Small College, Looking for international channels

[tgelston]

Hello,

I am working at a small college in New England - we have a BUD and a
Chaparral 100c. It has sat unused for sometime and recently our foreign language department has expressed some interest in finding foreign channels to watch. I played with it for awhile today - many, many years ago someone favorited a bunch of channels- very few of those now get anything. I found the following info that seems to be helpful

The Chaparral Satellite Receiver Information Page - Chaparral Satellite Receiver Information from Texas A&M University

C-band Chart - satellite chart for c-band video

I know how to adjust position and polarity - anything else I need to change as I scan? What is the most efficient way to go about finding some foreign language channels?

I appreciate any help you all can provide.

Thanks,
T

 

[Anole]

You might also look on these pages for more info on Free-To-Air C-band signals:
1.) http://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/
2.) MPEG list @ Global CM

 

[gabshere]

well it sounds like a analog receiver , which there is little up there in the way as programming to receive , maybe a stray spanish channel , you would probably come out better moderinizing the old bud ( if its able to receive ku) by adding a new c/ku feedhorn and add a dvb receiver . you can still use the analog receiver to move the big dish. lots of foreign channels on ku and on c-band but most that i've seen are digital ( needing the dvb receiver)

if you haven't entered the contest / giveaway by one of our sponsors Giveaway

but ask any questions you have and we will try to help out with your current system

 

[tdti1]

Get c/ku if you don't have that already, slave a dvb receiver to the chaparral and point at Galaxy 25.

What kind of programming are you looking for mostly?

 

[tgelston]

Thanks

Thanks for the info so far. I appreciate the guidance.

How much does a DVB Cost? We currently offer the following languages, receiving any channels that have any content in these languages would be useful:

French, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic


Thanks,
Tobias

 

[Mr Tony]

a DVB receiver can run from $35 (simple one) to 500 bucks or more

most will run from 100-150 and those usually have a lot of features and are easy to use

 

[tdti1]

Thanks for the info so far. I appreciate the guidance.

How much does a DVB Cost? We currently offer the following languages, receiving any channels that have any content in these languages would be useful:

French, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic


Thanks,
Tobias

I get a ton of Spanish programming on c-band, you will find the others on both c/ku, well for French I'm not sure but the other for sure.

 

[Pepper]

IA-7 (or whatever its new name is now) at 97W has a boatload of foreign channels on Ku band (digital).

Iceberg, where do you find a $35 DVB receiver? I'm interested.

 

[tgelston]

Digital or Analog

PEPPER - is that digital or analog content?

Thanks !

 

[lumpkin666]

IA-7 (or whatever its new name is now) at 97W has a boatload of foreign channels on Ku band.

Iceberg, where do you find a $35 DVB receiver? I'm interested.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/satelliteguys-classifieds/110920-satpros-dsr-500s-fta-receiver.html

Or shop around. My 1st and 3rd receivers were both in "under $40 shipped" range - bought from online retailers.

 

[Pepper]

The stuff on 97W Ku is digital.

lumpkin, thanks, i missed that one.

 

[tgelston]

Gotten the Go Ahead

So I have gotten the go ahead to explore the idea of purchasing a DVB. Because we are a college we have to go through certain vendors. Can you all recommend a couple of brands maybe even specific models you think would work well for us.

I was doing a little reading and I am confused about some DVBs might replace the chapparal we have or some might working in conjunction. Also, how do I tell if we can get Ku Band?

Man you guys have been great.


Thanks,
Tobias

 

[qwert1515]

If the receiver is a DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) receiver it should also support the Ku band, you also need a Ku band dish/LNB.

A C-Band LNB converts the signals it receives using a Local Oscillator to 950 MHz - 2150 MHz.
A Ku-Band LNB does the same thing.

The receiver does not see a C or Ku band signal, it decodes whatever it is given to it on the L-Band (950 MHz - 2150 MHz).


EDIT - As long as you can set the LO (Local Oscillator) frequency the receiver can uses and LNB that converts the signals onto the L-Band.
EDIT - Most new receivers can.

 

[Davage]

Also, how do I tell if we can get Ku Band?

Do you have a digital camera? If you could take pictures of the dish and particularly the LNB, and then post those pictures here, a lot of the guys here can tell just by looking what types of signals you can pick up.

 

[tgelston]

Pics

Great idea -

here they are. Excuse the bird's nest and we do plan on trimming the trees soon

http://akbar.marlboro.edu/~tobiasg/sat/sat.html

 

[qwert1515]

Can you fit a pencil or the pencil lead through the mesh?

 

[tgelston]

Not a pencil

maybe the point but no more. mesh looks fine but it is high enough that I cannot verify for sure.

Thanks,
Tobias

 

[Mr Tony]

from the pic and your note it should work fine for KU

 

[Davage]

The mesh looks nice and fine, but I'm trying to see evidence that it has a C/Ku LNB. I can't quite tell how many RG6 wires are running to the LNB housing.

 

[lumpkin666]

Doesn't really matter how many RG6 go in... just how many RG6 are hooked up :/ The last 3 dishes I've taken down had 2 RG6, and I secretly hoped for a dual c-band or a c/ku lnb to add to the collection. All 3 had 1 c-band lnb and one unterminated rg6 cable hanging loose inside