Been out of FTA for awhile

[Bill_KY]

Hi all, been quite awhile since I posted here. Been out of FTA for awhile and since the loss of several FTA channels over the past few years or so that have gone to the internet I generally lost interest in FTA on a whole. I'm thinking about taking down my dishes. After redoing the house awhile ago, I took down the FTA receivers and haven't turned it on since.

I still have Direct TV (since Dec 2001) and we finally upgraded to Direct HD. I'm still involved in my ham radio hobbies and computers. I now have an Associates Degree in Computer science. But my interest in FTA dropped off.

Is there anything on the horizon that looks promising for FTA? Any new channels that have appeared or about to appear? Any new companies (like the defunct free dbs from Indiana) that might actually succeed? Any new receivers on the market? Any new satellites on the horizon? What is hot and what is not hot these days?

Thanks in advance.

 

[FTA4PA]

Sorry to hear you may be leaving FTA. As you said, channels come and go, but you might want to check out Lyngsat or another site like it to see what is currently available. As far as receivers, take a look at the Amiko A3 that just came out - it's android based (a computer really) and is very advanced and unlike anything seen in the FTA hobby before. You can find more info here: http://amiko-a3.com/ There is also the Outernet project which aims to provide free information to all of humanity via satellite. You can find out more about that here: http://www.outernet.is And, there is a device out there now that lets you use your dish and computer as a scanner for hidden radio signals on the sats. Read more here: http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/sdr-software-defined-radio-for-satellite.325530/ I'm sure there are more things that I've missed that someone will cover. Hope you decide to stay with FTA! Best wishes!

 

[77TA]

Without knowing how long you’ve been out or what dish and receiver you last used it would be hard to say what has changed.

As someone who is outside the range of most ota channels in my area and refuses to pay $100/month for cable or dbs I am thrilled with my 6ft dish. I have well over 50 channels I watch regularly plus a ton of wildfeeds.

 

[FaT Air]

In the last couple years there has been some additions. But mostly on C band. 24/7 entertainment suitable for the family.(when not occupied looking for wild feeds) If you don't have DVB-S2 capabilities, you're missin much today. Take a look at Mikes list at MPEG CENTRAL . Use F3 and type in some sub-channel names. COZI, METV etc in the C band domestic list.
EDIT: check out the posts on OUTERNET. Might be something there.

 

[Bill_KY]

Thanks for the answers, the last time I posted in the forums was April 2012. I think the Freedbs website was still up then. The Outernet sounds interesting, does it sort of works like packet radio did in that it uses satellites to pass information? back in the day they also used satellites to relay packet radio back down to local BBS'.

I don't have a DVB-S2 receiver, just non HD FTA receivers. At the time before I left I was looking into buying an HD FTA receiver that was able to pickup all the wild feeds and there were some on the market that didn't get DVBS2. Thanks again and I'll look around some.

 

[danristheman]

Also mini buds and micro buds setups are pretty cool.