Looking to get started to easiest way and actually receive channels worth viewing. I am a Ham, and now am interested in this satellite business. Been getting OTA HD tv for over a year now after getting rid of the cable companies etc.. This may be the way to go to get a few more channels. I am sure this question has been posted a thousand times before, but if someone could tell me how to get started. A cheap system I could start with, where to find out how to bbuild my own dish etc.. Any help would be great fully appreciated! Thank you! Jon
New to this arena - how to get started?
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First question before recommending anything would be what is your budget? Second is do you live in a housing association or city that would limit your dish to 1 meter(39 inches)?
A 1 meter dish will limit you to the Ku band but there is plenty up there. The 6 to 10 foot dishes would get you into C band where there are a lot of cable like channels available.
If your budget is really small it is possible to piece together a system for $50 if you find a free dish.
A 1 meter dish will limit you to the Ku band but there is plenty up there. The 6 to 10 foot dishes would get you into C band where there are a lot of cable like channels available.
If your budget is really small it is possible to piece together a system for $50 if you find a free dish.
Satellite AV is a sponsor here and they have a really nice dish with LNB combo. If you live near them in California you can do free pickup.36" / 90cm Free To Air FTA Satellite Dish and .4 LNBF (890963002636) | eBay
If your budget is smaller like mine was stating out you can find free dishes on Freecycle or cheap ones on Craigslist. Also the larger Dish and Directv dishes can be converted to FTA by purchasing a linear LNB and bracket off of ebay for around $10. They don't get all the channels on weaker satellites but can do well on the stronger ones even in bad weather. If you look in my signature you can see some of the free dishes I use for FTA.
A used FTA receiver can be picked up off of ebay for $30 to $60 depending on the features. Boxes that receive HD and DVB-s2 signals are $100 and higher.
If your budget is smaller like mine was stating out you can find free dishes on Freecycle or cheap ones on Craigslist. Also the larger Dish and Directv dishes can be converted to FTA by purchasing a linear LNB and bracket off of ebay for around $10. They don't get all the channels on weaker satellites but can do well on the stronger ones even in bad weather. If you look in my signature you can see some of the free dishes I use for FTA.
A used FTA receiver can be picked up off of ebay for $30 to $60 depending on the features. Boxes that receive HD and DVB-s2 signals are $100 and higher.
to SatelliteGuys Viking63!!!!
I personally would go with a 36 or 39 inch made to use on the fta frequencies, and power levels, before jumping headlong into modifying an undersized DishNet or Direct dish. Yes it may be cheaper, but who want's to try for an unknown? Dish and Direct have much higher power satellites.
Parabola construction Google search, many are straight line solar collectors though, need circular for prime feed design. Think for layout, the T square/string method is probably the easiest.
Parabola Calculator 2.0 Wifi calculations are useful for offset Ku dishes.
Some gas stations/stores may still have an unused dish on the roof. Some time ago used for CC transactions, wouldn't doubt most have switched to a VPN on the internet.
Rural areas had many before internet or the two sat tv services of today. My 1.2mtr dishes are from former Primestar TV subscribers. My 30 inchers were used on the DTN service. Farms for weather & commodities - Trucking companies used them for vehicle tracking, route weather and road reports. But that's mostly on the internet today. I kinda doubt that they even use satellite today.
Parabola construction Google search, many are straight line solar collectors though, need circular for prime feed design. Think for layout, the T square/string method is probably the easiest.
Parabola Calculator 2.0 Wifi calculations are useful for offset Ku dishes.
Some gas stations/stores may still have an unused dish on the roof. Some time ago used for CC transactions, wouldn't doubt most have switched to a VPN on the internet.
Rural areas had many before internet or the two sat tv services of today. My 1.2mtr dishes are from former Primestar TV subscribers. My 30 inchers were used on the DTN service. Farms for weather & commodities - Trucking companies used them for vehicle tracking, route weather and road reports. But that's mostly on the internet today. I kinda doubt that they even use satellite today.
Thanks for all the info...the satellite looks good on eBay.. Any specific receiever I should use that will gain the most channels and or flexibility. Meaning more channels? Do I need a motor to be able to adjust the satellite, or can it be fixed? Also, I have one of the larger DirectTv dishes, can that be used for something as well?
thanks again, and I Appreciate the feedback. Guess I just need to get started and then figure it out..
thanks again, and I Appreciate the feedback. Guess I just need to get started and then figure it out..
Think that's going to be the GEOSATPRO microHD. Not out yet, but I think there's some in a container on a ship sailing the Pacific right now. Features 'designed' right here on this forum. That dish from SatelliteAV is a good one. (maybe they will "Bundle" the dish and receiver? worth a call.)
It can be fixed. You can have multiple fixed dishes, selected via diseqc &or 22khz switches. Or a motorized dish. Even with one motorized, still can add some fixed dishes. The options are up to your imagination I've got 3 of 4 dishes fixed, A 10ft BUD, movable, with a small Ku on it's lip.
FaT Air said:
Ok- purchased 36" satellite on eBay today, should see it soon. Waiting for the new GeosatHD to come out, gonna do it right the first time around and we'll what's up there.. Based on whether I like what I see I may buy a motor, due to the fact that the wife probably won't like too many satellites on the side of the house, even though I see 2-3 on every house top now..
Anyway thank you all for your support and I am sure I will have more questions...
Hopefully the setup will be fairly easy..aligning etc... I might need some help there and repost..
Have a good night!
Had a great conversation with you this afternoon. Thank you for the purchase of our Ebay special!
When you site survey where to mount the dish, imagine an arc that is the highest directly south and slopes off to the eastern and western horizons. In your location, directly south of you the highest sat is about 50 degrees. Not many KU satellites are west of your location and most are to the east of you and available all the way down to the horizon. Be sure to mount your dish where a motor could track this arc primarily from due south to the eastern horizon.
Here is a print out of the satellite positions based on zip code 92881. GeoSatFinder - Satellite Finder Calculator - Satellite AV is a great resource for a quick printout or aiming angle.
View attachment SatAiming_92881.pdf
Enjoy the hobby... it is addicting!!!
I tried the Geosatfinder and it's an excellent tool. One glitch: it identified Telstar 14 @ 63.5 as my closest due south satellite. That may be true, but a Brazilian footprint can't be received here. The correct answer for the closest due south satellite with transponder transmitting a linear signal on Ku with receivable footprint is AMC 9 at 83W. Unfortunately, its azimuth is over 26 degrees west of due south: one of the original problems I had when first installing a motorized system in the Maritimes.
SatelliteAV said:
Received the satellite today and installed it according to the Geosatfinder...just waiting for the box now....................I have a friend that flys to China every week, I am sure he can pick up a cheap box that I can play with. Any ideas of what he should look for interim getting the HD box from AV?
Any help would be appreciated..
Thanks again..
Ps. The satellite looks great up there, removed the big Direct TV dish replaced it with the new...
Did you miss the thread about the drawing for two units? Sounds like a few more days / a week before they will be taking orders. I am quite sure the few they have in stock are being bench tested to be sure they will work.
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