Suggestions for C Band Set-Up Please

[sidekick]

Well, my escrow closes the first week in November, so I'm thinking about the C-band set-up for the backyard. Will I be able to receive much with a 6' dish in California? If I'm able to I'd rather not go bigger. If need be, then I will. Can some of you please make suggestions about what a good set-up would be? I already have both a Coolsat 4000 and a Coolsat 5000 that I recently picked up through Satellite AV. Would would be a good C-Band set-up to use with that receiver? Thanks!!!

 

[jself1982]

Can't go wrong with a 10 footer! But if 6' is the biggest you can get, just make it work, sure you will be satisfied either way. I love mine and with FTA, love it even more!

 

[GrumpyGuy]

A well tuned 6ft dish properly aligned should give you good performance for everyday viewing ... but just in case you want to supersize it later on - when you install your 6ft, plant a pole tall enough with a footing strong enough to handle a 10. All it will cost you is a few feet of pipe and a few sacks of readymix.

For a C-band receiver I would recommend looking for a used IRD with a non-dead VCII module installed. Even if you have no intention of ever subscribing to any VCII programing, there is VCII programing on C-band in "fixed key" mode - any previously authorized VCII module will decode such programing.

I haven't shopped recently, but my guess is the IRD should set you back less than $50.

 

[tdti1]

Well, my escrow closes the first week in November, so I'm thinking about the C-band set-up for the backyard. Will I be able to receive much with a 6' dish in California? If I'm able to I'd rather not go bigger. If need be, then I will. Can some of you please make suggestions about what a good set-up would be? I already have both a Coolsat 4000 and a Coolsat 5000 that I recently picked up through Satellite AV. Would would be a good C-Band set-up to use with that receiver? Thanks!!!

I would not go with a 6' thats a bit small, you may want to at least go with the Sat AV 240cm it's just 2' bigger, with the 8' you should be able to pull in more channels and can always upgrade to 4dtv if you wish.

 

[sidekick]

An 8 footer would be do-able. Perhaps I should set my sites a bit bigger?? Don't tell the wife ... lol

I would not go with a 6' thats a bit small, you may want to at least go with the Sat AV 240cm it's just 2' bigger, with the 8' you should be able to pull in more channels and can always upgrade to 4dtv if you wish.

 

[sidekick]

Thanks for the advice about the bigger dish. Won't my Coolsat receiver work for C-Band?

A well tuned 6ft dish properly aligned should give you good performance for everyday viewing ... but just in case you want to supersize it later on - when you install your 6ft, plant a pole tall enough with a footing strong enough to handle a 10. All it will cost you is a few feet of pipe and a few sacks of readymix.

For a C-band receiver I would recommend looking for a used IRD with a non-dead VCII module installed. Even if you have no intention of ever subscribing to any VCII programing, there is VCII programing on C-band in "fixed key" mode - any previously authorized VCII module will decode such programing.

I haven't shopped recently, but my guess is the IRD should set you back less than $50.

 

[dfergie]

Digital C-band it will work with...but better to use in tandem with an analog receiver...

 

[W_Tracy_Parnell]

Sidekick,

To get the most out of your dish, an analog receiver would be a great addition. They are cheap on Ebay (just get the remote with it!). Analog is worth the money to me just for the ease in aiming. Your Coolsat will get C Band DVB channels (check Lyngsat). The bigger the dish the better, but PSB has had good results with a Sami mesh dish setup.

Best of luck!

 

[sidekick]

This may be a stupid question, but can you connect a digital "and" an analog receiver to the same dish at the same time?

 

[dfergie]

Use the loopthru on the Coolsat to the C-Band...

 

[tdti1]

This may be a stupid question, but can you connect a digital "and" an analog receiver to the same dish at the same time?

I have my 4dtv to control the arm and polarity settings, I use it for analog and digital DCII free channels and subscription channels, I have both c/ku and have a DVB receiver slaved to the 4dtv like this:
http://www.dmsiusa.com/add_a_receiver.htm

 

[dfergie]

I have my 4dtv to control the arm and polarity settings, I use it for analog and digital DCII free channels and subscription channels, I have both c/ku and have a DVB receiver slaved to the 4dtv like this:
http://www.dmsiusa.com/add_a_receiver.htm

This is the setup I want to end up with...

 

[voomvoom]

I have my 4dtv to control the arm and polarity settings, I use it for analog and digital DCII free channels and subscription channels, I have both c/ku and have a DVB receiver slaved to the 4dtv like this:
http://www.dmsiusa.com/add_a_receiver.htm

Same here, with the exception in the splitters and diseqc's. I use a 4x1 HF splitter with one port power passthrough and go to my 4dtv with the power passthrough and the rest to three different DVB receivers. The DVB receivers have 4x1 diseqc switches from the BUD and two other ku dishes. I love it!

Al

 

[sidekick]

Thanks for the diagram. A picture is definitely worth a 1000 words.

I have my 4dtv to control the arm and polarity settings, I use it for analog and digital DCII free channels and subscription channels, I have both c/ku and have a DVB receiver slaved to the 4dtv like this:
http://www.dmsiusa.com/add_a_receiver.htm

 

[sidekick]

My goodness Al, you just gave me a headache ...lol Do you do installs?

Same here, with the exception in the splitters and diseqc's. I use a 4x1 HF splitter with one port power passthrough and go to my 4dtv with the power passthrough and the rest to three different DVB receivers. The DVB receivers have 4x1 diseqc switches from the BUD and two other ku dishes. I love it!

Al

 

[voomvoom]

Well, sorry about that. Just look at the diagram and imagine the 2x1 splitters are 4x1 splitters and the 2x1 diseqc switches are 4x1 diseqc switches and there are 2 more DVB receivers with there own diseqc switches. And, enough extra lnbf's from other ku dishes, to fill up all the ports on the diseqc switches.
I only do my own installs.

Al

 

[sidekick]

I was just kidding about the installs. This is just another step up on the learning curve. Oh for the days when you had to know how far to spead the rabbit ears. Thanks again for all the information!