Using DirecTV 36" International Dish with FTA

[flee1049]

Is it possible to use my DirecTV 36" International Dish for FTA receiver as well as my DTV receiver at the same time? Like is there some sort of splitter that would let me use both types of receiver with 1 LNB?

I know that FTA boxes uses MPEG2 DVB and DirecTV uses DSS.....

Is this possible?

THis is for the Galaxy 3C 95 Satellite

Thanks

 

[gillham]

If you use a satellite splitter with one port power blocking on the 95° LNBF cable it should work. DirecTV on 95°W looks like it is only horizontal polarity so you would just be picking up FTA that is horizontal. It looks like CCTV and other FTA on 95° is horizontal so it should work.

You have to split it before any switch for DirecTV and make sure your splitter is only passing power on one port. You can have the FTA receiver power the LNB constantly, or if the DirecTV switch keeps it powered use it. The issue is if the DirecTV receiver / switch only powers the LNBF when you have it selected, then your FTA receiver wouldn't work all the time on the non power pass side.

Basically you need to use a splitter that blocks power on one side and set the power passing side to something that will keep the LNBF powered up all the time.

You can also look into a "diode steered splitter" that allows power from two receivers for a non voltage switching LNBF. There was some debate in the past about whether the linear LNBF is single or dual polarity. If it is dual you would need to let the DirecTV side control the polarity by supplying the power for the LNBF.

A diode steered splitter: ptth://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=CM2212IFD

 

[flee1049]

I have no idea what you're talking about got any diagrams? Pics?

 

[gillham]

You would split the signal kind of like the "C-Band" side of this diagram:

BUD Slave Kit Splitters, Switches, DVB MPEG2 Sidecar 4DTV Receiver ....Great Prices

How is your dish currently connected? What switches / wiring / receivers?

 

[flee1049]

I have a DirecTV Slimline AU9 with the DirecTV 36" International connected with a zinwell 6x8 switch.....I want to use a FTA receiver to also get FTA channels from 95.....

 

[Mr Tony]

Are you looking to get CCTV on 95W with the free to air receiver?

Here is the first question...do you subscribe to DirecTV?

If yes....then its rather easy. If I remember correctly, there is a multiswitch already in place to combine 95 & 101 together. Just tap into that multiswitch with the FTA receiver and set up the satellite in the FTA receiver with the 22k setting on (LNB LO 10750)...then you can use both just fine

If no then you can aim the dish at 95W or is its already at 95W just hook a cable from the 95W LNB (the LNB in the holder not dangling off to the side) to the receiver

 

[Mr Tony]

ahhh schmuck you posted right when I did so scratch what I wrote

Since you have the slimline the 95W cable goes into the "flex" port of the 6x8 which only the D* receivers can figure out. FTA can't

 

[flee1049]

Yes, I am subscribed to DTV......so this isn't possible?

 

[Mr Tony]

I'm assuming you want CCTV4 & 9 that is free to air (its the only things really on 95W FTA)?

 

[FTABman0]

I get asked this all the time too! There is a guy down the road form me that has one of these DirecTV 36" International Dishes new in a box still wrapped in shrink rap, wanted to give it to me the other day for nothing. I told him that yeah, I would take it but feel it is undersized to do true FTA stuff on the weaker KU side of things. I have set up a World TV Globecast dish similar to the International size before but his is stationary and on the 97.0°W Galaxy 19 Ku bird and 101.0°W AMC 4 Glorystar stuff using homemade bracket with the duel LNB mount. He asked about going motorized on that dish and I told him for it being stationary on the Glorystar stuff it is great for that but would need 80CM dish or bigger to get full use out of KU and the whole arc. Has anyone here motorized one of these things to see what they would pull in?

For what I can tell the Direct 36EDS is 36x24 Elliptical and the Globecast Elliptical Dish 36" x 27" (Channel Master) are almost identical in size. Does not hurt to ask if anyone has done it with either of these dishes for FTA and motorized. I never could recommend anyone to do it here that is interested in going FTA to use this dish because of its size. I know from experience though one pointed stationary is another thing, depends on what you want to point it at.

The dude I put the Globecast World dish up for gets signals to about 95% and Quality readings on most of the channels 75-97% all the time. He is using it on a Fortec Star Mercury II and it just has those two Glorystar birds scanned in there. I would say that the 36EDS dish will be about the same signal and quality wise depending on where you are and LOS. He lives on a out on [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai"]Mount Sinai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:MountSinaiView.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/MountSinaiView.jpg/250px-MountSinaiView.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/5/5e/MountSinaiView.jpg/250px-MountSinaiView.jpg[/ame], at least I tease him that he does so there is no obstruction in his LOS! He lives on a ridge out in my area that is one of the highest elevation places in my county!

Had another guy ask about the 36EDS for using it as a motorized system for his RV traveling. Seems like there is plenty of them around available to first time FTA wannabes and think that they have the dish right off to start the hobby!

On these for linear FTA use I remember the LNB has to be set like on a motorized dish at “0” and if you use them stationary. Got to skew the dish. Just a FYI.

And for the guy down the road that has the new 36" International dish in a still sealed box, cought him this morning going to the mail box while taking my Daughter to school and we loaded it up in my ol classic car trunk! I will find a use for it sometime! FREE is always good! :up

 

[flee1049]

Is it possible to replace the 95 LNB on the DTV Dish with a Dual Linear LNB? Something like this Link ? One port will go to the 6x8 Zinwell switch for DTV and the other will go to a FTA box? is this possible?

 

[flee1049]

DTV International Dish

Is it possible to switch out the 101 Circular LNB to a Linear LNB to receive AMC 4 101 programming? Thanks

 

[techno935]

You should see my retrofit

 

[techno935]

Has anyone here motorized one of these things to see what they would pull in?

I'm so tempted to try it and see if I get better results. No skew necessary if you only use the 95 LNB for motorized. Now, you can add the 101 LNB to the group and possibly get away without skewing since circular signals are very strong. Obviously the 95 LNB we are talking about is set to look @ the dish directly while the 101 lnb is offset but automatically has proper skew. Hence using a motor is no problem.

Example #1: Motorize to 123 west, your circular "101" lnb will be on 129 (some FTE material)
Example #2: Motorize to 113 west, your circular "101" lnb will be on 119 (NASA)
Example #3: Motorize to 103 west, your circular "101" lnb will be on 109 (close enough for 110 but no FTA material as it is)

Obviously if you can retrofit the 101 slot on the dish to be linear, you're already in better shape!

 

[FTABman0]

I'm so tempted to try it and see if I get better results. No skew necessary if you only use the 95 LNB for motorized. Now, you can add the 101 LNB to the group and possibly get away without skewing since circular signals are very strong. Obviously the 95 LNB we are talking about is set to look @ the dish directly while the 101 lnb is offset but automatically has proper skew. Hence using a motor is no problem.

Example #1: Motorize to 123 west, your circular "101" lnb will be on 129 (some FTE material)
Example #2: Motorize to 113 west, your circular "101" lnb will be on 119 (NASA)
Example #3: Motorize to 103 west, your circular "101" lnb will be on 109 (close enough for 110 but no FTA material as it is)

Obviously if you can retrofit the 101 slot on the dish to be linear, you're already in better shape!

techno, if you do motor before I get a chance to post some quality numbers on various birds, like to compare numbers on TP on birds of your choice. Always wanted to try this with this dish! Going to try maybe this weekend if the WX stays nice! Let me know so we can compare findings.

B~Man

 

[flee1049]

You should see my retrofit

how did you get the 95 LNB to bolt down? I tried doing this earlier....and I would not get a signal unless it is bolted down tight....

 

[techno935]

remember the long screw you saw in the picture? Gotta use a long one on both ends. If you mount the 95 LNB just right, the c120 flange screws kind of hold it in place. It can be tricky but possible. Must be sure the 95 lnb is tight. May wanna have the dish aimed correctly before the mod.

 

[flee1049]

remember the long screw you saw in the picture? Gotta use a long one on both ends. If you mount the 95 LNB just right, the c120 flange screws kind of hold it in place. It can be tricky but possible. Must be sure the 95 lnb is tight. May wanna have the dish aimed correctly before the mod.

How long are your screws? I bought 8/32 - 2.5" Length screws......i couldn't get the 95 LNB to be tight...maybe its possible to use 2 of those Eagle Linear LNBS? since they are smaller in in thickness...

 

[techno935]

can't find my tape measure at the moment, but the best thing to do (if you can't find another eagle sized LNB) is to pre-mod and see how much screw length you will need to hold the larger (new) linear down in place. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and match the threading of the screws and get the length you need.

I just so happened to have a similarly threaded set of screws laying around and I got lucky. Good luck!