My shopping list for new FTA system

[wired4fta]

Hey all, I'm kind of new to FTA and this is what I'd like to buy. I do have experience with setting up stationary dishes and point of sight dishes – microwave – dish network – directv and about 10 years ago with a motorized c band dish on top of a firehouse where i was a volunteer fireman in long island, NY. (no one else had a clue and i was able to pick up some feeds – some what funny feeds with news anchormen picking there nose and scratching there balls. but not much else) I now live in Florida. Any comments and suggestions and/or advice on setup and equipment would be greatly appreciated and of course I'll share my experience with all on this site including pictures (if allowed) etc...

WELL HERE IS MY SHOPPING LIST.

1- Pansat 3500S receiver
2- 4x1 DiseqC Switch
3- Null Modem Cable
4- LNB – Linear Duel
5- Pansat PM 900S – Motor
6- 36 “ - 90cm Dish
7- A lot of patience

Thanks for any feedback – I'm in fort Lauderdale Florida with a completely open south horizon from east to west.

 

[PSB]

I would start with the below link, some great info mostly about C-Band installation, but its very similar to the principle of KU satellite setup. Give us your zip code and we can get started by giving you your true south satellite and the angles to ALL the satellites from your area!

Good idea to find and store your true south satellite BEFORE you ever add a motor to the set up. (Same with the switch, add that LAST)

Also good idea to keep ALL your posts in this thread, you will find you get more help that way

http://www.geo-orbit.org/sizepgs/tuningp4.html#anchor797917

 

[wired4fta]

Thank you PSB - for the link - my zip is 33312 - for my understanding - no motor at first and no switch -just direct coax from stationary dish to receiver and please your thoughts on my selections for receiver, motor and dish size.

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH !

 

[PSB]

I would visit the review area for ideas on receivers and of course visit all of our GOLD sponsors web sites as those are the guys that support us here at SatelliteGuys.US
For example I use a 36" dish and an Invacom QPH-031 LNBF, this LNBF lets me pick up linear and the few circular satellites (that have FTA channels) and is very low noise (0.3dB) and pulls in some weaker signals that other LNB's can not! There are similar low noise LNB's that work very well and are much cheaper (Extreme II) but the quality of the Invacom and the 5 year guarantee made it worth it for me.

The bigger the dish the more signal it will collect, so go as big as you can get away with! Being so far south a 30" dish would work for 95% of all FTA channels!

I use the Fortec Lifetime Ultra and really like it!


Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Latitude 26° 5.808'N Longitude 80° 10.860'W
Sat Name Sat Lng Az(t) Az(m) El Skew
-----------------------------------------------------
12.5°W Atlantic Bird 12.5W 100.2 106.2 11.4 -62.1
Telstar 12 15.0W 101.5 107.4 13.7 -61.6
Intelsat 901 18.0W 103.1 109.0 16.4 -61.0
NSS 7 22.0W 105.3 111.2 20.1 -60.0
Intelsat 905 24.5W 106.7 112.6 22.4 -59.3
Intelsat 907 27.5W 108.5 114.5 25.1 -58.4
Hispasat 1C/D 30.0W 110.1 116.1 27.4 -57.5
Intelsat 801 31.5W 111.1 117.1 28.7 -56.9
Intelsat 903 34.5W 113.2 119.2 31.4 -55.6
AMC 12/T 11 37.5W 115.5 121.4 34.1 -54.2
NSS 806 40.5W 117.9 123.9 36.8 -52.5
Pas 3R/6B 43.0W 120.1 126.0 38.9 -51.0
Pas 1R 45.0W 122.0 127.9 40.6 -49.6
Intelsat 705 50.0W 127.1 133.0 44.8 -45.7
Intelsat 707 53.0W 130.6 136.5 47.1 -43.0
Intelsat 805 55.5W 133.7 139.7 49.0 -40.4
Pas 9 58.0W 137.2 143.1 50.8 -37.6
Amazonas 61.0W 141.7 147.6 52.8 -33.9
EchoStar 3 61.5W 142.5 148.4 53.1 -33.2
Rainbow 1 61.5W 142.5 148.4 53.1 -33.2
Nahuel 1 71.8W 161.5 167.4 58.1 -16.6
DirecTV 1 72.5W 163.0 168.9 58.3 -15.3
AMC 6 72.0W 161.9 167.8 58.2 -16.2
Galaxy 12 74.0W 166.2 172.1 58.7 -12.4
SBS 6 74.0W 166.2 172.1 58.7 -12.4
GOES 12 75.0W 168.4 174.3 59.0 -10.4
AMC 5 79.0W 177.3 183.2 59.5 -2.4
DirecTV 3 81.8W 183.7 189.6 59.4 3.3
Nimiq 2 82.0W 184.1 190.1 59.4 3.7
Brasilsat B3 84.0W 188.6 194.6 59.2 7.7
AMC 2/16 85.0W 190.8 196.8 59.0 9.7
AMC 3 87.0W 195.2 201.1 58.6 13.6
IA-8 89.0W 199.4 205.3 57.9 17.4
Galaxy 11 91.0W 203.5 209.4 57.2 21.0
Nimiq 1/3 91.0W 203.5 209.4 57.2 21.0
Brasilsat B4 92.0W 205.4 211.4 56.8 22.7
Telstar 6 93.0W 207.4 213.3 56.3 24.4
Galaxy 3C 95.0W 211.0 216.9 55.3 27.6
Telstar 5 97.0W 214.5 220.4 54.2 30.6
Galaxy 4R 99.0W 217.8 223.7 53.0 33.4
DirecTV 1R/4S/8 101.0W 220.8 226.8 51.7 36.0
AMC 4 101.0W 220.8 226.8 51.7 36.0
Spaceway 1 102.0W 222.3 228.2 51.0 37.2
AMC 1 103.0W 223.7 229.6 50.3 38.4
AMC 15 105.0W 226.4 232.4 48.9 40.6
Anik F1/F1R 107.3W 229.3 235.3 47.2 42.9
DirecTV 6 109.5W 231.9 237.9 45.4 45.0
EchoStar 6 110.0W 232.5 238.4 45.0 45.4
EchoStar 8 110.0W 232.5 238.4 45.0 45.4
Anik F2 111.1W 233.7 239.6 44.2 46.4
Solidaridad 2 113.0W 235.7 241.6 42.6 47.9
SatMex 5 116.8W 239.4 245.3 39.4 50.6
DirecTV 5 119.0W 241.3 247.3 37.5 52.0
EchoStar 7 119.0W 241.3 247.3 37.5 52.0
EchoStar 9/Telstar 13 121.0W 243.0 248.9 35.8 53.2
Galaxy 10R 123.0W 244.6 250.5 34.0 54.2
Galaxy 12 125.0W 246.1 252.0 32.2 55.2
Galaxy 13/H 1 127.0W 247.6 253.5 30.4 56.1
Telstar 7/Echostar 5 129.0W 249.0 254.9 28.6 56.9
AMC 11 131.0W 250.3 256.2 26.8 57.7
Galaxy 1R 133.0W 251.5 257.5 25.0 58.4
AMC 10 135.0W 252.8 258.7 23.2 59.1
AMC 7 137.0W 254.0 259.9 21.3 59.7
AMC 8 139.0W 255.1 261.0 19.5 60.2
EchoStar 1 148.0W 259.8 265.8 11.3 62.1
EchoStar 2 148.0W 259.8 265.8 11.3 62.1
............................................................
*** DBS SATELLITE ***
EchoStar 3/R1 61.5W 142.5 148.4 53.1 -33.2
EchoStar 6/8 110.0W 232.5 238.4 45.0 45.4
EchoStar 7 119.0W 241.3 247.3 37.5 52.0
EchoStar 9/Telstar 13 121.0W 243.0 248.9 35.8 53.2
EchoStar 5 129.0W 249.0 254.9 28.6 56.9
EchoStar 1/2 148.0W 259.8 265.8 11.3 62.1
Nimiq 2 82.0W 184.1 190.1 59.4 3.7
Nimiq 1/3 91.0W 203.5 209.4 57.2 21.0
DirecTV 1R/4S/8 101.0W 220.8 226.8 51.7 36.0
DirecTV 5 110.0W 232.5 238.4 45.0 45.4
DirecTV 7S 119.0W 241.3 247.3 37.5 52.0


Satellite Finder is (c) Copyright 2004, P. Lutus

 

[raydio]

As far as the receiver goes, I prefer the Coolsat. I have the 4000, but the 5000 was just released and from what I understand it's a sweet box. I think that iceberg did a review on it. BTW I really like your avatar!

 

[Mr Tony]

The 5000 is a sweet box. But I've also used the Pansat 3500 too and that is a nice box.

 

[W_Tracy_Parnell]

I can vouch for the Coolsats (I use a 4000) or the Pansat 3500. Can't go wrong with either.

 

[digiblur]

Hey all, I'm kind of new to FTA and this is what I'd like to buy. I do have experience with setting up stationary dishes and point of sight dishes – microwave – dish network – directv and about 10 years ago with a motorized c band dish on top of a firehouse where i was a volunteer fireman in long island, NY. (no one else had a clue and i was able to pick up some feeds – some what funny feeds with news anchormen picking there nose and scratching there balls. but not much else) I now live in Florida. Any comments and suggestions and/or advice on setup and equipment would be greatly appreciated and of course I'll share my experience with all on this site including pictures (if allowed) etc...
WELL HERE IS MY SHOPPING LIST.
1- Pansat 3500S receiver
2- 4x1 DiseqC Switch
3- Null Modem Cable
4- LNB – Linear Duel
5- Pansat PM 900S – Motor
6- 36 “ - 90cm Dish
7- A lot of patience
Thanks for any feedback – I'm in fort Lauderdale Florida with a completely open south horizon from east to west.

Go with the biggest dish setup you can afford up front, just like I tell everyone on HD OTA setups. That way you won't be wondering a month from now..."What would the signals look like on the bigger dish?" I'm down on the gulf coast too and I wouldn't trade my 36" for 30" any day, I wish I would have went bigger, but the 36" works great so I can't complain.

Once you get the gear, I'd highly recommend doing a temporary setup with the dish pointed at one satellite without the motor. Don't forget to skew the LNB! That way you can familiarize yourself with the dish, receiver, remote, lnb, etc. Once you've got that all down pat then I'd add the motor. You also forgot a few more items:

8 - a lot patience X 2
9 - a lot patience X 3
10 - a lot patience X 4



Don't let it scare you... FTA is really a lot of fun.

Where's that FTA'ers Anonymous phone number again? I missed last week's meeting.

 

[Mr Tony]

Where's that FTA'ers Anonymous phone number again? I missed last week's meeting.

1-555-ICEBERG
(not a real number)

 

[sharris]

I would for-go the diseq switch, unless you plan on having a few lnb's on a dish. As for the linear lnb you could probably get away with just a single but with a low noise DB, 0.3db I would recommend. As for the 3500s, I have heard thats its a nice unit, however agree with other posts on the coolsat as well. I think there both sitting in the 200$ range, so its a coin toss for me. Just starting out, sometimes its better to go cheaper and see if you like the hobby as "patience" as seen above is definetely a virtue you MUST POSSESS. Some of the other motors as well offer good performance. DMSI and others make good motors, also Sadoun has a good selection of stab HH and the good ol sg2100 as well as dishes of various sizes. Agree with the comment on dish size. Go for a 1.2m or at least a 1m to start. You will get much better signal qual and avoid rain fade from your location. I live on the oposite end of NA so dish size definetely is an issue. Have fun, and when you need help, just post and we will do all we can to help you out.

Happy Holidays

 

[wired4fta]

Thank you all for the great info ! ! !
i'm going to decide on system etc... this weekend and should have it installed early in 2006. Thanks all again for the info and have a great christmas and a happy new year.

 

[wired4fta]

Hey all, just recieved my equipment.
pansat 3500s
hh90 motor
36" dish
invacom qph-031 lnb
and i'm currently installing the system.
just a quickie...
skew?
my longitude is 80 and the true south would be?
amc5 @ 79.0 west or directv @ 81.8 west or should
I line it up between with 0 skew or a slight skew to
one or the other?
Thanks For ANY HELP !!!

 

[Mr Tony]

skew is 0 (stright up and down) for a mototized. The motor automtically skews the dish when it moves

Use AMC5 (much easier). Best thing to do is hook up the motor, put in your info in USALS (latitude/longitude) and let the motor move first (since you dont have a true true south)...once motor moves a little bit, then aim the dish. This way your arc will be right when you move to the differetn satellites.

 

[Mr Tony]

and why does your avatar look like one of my relatives

 

[wired4fta]

Thank you very much Iceberg for the info, I'm at the stage now of installing the motor and we'll see what happens. I'm also deciding on making a donation to this great site. I like that no one has an attitude toward beginners and seem more than willing to help. THANK YOU ! ! !

 

[wired4fta]

MY avatar is an actual picture of my-self... I'm just a Knucklehead at heart and maybe were Related. I am a viking born in the land of ICE - LAND

 

[Mr Tony]

There are two tranpsonders that are very strong on AMC5
12182 freq
H polarity
23000 symbol rate

11742 freq
V pol
11110 symbol rate

Both of these should be already stored in the 3500 transponder list so setup should be pretty easy

 

[Mr Tony]

the elevation of the motor is the same as your latitude

 

[wired4fta]

Lost

I'm lost set up my system = pointed at amc 5 - level 71% quality 70 to 75%
TP 11742 - USALS positioner - when i move the dish with the hh90 motor i can't lock on to any other sat. except sbs-6 with low quality 20-30% I have included a couple of pictures. If anyone can help, that would be great and thanks.

 

[Tron]

Sadoun has a great motor installation help site here:

http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Installation/HH-mount-installation.htm

As per his calculator, your dish elevation should be between 40 and 41 degrees. Your motor elevation should be set to your latitude. Once you set the motor elevation, bolt it tight and don't touch it. Peak your azimuth to the best signal by moving the entire motor assembly (dish + motor on the pole) east and west. Peak your elevation using only the dish mount, not the motor.