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Free to Air Satellite - true FTA
This thread has 117 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 30.
Post 16 made on Saturday October 4, 2008 at 10:10
1ziggi1
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I have a Sonicview HD-8000 and there are several unscrambled (local Miami, Denver and others) TV stations available in my area. They do transmit in true 5.1 as shown on my B&K display. Almost all of the TV stations doing HD are using 5.1 sound. The HD-8000 also has an OTA tuner so I can pickup stations from several cities here in Florida. All in HD.
Post 17 made on Saturday October 4, 2008 at 14:19
hd fan
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A correction to my previous post that will also answer your question Daniel. I installed everything yesterday but playing around today I just ran into a SD TV channel that was also broadcasting a second audio track in english that was AC-3 therefore Dolby Digital 2.0. In other words the CaptiveWorks 600S P receiver does indeed output DD through the S/PDIF optical conector. You just have to select the proper audio track by pressing the Audio red key in the remote. The Onkyo was showing DD 2.0 after that. nice!!!.

Daniel:

The 82W bird from Bell TV on channel (SID 829) has the Free HD Promo channel and the receiver can decode the audio track which being an HD channel is DD 5.1. the onkyo 605 receiver is showing and playing DD 5.1 accordingly. Eventhough this channel is still MPEG-2 Unscrambled (Free) this CW600 receiver being not an HD receiver can not decode the video stream properly. The other ,less than 5, Free channels on that bird are either radio or SD promo channels. I already have a 9242 HD PVR with Bell TV, that is why it is so easy for me to set up the Bell birds so easy.

I am in the process of spending more time and money in this hobby (untill I get a girlfriend I guess, lol lol lol ) therefore a full install with tripod & motor in the patio is due. Not too many Spanish speaking channels (I found on Lyngsat.com a few Univision US Affiliates) in the sky compared with other languages but at least my mother will not complain too much about the lack of spanish programming on Bell TV (only TLÑ en Español and mostly repeat shows even the famous Sabado Gigante from Univision is being broadcast 2 weeks old).

In terms of HD , the US Networks mostly is what you get as per lyngsat, but those in my case are coming fine via OTA from Buffalo and also on the Bell HD service, no need for double or triple spending on the same stuff . Spanish programming is my main drive (I obviuosly dislike Rogers lol lol) and after 6 years , the need for at least a hobby related to my Telecomm Eng background. I guess it will make being an immigrant in Canada less painfull lol lol lol.

Donnyjaguar: Any idea what the new Galaxy 19 (still moving west) will bring to the plate and the final position?
OP | Post 18 made on Monday October 6, 2008 at 10:55
donnyjaguar
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On October 4, 2008 at 03:13, Ernie Bornn-Gilman said...
This is so when you're watching music, the sound matches
the perspective of the guys in the band...just joking,
because then you'd be looking at the audience, wouldn't
you?

No joke, I was listening to a recording the other day and the drums seemed to be miked backwards with the highhat on the left and the toms around to the right. I mentioned this to my all-knowing pop music junkie friend whom pointed out the drummer of this particular band is indeed left-handed.
Donny Jaguar
OP | Post 19 made on Monday October 6, 2008 at 12:05
donnyjaguar
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On October 4, 2008 at 14:19, hd fan said...
The 82W bird from Bell TV on channel (SID 829) has the
Free HD Promo channel and the receiver can decode the
audio track which being an HD channel is DD 5.1. the onkyo
605 receiver is showing and playing DD 5.1 accordingly.
Eventhough this channel is still MPEG-2 Unscrambled (Free)
this CW600 receiver being not an HD receiver can not decode
the video stream properly. The other ,less than 5, Free
channels on that bird are either radio or SD promo channels.
I already have a 9242 HD PVR with Bell TV, that is why
it is so easy for me to set up the Bell birds so easy.

You'll definitely need to be aimed in another, or several other, directions to get any satisfaction from your FTA experience. :) I'm going the dish motor route myself shortly. The novelty of swinging a 1m dish around to catch other birds wears out quite quickly.

I am in the process of spending more time and money in
this hobby (untill I get a girlfriend I guess, lol lol
lol )

Girlfriends tend to turn into wives and result in offspring. Thus ensuring longterm abject poverty. :)

therefore a full install with tripod & motor in
the patio is due. Not too many Spanish speaking channels
(I found on Lyngsat.com a few Univision US Affiliates)
in the sky compared with other languages but at least
my mother will not complain too much about the lack of
spanish programming on Bell TV (only TLÑ en Español and
mostly repeat shows even the famous Sabado Gigante from
Univision is being broadcast 2 weeks old).

There looks to be eight Espanol on Gxy18 so she won't go hungry.

In terms of HD , the US Networks mostly is what you get
as per lyngsat, but those in my case are coming fine via
OTA from Buffalo and also on the Bell HD service, no need
for double or triple spending on the same stuff . Spanish
programming is my main drive (I obviuosly dislike Rogers
lol lol) and after 6 years , the need for at least a hobby
related to my Telecomm Eng background. I guess it will
make being an immigrant in Canada less painfull lol lol
lol.

I think you need to view (no pun intended) it as a hobby to justify the expense.
For me its a replacement for Cable as I refuse to give Ted Rogers any more money.

Donnyjaguar: Any idea what the new Galaxy 19 (still moving
west) will bring to the plate and the final position?

My understanding is its a replacement for Galaxy25, which has all the ethnic programming. These satellites have a finite lifespan it would appear.
Donny Jaguar
OP | Post 20 made on Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 15:35
donnyjaguar
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Yikes, my signal strength on Galaxy18 has gone to pot on most channels. I hope this is short term and as a result of phasing in the replacement for Galaxy10R!
Donny Jaguar
Post 21 made on Friday October 10, 2008 at 20:06
hd fan
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can someone explain the difference between a blind scan and an auto scan with an FTA box? Apparently I am missing 1 transponder at least and probably more (only 25 out of 32 Ku possible) on the new Nimiq 4 satellite , 82W, that is live since 3 days ago as per other users but i have no idea what am I doing wrong. Everytime I factory default the FTA box it goes back to 25 TP for the 82 Nimiq 2 bird, since I know the new bird is active with 32 Ku TPs I tried a blind scan yet it is still missing HD channels like CBCHE (this is an SD FTA box (coolsat 6000) but it should at least and does indeed show the channel name on the EPG). Will I have to manually add those missing TPs or the blind scan should always find them FOR ANY SATTELITE?. Lyngsat is not listing anything yet for the new Nimiq 4 bird.

The true FTA testing will beging tomorrow when I set up a single Linear LNB Dish (no motor yet) in the patio . Hispasat 1D @ 30W will be my target(Spain Atlantic satellite). but I needed first to learn how the FTA box works so I ran into the less amount of problems possible. I already knew the BEV channel line up since I am a subs so it was easy for me to set up and realize if channels were missing or not. Despite that I had a hard time setting the proper switch configuration and still do not get how a few things work.
Post 22 made on Friday October 10, 2008 at 22:37
hd fan
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finally!!!!. thanks to lyngsat.com I found out the problem. Oh men , this Lyngsat website is the Holly Bible for the FTA user!!!. apparently the blind scan does not necessarilly add new transponders (eventhough i have the CH/TP auto feature ON). So I decided to add the few missing TP's and did a manual TP scan and voilá!!!. now the channels are on the guide but I can not see them lol lol lol. BTW apparently the resolution of those HD channels by Bell are 1008 x 720 , not even the 1280 x 720 we get for free OTA!!!. This FTA receivers apparently only output DD via S/PDIF I mean they do not decode internally DD and then output audio via the RCA output. The BEV receiver on the contrary decodes DD internally and even using RCA you can listen to the DD track which defeats the DD purpose but caught my attention that I got no audio on the TV with some channels when selecting the DD available track.

As per Hispasat website apparently NA users need dishes between 80 cm to 1.5 m to get the signal. I will try tomorrow with a 65 cm Dish and a straight short RG-6 cable and see what happens. maybe I am lucky maybe not. should be a sunny day so it helps. But I am under the impression that for this FTA reception a 1m Dish might be needed in most scenarios.
Post 23 made on Saturday October 11, 2008 at 21:12
hd fan
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what a disaster !!!!!. I spent almost the hole day today trying to lock a signal to at least 1 satellite and nothing!!!. I guess now I have realized the mistake I was making , I hope someone will clarify me. I was using a Sat Finder but after peaking the sat signal I always went to the TV to check the signal WITHOUT REMOVING THE SAT FINDER. Other than that I can not think of anything else I might have been doing wrong. The dish is a 24" or 60 cm Eagle Star (too small for most birds probably) and I even try the Nimiq Birds because they have stronger signal levels and nothing. I am using a Universal LNB, a cheap Multi-Star that claims 0.3 dB NF only but says nothing about Gain. Also a Coolsat 6000 Premium. Straight 15 m run of RG-6. I will try the HH90 motor that I bought tomorrow.
Post 24 made on Sunday October 12, 2008 at 09:45
hd fan
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well back to the patio. F1 is over. (Am I the only one not celebrating Thanksgiving? lol lol) This morning I will triy to lock to one of the highest powered sattelites out there from my location. As per Dishpointer.com that would be a Mexican SAT , SATMEX 5 @ 116.8 and only requieres a 60 cm dish. Nimiqs and Echos are not an option since I am using Linear or Universal LNB's not the needed DBS circular ones. I thought the Universal was Linear and also Circular but it is not , Universal means covers both Ku band (low for Europe mostly and High for NA ). Will get a 90 cm (36") later and install HH90 rotor. Rotor install seams fairly easy if using USALS.

After researching SATs coverage and ERP's I do not think that the SAT finder was the issue rather than the small Dish , only 24" or 60 cm. Will post results or dissapointments lol lol lol.
Post 25 made on Sunday October 12, 2008 at 16:28
Daniel Tonks
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The sat finder WILL reduce signal strength, however it shouldn't cut it off. I will suggest you don't leave a multiswitch connected, if you have one, when using a finder, however.
Post 26 made on Sunday October 12, 2008 at 16:37
hd fan
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I am using a 90 cm dish now. I am not using a switch, no need , I will use a HH90 rotor for the final set up. I guess I was also not using the sat finder properly , I mean you have to be patient and repeat the process several times by reducing the level and the start again . will post results later if any!!!. I guess after all this , motor install will not be as easy as I thought lol lol lol lol.
Post 27 made on Sunday October 12, 2008 at 22:06
hd fan
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well .... still nothing. This is a list of strong transponders in Satellites visible from NA. I will follow that to aim the dish tomorrow. So far I have not been setting a specific TP but rather the Satellite beacon I guess or what ever the FTA STB uses to get the sat name. I will use the Manual Scan page on my Coolsat to aim using some of this specific TP's.

This list was taken from the Satelliteguys.US website. Hope it helps.

I need a strong transponder to aim my dish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know it has been asked a lot of times. I need a strong transponder to pick up X satellite or to aim my motorized at my true south. Well, below are one or two strong transponders on each satellite from 72-129. Most of these frequencies should be in your receiver, but if it isn’t, you can manually add them. Consult your manual on how to add them. Some are data transponders that don’t have any channels but will give off a strong signal. All transponders listed are up 24/7. Hopefully this will help when aiming a fixed dish or motorized.

Satellite (name)-frequency/polarity/symbol rate
30 (Hispasat)-12172 H 27500 or 12132 H 27500
43 (IS-3R)-12050 H 23700
58 (PAS-9)-11612 H 3670 (Need a Universal LNB)
72 (AMC6)-12143 V 2573 or 12068 V 9755
74 (H2 AKA SBS6)-11733 H 6616
77 (G4R)- No active transponders
79 (AMC5)-12182 H 23000
82 (Nimiq2)-12224 V 20000 (need a DBS LNB)
83 (AMC9)-12140 V 30000 or 12160 H 30000 (data transponders. No active channels but strong signal)
85 (AMC2)-12194 H 3978
87 (AMC3)-11736 V 8333 or 11716 H 4859
89 (G28 AKA IA8)-11780 H 29000 or 11952 V 19532
91 (G11)-12060 V 26700
93 (G26 AKA IA6)-11710 V 14320 or 11865 V 3516
95 (G3)-11780 H 20760
97 (G25 AKA IA5)-12177 V 23000 or 12152 H 20000
99 (G16 AKA G4)-11760 H 30000 or 12100 V 30000 (data transponders)
101 (AMC4)-11822 H 5700 or 12120 V 30000
103 (AMC1)-12100 V 20000
105 (AMC15)-12175 H 17775 (data transponder)
107.3 (AnikF1)-11902 H 5859 or 11912 H 5859
110 (Dish 110)-12224 V 20000 (a lot of transponders on this satellite are spotbeams).. (DBS LNB needed)
111.1 (AnikF2)-11847V 5673
113 (Satmex6)-12080 H 25635
116.8 (Satmex5)-11740 V 30000
119 (Dish 119)-12238 H 20000 (do not use a V transponder as the 1st 5 are spotbeams).. (DBS LNB needed)
121 (Dish 121)-12014 V 20000
123 (G18 AKA G10)-11805 H 4580 or 11800 V 26660
127 (Horizon 1)-11938 V 21000
129 (G27 AKA IA7)-11964 H 2920 or use a DBS LNB and use 12457 V 20000
148 (Dish 148)-12224 V 20000 or 12253 V 20000....no H side transponders as the satellite co-located there failed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by Iceberg; 07-18-2008 at 01:55 PM. Reason: updated 105
Post 28 made on Monday October 13, 2008 at 23:34
hd fan
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FINALLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I just finally locked (11 pm) to the very first satellite after spending 3 days (making mistakes lol lol lol). It is AMC 5 @ 79W with only a few channels and only 5 active TP's now. I am using a 90cm Fortec Offset Dish, a GT Universal 0.2 dB NF LNB and a fantastic Coolsat 6000 premium. After failling using the SAT Finder I decided to use Wireless Headphones instead to listen to the signal meter on the FTA box. And in my opinion it is better than the Sat finder!!!. And forget a second person and a walkie talkie or cell phone. The key was listen carefully to the sound it made even when there was no signal. When there are only 1 or 2 bars it has an intermitent low frecuency sound like tac tac tac but when it gets 3 or 4 bars (even without a lock yet) you can notice that the frecuency of the tac tac goes down they are more spaced in time now , that means your close to your location.

One of my problems all weekend was that I was using the main install dish screen that has the LNB and Switch info and stuff , but with that one and most satellites I would have never locked to anything. So I decided to follow the previous list I posted and using the manual scan feature , I selected the strongest TP as per the list. I decided to lock to AMC 5 , 79W because it it located in the my same longitud therefore it is the heighest satellite in the Sky for me. 40 degrees Elevation. Even after locking using scan manual TP I went back to the main install dish it did not showed any lock , so use the manual scan and the strongest TP to aim your dish. After the blind scan (very important to have) the FTA box added a new active TP to the list , now AMC 5 has 5 TP instead of the 4 it came with. make sure update TP/CH is on in the menu options.

Second problem was the Elevation Scale on the freaking Fortec 90 cm Dish . It is off by 8 degrees !!!!!!!!!. I had to set it to 48 instead of 40 as per Dishpointer.com said. Well I agree that my pole it is not plumb I mean fully and perfectly vertical and maybe has a slight deviation eventhough the first thing I did was to make sure it was perfectly vertical with a magnetic level. But 8 degrees it is too much although for satellites very low for me like Hispasat @ 30W it is an advantage for me , maybe I will overcome the tree next time.

Dishpointer.com it is a very nice website to get your data and have an idea where to start and last but not least be very patient and Do it very slowlly with very small changes at a time and wait a few seconds for the signal.

I have not played with the LNB skew or Tilt to see the effect (AMC 5 for is 0.6 , almost 0) , now go to sleep that the long weekend is over, very long for me lol lol lol lol. Tomorrow after work I will search for Hispasat and the new Galaxy 18. then the hh90 motor.
OP | Post 29 made on Tuesday October 14, 2008 at 11:41
donnyjaguar
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Too bad I didn't check here on the weekend as I could've saved you a bit of time. :) The skew is very important and generally I preset this before aiming. Then fine-tune after I get signal. Yes, these dishes are very directional and you need to be patient. The Viewsat box will actualy give you the satellite's name as you are aiming, so you know when you've found the right one.
Donny Jaguar
Post 30 made on Tuesday October 14, 2008 at 21:35
hd fan
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I finally master the art of aiming a dish I guess, I got Hispasat 1C/1D @ 30W very quick today but unfortunaelly there is a big tree in the way to the left. I barely get usable signal on a few TP's. TP 79 at 11883 H Mhz (Cuban TV) it is the strongest for me followed by 12050 H for TV from Spain channels. Once again , the main dish setup screen does not show a lock maybe due to the fact that TP 1 was not locked. I used manual scan to lock to the strongest TP following the previously posted list (BTW I do not get a lock to the TP's listed on that list) but then decided to change TP's untill I found 2 locked. I will try to relocate the dish (on tripod, only 1 m off the ground) to get a clean LOS. Some channels are using encription like PowerVU and Nagravision. Some channels have a second audio track which is DD 2.0.

The coolsat box gives the name of the Network using the locked TP on the manual sacn screen. On the main dish setup screen it shows the name of the satellite provided apparently that you lock to TP1 or maybe the Satellite Beacon.
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