No USB receivers have BS at present time. Most people have two receivers (one DBV card/usb and a reg FTA receiver). One reg receiver to drive the motor and BS and then transfer the channel lists to the DVB card.

That might be your best/only option right now

 

[GMFreak8]

I was in the same boat before. When I upgraded my HTPC, I made sure the the Mb had plenty of PCI slots.

No USB receivers have BS at present time. Most people have two receivers (one DBV card/usb and a reg FTA receiver). One reg receiver to drive the motor and BS and then transfer the channel lists to the DVB card.

That might be your best/only option right now

Yeah, I'll go with a regular receiver, and later on, I'll get a PC based receiver. Between the blind scan, and risking burning the card up, it sounds like they still need to be perfected. Maybe the next generation will be better. Why do you think these computer based receivers don't do blind scanning?

 

[meldar_b]

Hey GMFreak8

I see you also made the jump to FTA :yikes the free music channels are a far cry away from XM huh

 

[GMFreak8]

Hey GMFreak8

I see you also made the jump to FTA :yikes the free music channels are a far cry away from XM huh

I haven't made the jump yet. Wouldn't know what the music channels are like. I want to make the jump though, still trying to figure out if I have a clear line of site.

 

[GMFreak8]

Alright, I know I'm dragging up an old, old thread, but I thought I'd do that instead of making a completely new one.

I haven't gotten around to putting a dish in yet, family issues made it impossible to dedicate the time needed to it last summer, so I thought I'd maybe try again this summer.

So to refresh my mind, could someone give me a rundown of what I should get for a beginner? I'd love to have a dish that receives both C and KU band programming. I'd also like to get an older dish somewhere locally for free or cheap with a motor and everything still attached. What should I look for, and what will I need to do to it to get C and KU band programming, and be able to move the older motor? I figure getting a dish locally for free or cheap will be the cheapest solution, and allow me to spend more on upgrades and whatnot. Also, could someone repost the link to the "rig" that I can make that'll allow me to see if I can even receive any signals. I probably will be able to, but I just want to make sure. Sorry for reposting all this, but I know a lot can change, and I'd like to see what's new. Thanks guys.

 

[gabshere]

welcome back we constantly are out hunting dishes over in the c band forum
read a thread Adventures in Dish Hunting.... lots of dishes . everyone milage will differ but if you can find one a birdview is worth the effort. most 10 & 12 ft mesh dishes should also be a good start. i know around here you can drive around and sight out the dishes ( winter is a great time cause no leaves on the trees so you can see those hidden dishes) i recovered several dishes and most are with little effort and little money.

looking foward to hearing about the dishes you find ... lots of reading over in the c band forum. which dish might not be good (most older heavy fiberglass dishes are good for c band but might not be great for ku also those old things seem to weigh a ton) lol

have fun

 

[GMFreak8]

welcome back we constantly are out hunting dishes over in the c band forum
read a thread Adventures in Dish Hunting.... lots of dishes . everyone milage will differ but if you can find one a birdview is worth the effort. most 10 & 12 ft mesh dishes should also be a good start. i know around here you can drive around and sight out the dishes ( winter is a great time cause no leaves on the trees so you can see those hidden dishes) i recovered several dishes and most are with little effort and little money.

looking foward to hearing about the dishes you find ... lots of reading over in the c band forum. which dish might not be good (most older heavy fiberglass dishes are good for c band but might not be great for ku also those old things seem to weigh a ton) lol

have fun

Thanks man! I've been noticing a lot of dishes since I started researching FTA, and I think I may drive around knocking on a few doors to see. If you take a pencil and it doesn't slip through the holes in the mesh, it'll usually work well for KU-band reception as well as C-band, right? I know the Mesh dishes are a hell of a lot nicer looking than the older fiber glass. How difficult is it to move one of these things anyway?

 

[gabshere]

i move them myself but i have a hoist that helps , two people is prefered. i layed a 10 ft dish in my full sised pickup bed. so it should make a short trip ok most are light just bulky so if you need to break it down to several pices to move mark the parts ( number them in you need to) also note the direction the dish is pointing and you can set it back in that direction. makes for faster satellite finding.

that the best way is ask , most folks will tell you about their old dish .... if the offer it for a small price also see if there is any equipment that goes with it... you might find a 4dtv receiver ..... some dishes will already be setup for c & ku this would be a plus ( being the feedhorn already setup). The birdview is a metal dish and usually is white they also made a very good mesh but its a perforated mesh (usually black or grey)(the holds were cut out) not like most that are layered mesh

most think mesh is mesh but some things to think of besides the pencil rule and its not 100% is this. light mesh (like screen doors is weak and will deteriate fast , probably present a poor signal) heavy mesh will hold up better and withstand minor storms and hail maintaining its dish shape longer.

i love just looking for and fixing up an old dish....