Starting out with FTA - ABA DSS

albo33 · August 26th, 2008

Okay so I kind of just started out today on FTA. I have read several guides and have researched my stuff. I have chosen the Viewsat Ultra Lite as my receiver (Did I make the right choice choosing it over the Sonicview 360 Premier? I was looking for something in the $100-$120 range.)
I moved into this home about seven years ago, we have had cable television for all the years and never touched the dish above our home. Here are my questions:

Can I just use my regular coax cables I already have wired or do I need to change something?
I hear these talks about "Charlie", "Bev", "B3V", and more what are these? Different types of satellites?
Say I would like to "know" how to get D*shNetwork channels, do I have to position my satellite in a certain position?
Do I only get a certain amount of channels in a certain range? Or do I get all the channels for DN if I position it right?
Are there any other satellite providers I can "learn how to get?"
How would I go about getting PPV?
I think I have RG-59's in my house? Is that a HUGE problem or just minor? How can I tell?

Thanks everyone for your help, sorry if I made my intentions a bit obvious, I'm still learning. :P

yamahadude157 · August 26th, 2008

i dont know much about the receivers but viewsat is a great brand, personally i would have got a neosat ipro plus. You cant use rg-59 you have to have rg6. You do need to point your dish, aim for 110/119 to get charlie and u can get the info to point your dish at dishpointer.com hope this helps

**rajiv427** · August 26th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by albo33

Okay so I kind of just started out today on FTA. I have read several guides and have researched my stuff. I have chosen the Viewsat Ultra Lite as my receiver (Did I make the right choice choosing it over the Sonicview 360 Premier? I was looking for something in the $100-$120 range.)
I moved into this home about seven years ago, we have had cable television for all the years and never touched the dish above our home. Here are my questions:

Can I just use my regular coax cables I already have wired or do I need to change something?Just connect the cable to your receiver and see if you get any Signal and quality.
I hear these talks about "Charlie", "Bev", "B3V", and more what are these? Different types of satellites?Charlie means Dishn3twork and Bev or B3V means B*ll Express Vu.These are Satellite provider.
Say I would like to "know" how to get D*shNetwork channels, do I have to position my satellite in a certain position?Yes,you have to position them.
Do I only get a certain amount of channels in a certain range? Or do I get all the channels for DN if I position it right?If you have good signal and quality then you will get the max.
Are there any other satellite providers I can "learn how to get?"First get use to the easier one first then go for more.
How would I go about getting PPV?110w D*sh got lots of Ppv.
I think I have RG-59's in my house? Is that a HUGE problem or just minor? How can I tell?Minor,just change it if you want to RG6 which is better.

Thanks everyone for your help, sorry if I made my intentions a bit obvious, I'm still learning. :P

You will find some useful post here buddy so keep your eyes open and have a look at them.

**chill dawg** · August 26th, 2008

Welcome to ABA!

The viewsat ultra lite is a nice little inexpensive work horse, with good support!

**tb1971** · August 26th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by albo33

Okay so I kind of just started out today on FTA. I have read several guides and have researched my stuff. I have chosen the Viewsat Ultra Lite as my receiver (Did I make the right choice choosing it over the Sonicview 360 Premier? I was looking for something in the $100-$120 range.)
I moved into this home about seven years ago, we have had cable television for all the years and never touched the dish above our home. Here are my questions:

Can I just use my regular coax cables I already have wired or do I need to change something?YES SHOULD BE OK.
I hear these talks about "Charlie", "Bev", "B3V", and more what are these? Different types of satellites? THATS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE, ONE IS US SERVICE PROVIDER AND THE OTHER IS CANADIAN.
Say I would like to "know" how to get D*shNetwork channels, do I have to position my satellite in a certain position?YES YOU DO.
Do I only get a certain amount of channels in a certain range? Or do I get all the channels for DN if I position it right?YOU WILL GET SAT'S 119/110 WITH A DUAL LNB.
Are there any other satellite providers I can "learn how to get?"YOU CAN GET BEV WITH ANOTHER DISH.
How would I go about getting PPV?THE PPV'S WILL BE THERE ALONG WITH YOUR REGULAR NETWORK CHANNELS.
I think I have RG-59's in my house? Is that a HUGE problem or just minor? How can I tell?YOU MIGHT BE OK WITH RG59, DEPENDS ON THE DISTANCE FROM YOUR RECEIVER TO YOUR DISH, THE WAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IS SIGNAL QUALITY AND STRENGTH.

Thanks everyone for your help, sorry if I made my intentions a bit obvious, I'm still learning. :P

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS THEY WILL HELP YOU:
GLOSSARY
ABA DSS - Free to Air Satellite TV Community
TYPES OF DISHES
http://www.abadss.com/forum/29-fta-a...ypes-uses.html

TYPES OF SWITCHES/LNB'S
http://www.abadss.com/forum/29-fta-a...itch-info.html

albo33 · August 26th, 2008

Holy hell thank you some much Rajiv and tb1971, this community is awesome.

I will be getting D*sh Network then since it is US based and suits my needs.

A few more questions:

Is charlie the only satellite I need to point at?
tb1971 is talking about dual lnb, what is this?
What is 119 and 110?
I can't find D*sh Network satellites anywhere on satellite finder?

**lonster** · August 26th, 2008

110 & 119 are DN sats. 82 & 91 are B3V sats.
If I were you I would buy an elliptical dish w/3 standard lnb's and 1 universal lnb....

This way you can get 82,91,110,118 & 119..... If you decide to go HD you will already be on B3V's HD sat as well as get 3 reg def sats....... When an ecm happens you will be affected but not as much as you would be if you you only hit one provider.

albo33 · August 26th, 2008

So what if my satellite only has one lnb? Do I only get 110 or 119? Which should I choose?

**lonster** · August 26th, 2008

Well it depends on the programing you want..

go to lyngsat.com and there you will be able to see what each sat has to offer

Yes you will only be able to hit one sat with one lnb, unless you have a universal lnb aimed @ 119 for example, you will get 118 & 119

albo33 · August 26th, 2008

How do I make sure I hit 119 instead of 118? They seem close. I'm choosing 119 because I read somewhere it is the local channels and the "core" programming whereas 110 is secondary programming.

Also, if I have one lnb does that mean I can only have D*sh it on one TV? Lastly, do I have to have RG-6? Will there be a major singal loss if I already have RG-59?