The best place to buy FTA systems?

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Conjuror

SatelliteGuys Pro
Original poster
May 4, 2004
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Is buying online the only option? If anybody knows for a store in Atlanta area where I can go and buy a complete system please post.
 
Is a rotor really necessary with mpeg2 FTA (pansat or coolsat) systems? I mean, would having one significantly increase number of channels?
 
http://www.galaxy-marketing.com/

Believe they are the retail side of DMS? I'm not really crazy about their line of receivers, but they're local for you anyway.

Online, I have had no problems with Mr. Sadoun. You should also consider Mr. Kohl, http://global-cm.net/

Conjuror said:
Is buying online the only option? If anybody knows for a store in Atlanta area where I can go and buy a complete system please post.
 
Buying a dish LNBF and receiver without a rotor/motor is like buying a car without any wheels. IMO
 
Conjuror said:
Is a rotor really necessary with mpeg2 FTA (pansat or coolsat) systems? I mean, would having one significantly increase number of channels?

yes a motor will add channels. I tried the no motor route and "Ghetto moved" my dish when I wanted to change satellites

Believe me...when you are outside in -20 trying to go from G3 to SBS6, you get a motor pretty quick :)
 
lsat said:
http://www.galaxy-marketing.com/

Believe they are the retail side of DMS? I'm not really crazy about their line of receivers, but they're local for you anyway.

Online, I have had no problems with Mr. Sadoun. You should also consider Mr. Kohl, http://global-cm.net/

I want to make it clear that http://www.galaxy-marketing.com is NOT associated in any way with DMS International other than selling our products. DMS International does not sell retail in any form.

You may also find a dealer at http://www.dmsiusa.com/links_page.htm .

Tim Heinrichs / CEO
DMS International
 
What powers dish rotors? This question just poped up in my mind. I assume I have to run a power cable to it, right?
 
The receiver powers it via coax, no external power source necessary. :)

Conjuror said:
What powers dish rotors? This question just poped up in my mind. I assume I have to run a power cable to it, right?
 
How cool. I was hoping it will be something like that to make my life easier :) .
Will you please take a look on this setup and tell me how good or bad is it:
http://www.ftadirect.com/product_16874_detailed.html

I'm just trying to get a picture of "suitable" components in my area (GA).
Should I go with 1 meter dish, better rotor, different LNBF...? Don't know much about this but I am explorer and determined to go FTA after loosing Voom.
 
Conjuror said:
How cool. I was hoping it will be something like that to make my life easier :) .
Will you please take a look on this setup and tell me how good or bad is it:
http://www.ftadirect.com/product_16874_detailed.html

I'm just trying to get a picture of "suitable" components in my area (GA).
Should I go with 1 meter dish, better rotor, different LNBF...? Don't know much about this but I am explorer and determined to go FTA after loosing Voom.
Keep in mind that none of these STBs do HDTV. The PCI cards for the computers do but from what I can tell, there isn't a whole heck of a lot out there in HD on the Ku band anyways.

I'm an ex-Voomer as well. I don't see FTA as a Voom replacement by any means but it does look like a lot of fun.

I didn't go with a setup like that just because I thought it was a lot to pay for either unknown or known poor quality parts.

I didn't want to pay for a 'junk' dish. That Fortec star dish is notorious for arriving dented, warping while installing, and just generally being poorly built. I'm sure it works, but for similar $$ you can get into a Winegard that is built more solid, has a better mount, and is generally concidered a premium dish.

They don't give any specifics on the LNB but I'd guess that it's a typical .6 noise figure LNB which will work, but there is better stuff out there.

It doesn't say which motor they are including, just a motor (or rotor).

I'd love to give the vendor the benefit of the doubt but I've been burned too many times. Now I want specifics.

The good thing is that the shipping seems reasonable from FTAdirect.

I'd piece what you want together. Some places combine shipping to save you some $$ but that hasn't helped me much.

A high quality equivelant to what you found would be:

CoolSat 4000 Pro on ebay - $199.99 shipped.

<link removed>

That's $385.99 to your door. Better stuff, cheaper. Shop around, it's worth it.
 
I do recommend getting the Coolsat from www.ftadirect.com
This is where I got mine

Shawn is right...I would get a winegard..much sturdier. I have never used a Fortec dish so I cannot comment on it
 
Yeah I neglected to mention...

Buying from a good vendor is worth the little bit of extra money when it comes to support and warranty issues. I was able to pick up my CoolSat for about $170 to my door via ebay but I'm on my own (well I have SG :) ) for support and I'll be dealing with the manufaturer if I have a warrany issue.
 
Shawn95GT said:
Yeah I neglected to mention...

Buying from a good vendor is worth the little bit of extra money when it comes to support and warranty issues. I was able to pick up my CoolSat for about $170 to my door via ebay but I'm on my own (well I have SG :) ) for support and I'll be dealing with the manufaturer if I have a warrany issue.

It's for that exact reason I bought most of my gear from PSB ( www.psbsatellite.com ) - it may sound like I'm trying to hawk his gear but he did help me out a lot when I first started with FTA over here and that's worth a lot.

Edit: Prices are pretty good too - $86 for that new Invacom LNB everybody's talking about, try finding that anywhere cheaper.
I want.
 
Well, I both new coolsat 4000 pro on ebay for 172.50, shipping included. Hope it'll work, I'll let you all know when it arrives. Now I need rotor, dish, and LNBF, end sleep with my wife few Tuesday nights :no so she won't bitch about it :D .
 
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