Opinions on the future of FTA with the planned reservation of C-Band to 5G.

Mr. Sheep · Nov 23, 2018

So in case you didn't hear already, radio signal authorities across the world are planning to shut down all operations on C-Band and allocate it to the upcoming 5G networks (Germany has already done this in fact). I think this is a good thing for some reasons. We all know C-Band has better FTA channels than KU, so I think this will give opportunities for broadcasters to move to KU, because after all, KU systems are much cheaper than C systems, at least for consumers. And that would also mean that KU FTA would finally get more good channels. I'm not sure how much it costs for broadcasters to get new equipment for KU (if they even need new equipment), but I think this would be better for the average FTA enthusiast and newcomers for that reason.

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comfortably_numb · Nov 23, 2018

Mr. Sheep said:
shut down all operations on C-Band

In the US, *some* C-band spectrum will be allocated for 5G use. Not all.

KE4EST · Nov 23, 2018

Also broadcasters will not go to Ku. They would find other means first, too much rain fade at Ku frequencies.

C-Band for NA at least, will be around for many years to come yet.

Titanium · Nov 23, 2018

C-band frequencies will likey be shared combined with a reduction in satellite bandwidth. This will probably mean 16/32apsk and higher FEC will become the norm.

C-band will be around for a long time, but we may need to increase dish size and erect RV fences to deal with the changes.

navychop · Nov 23, 2018

Titanium said:
...we may need to increase dish size and erect RV fences to deal with the changes.

RF. I don’t think our RVs will be much problem.

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JFOK · Nov 23, 2018

Brian,

I'm just recovering from major back surgery and because of the strong pain killers I'm on, I don't know if the term "rv fences" is real or sarcastic. :coco

Please clarify.

Thanks,

John

primestar31 · Nov 23, 2018

JFOK said:
Brian,

I'm just recovering from major back surgery and because of the strong pain killers I'm on, I don't know if the term "rv fences" is real or sarcastic.
Please clarify.

Thanks,

John

The letter "V" is real close to the letter "F" on a keyboard... Just saying...

Titanium · Nov 24, 2018

LOL.... Sorry! New Android phone auto correct needs to learn many common satellite terms before it is of any use on the forums!

"RF fence"

Mr. Sheep · Nov 24, 2018

KE4EST said:
Also broadcasters will not go to Ku. They would find other means first, too much rain fade at Ku frequencies.

C-Band for NA at least, will be around for many years to come yet.

You're definitely right. I didn't think about the rain fade.

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Magic Static · Nov 24, 2018

Titanium said:
LOL.... Sorry! New Android phone auto correct needs to learn many common satellite terms before it is of any use on the forums!

"RF fence"

Ain't that the truth. Sometimes I yell at my phone, "Do you even know any English?"

JFOK · Nov 24, 2018

Hi All,

Auto correct on a smart phone is indeed frustrating and my iPhone is a slow learner.

Now that the rv/rf fence dilemma has been solved, can someone explain to me what an rf fence is and how its achieved ?
Thank in advance.

John

Magic Static · Nov 24, 2018

Your dish is an RF "fence". The frequencies you want to see are reflected off your "fence" dish to the LNB. When you have unwanted RF interfering with your reception you build a fence to block that RF from reaching the dish. Chicken wire reflects C-Band frequencies and makes a good fence. So you determine what the source of the interference is and position a reflective partition between it and the dish.

JFOK · Nov 24, 2018

Magic,

Thanks for your quick response.
In all the years I've been in the BUD hobby (27), I
never heard of the term before.

John

Radioguy41 · Nov 24, 2018

Everybody I know calls it a "shield", not a "fence". Mfgs and people have been shielding RFI since radio was invented.

Brct203 · Nov 24, 2018

about the rain fade, can't that be overcome with a strong enough link budget? I mean, Europe has never used much C-Band and has been using Ku satellite to distribute programming to its cable networks since the 80s. It rains there too... While they might not get the heavy tropical downpours, they get their share of snow etc...

primestar31 · Nov 24, 2018

Brct203 said:
about the rain fade, can't that be overcome with a strong enough link budget? I mean, Europe has never used much C-Band and has been using Ku satellite to distribute programming to its cable networks since the 80s. It rains there too... While they might not get the heavy tropical downpours, they get their share of snow etc...

To a certain extent, YES. Witness Dish Network or DirecTv with their "super-powered" KU signals compared to FTA "regular" ku signals. However, even they have rain fade, depending. It's more the size of the radio waveform itself. KU rf waveforms are much smaller than c-band waveforms. To the point that raindrops can be larger than the KU rf waveform itself.

Brct203 · Nov 24, 2018

primestar31 said:
KU rf waveforms are much smaller than c-band waveforms. To the point that raindrops can be larger than the KU rf waveform itself.

very good point

comfortably_numb · Nov 24, 2018

All things considered, there are a couple transponders on several major sats (87, 91, 103) that I have only ever lost signal on once. Of course, they are only DVB-S, but even during "monsoon" type rains they were steady.

KE4EST · Nov 24, 2018

Remember guys this is a family friendly forum.

LocutusOfBorg · Nov 25, 2018

If C-band is sold, I hope that we'll be able to get that programming moved to Ku. It would be nice to have a much lower profile dish in my backyard. If not, I dread having to get cable or the pizza dish. Of course, IPTV may end up being a better alternative. But, streaming with stuff you want to watch is going to cost some bucks also.

Opinions on the future of FTA with the planned reservation of C-Band to 5G.

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