Want to pick Galaxy 17 at 91.0°W

[CatholicFamily]

Hi all, I am new to FTA. I want to pick up Galaxy 17 so I can watch EWTN. What type of satellite and receiver should I get?

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Jordan

 

[FaT Air]

EWTN is on 3920 Mhz, that's C band, Recommended minimum would be a six ft dish, C band LNBF, and just about any DVB-S Free To Air receiver.

 

[Mr Tony]

welcome

EWTN is on C-Band so you would need a 6 foot dish and any old Free to air receiver. Now I know personally that a 4 footer should pick it up but that involves using non-standard setups. If you are starting fresh (no equipment whatsoever) I would go with a 6 footer. WSI/Galaxy Marketing has a killer deal for a 6 footer
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/226869-6-foot-c-ku-band-prime.html

I've got a couple of them and they work really well. There is also the Word Network on that satellite too if you are interested in that.
For receivers, unless you plan on motorizing the unit I would go with a simple Coolsat, Pansat, Fortec, Visionsat or GeosatPro receiver. All will work great and the last 2 you could hook up a hard drive to it to record programming.

 

[chapelrun]

I agree with ICE - - - you really need a 6 footer but some have been able to do it with a 4 footer - - - but you might want to consider driving around on the weekend and see if anyone might give you a big dish. If you are willing to put in some hard work you could move a 6 or 8 footer yourself - - - -

I was able to get this channel with a 4 footer

http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/206799-another-new-mini-bud-me.html

 

[Mr Tony]

I knew I had a screenshot when I had my 4 footer set for it. 60 quality on EWTN. The 6 footer I get around 80 or so

 

[CatholicFamily]

What about the feed from 133 W ? Does it require a large dish as well?

Thank you all for your replies.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Jordan

 

[Lak7]

Yes, the feed on 133 West is also C Band, and would require a large Dish and an Analog Receiver (not a DVB receiver)

 

[Mr Tony]

While it is on 133W the feed on 91W has more channels and radio stations on it

Also you have to take into account the elevation of the dish. You say WV but no city listed so I picked Charleston and got this info

45 elevation for 91W
21 elevation for 133W

so the dish is much higher in the sky (and less issues of line of site) for the 91W feed than the 133W feed

 

[CatholicFamily]

I'm actually North of Charleston in Vienna, WV.

 

[Mr Tony]

For fun today I tried to pick up the EWTN station on 133W analog...took forever to get the 6 footer locked and minimize sparklies (since its analog you can see artifacts on the screen)

Reaimed the 6 footer to 91W and locked EWTN at 80-85 quality

 

[Cadsulfide]

Welcome!!!!

 

[CatholicFamily]

So how much will a C Band dish run me along with the pole and parts?

 

[Mr Tony]

If you need a new dish I posted a link above. I'll repost it
http://www.satelliteguys.us/free-air-fta-discussion/226869-6-foot-c-ku-band-prime.html

$70 for a 6 foot dish. Some of those have a base that the dish attaches too so you wouldnt need to put a pole in the ground.

A receiver you can pick up on Ebay for pretty cheap. Coolsats, Pansat, Fortec are all good brands. Or check the classifieds area here as folks get rid of receivers as they upgrade (or just end up collecting way too many of them)

 

[CatholicFamily]

Would the base elevate the satellite high enough off the ground to pick up a signal?

 

[Mr Tony]

yes it will. I have 2 of these and one is fixed at 99W and the other I "ghetto move" to various satellites. I can get all the way over to 139W which for me in Minnesota is a 21 elevation and its a good 6 inches higher than the ground. My highest satellite elevation (due to my further north location) is only 38 degrees whereas 91W for you is around 45 so it will work fine

Here is a pic of the ghetto moved one at around 38 degrees elevation