An interesting link, with the truth about small dish systems
http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/index.html
I'm never going to remove my big C-Band dish

-kwag

@Hi Kwag,

I'm a little disapointed about what I read with the link you provided.
I wanted to try out satellite FTA. With all the navigations required through
transponders to get to programming stations I'm interested in (e.g.
DIY, Cooking, Sports, Sci-Fi, etc) Basic channels similiar to pay cable.
Maybe, I'm wrong. Please set me straight about what's available in north
america, especially in USA, Pennsylvania and how difficult it is.

-BP

Hi bp,

DIY was open until recently, but just got scrambled
But this things happen all the time in FTA, so it should eventually pop up again free, some other time.
Right now I'm getting IFC (Independent Film Channel) on satellite T7 (C-Band), FX East and FX West on Galaxy 11, KIDI, KPBI here: http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Channels/G...frequencie.htm , and some of the WB stations.
The best place to look what's available is at Lyngsat's site: http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/United-States.shtml
There, you can see what's available on every satellite.
With a Big Dish (7' or more), you can get well over 50 good channels, but not prime channels like HBO, Cinemax or SciFi
Those are subscription only.
But I'm very happy with the FX channels and all the analog wild feeds available on C-Band ( go here and register (it's free) : http://www.espee.net/wildfeeds/ and see all that's available. You'll need a 4DTV of a cheap analog receiver to get most of those wild feeds.

-kwag

Not necessarily
I bought a Satwork ST3618 receiver, and it has what's called "Blind Search", that once you lock onto a satellite, it will automatically find all transponders and program all channels on that satellite
It's very economic. I got mine here: http://www.daveswebshop.com/st3618.shtml

-kwag

@Kwag,

Sounds interesting I can only mount a small dish on my roof and
from what you are saying this would limit my access to stations.
I have room for a cable dish, approximately 2' in diameter at my
roof top (about 30' high). If this could work, I'm ready to try
FTA today. I found sports, cooking, news, computer, old movies and
more to interest me. Thanks for you info

-BP

Hi BP,

If you can only mount a single small dish, then I suggest you get the small motor to let you move the dish to several satellites.
You'll need the ST3688 Receiver or a Coship receiver, because the ST3618 (the one I have) can't move a dish. This is called DiSeQC 1.2 (Direct Satellite Equipment Control)
Look here: http://www.daveswebshop.com/sg2100.shtml
That's the motor you would need, and make sure the FTA receiver you buy clearly states that it's DiSeQc 1.2 , and not 1.0.
1.0 only works by controlling a switch that let's you switch between 1 to 4 dishes.
The best receivers (for the price) are currently the Satwork and the Coship.
The best prices are here: http://www.daveswebshop.com/satmain.shtml

Welcome to another addictive hobby

Edit: The best (current) site for satellite information, is http://forums.satforums.com/SatForum...php?webtag=mpg
There you'll find just about anything related FTA MPEG information.
They also have other sections for C-Band, etc.

-kwag

Hi Kwag,

Great info!!! I'm ordering both ST3688 and DiSeQC 1.2 Dish today.
Just looking at the movie schedules for FX-east, FX-west and
IFC is very interesting. I got a cable guy ready to install DiSeQC
the minute I receive my unit. Thanks again

-BP

Great bp
You'll notice that IFC and the FX channels are excelent quality ( The FX channels look better than most Dish Network channels!), but some other channels look like a VCD
I guess some providers use lower bitrates, to pay less for the satellite transponders they use.
But you'll be happy with most of the channels available.
Happy channel hunting

-kwag

Hi bp,

Did you get your receiver

-kwag

Hi Kwag,

Not yet Can't wait though

-BP

@Kwag,

Finally got my equiptment, but the weather will delay me from
setting up the dish for a couple of weeks (i.e. lots of snow).
I'm excited and can't wait to get it up and running

-BP

Bummer You'll have fun

-kwag