Hi Everyone,
This is my first post, and I want to thank all of you who have written so much on this forum. I have read a good bit of it over the past couple of weeks and have found it to be very informative.
I have especially enjoyed the equipment reviews. Gizzer's review of the Viewsat Extreme was very good, and Iceberg's review of the Pansat 6000 almost made me want to go out and buy one.
I have been concentrating lately on the C-Band part of this forum because I have been given a 10' Winegard fine aluminum mesh BUD complete with Chaparel Feed Horn with a California Amplifier Mini-Mag LNB. It also has a Von Weise V76-5 actuator for dish movement.
I will inculde pictures so that you can see the specs on some of this.
I further received a Drake ESR1524 with Videocipher II Plus equipped from the factory. It came with a UHF remote control. (more on that later)
I didn't get a manual with the Drake, and there is none available online that I can find. I can order one for $15.00 which I don't mind doing, just hate to wait until it arrives, so if anyone has one in digital format, I would love to have it to start reading.
I am going to call Von Weise tomorrow and try to get a wiring diagram for the actuator.
I picked up this equipment yesterday, and it was all supposed to have worked 2 years ago, and I think it will all work now, just have to set it up which I think will take approx. 2 weeks at my speed.
Consequently I have a few questions if someone wouldn't mind trying to answer for me.
Can anyone tell me what this receiver is capable of viewing. Is it for analog viewing only?
Will it receive C-Band and Ku-Band?
Is the current Feed Horn and LNB adequate?
Should I add a second receiver such as a VS Extreme or Pansat 2500A?
Should I add a second Dish and use a DiSEqC switch in the mix?
Which brings me to the second part of the equation.
Since this receiver has a UHF remote, I can change channels, move the dish etc. from anywhere in the house. This is important, because I would like to view from two separate rooms, and I would like the tv in the LR to be able to independently have access to one or more dishes to watch something different than what I am watching in my den.
The only FTA receivers that I have seen that are UFH capable are the Pansat line. Are there others?
Can I achieve what I would ultimately like to end up doing?
I am very excited about all the possibilities the added benefit of having some equipment given to me free of charge after having set aside some money to make a purchase already in my plans.
If you can answer any of the questions, or offer alternative suggestions, or tell me how to improve what I have with my goal in mind, please respond.
Here are some pics of the equipment.
![actuator.jpg actuator.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8715-b48b9e02934d54eb33da48ba54f4c2fa.jpg)
![feed-horn.jpg feed-horn.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8716-af34f7cfddf82ca41b3f0764943f82e2.jpg)
![lnb-side.jpg lnb-side.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8717-df18d046f7b86002b2618b9cbf5c8ba6.jpg)
![mount-plate.jpg mount-plate.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8718-18fa594b274afa4f0e25f7020880b5a0.jpg)
![rec-front.jpg rec-front.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8719-9e8577852fff38054c35ed4ce8d78162.jpg)
![rec-back-left.jpg rec-back-left.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8720-81ace83b3b54432f05354f05d6670f96.jpg)
![rec-back-mid.jpg rec-back-mid.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8721-d769ccaf588c20115b98ef6cf9e2bb5b.jpg)
![rec-back-right.jpg rec-back-right.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8722-6fcdb61328d46c5c6563eda0a717f43f.jpg)
Sorry about writing a book, but just starting out, and have a lot to learn. Thanks in advance for any help and direction you might be able to give.
LinuxMan
This is my first post, and I want to thank all of you who have written so much on this forum. I have read a good bit of it over the past couple of weeks and have found it to be very informative.
I have especially enjoyed the equipment reviews. Gizzer's review of the Viewsat Extreme was very good, and Iceberg's review of the Pansat 6000 almost made me want to go out and buy one.
I have been concentrating lately on the C-Band part of this forum because I have been given a 10' Winegard fine aluminum mesh BUD complete with Chaparel Feed Horn with a California Amplifier Mini-Mag LNB. It also has a Von Weise V76-5 actuator for dish movement.
I will inculde pictures so that you can see the specs on some of this.
I further received a Drake ESR1524 with Videocipher II Plus equipped from the factory. It came with a UHF remote control. (more on that later)
I didn't get a manual with the Drake, and there is none available online that I can find. I can order one for $15.00 which I don't mind doing, just hate to wait until it arrives, so if anyone has one in digital format, I would love to have it to start reading.
I am going to call Von Weise tomorrow and try to get a wiring diagram for the actuator.
I picked up this equipment yesterday, and it was all supposed to have worked 2 years ago, and I think it will all work now, just have to set it up which I think will take approx. 2 weeks at my speed.
Consequently I have a few questions if someone wouldn't mind trying to answer for me.
Can anyone tell me what this receiver is capable of viewing. Is it for analog viewing only?
Will it receive C-Band and Ku-Band?
Is the current Feed Horn and LNB adequate?
Should I add a second receiver such as a VS Extreme or Pansat 2500A?
Should I add a second Dish and use a DiSEqC switch in the mix?
Which brings me to the second part of the equation.
Since this receiver has a UHF remote, I can change channels, move the dish etc. from anywhere in the house. This is important, because I would like to view from two separate rooms, and I would like the tv in the LR to be able to independently have access to one or more dishes to watch something different than what I am watching in my den.
The only FTA receivers that I have seen that are UFH capable are the Pansat line. Are there others?
Can I achieve what I would ultimately like to end up doing?
I am very excited about all the possibilities the added benefit of having some equipment given to me free of charge after having set aside some money to make a purchase already in my plans.
If you can answer any of the questions, or offer alternative suggestions, or tell me how to improve what I have with my goal in mind, please respond.
Here are some pics of the equipment.
![actuator.jpg actuator.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8715-b48b9e02934d54eb33da48ba54f4c2fa.jpg)
![feed-horn.jpg feed-horn.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8716-af34f7cfddf82ca41b3f0764943f82e2.jpg)
![lnb-side.jpg lnb-side.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8717-df18d046f7b86002b2618b9cbf5c8ba6.jpg)
![mount-plate.jpg mount-plate.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8718-18fa594b274afa4f0e25f7020880b5a0.jpg)
![rec-front.jpg rec-front.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8719-9e8577852fff38054c35ed4ce8d78162.jpg)
![rec-back-left.jpg rec-back-left.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8720-81ace83b3b54432f05354f05d6670f96.jpg)
![rec-back-mid.jpg rec-back-mid.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8721-d769ccaf588c20115b98ef6cf9e2bb5b.jpg)
![rec-back-right.jpg rec-back-right.jpg](https://satguys.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/data/attachments/8/8722-6fcdb61328d46c5c6563eda0a717f43f.jpg)
Sorry about writing a book, but just starting out, and have a lot to learn. Thanks in advance for any help and direction you might be able to give.
LinuxMan