New 5G filter?

[mr3p]

So the latest spectrum sell off isn't a done deal yet but has anyone been discussing or hear of new 5G filter or LNBF with filter options if we are down to 4.1x-4.2GHz? Without a new LNBF, it seems like it would be the end.

 

[Mr Tony]

big thread on it in main FTA area

Thread 'More news about C-band and possibly 5 new Ku band satellites'

Jun 30, 2026

Latest news on C band and possibly 5 new Ku band satellites from the FCC's possible vote for 2nd round C-band auction.

C-Band Round 2: FCC Set to Vote on Another C-Band Auction

The FCC is moving toward another C-band auction, planning to vote in July on whether to approve auctioning 160 megahertz of the upper C-band. Like the

www.satellitetoday.com

Have fun reading the story!!

• N5XZS
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Free To Air (FTA) Discussion

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[comfortably_numb]

big thread on it in main FTA area

Nothing about development of a new filter.

 

[primestar31]

If Titanium is out of it now, it's very unlikely anybody else will do it. I don't see that there will be enough FTA market left, for Brian to even make an attempt at it this time. But, I guess we don't know for sure until it happens.

 

[WhiteBeard]

No one wants to upgrade hardware so frequently when one has to spend more money.

 

[mr3p]

With a new filter we would be able to view whatever remains so I'd say that $80-90 for a new LNBF is worth it given the alternative is taking the whole thing down and discarding. That said, not sure a new "final" filter will make it to market although the transition doesn't happen for a few years so anything is possible.

 

[primestar31]

With a new filter we would be able to view whatever remains so I'd say that $80-90 for a new LNBF is worth it given the alternative is taking the whole thing down and discarding. That said, not sure a new "final" filter will make it to market although the transition doesn't happen for a few years so anything is possible.

Yeah, but the design money and prototyping costs are a layout that he might not think is worth the price this time.

 

[Titanium]

In my opinion, this transition is driven by greed, not need...

The investment in the Blue filter LNBF production has been more like my donation to the satellite hobby. Have recouped only a portion of the C140 / C240 development cost, but in the bigger picture, the larger housing may prove to be suitable for a new reduced bandpass PCB. Too early to make decisions based on speculation. I'll wait for an auction and implementation schedule.

Hobbyists are often a strange group to sell to. Will spend $8 daily on a coffee, $25 for a McDonald's meal, $800 on a phone, Thousands on cellular/Internet/streaming, but refuse to spend $80-100 on an occasional hardware upgrade...

 

[comfortably_numb]

In my opinion, this transition is driven by greed, not need...

 

[WhiteBeard]

Priorities?

 

[iBoston]

Hobbyists are often a strange group to sell to. Will spend $8 daily on a coffee, $25 for a McDonald's meal, $800 on a phone, Thousands on cellular/Internet/streaming, but refuse to spend $80-100 on an occasional hardware upgrade...

I Don't waste money on Coffee. Haven't touched Mc Donalds for over 26 years. I cook at home. Rarely eat out. Only special occasions. I spend no money on Cellular. I don't own a cell phone. I have no streaming services. I would totally pay $80-$100.00 for a hardware upgrade for a hobby that brings me lots of joy and fun.

 

[WhiteBeard]

I Don't waste money on Coffee. Haven't touched Mc Donalds for over 26 years. I cook at home. I spend no money on Cellular. I don't own a cell phone. I have no streaming services. I would totally pay $80-$100.00 for a hardware upgrade for a hobby that brings me lots of joy and fun.

A lot depends on how much money you have, how much you're willing to spend, and what your priorities are.

 

[iBoston]

A lot depends on how much money you have, how much you're willing to spend, and what your priorities are.

In my humble opinion, most people have screwed up priorities.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I only eat Ramen noodles once a day!!

/s

 

[Brct203]

Then there's also the consideration of whether or not it's worth it... As the spectrum allocated to C-band has shrunk from 800 MHz to 500 MHz to 400 MHz to 200 MHz and now could possibly shrink to 20 MHz, at one point does C-Band go the way of the telegraph and telex...

We have the dishes etc., and yes we can certainly consider spending $100-200 on a new filtered LNB, as it's just a hobby and we do this for fun.

But from an broadcaster's perspective, would it still make any sense to maintain any C-band equipment with expensive filters for just 20 MHz of available bandwidth? What content could we expect to find on a 20Mhz C-band? Would any of it be likely to still be FTA? At some point it's a bit like asking if there would still be a market for sports cars if the speed limits were reduced to 25mph/40km/h everywhere (and strictly enforced)

Now, we all know there's still Ku band, that it typically uses smaller dishes, which of course is much easier for us, but that it is very susceptible to degradation in inclement weather. One thing I don't know though - is the "rain fade" just an attenuation of the signal, in which case a much larger dish might bring enough margin to make that problem irrelevant? Or does it also bring other degradations like phase noise, to a point that the signal is just so messed up that it cannot be used even with a very large dish?

 

[primestar31]

But from an broadcaster's perspective, would it still make any sense to maintain any C-band equipment with expensive filters for just 20 MHz of available bandwidth?

They'll likely just jack everything up to at least 32PSK, which will kill off smaller dishes from receiving them...

 

[Titanium]

I agree that a 20MHz band would effectively kill the C-band hobby, as the grade of narrow bandpass filter would be cost prohibitive and only be effective in a mechanical waveguide configuration. Single transponder pass type filters have existed since the 80's and a hobbyist could retune one of these custom filters for the narrow band.

We will wait and see what spectrum is offered and who purchases (or if it is sold).

Unfortunately, the FCC has once again ignored international standards and proposed a standard or range that is unique to CONUS. Over and over, the FCC have been bought out and the rarely does "Joe Average" benefit. NTSC, ATSC, QAM, NextGen, CEA-608, CEA-708, this list goes on... This means that we have to develop hardware that has a limited distribution and cannot benefit from global mass manufacturing.

Follow the $$$

 

[Brct203]

They'll likely just jack everything up to at least 32PSK, which will kill off smaller dishes from receiving them...

but even with 32psk at a high FEC, there's just so much you can fit in a 20 MHz bandwidth

 

[comfortably_numb]

Follow the $$$

Almost like the FCC doesn't exist to protect the public trust (airwaves) of US citizens but the highe$t bidder.

 

[Brct203]

Almost like the FCC doesn't exist to protect the public trust (airwaves) of US citizens but the highe$t bidder.

spectrum is the golden goose, they can keep selling it again and again and they didn't even have to buy it in the first place