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Hello everyone,
I need a little help please.
This is a long post and I apologize for that.
I have a lot of questions.
I am brand new to legal FTA and am trying to get everything
I need to build my system.
I need a little help so feel free to jump in at anytime ok?
I am really new and do not know anything.
Any advise, tips, or new links to info would be greatly
appreciated.
I want to learn all I can about legal FTA.
I am not asking for info on any type of hacking,and I am not interested in that.
I have two old buds.
I want to repair these old buds and start using them.
I ran across a site about FTA and I am trying to learn all
I can about it. Legal FTA not hack crap.
It sounds like a wonderful hobby and a whole lot of fun.
After reading about 20 or so other sites,this site is by
far the best one I have seen.
Lots of good info on this site.
So your site is the only one I have joined.
Most of the other sites I found were about hack crap.
I have read just about everything I could find on here.
Some of it is over my head, but I am learning.
Here is what I have so far.

Two Old Buds- Home Cable [tm]
Both are about 7ft 5ins.
I measured them twice and that is what I came up with both
times, not sure how exact that is.
Mesh type dishes.

Bud 1
has a California Amplifier,Camarilo,Ca.
C-Band LNBF
Voltage Controlled Switch
Part No.140129
Input:3.7-4.2 GHz
Output:950-1450MHz
Noise:25k
Gain:65DB Typical
Pole = 11.5 feet by 3.5 inches

Receiver is
Home Cable [tm]
DBS Communication Computer HCC9300
Video Cipher RS
Descrambler Equipped
By Uniden Model No. UST-4400
Renewable Security A040-VC2+,or plus series.

Bud 2
LNB= Chaparral
California Amplifier
Mag7
HEMT Low Noise Block Convertor
PartNo.C31244
Input:3.7-4.2 GHz
Output:950-140MHz
Gain:65DB Typical
Pole = 8ft by 3.5 inches

Receiver is
Home Cable [tm]
Video Cipher RS
Videopal
Order Recorder
Video Cipher Scrambling Format
General Instruments Corporation
By Uniden Model No.HCC 9400
Renewable Security A090-VC2+,or plus series.

If I understand what info I have been reading these are the
type LNBF and receivers used with old C/Ku-band signal correct?
I will need to upgrade these for a new type FTA receiver like coolsat or pansat?
Most signals are now digital right?
When I plug up the Uniden UST-4400 model I got nothing?
I understand these units have a built in memory and a backup battery?
And I think I read that they are not worth trying to repair once dead,they are now junk?
So their is no way to reload the memory,etc from the manufacturers site like the old pc mother boards did?
This means I can not use this one at all anymore correct?
Like to control bud movement?
Will Uniden still repair these? If not worth repairing,
I will have to find another control unit or buy a gbox to control motor right?
The other unit Uniden HCC 9400 powers on ok.
So I can use this one to control bud movement for now?
But I need to replace permanent backup battery as describe in another post on this site,before it goes dead?
Can one unit control bud movement on both bud motors?
Just wondering? Maybe with a switch?
I am working part time and on a very limited income.
Anyone have any ideas about getting a gbox cheap,or old receiver to use to control the bud that needs one?
I have been looking online for the best deal,and I have not found too many units to compare prices with?
I have not seen any around here locally where I live?
Sadoun has a gbox under a hundred dollars I think, and if needed I will get one from them over the next few months?
Just hopeing someone has an idea on how to buy one cheaper maybe,or rig something up for now?
Anyone got a link I can check out?
If I go with a gbox it just lets me control dish motor with new type receiver with out the old receiver,correct?
This is what I have ordered so far.

Coolsat 6000 Premium, I tried to win several auctions on fleabay for newer models,they always started under 10 dollars, but soon jumped to 80-150 dollars plus.
I just can not afford that at this time.
I got the coolsat for under 60 with shipping and it was new in the box not refurbished.
Suppose to be a reputable dealer but who knows.
I understand there are a lot of knockoffs being passed around- everywhere these days.
The box and the unit look legit.
It was the best deal I could find at the time.
Maybe it will get me started till I can afford something newer.
I also bought two BSC621-2 C band and KU band LNBFs.
One for each bud- to play around with?
I hope this was a good enough choice-they were really cheap, compared to all the newer ones I looked at.
I also ordered a DIGITAL SIGNAL METER LNB, and some switches- 4x1 DiSEqC and 2x1 Diseqc.
I have to get the motor cables next, any ideas on what to get and where to pick it up cheap?
Not sure if any of the cable on them is any good after all this time,some were cut?
I read something about sprinkler wire cable on here?
Is that any good? For the motor controls?
Suppose to be cheap?
Have any of you tried it?
How far can I run these cables,I read several different answers on a couple of post?
Anywhere from 100-150 feet?
I have not worked out my bud locations yet,I have a big yard but lots of really big trees, so I may have to get the chainsaw out to get a good site.

I also found an old primestar dish 39in by 36in fiberglass?
Someone just tossed it by the side of the road.
Picked it up many years ago.
It still has the bracket mounted in back of the dish.
It is solid type dish with -offset focus?
LBN:5082
Model No.NJR2112F
Dish is:Channel Master
Part No.3040681-01
Mold No:90M-1
Made in USA.
What can I do with this one?
I want to motor it up also and use it for C/Ku possibly?
Do I need to change the LNB type for legal FTA?
I do not know yet if this LNB is any good or not?

A friend gave me a dn500 new in the box, said he never used it and did not want it.
Appears to be about 22in. by about 20.5inches?
Box says Dish Interactive
Phillips Magnavox
DSK 32610
Dual[3922]
LNBF dish digital LNBF
Made in Japan
BSNA5-506A

Another friend gave me his dn system.
Dish is about 19.5 inches?
It was new still in the box.
It has one LNBF
BS1H1UP101M
Made in Japan.
I put it together one weekend just to see how to do it,
and the wife threw the box away.
I do not remember what was on that box,but I never did anything else with the dish.That was many years ago.
It is just setting under the shed out back.
What good are these type dn dishes for FTA, or should I just sell them?
These dn receivers are not any good for FTA I understand,so I need to sell them I guess even if I can use the dishes?
You also have to change the LNBs to use them for legal FTA right?
Anyone have any ideas about how I could hook all this mess up into one big legal FTA network or something useful?
I am only interested in legal FTA and that's all.
I really do not know a c from a Ku signal at the moment.
Just what I have read on this site.
Sounds like it would be fun to see what I could pick up using legal FTA?
I am in middle Georgia 31032 area.
Latitude: 33° 0.20730' N , Longitude: 83° 33.04692' W
I think this is correct for my area?
I like news,sports, religion,old westerns,old movies,etc,like they used to show on regular t.v. years ago.
Is any of that on the legal FTA sats?
What would be my southern most sat from this area?
I did not really get that,but I know you start with that one first right?
What would be good legal FTA sats to try for from my area?
I have no idea where to start or what programing is on any of the legal FTA sats?
So any general help,or pointers for my area would be great?
What about my bud locations in my yard?
How close or how far apart do I need to put them?
Does that even matter?
Will they cross interfere with each others signals?
I have plenty of room in the yard except for trees of course.
The two bud sites I am thinking about are about 50 feet apart inline from each other, but still close to my home?
They will each be about 100-110 feet from my home.
Behind them about 30 feet back will be the power company lines.Will being this close to the power lines cause any problems with signal streangth etc?
Any ideas? What do you guys think?
I can use all the help I can get.
If I figure out how to use a digital camera and how to post pictures on here,I will put some up for you guys to check it all out,ok.
I really enjoy the pics you guys post.
Thanks for any help or ideas.