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Based on feedback from an earlier post, I plan to pick up a 30" to 36" dish for FTA. Given the size, my understanding is that this will restrict me to the Ku band only, which is fine – since a 6' dish would probably be impractical for me at the moment. I live in the Midwest, by the Wisconsin / Illinois border and my question is, does it make more sense for me to look into a motorized or fixed dish?
From the perspective of basing this decision on what I'm trying to pull in, I looked at a current listing of FTA channels. I imported them into a spreadsheet and sorted, filtering on TV broadcast, Ku Band and English language. The sort indicates that the most bang-for-the-buck in terms of channels are on Sat 123W. Additionally, there are a handful of channels on Sats 101W, 110W, 119W, 125W, and 129W that would also be of interest to me, if possible.
So, there are a few things I'm trying to sort out in my head with regard to motorized or fixed dish setup.
1. If I use a fixed dish, can I pull in 123W from where I live?
2. If #1 is true, could I also pull in any of the other Sats mentioned? (They are not must-have's)
3. Probably the best question to ask is 'what' can I pull in with a fixed dish in my area?
4. Would a motorized dish bring me any additional benefit over a fixed dish?
I realize a blind scan will detect everything available to me when the time comes, but I'm trying to get an idea of this prior to the setup itself. Thanks in advance.
From the perspective of basing this decision on what I'm trying to pull in, I looked at a current listing of FTA channels. I imported them into a spreadsheet and sorted, filtering on TV broadcast, Ku Band and English language. The sort indicates that the most bang-for-the-buck in terms of channels are on Sat 123W. Additionally, there are a handful of channels on Sats 101W, 110W, 119W, 125W, and 129W that would also be of interest to me, if possible.
So, there are a few things I'm trying to sort out in my head with regard to motorized or fixed dish setup.
1. If I use a fixed dish, can I pull in 123W from where I live?
2. If #1 is true, could I also pull in any of the other Sats mentioned? (They are not must-have's)
3. Probably the best question to ask is 'what' can I pull in with a fixed dish in my area?
4. Would a motorized dish bring me any additional benefit over a fixed dish?
I realize a blind scan will detect everything available to me when the time comes, but I'm trying to get an idea of this prior to the setup itself. Thanks in advance.
20 Replies
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5760 views
Justask'n,
I know that you will love this forum more and more the longer you stay here, and I hope you stay a good long time!
Going back to your original question regarding a fixed point dish versus a motorized setup. It is most wise to begin experimenting with the fixed point system first. While you are doing this, make a log book of your reception readings (mainly quality readings) as you will want them later for comparison.
However, for getting the most out of FTA in the long run, a motorized system will be the final outcome. I started out with a miriad of fixed point dishes, roughly seven or eight. I continued to repoint them to research other sats, but that began to become a pain for me. I eventually adopted a motorized system, and used it in conjunction with my fixed point dishes for about a year, then I switched over to using the motorized dish exclusively.
97.0°W was my first fixed point set up as that is my truest south sat and carries the most FTA channels of them all. When I began adding to it, it shortly became apparent that I needed a motorized system. Now I can get all the upper Ku band sats from 30.0°W to 129.0°W (and even as far west as 148.0°W if it were still operating).
I miss 148.0°W as they (DN) often let a few movie channels come through in the clear! HBO, TMC and CineMax Action or something like that. Yes, it was nice for quite a long time, more than a year. Alas, they are gone now and so is 148.
Anyway, the biggest drawback of a motorized system is waiting for the dish to pan from one sat to another. I don't mind this as most of the channels I watch are on satellites which are fairly close to eachother. Slewing my DG-380 motor and my Geo-SAT pro 1.2 meter dish requires about one minute to go from 30°W to 148°W, that isn't so bad. Normally I don't have to wait even that long as I don't switch sats that much. The most I usually go is from 30.0°W to 63.0°W to 72.0°W to 83.0°W to 97.0°W and 101.0°W to 125.0°W and back. There is just a few seconds delay in my wait between these sats. I can accept this wait for the exchange of having only one dish to maintain and align and only one cable to contend with and only one switch, which I really don't need any longer.
When you get to the point of setting up a motorized dish, and you will, if you keep up company with us, I would like to give you my honest opinion about what equipment you should try to start out with. A Winegard DS-2076 antenna, an Invacom QPH-031 LNBF and a DG-280B motor. Add some supporting side struts to the DS-2076 dish just like the Winegard DS-3101 1M dish has to help support the weight of the Invacom LNBF.
This is the nicest and most fairly inexpensive system that you can purchase and have it work exceptionally well. I guarantee that you will approve of it and be pleased with your reception (provided you are not too far north into Canada or too far south into Mexico). I would stake my personal reputation on this. I started out with this as my first motorized system and I can still trust in it today. I have bought other dishes, bigger ones and I am now up to a 1.2 M Geo-SAT pro antenna and I love it. But, nothing beats that little 76cm Winegard antenna!
Yes, when they manufacture something good and you discover it, you want to keep it going. Best overall settup (for DVB-S only) is a Coolsat 5000 or 6000 receiver, an Invacom QPH-031 LNBF, a Power Tech DG-280B motor and a Winegard DS-2076 antenna with RG-11 cabling and Channel Master editor for support. You simply cannot go wrong with this for a starter package.
Yes, even the Coolsat 5K and 6K are still valuable receivers to own. They won't get DVB-S2 or HD signals, but they are fantastic little boxes! Mine is still running after 5 years and I still watch it daily. You just cannot beat these receivers down! They do what they are supposed to and they do it well. I wouldn't give mine up. As a matter of fact I now own about eight or nine of the Coolsat 5Ks. Why? Because they are that nice and I want to ensure that I have parts to repair them if one should ever go bad. Yep! I love them that much and I hold on to them with dear life.
Research the components that I have listed here and make your own educated decisions of course.
RADAR
Justask'n,
What may work better is more flexible step-by-step approach:
buy a stationary 1.2 m well designed dish (look around where you leave to cut on S&H), a $5 good Linear LNB and Coolsat 6000 STB ($30 on EBay or Craiglist), install them yourself, pick the dish on 97W or 123W and get much better understanding along the way of what's involved and transpired. Then you are ready to add a motor to the mix, and possibly a BUD or MiniBUD later (using the same dish with a C/Ku multifeed to begin with to learn the ropes), and more receivers for different purposes, LNBs and switches. Your own hands-on experience with a basic system will be your friend and guide allowing to gradually learn, where and what info and devices to look for.
What may work better is more flexible step-by-step approach:
buy a stationary 1.2 m well designed dish (look around where you leave to cut on S&H), a $5 good Linear LNB and Coolsat 6000 STB ($30 on EBay or Craiglist), install them yourself, pick the dish on 97W or 123W and get much better understanding along the way of what's involved and transpired. Then you are ready to add a motor to the mix, and possibly a BUD or MiniBUD later (using the same dish with a C/Ku multifeed to begin with to learn the ropes), and more receivers for different purposes, LNBs and switches. Your own hands-on experience with a basic system will be your friend and guide allowing to gradually learn, where and what info and devices to look for.
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Anyone making their own breakfast sausage? I've recently been trying different recipes, found some I like, some I've modified...
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3504 views
S
. get a nice chuck roast!!!
Who cares if it's cheaper than store bought. you do realize that ground beef is like hot dogs right lips and a**holes!!! you have no idea whats in it and what animal came from what carcass right
. get a nice chuck roast!!!
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n43A0sNukCg
Direct YouTube Link - SpaceX Seeks to Conduct 450 Starship Launches a Year in Texas!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
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Staff member
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Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68506 Replies
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2671361 views
Marques Brownlee
Time for another AWESOME video from Marques Brownlee!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwlR0QHGOk
Direct YouTube Link - The NEW Tesla Roadster: My Honest Reaction
The official MKBHD Website!
The MKBHD Store
0 Replies
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6 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m44iKsdN1-Q
Direct YouTube Link - NVIDIA RTX Spark launch party!!!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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21 views
For quite a while now, people with a VIP211k have been losing their recordings on their activated external HDDs... even when there's nothing physically wrong with HDD. I believe this is an intentional and underhanded tactic that Dish is pulling in an attempt to force users away from the VIP211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
They are obviously regretting that they ever let users have a "non-dvr" dvr in the first place. You would think they would be happy charging you a $40 one time fee... and then be happy letting the customer be the one responsible for HDD failures.
Dish clearly hates the 211k bitter-clingers. This recording deletion problem is intentional (IMO), and I think it is just one more tool that they are using. Hopper and a 2-year agreement... that's what they want you to have. Think about that... a 2-year agreement... with a company $30 Billion in debt (that's with a B). What happens when all that debt causes them to drop the channel that may have been your whole reason for having Dish in the first place? Guess who's stuck with a service that no longer suits their needs... for the remainder of the 2-year agreement.
On top of that, they don't want you to install it yourself. I purchased and installed all my equipment myself. That used to be common. Now, they lie to me and tell me that my dish must be updated to use a Hopper. Funny thing is... they don't even know what dish I have because they didn't install it, and I didn't tell them. If you ask what type of dish/LNBs the hopper needs... good luck getting an answer. All they know is that whatever you have needs to be upgraded by an installer.
It is quite apparent to me that they care much more about staying in their box, than they do working with the customer. That's too bad, because it hasn't always been that way. It's like they are totally unaware of the current business environment that they are trying to compete in.
I have been a customer since 2010. I will be cancelling my service before the next period. Yeah, I know, my $1,200 a year won't make a difference to them. It just seems like they have forgotten who needs who, especially when you consider the competition in today's streaming world. But hey, they will have succeed in forcing me off the 211k.
168 Replies
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7510 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Has anyone subscribed to NBA League Pass for 2026-27 and try to link their account to NBA.com to stream League Pass? I purchased it for 2026-27, and when I linked, I got a message saying success, but then I receive an error that my linked subscription does not include the preseason games for NBA League Pass. Is that how it has always been? I know satellite doesn't have the preseason games on the NBA League Pass channels, but I thought that I was able to stream the preseason once I linked my account on NBA.com?
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97 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
143 Replies
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1478 views
Nah, you just don't understand how ignore works, which is why you made your own NFL thread thinking there wasn't one
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
530 Replies
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18140 views
Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat. 
WTF… …What the Foxbat!Remember folks... just like DNS... its always Foxbat.
S
wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming youWTF… …What the Foxbat!
I know. Here's what Scott has in store for me if I get out of line:wow what a kick in the balls!!! the wife blames you when things don't work now scott's blaming you
S
OMG to freaking funny
You're no fun.
I thought I would come here and find lots of complaints about the update to the dish anywhere mobile app, but am not seeing any. It used to look just like the desktop webpage. Now you can no longer filter by sports channels or movie channels. Plus that they made it look like a big button telephone and you see fewer channels in the screen which requires more scrolling. Yes I realize you can look at sports then select which sport you want to look at, I just liked being able to see all sporting events in the guide with all other channels being filtered out. Am I alone in the wilderness on this?
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