Want to get a dish. What do you recommend?

Mr. Sheep

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
Aug 6, 2018
84
15
United States
I'm looking to add a C-Band dish to my upcoming dish farm setup and I want to do so before May 28 so that I can register with the FCC and all that bologna. What dishes do you recommend?

Edit: Never mind. I've determined that since they're phasing out C-Band it'll be better to just get a Ku setup instead since most stuff on C-Band is moving there (ie. PBS feeds; other network feeds might move soon too)
 
I use a mesh 10 ft dish, this works great for receiving most shows that I watch.If you could find one of those, that would be better. I used to use a 7.5 ft and that works very well also.I now have the 7.5 disassembled and not using it.If you are in need of a 7.5 ft mesh in good shape, you can make a trip to my place and it's your for FREE! Just a thought if you are close to South Bend, Indiana.Just PM me if you need this. Good luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr. Sheep
I'm looking to add a C-Band dish to my upcoming dish farm setup and I want to do so before May 28 so that I can register with the FCC and all that bologna. What dishes do you recommend?

Edit: Never mind. I've determined that since they're phasing out C-Band it'll be better to just get a Ku setup instead since most stuff on C-Band is moving there (ie. PBS feeds; other network feeds might move soon too)
wake up! you're having a bad dream. ;)
 
Please, install SOMETHING instead of just posting this type of thread for the last 9 months. It's MAY, there's no more excuses you can make as to why you can't do it THIS time...

You could have a nice ku dish installed in a couple hours, even if you've never done it before. That's a great start for now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: comfortably_numb
Heck, since I installed my c-band dish it’s rare for me even to use the KU dish. About the only time I use it is for sport uplinks occasionally or for SNG feeds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: primestar31
Heck, since I installed my c-band dish it’s rare for me even to use the KU dish. About the only time I use it is for sport uplinks occasionally or for SNG feeds.

I agree, but a person has to start somewhere, and a KU dish is a good EASY and CHEAP way to go for starters. That is, IF a person REALLY WANTS it bad enough. Talking about it in thread after thread gets you nowhere, you have to eventually actually do something, as ALL of us did at one time.

I don't think Mr. Sheep really wants it that badly, so I'm challenging him to do it, and just get it done.
 
Phasing out C-band? What are you smoking? I am not aware of "most stuff" moving to KU band. Please provide some links to these articles.
I thought I heard something about PBS moving all of their feeds but one off of C-Band a few years ago and that NBC hardly does anything on C anymore.

Sent from my SM-G955U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
He has no intentions of doing anything, except posting teaser threads. He's just trolling us again.
I'm not trying to troll anyone. I'm legitimately having problems installing my Ku dish mainly due to stuff in the way and receiver issues. Because of those receiver issues, I need to wait ages before I'll even be able to shell out $100 on a half decent receiver. So am I trolling now?

Sent from my SM-G955U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
"The problem is I tried installing it with my dad and it's so hard to install it with him because every direction I give him he doesn't listen to. I try telling him he has to do it in an explicit way or it won't work and he won't listen."

Seeking Installer
Code:
https://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/posts/4306104/

Yes, maybe time to either replace your father or take the receiver and TV out to the dish...:biggrin
 
So this means that of the 3000+ services that I enjoy on C-band are moving to KU? :coco
Sorry, I should have clarified. I meant network feeds and because the FCC is having C-band shortened for 5G (which means it's eventually going to be phased out, which I thought it was in the first post). Either way I'll just push on with my Ku project and maybe some day I'll be able to get a C-band dish. I'm 1/5 the way there to saving up for my first (good) receiver. The reason why I keep making these posts is because I just get thinking about this stuff and want to know more. It's not a matter of me trying to troll, it's just a matter of me not having a lot of money and trying to learn as much as I can.

Sent from my SM-G955U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
"The problem is I tried installing it with my dad and it's so hard to install it with him because every direction I give him he doesn't listen to. I try telling him he has to do it in an explicit way or it won't work and he won't listen."

Seeking Installer
Code:
https://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/posts/4306104/

Yes, maybe time to either replace your father or take the receiver and TV out to the dish...:biggrin
It's more than that. Now I've realized that it's not actually that. It's just that there's a lot of things in the way so my plan is to move the dish elsewhere. Problem is even then I would have picked up something at all so it's also a receiver issue since I made a mistake and opted to go with a bad receiver. So now I'm saving up for the Amiko Mini HD265 and not having a job, it'll be a while before I can get it.

Sent from my SM-G955U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
Honestly I'm ashamed all of you even think I'm trolling. I keep starting topics because I want to know more about this but I'm having trouble picking up the project because of financial issues. If I had a good receiver I would have gotten this working a long time ago. I'm sorry that all of you thought I was trolling but I can assure you this is a very real situation.

Sent from my SM-G955U using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
I agree, but a person has to start somewhere, and a KU dish is a good EASY and CHEAP way to go for starters. That is, IF a person REALLY WANTS it bad enough.

KU dishes are basically free. Lot's of businesses that used to have satellite as well as people with Directv and Dish network dishes that aren't in use anymore. These can easily be modified for FTA and that is part of the fun of the hobby. Usually these dishes can be had for sweat equity. A cheap linear LNB for FTA can be had for less than $20 and you can buy one of the knock off receivers from China [usually used for hacking but that is another issue] that can be used for FTA. And then you can get a cheapie satellite meter for around $20 so you know your aimed at a satellite. Won't tell you which one or even if it has anything the receiver can handle but you will know your pointed at a satellite. Throw in some coax and you can do everything for $100 or so. And if it's a kid go out and mow some lawns or pick up a side job or something. Many of us started out with the hobby just like that and not knowing what were doing but if you stick at it you'll figure it out with trial and error.

Amazon product ASIN B07DJ4W472
 
  • Like
Reactions: primestar31
You still need a C-band sized dish for Ku if you want to be able to get everything though. I've run across a fair number of Ku feeds that couldn't be picked up on anything smaller than a 6 footer.

Also, the larger the Ku dish that you have, the better it will hold up against rain.

I hear mesh dishes are bad when it comes to Ku performance so you need to get a solid C dish if you want to be future proofed. This is why I only install commercial grade C dishes instead of those residential black mesh ones.

If they actually manage to succeed in killing the entire C band spectrum you can just transition your solid C band dish into being killer performing Ku dishes. I think we are still quite a few years off from that though because even if they do approve sharing the entire spectrum there is a lot of work being done in developing filters to reduce conflict with 5G signals.

Right now I certainly use my C dish for more stuff than Ku. Most 24/7 channels and live events of consequence are still uplinked to C... there's a fair number of live events like concerts or NBC backhauls that get uplinked to Ku instead of C though so you really need access to both bands for the foreseeable future.
 
Sorry, I should have clarified. I meant network feeds and because the FCC is having C-band shortened for 5G (which means it's eventually going to be phased out, which I thought it was in the first post).

Incorrect. No such ruling has been made by the FCC regarding the C-band down link frequencies. The FCC has recently extended the comment and review period due to the concerns and filings by the satellite industry.

Right now it is a wait and see if any C-band frequency range will be granted for shared or exclusive 5G network usage. Your guess is as good as mine if the C-band down link frequencies will be used for 5G. A guess is all it is at this time.

If a portion of the C-band range is ruled to be used for terrestrial 5g, then there will need to be negotiations with the affected parties for valuation, relocation and payment. If OTA is to be used as an example, the repack will be a long and costly process. Just consider the billions of dollars invested in satellite hardware that would be reduced payload over a 15+ year lifespan, investment payback or relocation! Most satellites will be able to carry the existing services in a reduced spectrum. We may need larger dishes and better RF protection and feed filtering, but C-band will not be going away...
 
Honestly I'm ashamed all of you even think I'm trolling. I keep starting topics because I want to know more about this but I'm having trouble picking up the project because of financial issues. If I had a good receiver I would have gotten this working a long time ago. I'm sorry that all of you thought I was trolling but I can assure you this is a very real situation.

Sent from my SM-G955U using the SatelliteGuys app!

So, why don't you say all that up front, and post it in the same thread so people can keep track of advice you've already been given? Nothing wrong with saving up to get something done, but you still have to actually install something sometime.

My post was meant to get you a bit mad, as in "tough love" and I see it did exactly that. So, now get started, let us know what equipment you already have, and what you need, and we'll go from there. Your post about your dad and such makes/made us believe you actually had a dish and receiver already. Is that not true? People here have been known to sometimes donate equipment for others. ASK.

Look up the term "analysis paralysis" and see if that fits here.
 
***

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 1, Members: 0, Guests: 1)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 1)