True FTA Satellite System - Is it worth it?

[ezjob]

Hello,

I've been researching about the fta satellite systems such as:

Motorized Traxis DBS3500 Satellite System

and

GEOSATpro DSR100C Free To Air Digital Satellite Receiver

Are these systems worth the money for the channels you get?


What kind of channels do you get? (movies, news, sports, weather, etc.)


Do I need a motorized dish if all I'm going to pickup are ku band?


Which system is best to buy at the lowest price?


Where can I get a complete satellite system kit that supplies everything needed to install the system?


I understand that C band requires an 8 ft. dish - Which I don't want.

It's hard to find info about the actual channels you get with ku band.

I would like free tv but I want channels that I will actually watch.

Thanks for the help,
ez

[SmithPatel]

True FTA is totally worth it, as far as I'm conerned. All that you need is a 36" or larger dish, and a FTA box... preferably one with "blind scan".

Check here for a list of currently available true fta channels:

Free TV from United States - LyngSat

The ones that are listed as "Ku" are freely available with a 36" or larger dish, in combination with a Linear LNB. Most commercial dishes, such as the Dish 500, have a "circular" LNB, which will not work on true FTA sats.

I've found that the best way to go about aquiring the dish/LNB is to go on craigslist or check your local newspaper for people who are giving away their dishes. That's what I did, and it works great!

As for a motor, it is totally worth the investment if you have the money, time and know how. I have one, but I haven't bothered to set it up yet due to the weather.

Also, at the moment, the best true fta satellite is probably 97w. While it has mostly non-english programming, it does have a pretty decent selection of stuff in english, and also has over 300 channels of tv and radio to check out.

If you need more info, i'm sure other people can help you out.

[bill of oz]

well for starters i will say alot (or even most) of the ku-band FTA channels are international channels.....so if you only speak and understand english, there will not be alot of channels out there for you to watch.....but you will get some interesting wild feeds also.....

it is fun to channel surf basically throughout the entire world though, even if i cant understand some of it i still enjoy it....lol....it takes awhile to get used to where all the good english channels are.....

you can look at www.lyngsat.com for the channels or www.ftalist.com is good also.....

as far as equipment goes i would highly recommend a 39inch, or 1.2M dish for optimum quality signals.....the motor choice is yours but i would recommend the SG series.....SG2100, SG6000, or the new SG9120.....

the traxis is a great receiver for true FTA.....others include pansat, coolsat, icon, satopia, fortec......

[Sky_Pilot]

If you are into ethnic and/or religious programming such as is broadcast on 97w, then yes.

Otherwise, no.

Especially since the FTA channels on Galaxy 18/123w have been dropped.

Check out www dot ftachannels dot org for available channels keeping in mind that many of the channels listed on G18/123w are no longer broadcasting.

[Sky_Pilot]

As for a motor, you will need it to move the dish between sats.

I highly recommend the Powertech DG-280 over the SG2100 or the GeoSatPro and even the STAB motors made in Italy.

I've gone thru several motors in the past and the DG-280 I'm currently using is by far the best IMO

[Bobby67fb]

Not worth it for ku maybe the bud but definetly not ku.

[bill of oz]

Originally Posted by Sky_Pilot

Check out www dot ftachannels dot org for available channels keeping in mind that many of the channels listed on G18/123w are no longer broadcasting.

you cant really judge things by those sites though, first of all they are never up to date, and second of all they dont list ANY of the wild feeds.....and the wild feeds are the ones that are mostly english.....

[ezjob]

Originally Posted by bill of oz

you cant really judge things by those sites though, first of all they are never up to date, and second of all they dont list ANY of the wild feeds.....and the wild feeds are the ones that are mostly english.....

Are you saying G18 is still showing channels?

[bill of oz]

Originally Posted by ezjob

Are you saying G18 is still showing channels?

some channels yes, but my comment was not specifically about 123W it was about FTA in general....

[ezjob]

Can I get Bonanza and Little house? Fox, abc, nbc, etc.?

[ezjob]

Bill,

What do you mean by wild feeds? How many are there? Are they permanent feeds?

Is there a dependable website where I can check for channel updates? (ku band)

Thanks,
ez

[tomcat01]

i agree with bill i have a HD reciever and some more channels came up on several of the sats thatr were in english i watched soccer in HD on sbs 6 74 w also on 123w i have been watching when it is on cbc tv on 123 west called nfusion ku

and then i also for the canadians (me) i watched on the sbs 6 74 w ctv toronto sat down and watched canada do you think you can dance

so there is sitll some out there retro 's etc .. but min is a 36 inch dish

good luck

amc 21 good english channels HD pbs create etc

[ezjob]

I want to thank all of you for your posts.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that true fta is not as good as my local channels with my outside antenna. They are in HD too.

Please continue to add to this post. I really could use more information on the benefits of ku band, as well as the low-price equipment that is needed to access fta channels.

Thanks,
ez

[mujibar]

I believe Smithpatel has given you great advice. I spent $100.00 CDN on a 36"Dish and linear LNB and tried various satellites over a 2 week period this Summer and after 123W lost most channels. We decided to lock in on 97W. I find it most interesting. A lot of channels and various feeds from time to time. 97W sure give you "The other side" of the news.
As others here have said it depends on what you are looking for. I enjoy 97W while my friend who has a similar setup took his dish down.
My advice would be to spend the money for a basic 36" dish and linear LNB and give it a try.
"Nothing ventured -- Nothing gained"
Be sure you have lots of patience when looking for the various birds.
Lyngsat is a great help.
My thoughts

[steven charles]

does anybody still getting the blackbelt channel on amc 4 any info will be greatly appreciated thank you in advance and godbless.