What I want Vs. what I can get.

Brandon Currin · Feb 24, 2016

First off I've been a long time reader of SG and I hope This thread isn't in the wrong spot, I looked all over and searched and either couldn't find my answer or received a bunch of 404/page not found errors, but anyways on to the task at hand.

I live here in West Tennessee, Lexington to be precise, I was going to go with OTA but only receive one channel with my indoor antenna, where I live we're not allowed to place external antennas on the building or yard.

I was considering FTA since I already have a Dish Pole in the ground just standing there looking empty, but before I take the plunge and locate a great system/recover i want to know if the MAIN channels I want are even available, Wanting to know or atleast find out of the following channels are FTA:

ABC,CBC,NBC,FOX,CW,ION I'm sure there are others I'd like to have but these are the main ones I need/want,lol. I've seen multiple different sites list them as available on this sat or that sat or on KU or C- bands, but seems a thousand different answers so i need expert advice thanks

navychop · Feb 24, 2016

You are not allowed an OTA antenna (which OTARD gives you the legal right to have), but you can have one or more FTA antennas?

Brandon Currin · Feb 24, 2016

navychop said:
You are not allowed an OTA antenna (which OTARD gives you the legal right to have), but you can have one or more FTA antennas?

were not allowed to mount an OTA antenna to the building,same with a dish, and checking for what OTA channels are available with a 3 ft tall satellite dish pole,Od get only ABC, But since there is already a dish pole here,with the dish left over,from former tenements, I am allowed to replace it with a different dish or remove the pole all together,but not much else.

FTA4PA · Feb 25, 2016

Brandon Currin said:
First off I've been a long time reader of SG and I hope This thread isn't in the wrong spot, I looked all over and searched and either couldn't find my answer or received a bunch of 404/page not found errors, but anyways on to the task at hand.

I live here in West Tennessee, Lexington to be precise, I was going to go with OTA but only receive one channel with my indoor antenna, where I live we're not allowed to place external antennas on the building or yard.

I was considering FTA since I already have a Dish Pole in the ground just standing there looking empty, but before I take the plunge and locate a great system/recover i want to know if the MAIN channels I want are even available, Wanting to know or atleast find out of the following channels are FTA:

ABC,CBC,NBC,FOX,CW,ION I'm sure there are others I'd like to have but these are the main ones I need/want,lol. I've seen multiple different sites list them as available on this sat or that sat or on KU or C- bands, but seems a thousand different answers so i need expert advice thanks

Hi Brandon! I'm no expert but will try to give you some helpful info. First off, your thread covers two different subjects (OTA and FTA). I hope the mods will give a little wiggle room to allow answering your questions and then break this off into separate OTA and FTA threads, if needed.

As far as OTA, which antenna model are you using that only picks up 1 channel. There may be another model that is usable in your situation that can give you better performance. Try www.tvfool.com to help you find the channels that are available and the direction they are in and post your report here. Did you try a preamp? OTARD does allow you to have an antenna but it must be installed in an area that you have "exclusive use" of (https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/installing-consumer-owned-antennas-and-satellite-dishes). Obviously that complicates things. If you are in a multi-family dwelling that pretty much limits you to your walls, in a window, on a balcony/terrace if you are luck enough to have one or perhaps some attic space you have access to. If you are renting/leasing a single family home then it could be considered that you have "exclusive use" of the entire property and technically they can't prevent you from installing an antenna. Unless you are willing to assert your rights and deal with the repercussions that can be a tricky area however.

As far as FTA, you are protected by OTARD for up to a 1 meter dish to be installed in an exclusive use area (https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/installing-consumer-owned-antennas-and-satellite-dishes). A dish of that size is usually used for ku band reception. Most, if not all, of the channels you mentioned are available but are on c band which generally requires a dish 6' and up. Many people are now experimenting with installs, commonly referred to as mini-buds or micro-buds, where a c band lnb is mounted on a smaller dish. Perhaps someone who has a mini/micro bud can comment on their reception of the channels the OP is interested in.

KE4EST · Feb 25, 2016

What you are wanting FTA, is going to require a proper C-Band dish to be of any use.
If they don't want you attaching an OTA antenna to the building I can see that, but they can not keep you from having one.
Mount it with out attaching to the building.
First off though give us a link to your TVfool report.

Mr Tony · Feb 25, 2016

a simple TVfool for Lexington shows he is in the Jackson market. They are pretty limited on stations
WBBJ (ABC -1, CBS -3) around 16 miles
PBS
low powered NBC
FOX (furthest away at 41 miles)
low powered Independent that has MyNetwork, ANtennaTV, Bounce and Grit

I think a simple UHF only antenna (4 bay) would be sufficient

stvcmty · Feb 25, 2016

Brandon Currin said:
ABC,CBC,NBC,FOX,CW,ION

The channels you want are mainly on C-band. A C-band dish would not be easy to convince a land lord to let you have.

You have rights from the FCC for dishes and antennas, but depending on the exact terms of your lease, what sort of building it is, and a bunch of other considerations you may or may not be able to put up an antenna. Personally I would not put any money into a dish at a rental.

If I were you, I would first look at the cost of pay TV; it sucks that sometimes it is the best option but see what you need to beat. Then look at what channels you could get with FTA using a 90cm dish. You would need a motor to sort of get 2 of the networks you want (PBS 125/87W, NBC 103/72W, ABC News 91W.)

How long are you going to be where you are, where will you end up next? Some parts of a FTA system could go with you, but depending on how far you move it may not be practical to take your dish with you. You may want see how much a FTA (with or without OTA) system would cost you, then divide that out over a 2 year contract with DTV or Dish (or the lock in time with cable if available), and compare that what pay TV would cost you.

Do you have broadband internet? Do you have a friend in LOS of TV towers somewhere? This may be a case where the easiest solution is a sling box with an OTA antenna somewhere else.

Brandon Currin · Feb 25, 2016

appreciate all the answers, wasn't worrying about OTA as Iceburg pointed out its not much, I already have a dish pole installed from a previous tenement,so i am allowed to use it,(there is no dish attached) the housing complex doesnt allow attaching any antenna or dish to the building or the yard,the dish pole was there pre 2010 maintenance changes about the yards,....guess this is more towards down the road for me when i'm moved into my cabin full time,just trying to figure out what i need.

FaT Air · Feb 25, 2016

Brandon Currin said:
down the road for me when i'm moved into my cabin full time

Will you have to contend with a HOA, or local ordnances, there? Maybe your tvfool looks better @ cabin(?). Something to check on anyway.

In the meantime look over the Domestic Ku FTA list at MPEG Central to see what a dish on that pole may get. (it's a bit dated, as are all lists) 103W has some not listed.
Also, zoom onto that pole at www.dishpointer.com to determine what satellites can be seen from there. Yeah, we know it can see one satellite, but Ku FTA is from 129W towards the west and east to 30W. Should be able to see trees and buildings which may block the satellite. Use the "show obstacle (line of sight checker)" and place the marker on the line, on the potential obstacle. will output the height of the obstacle at which blockage will be a problem.

danristheman · Feb 25, 2016

Nbc you can get on a 1 meter ku band, Abc 6 footer c band, CBS 10 footer c band, PBS 1 meter to 4 footer ku or c band, ION tv c band least 4 footer, Fox you can get with a mini bud 99w c band. I live in an apartment complex so it stinks when they fight satellite dishes.

. Raine · Feb 25, 2016

IF you eventually are going to move into a cabin and won't have the restrictions that you do where you are now, it may be worth picking up a cheap dish, just to mess with and get a handle on how it all works so when you move you have it all down pat. On Ku only, you won't find all of the stations you want, but there's some good stuff.

This is the sat list that I find the easiest to read and understand. The 4 digit transponder numbers are C Band, the 5 digit ones are Ku. It's not entirely up to date, but most of what's listed should be up.

http://sathint.com/america

Brandon Currin · Feb 27, 2016

sorry for the delay in replying,been busy with a sick 4 month old baby, but yeah the cabin doesn't have any better OTA coverage then anywhere else,still the middle of no where, no restrictions on dishes or anything,just in the middle of no where,so my choice is either FTA or paid satellite and since I don't want to/can't shell out 120 a month for TV to Dish network, i'd rather just go fta,i agree that doing a "test" phase with a small dish to get my barrings and understand the tech is in good thought and I been considering it,id use this direct dish if it wasn't the small 18 inch dish that it is, i appreciate all the help,and since my original question has been answered and given extra information I'm going to call this topic closed and thank you all.

Brandon Currin · Feb 27, 2016

danristheman said:
Nbc you can get on a 1 meter ku band, Abc 6 footer c band, CBS 10 footer c band, PBS 1 meter to 4 footer ku or c band, ION tv c band least 4 footer, Fox you can get with a mini bud 99w c band. I live in an apartment complex so it stinks when they fight satellite dishes.

by your post, if I have a 10 ft BUD, would it be able to pick up the main channels I want? do they make a C/KU-band LNB and are there motoers to rotate the BUD or would this all fall in the same ARC direction? thats all i'm confused about now, after looking at the sites that were just given

Brandon Currin · Feb 27, 2016

FaT Air said:
Will you have to contend with a HOA, or local ordnances, there? Maybe your tvfool looks better @ cabin(?). Something to check on anyway.

In the meantime look over the Domestic Ku FTA list at MPEG Central to see what a dish on that pole may get. (it's a bit dated, as are all lists) 103W has some not listed.
Also, zoom onto that pole at www.dishpointer.com to determine what satellites can be seen from there. Yeah, we know it can see one satellite, but Ku FTA is from 129W towards the west and east to 30W. Should be able to see trees and buildings which may block the satellite. Use the "show obstacle (line of sight checker)" and place the marker on the line, on the potential obstacle. will output the height of the obstacle at which blockage will be a problem.

i looked at the dishpointer.com site you suggested and put in the address of where the cabin is, it shows Galaxy 17 as the satellite, i assume this is the only one I'm able to reach? or am I misstaken

FaT Air · Feb 27, 2016

"Zoom onto your dish location at www.dishpointer.com to determine what satellites can be seen from there. Select the satellites on the top of the page. (dropdown menu)
Ku FTA is from 129W towards the west and east to 30W
C band is from 139W to the east horizon.

Should be able to see trees and obstructions which may block the satellite.
Use the "show obstacle (line of sight checker)" and place the marker on the line the page shows to the satellite, on the potential obstacle.
Will display the height of the obstacle at which blockage will be a problem."

danristheman · Feb 27, 2016

Brandon start small first so you don't get confused work with a ku system to get your feet wet. They make actuators to move dishes talk to Brian on here.

fred555 · Feb 27, 2016

Brandon Currin said:
by your post, if I have a 10 ft BUD, would it be able to pick up the main channels I want? do they make a C/KU-band LNB and are there motoers to rotate the BUD or would this all fall in the same ARC direction? thats all i'm confused about now, after looking at the sites that were just given

As Dan said I would try to start with a Ku system.
Easier to find the equipment and setup quickly, plus a good platform to learn on and develop an understanding of "how things work".

Yes they make C/Ku LNBfs.

C and Ku fall under the same arc, if that is what I think you were asking. Most of the satellites in the arc broadcast both bands simultaneously.
There are also many here that would advocate separate C and KU dishes too.

What I want Vs. what I can get.

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