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FTA, is more a hobby, than a source of scheduled programming. You won't get the premium subscription channels you are used to via cable or the satellite providers, but there is a lot that they will get.
If i buy a 45 dollar FTA receiver on ebay, and a dish just under 40" like everyone says, and hook it up with RG6 and aim in a particular direction, will i recieve channels,
YES
or does this require a multifunction azimuth and elevation rotor system and constant moving of the dish?
Not necessary but makes it a whole lot more convenient to 'tune into' another satellite. There's only one satellite that has a whole lot of channels, but that's going to resemble your Roku. AJE, RT, foreign language, and religious channels.
can i expect ANYTHING like Food tv network, CBS ABC discovery and/or movie channels?
Maybe. Only if they turn off their scrambling temporarily for 'issues' or such. This is known, in the FTA hobby, as 'the hunt' This also includes breaking news and event feeds, There are some networks affiliates 24/7. Check TheList!(link above)But also be aware that most of the channels you ask about are on C band where it takes a 6 ft. dish to work, and that's a minimum*
what would i expect buying a 45 dollar receiver and a dish and aiming somewhere?
A lot of channels are now DVB-S2, HD. So if the ebay receiver is only DVB-S, you're only going to receive the DVB-S ones.**
i hope you dont need all kinds of crazy decoders, and switches and modules to work this. thanks
No decoders(descramblers), as their's no subscription. The stream decoding takes place right in the receiver. Switches only needed if running multiple dishes.
*some have experimented with Mini-BUDs(4 ft and less)on C band. Results are usually only the strongest signals are receivable.
** Receivers listed from the least capable to the most capable.
DVB-S SD (may be labeled as DVB-S only)
DVB-S HD
DVB-S2 (will also receive previous listed types)
DVB-S2 (as above but also includes 4.2.2 video, useful for the rare 4.2.2 video transmissions)
Even withing types, some may not decode some higher orders of streams, I.E. AAC or Dolby audio as an example. simple mpeg audio/video "was" the standard, today the trend is towards mp4 AAC but there's still a lot of channels that work with a DVB-S receiver.
A
good DVB-S receiver is a good first step to 'test the water" with minimal investment. We'll let ya know if the one you're looking at is worth considering. Someone here has experience with it. There is a lot of them that aren't worth much, if anything.