How to Set up an FTA Satellite System

[@dricklorenz9340]

this "old" video has a great "Public Access" feel to it. good basic overview, even 8+ years later

[@bmwguy21]

Don't listen to these people being a smart ass to you that don't know what they are talking about.... You are suck a nice guy & a lot more help than most people on youtube. Keep up the good work Christopher!

[@renegtz]

awesome video and very self explaining. I am kind of new on FTA but your explanations are very clear. thank you very much.

[@videogamegenius]

I just wanted to thank you for this video and all your help. You are very knowledgeable.

[@WMsReligion]

..very Nice, man. ... very clear and well organized .. simple & straighforward

[@drbpony]

Excellent video for a noob like me. Picked up my FTA system used for under ten bucks (including the dish).

[@christopherve7alb]

Thank-You bibbler227 finally someone who understands true FTA

[@semco72057]

I noticed that there is one dish which is on true South and I will get the best signal from it using the meter. Thanks so much for this information.

[@christopherve7alb]

@jamiesandhillcrane That's the best way to do it, I found it was very difficult to run between the main TV and the house to get feedback on the signal.

[@MrJohnnyHamer]

Wow very good video. As soon as I get some cash to play with I am definitely going to give this a try.

[@christopherve7alb]

@kenlen13 You'll want to get an over-the-air antenna to watch TV while hiking as aiming an FTA dish requires a lot of precision as well as an external receiver that cannot easily be powered off of a battery pack.

[@christopherve7alb]

From time to time channels change around from transponder to transponder. If you bring up the menu on your satellite receiver there should be an option (sometimes under antenna or dish options) to scan the satellite for channels. This is what you need to do from time to time to "re-teach" your receiver about the new channel parameters. If you can find a manual for your receiver online it should make life a lot easier for you.

[@eyeballll]

What I enjoy most about KZbin videos is the stupid, illiterate comments and questions.

[@christopherve7alb]

@pf126p I am from NA (Canada to be specific) and I don't find the FTA channels to be limiting at all. I'll admit you can't get premium stuff like HBO or ESPN but if one really wanted to get that stuff then subscriptions are available. I like the network/news feeds as well as International channels that FTA offers.

[@semco72057]

I noticed that you have a Mercury II receiver in the background. I have one of those receivers myself and the satellite directions was lost on the in the receiver memory. I am only able to get CCTV and a few other channels off of three satellites. I just purchased a serial/usb cable which can connect to my netbook computer. All I have to do now is get the new information to install in the receiver.

[@marcaomillan]

Wow man Nice vid Ive watched a couple of your videos nicely explained every thing very Pro. Im thinking about getting the CW800 i want to get an HD one but its sooo expensive what other ones do you recommend and you should do a video for the CW's its the most popular

[@christopherve7alb]

Yup, you would need to fgure out what switches etc are being used in the system so that you can set it up correctly. Also the only boxes working for Dish Network right now are Kbox, Nfusion and SonicView with the special i-hub

[@bogdaiki]

Hi Chris, great video! Do you think I can install a satellite dish in the attic? (they don't allow us to have dishes on the roof). Thanks

[@christopherve7alb]

OK what you would need is 2 LNBs (generally speaking you need one LNB per satellite), a switch and a slightly larger dish. There are FTA dishes that are designed to pick up multiple satellites, however, because all the sats you want are dish network you could probably get a dish netwrok dish and cover all your needs. Alternatively you could use two dishes and combine them with a switch.

[@christopherve7alb]

No elevation markers can be a problem. best bet is to connect the dish to an analogue signal meter or your receiver and go from there moving it left/ right up/down little bits at a time. Where you aim the dish depends on your location. You will be looking at 97W in the sky. There are calculators that can help you find the right angles.

[@christopherve7alb]

Strength only measures the signal from the LNB to the receiver. Quality is a measure of the satellite. What sat are you trying to get?

[@christopherve7alb]

Your welcome I enjoy doing it and if others can benefit all the better.

[@christopherve7alb]

Well first of all what satellites are you interested in receiving, that depends on what type of dish you need. beyond that it's just a matter of running the coax, aiming the dish, and setting up your receiver. The menu on the CW600s is very easy to use and I would imagine it would be similar to the CW800. Once you have a decent signal into your receiver make sure you do a channel scan to pick up all available channels.

[@christopherve7alb]

The quality spike may be from an adjacent satellite that your receiver "sees" as the dish moves across the sky. What type of motor and dish are you using?

[@TheOriginalWolfCrane]

Thanks Christopher. I am going to get a signal meter, to help improve the signal also. BTW, Iam supposed to be able to get the History & science channel on the satellite receiver ( GloryStar ), do I need to change satellites? if so, how?

[@semco72057]

I learned the difference between C-Band and Ku satellite systems. I have a motorized system and can't get a signal yet on it. The motor works fine when changing satellites and the best I can get in signal strength is 9. Sometimes I get a 65 on signal quality temporarily on a few satellites.

[@christopherve7alb]

@williamxxx40 Thanks for the suggestion I'll look at doing something like that in the near future when I have a little more time on my hands.

[@christopherve7alb]

@youngnam That's correct you can use a regular old TV antenna to get HDTV signals over the air with a TV that has a digital tuner or a converter box. Unfortunately your dish Network system is completely useless for FTA: The dish is too small and the receiver is locked to receiving Dish Network channels.

[@christopherve7alb]

@bmwguy21 Well it looks like the CNX is up and running but you should head over to the ABADSS satellite forum and make sure what receivers are up and running before you buy anything.

[@TheOriginalWolfCrane]

I'm in the process of setting up a used Glorystar Sat system, and have been having trouble getting a signal. The guys over at the satelliteguys forum have been trying to help me. I am still trying to figure out what I've been doing wrong. Today, I will be taking a small TV & the system outside to the dish, to work on getting a signal.

[@semco72057]

I am using a DG-240 Sadoun PowerTech motor on a Fortec Star FC-80cm dish mounted to a steel pole in concrete. The pole was plumbed using a level to make sure it was level. My problem now is getting someone to watch the signal level and quality meters on screen while I move the dish for a decent power level.

[@CitizensInvestigator]

Yea, figured it out. You're correct. I bought an FTA LNB and placed it on a 27"X23" old Dish Network Turbo dish and placed it at location: 39.4 latitude and -87.4 longitude with a clear view of the south to south west. 1 peaked the dish to 97.0W thn 103.0W .Both positions gave me between 74% to 78% with 0% quality using my new X2 Square M2 receiver; however, I am unable to get any programming to register with the receiver. Is the problem due to having too small of a dish?

[@gunnnzz]

thanx for the info. Deeply appreciated

[@smoothguy432]

Thanks Christopher is was very helpful but I have a few questions to ask you. I have a pansat receiver I see that alot of people have the HBO and all the other movie channels. How can I get that also?

[@AliHayek]

Hi there, I have a FTA satellite installed (facing south) and it works very well, however, next month I am going to move to my new apartment and it happened that I am on the opposite side were my satellite should be pointed. I have a large balcony (Facing north), but still, if I fix the dish on the balcony, it is going to be facing the apartment, and there's noway to have an open area since I live in a huge highrise (13th floor). Do you think, there'll be a way to fix this issue? Thanks.

[@christopherve7alb]

@jc3mer All of those will work in Australia as you can set-up whichever satellites you need even add new ones.

[@semco72057]

@christopherve7alb I found that it wasn't detected on my computer and I will either find the external DVD player to plug into my netbook or use my laptop to load the drivers. Thanks so much for the information and I hope that the drivers will install correctly after doing all that.

[@christopherve7alb]

The reception of unencrypted FTA signals is 100% legal. All my video is explaining is how to set up a dish, cable and receiver. if people want to modify their receivers then that's their own choice.

[@m6.filmshk]

Thanks for cool starter! What would i need if I need to watch multiple channels in different TVs ?

[@dingledorf1]

My dad and I just picked up a Direct TV dish and were were wanting to get into this Free to Air setup for a while. I'm hearing alot about this n3 security going on. Is it going to be worth it to buy a receiver and the rest of the equipment?

[@christopherve7alb]

Both Outputs of the LNBs are connected to their separate switch?

[@christopherve7alb]

It depends on what satellite you're trying to receive. The DirecTV dishes will get the Dish Network, Bell, and DirecTV satellites but not FTA ones. You need a 33" dish and linear LNB to get FTA although 119W (dishnet) has some unencrypted stuff.

[@christopherve7alb]

The dish that I have is for weaker linear satellites, if you're trying to pick up dish network @ 119W then even a small 20" dish will work just fine.

[@christopherve7alb]

The one requirement in your situation would be to ensue you have an unobstructed view of the southern sky and a balcony to setup your dish on as satellite signals do not travel through walls. The GEOSAT receiver looks like a good entry level FTA receiver.

[@60hrtz_]

Really, really good information. Thanks.

[@tyrakym]

yup, they're connected to different diseqc sw. Which is more suitable, a 3 x 4 multi-switch or a SW-44? How about a 22Khz sw? Thanks for your reply.

[@johnlvs2run]

Excellent video, very helpful.

[@christopherve7alb]

@primpnpoop Did you try turning up your volume?

[@christopherve7alb]

Hmm that Should be large enough. What echostar satellites are you looking for? 119? 110?

[@christopherve7alb]

@orlokyshadow Unfortunately not, you can only see Dish Network channels with a Dish network receiver.

[@terrysmith7454]

HI, WHAT IF YOU MOVED IN A HOUSE AND YOU HAVE 2 DISC ALL READY UP BUT I AM USING CABLE TRYING TO GET RID OF IT AND DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING . CAN YOU HELP ME

[@semco72057]

I have a question for you about the Mercury II receiver. Mine has lost all the satellite location information and I need to update it. I finally got a serial cable which would work with my laptop computers. I have downloaded the firmware, but having problems uploading it to the receiver. Can you help me with updating the receiver?

[@CarieVoss]

hello, do you have instructions on FTA using a big motorized C Band Dish? how about upcoming HDTV broadcasts? thanks

[@christopherve7alb]

Did you peak the dish on your true south satellite (same as your longitude)? You must do that first before you can start moving the motor to other satellites.

[@mrIpodmagic]

what kind of channels do you get? and can i use an old dish from my previous satellite tv provider?

[@christopherve7alb]

@semco72057 first off make sure that you know the COM port number of your USB-Serial adaptor. Also are you using the software loader from fortec star's website? If so you should be able to just run the loader, select your COM port, select the compatible frimware and click download. What errors are you getting?

[@kim_ble]

If I get a FTA receiver is it a plug and play system. Can I plug it up to my DirectTv stuff? What do I have to do to get it to work with the the directTv

[@christopherve7alb]

@cutivu002 You need to be dead on before you will be able to get any useful quality numbers. check your dish aiming against dish pointer and make sure your LO is set to 10750

[@semco72057]

@christopherve7alb I downloaded the two files from the Fortec web site and when I run the loader file I get the error message port open error. Upon clicking "OK" it goes to the program where you either upload or download the other selected file. I select the System Setup directory, then Product Information and Software Transfer, then Firmware Download. It say: "Turn on slave IRD" and nothing happens on the TV screen or Computer.

[@cutivu002]

I have a BEC DBS 1000, a DMX521, and a 30'dish. when I hook them up to get Vietnamese channels. The quality i get for strength is 74-75 and for quality is 37-38. I've tried to point the dish anywhere I can but the quality doesn't improve or get worst. does this mean I have to try another LNB or re-locate the dish somewhere higher? Thanks

[@christopherve7alb]

I have a CW 600s so I could do a video on how to set them up thanks for the suggestion. As for your question about HD sat. receivers most are fairly expensive, most are over $400. When you buy one make sure it can do 8PSK unless you're not interested in the DN HD channels. Nfusion coolsat, and viewsat all make HD receivers and I've heard good things about all of them so take a look at some FTA forums on the Internet and see what will work for you.

[@christopherve7alb]

I prefer multiple stationary dishes. The advantages to a motorized dish is that when changing to a channel on a different satellite it will take several seconds for the dish to lock into place while with a switch it is instantaneous. Advantages are that the dish can receive any satellite and the cost of buying a motor is less then buying multiple dishes and LNBs.

[@atvking535]

could i connect a free to air receiver to my existing bell dish that is already angled and wired down to my tv and get tv bell express vu channels?

[@christopherve7alb]

What do you mean it doesn't read the channels? Does it display no signal? does it display scrambled channel?

[@bmwguy21]

Is there a book or online course to take to find out everything you need to get FTA up and going like there is with backtrack 4? I pay for cable & satelite. I just want to do it for fun.

[@christopherve7alb]

@semco72057 It sounds like you are having a COM port error. go to device manager and make sure that your USB-serial adaptor is being detected, and make sure you are using the correct number (1-4) and the right baud rate.

[@kim_ble]

Do the signal drop a lot, if it do how offen and what do you do?

[@christopherve7alb]

What LNB type are you using? What satellite are you trying to find?

[@mylove420x]

hi i have all the dish network stuff and direct tv stff can i stll get fta sats or will i only get the 2

[@MakaveliG17C]

yo hey i got a sonicview hd 8000 can is till get fta channenels through my reciever i havent set it up in a while is my reciever down to? if so what do i need to make it work

[@thesacredcowtipper]

chris, is there a way I can find out what channels I would receive LEGALLY through a satelllite system like this?

[@christopherve7alb]

@anllerson6 You need a receiver capable of "IKS" such as Viewsat or SonicView. If you Google Search "IKS" you should find what you're looking for.

[@christopherve7alb]

What type of dish do you have? Is it aimed correctly?

[@tyrakym]

Hi, can you help me with my problem? I just installed my 2nd SonicView360 Premier for my 2nd TV set. My problem is, whenever I changed the channels from 1 TV, the other TV freezes or lost its signal. I'm aiming at E*7 (119) & E*8 (110). This happens only on some channels, not all channels are affected. I have 2 dual circular lnb and using 2 diseqc sw. The dish, diseqc and cables are all grounded but still the problem arises. I works just fine whenever the other STB is off and vice-versa. Tks

[@papelase]

Hi! Chris, how are you sir? Just have one question for you, can i get spike tv, AE, discovery, history channel with FTA, thank you.

[@christopherve7alb]

Thanks for the correction haven't checked Lyngsat recently

[@nmrfd]

do you know how to set up prgdvb software i tryed everything but i cant figer it out and i have a dm1105 pci card and a 33 fta dish with lnb standerd im 90% sure i have 119 turned in useing a sat finder but no luck getting my computer to see anythign

[@nubemuffin]

hey my man, im wondering if i could get some advice. what i need to know is should i buy an fta receiver now even though n3 is coming round. is it worth it or should i wait and see if n3 is going to get hacked?

[@christopherve7alb]

What size is the dish? The LNB should be OK as long as the LO is 10750

[@christopherve7alb]

@pf126p I don't use Linux so I can't comment on any compatible receivers. As for audio receivers there are a few like WCPE and Access America but like FTA channels they are spread wide across the arc. The best networked receiver you're going to find is the AzBox. it can do media streaming from a PC or network HDD and can even browse the web and access KZbin videos.

[@christopherve7alb]

@thetechhousereveiw No, a Dishnetwork 500 dish is too small. You need something that is at least 33" accross

[@christopherve7alb]

It's all done from the receiver settings menu, there should be n option for Diseq switches and also an option for your motor

[@ricnitty2933]

do you have an updated equipment list for USA?

[@christopherve7alb]

39" is a great size for Ku satellites. You should be able to pick up a wide variety of FTA sats. check lyngsat for a detailed listing of channels available to you.

[@DaveOfTheDead94]

Is this kind of thing possible with Bell recievers that use "cards"?

[@christopherve7alb]

What size dish are you using?

[@christopherve7alb]

You need the dish to be pointed in the correct direction and have the right elevation settings.

[@christopherve7alb]

Using a dish from dish network will only allow you to pick up satellites that carry encrypted programming. If you are interested in hacking Dishnet or BEV then you want a dish with a circular LNB (ie dishnet one) for legit FTA you will want a linear LNB like the one I showed in this video.

[@christopherve7alb]

22 KHz switches are great if your receiver supports them. 22 KHz is my preferred switch

[@yhoresanmine]

i had my direct tv canceled a year ago. can i convert my direct tv antenna to just a generic FTA set up? what do i do and what do i need to convert it to FTA tv? thanks.

[@josephclark1104]

Ylo

[@josephclark1104]

Yloml

[@christopherve7alb]

@luisbalderas You're probably just not aimed right. The dish needs to be SPOT on even an inch can mean the difference between 100% and 0%. Make sure you are looking for quality on an active transponder and that your elevation/azimuth are set according to dishpointer

[@christopherve7alb]

@sharpshark2323 That is going to be an extremely complex set-up and because you are going to be acting as a cable company you may need a license to do so. You should consult with local contractors/builders to even get an estimate of how much this would cost as it is going to be expensive.

[@loloopacific]

Hi, I have a satellite setup at Intelamer 97W. I keep loosing channels from time to time & end up calling the guy who set it up. What can I do to not loose the channels? Also my TV is HD but the channels from satellite is not clear, is it the receiver I need to change (its old)? Thank you appreciate ur input

[@christopherve7alb]

No, The IP-PVR on the NFusion is used to record satellite TV channels to your PC.

[@christopherve7alb]

No you can get Dish as well as FTA at the same time not a problem.

[@jvarela965]

Where I get lost is the inside wiring. How about a video on it?

[@christopherve7alb]

@bmwguy21 That channel is not available on an unencrypted satellite so the only way you would be able to get it for free is to hack Dish Network. To do this you will need an Internet dongle and modified software on your receiver. It looks like SonicView will only work on a Private Server now, so you will want to run a Google search for "Sonic View private server"

[@Smartik89]

This video looks like is made in '90. ^.^

[@zedopomart2444]

I think it was XD

[@krazyhorse357]

Say you were in Arizona,what could be done to pickup up local Pittsburgh channels.any help appreciated

[@TheWaterbug101]

The only way you can get Pittsburgh locals is to change your billing address to a western Pennsylvania zip code area that receives the channels via an off- air antenna.

[@christopherve7alb]

what satellite are you aimed at?