A couple years ago, I bought a diseq h-h motor and dvb/mpeg PC card from e-bay, various c/ku receivers from thrift stores and yard sales, a 10ft c/ku dish, etc, etc.
Okay, we'll be using some of those items down below, especially that thrift store receiver if it's DVB FTA.
If it's an old analog, then that's out of my range of knowledge.
I tried for a while to get my dish 500 dish to find something with the diseq motor, but that was before I learned I needed vertical or horizontal for most of the FTA stuff I was interested in, as well as a bigger dish.
Motorizing a Dish 500 is silly. I know, I've been considering doing it for a joke!
And as you say, it needs a linear LNB (vert and horiz), not a circular LNB that comes with it.
I got my new HDDVR QWEST/DTV 1yr contract package installed, ...
My new setup came with this AU9 slim-line dish, which I noticed has ample room to install my Fortec Star Universal Single LNBF FSKU-V.
Are you discontinuing DirecTV service and trying to re-task an existing dish to FTA, or trying to use the Slimline as-is without re-aiming it?
If I were to do this, hook up my motor, and hook it up to my DVB PC card, would it be worth my while (assuming I actually get my motor aligned well)?
Well, geez, how many ways can I discourage this?
1). the slimline is one heavy mutha - that mount's a bitch.
2). starting out with a DVB card is like lighting a fire with rocks 'n sticks, when you have a lighter in your pocket.
- so, this receiver you mentioned, is it an FTA receiver?
- This is where it would come in handy!
3). The size of the dish would certainly get you some FTA channels, but not all.
Is this slimline dish big enough to get any of the good PBS, etc?
I'll pass on that particular question
But mostly all PBS will require you to decode Dolby
- the receiver must output it to your hi-fi system, and not all receivers will.
I have an amazingly clear view of the horizon at my new house, but DTV did install the new dish pretty low on the side of my house, instead of on the roof.
I have had no problems with my DTV signals.
At this point, I have everything I need with my DTV package, so it's really more of a hobby at this point, but it's really starting to sound fun again.
So, this implies you are keeping DirecTV.?
If so, then buy a proper FTA antenna and DVB receiver.
I never actually tried my dish 500 with the universal LNB, just assumed it was too small (23" I think), can you confirm this is too small?
If it would work, it might be nice to leave my DTV dish fixed.
Do not even think about getting subscription TV on a dish that you motorize!
As for FTA on a small dish, it's really for the advanced hobbiest, looking for something fun, or bragging rights.
Not for mainstream use.
However, several members have put linear LNBs on
Dish500's (McGuyver), and little
DirecTV dishes, and tuned in some of the hotter transponders.
WhiteSprings TV has some oldie movies and other programming, but if you are touchy about your video quality , these old black 'n white flix may disappoint you even more!
Also, I have this pre-paid GlobeCast World TV receiver my wife's grandma gave me because she had to buy new equipment when BVN moved.
I've read discouraging comments about the Globecast receiver.
At least for general FTA use.
But since I don't have one, all I can say is to go looking for more info.
It seems her dish is pretty small.
Well, give us actual dimensions. I thought it was 36x27 or something like that.
Sadoun sells them, and that is what
his web page shows.
That dish should do fine, but if you have something different, tell us.
If I point a 18" dish with my fortec star at Galaxy 25 (where the Globe Cast stuff is), do you think I'll be able to pick it up?
18" dish? no
You have a Fortec Star receiver? That would be useful! Which model?
It seems this GlobeCast SE830 receiver is a fully functional FTA receiver, with a pre-paid smart card for some of the GlobeCast nagravision stuff, except that I think GlobeCast turned off it's ability to control an HH motor in BIOS. Oh well, I still have the PC card to do this.
If both of these ideas will work, I think I'd buy another universal LNB, point an 18" fixed at the GlobeCast stuff, and put the HH motor/universal LNB on the DTV dish.
Hopefully, I covered this all, above.
I think this answer was exhausting.

Hope ya learned something.
There is plenty of reference material here in the FTA section to bring you up to speed.
Best of luck.