c band conquest

[keebs]

okay this question is going to seem "wet behind the ears", but it has to be asked. what are the differences between the 2 items? i want to replace my lnb? feedhorn? my quest for c band is drawing nearer. gonna need help thanks to the pros. you know who you are. thanks.

[rainman]

the first one is a feedhorn with the lnbs built in. the other is just a lnb that fits on the old style feedhorn and you will need to be able to control skew on that type of feedhorn. if you are using it mainly for fta digital c band feeds would recommend the first one.

[keebs]

is there a recommended height for the pole and dish above the ground? i mean how low can i go the ground to keep it more out of sight?

[rainman]

Originally Posted by keebs

is there a recommended height for the pole and dish above the ground? i mean how low can i go the ground to keep it more out of sight?

as long as the dish dont hit the ground on the lower sats and you have a clean line of site. most of my big dishes are approxmately 4.5' above the ground.

[keebs]

one more for time for the slow guy. SO, correct me if i am wrong. i can use my lifetime classic fta receiver to get the free c band channels as long as i have something to move the dish, like a vbox or an old receiver?

as of right now i am not trying to receive subscription channels on c band just free ones. does a receiver with digicipher or something like that built into it benefit me in anyway for free channels? -------

[satnutwillb]

Correct on the lifetime classic and there are a few on the digicipher,but nothing like on mpeg.

[keebs]

so if i can get something cheap with a digicipher in it get right?

[satnutwillb]

Well,in the 4dtv line you could,but there are some other kind that are more complicated that some of the more experienced members can help you with.

[KINGBICHO]

I heard that BSC621 lnbf doesnt work well with 4dtv is that right?? if ur slaving a system, arent u better off replacing the old lnb's for both c-band and ku-band??

[wejones]

I think the 621 should be OK, since it has a standard Ku lnbf, but the 621-2 has a universal Ku, which means that a DCII receiver will have problems finding channels because they will be at the wrong frequency.

Re "something cheap with a digicipher in it" Digicipher isn't something that various receiver manufacturers put in their receivers, it is a GI/Motorola technology, so with one exception, you have a choice of 4DTV or one of several commercial DCII receivers made by GI/Motorola. About the only thing in this line that you can get "cheap" is a DSR4200, which doesn't move a dish, doesn't do analog, takes about 60 keystrokes and 5 minutes to change channels, is not subscribable, and can't receive anything unless it has been authorized at some point in it's life. I have 2 4200s. My first one cost more than $1100 new. My second one I got on ebay for about $50, which is kind of sad. Not a whole lot of free things in DCII anymore, but there are some things.

[elgemcdlf]

To receive free DCII channels you must maintain an active sub to at least one digital channel. Otherwise most everything is locked out of the DCII receiver. As to height above the ground Rainman covered it. Never thought about how low can I go but more of "do not want to hit my head when mowing the grass". Mine are roughly the same as Rainman's 4.5 to 6.5' range from the Earth when sitting at true south.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

To receive free DCII channels you must maintain an active sub to at least one digital channel. Otherwise most everything is locked out of the DCII receiver. As to height above the ground Rainman covered it. Never thought about how low can I go but more of "do not want to hit my head when mowing the grass". Mine are roughly the same as Rainman's 4.5 to 6.5' range from the Earth when sitting at true south.

Can you give an example of a program that requires an active sub to receive? I'm curious about whether the 922 locks out FP and ZK channels? With my 4200, when the receiver was new, it would only pickup ZK channels, but after getting the receiver authorized on one specific channel, it now gets FP channels regardless of whether the receiver is currently authorized to anything. I'm curious because if the 4DTV subscription service ever goes belly up, if you guys can't view FP things, then you've got a doorstop there, whereas, if the free programs you're talking about are really encrypted with other than the public key, but you can see FP things when not subscribed, then it wouldn't be too bad if they go belly up.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by wejones

Can you give an example of a program that requires an active sub to receive? I'm curious about whether the 922 locks out FP and ZK channels? With my 4200, when the receiver was new, it would only pickup ZK channels, but after getting the receiver authorized on one specific channel, it now gets FP channels regardless of whether the receiver is currently authorized to anything. I'm curious because if the 4DTV subscription service ever goes belly up, if you guys can't view FP things, then you've got a doorstop there, whereas, if the free programs you're talking about are really encrypted with other than the public key, but you can see FP things when not subscribed, then it wouldn't be too bad if they go belly up.

Been awhile since I went no sub but if memory serves me correct B Mania on T7 was a channel that way. While a free channel (no sub required) I think I lost it when my sub went dead. Perhaps someone with a 922 and no subs can verify if they have B Mania. It is called something else now but I believe the channel is either 700 or 800 on T7.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

Been awhile since I went no sub but if memory serves me correct B Mania on T7 was a channel that way. While a free channel (no sub required) I think I lost it when my sub went dead. Perhaps someone with a 922 and no subs can verify if they have B Mania. It is called something else now but I believe the channel is either 700 or 800 on T7.

I didn't think there has been any DCII on T7 for a couple years? I see that B Mania channel listed back in 2003. Maybe it's on some other sat now?
However my question could be answered by whether you were able to get say the PBS channels when you didn't have a sub, or didn't you try those?

[elgemcdlf]

Honestly do not remember Bill. Has been quite awhile since I was no sub. I think PBS still would come through though being PBS as in Public Broadcast System. I have never heard of any PBS channel being scrambled or unaccessible.

B Mania is under a different name now. Still all B movies and in the same slot (channel) and pretty certain it is on T7 (121 I think). Seems like Dr. Scott is always there sub or no sub.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

Honestly do not remember Bill. Has been quite awhile since I was no sub. I think PBS still would come through though being PBS as in Public Broadcast System. I have never heard of any PBS channel being scrambled or unaccessible.

B Mania is under a different name now. Still all B movies and in the same slot (channel) and pretty certain it is on T7 (121 I think). Seems like Dr. Scott is always there sub or no sub.

OK, I see. 121 is G23 not T7 . I see a M2 Movie Mania listed there, maybe that's what you mean.

Lyngsat lists that mux as having 3 "free" channels, the Mania channel, an enlace channel and a superstore shopping channel. I just tuned that mux, and I'm seeing the Enlace and Superstore channels in FP mode, however the Movie Mania channel is scrambled. So that's interesting.

Re the PBS things, all the DCII PBS channels are in FP mode, which is technically scrambled, just scrambled with a public key. There are a few things, mostly music, that are in ZK mode, ie not encrypted.