a guide to c-band?

Charlie Baker · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 08:41 PM

Does anyone know of a source for an overview of c-band in general? I am still just learning ku and am not satisfied, and want to do more, but it is overwhelming to try to digest it all at once.
I have a 1 meter fortecstar dish, mercury II, invacom quad, and hh100 motor now. Do I have to use another receiver for c band? I have read that the mercury works with c. I want to start as small and simple as I can. When I read the signatures of many of the members and see all the dishes and equipment you have, I can picture myself placing satellite dishes all around my garden.
Well, if anyone has or knows of a laymens guide to c-band, please let me know so I can start out on the right foot. Thanks, Charlie.

pmb1010 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 09:12 PM

I guess the first question is - what do you want to watch?
Totally free (FTA) stuff? Or some subscription stuff.

Read this thread:
http://www.sadoun.net/forums/4dtv-c-...-dvb-dcii.html

You can get some stuff with 4 foot dish, C/Ku LNBF, and HH120 motor.
You will be much more happier with 6 foot dish (trust me... )
Even better is 8.5 foot dish.

rainman · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 07:34 AM

take a look at this site it will give you some insight on C Band.
Footprints by Dish Size - Adjusting the Polar Mount for Prime Focus Antenna - C/Ku-Band Satellite Systems - Tuning, Tracking, Azimuth, Elevation, Declination Angles, F/D Ratio, Focal Distance, Inclinometer, LNB/Feedhorn Assembly, Actuator Assembly, C

rainman · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 07:43 AM

here is another good info site for C Band.
Satellite 911 -- C-Band Helpdesk

Charlie Baker · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 10:02 AM

I guess as I learn I will figure that out. I followed a post on the forum that lead me to NPS, which was really interesting. We had Dish for 2 years, but the cost, fees and most of all, the terrible service led me to cancel their subscription. The prices looked a lot better on NPS, but I would still like to find fta if I can. I am not totally against subscription, but would like to avoid it if I can.

rainman · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Baker

I guess as I learn I will figure that out. I followed a post on the forum that lead me to NPS, which was really interesting. We had Dish for 2 years, but the cost, fees and most of all, the terrible service led me to cancel their subscription. The prices looked a lot better on NPS, but I would still like to find fta if I can. I am not totally against subscription, but would like to avoid it if I can.

There are alot of good channels on C Band FTA in my opinion several outdoor channels some networks and more.

Charlie Baker · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainman

There are alot of good channels on C Band FTA in my opinion several outdoor channels some networks and more.

Well, that sounds good to me, with what I get on ku, I feel pretty sure I will have all that I need by adding c band. So, could I use my Mercury II for both C and ku, or would I need a receiver for the c dish and one for ku?
Since I am in central Ohio, would a 6 ft metal dish be big enough for me? or would I need something bigger?

rainman · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Baker

Well, that sounds good to me, with what I get on ku, I feel pretty sure I will have all that I need by adding c band. So, could I use my Mercury II for both C and ku, or would I need a receiver for the c dish and one for ku?
Since I am in central Ohio, would a 6 ft metal dish be big enough for me? or would I need something bigger?

you should be able to tie the mercury in to do both I would recommend a 8.5' dish for the minnum do to the western sats being so close together. and the good thing is if you keep your eyes open you can find these dishes for free or a small price.

Charlie Baker · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainman

you should be able to tie the mercury in to do both I would recommend a 8.5' dish for the minnum do to the western sats being so close together. and the good thing is if you keep your eyes open you can find these dishes for free or a small price.

Where do I look? free or small price sounds good to me. In reading one of the links you sent, I saw that I have to be careful with a mesh dish that the open spaces are not too big. What is the acceptable size, and how do I easily determine what size the spaces are?

rainman · #10 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Baker

Where do I look? free or small price sounds good to me. In reading one of the links you sent, I saw that I have to be careful with a mesh dish that the open spaces are not too big. What is the acceptable size, and how do I easily determine what size the spaces are?

they state that the lead from a number 2 pencil is the right size hole. take a ride out in the country and see what you can find alot of the big dishes are not use anymore and people will give them to you just to get them out of their yards. I found my 8.5' Birdview HH mount that way got it for $75.

Charlie Baker · #11 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 01:51 PM

After thinking about it a bit I was wondering. If the bigger size holes only affect the ku signal, should I be concerned about that since I have the 1 meter dish? Or is it a good idea to have the big dish available for both?

rainman · #12 (**permalink**) 10-28-2007, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Baker

After thinking about it a bit I was wondering. If the bigger size holes only affect the ku signal, should I be concerned about that since I have the 1 meter dish? Or is it a good idea to have the big dish available for both?

personaly I lke the big dish to do both. you are right on the bigger hole only affecting ku band. most of the more modern dishes will do both c and ku one to stay away from is the fiberglass dish you can't tell what size of mesh was installed in them.

Charlie Baker · #13 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 06:34 AM

one to stay away from is the fiberglass dish you can't tell what size of mesh was installed in them.

[/quote]

I did stop by and inquire about a dish I saw yesterday, and of course, it is fiberglass. Is it a definate no in your opinion? Just as you said, I can get it really cheap, and they are willing to give me their receiver with it. But, even at that, I don't want to waste my time and money for something that will never be adequate.

most of the more modern dishes
What do you consider "more modern"? I think this one is fairly old, they said about 10 years, but I am not sure about that

rainman · #14 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Baker

one to stay away from is the fiberglass dish you can't tell what size of mesh was installed in them.

I did stop by and inquire about a dish I saw yesterday, and of course, it is fiberglass. Is it a definate no in your opinion? Just as you said, I can get it really cheap, and they are willing to give me their receiver with it. But, even at that, I don't want to waste my time and money for something that will never be adequate.

most of the more modern dishes
What do you consider "more modern"? I think this one is fairly old, they said about 10 years, but I am not sure about that[/quote]

most of the fiberglass dishes didn't have the ku mesh some of them did see how much they know about the dish or if they have the paper work that came with the dish. it would be worth getting for the receiver to move the dish even if you don't use the dish if the price is low enough. if the dish is actualy 10 years old it maybe able to do ku.

wejones · #15 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainman

I did stop by and inquire about a dish I saw yesterday, and of course, it is fiberglass. Is it a definate no in your opinion? Just as you said, I can get it really cheap, and they are willing to give me their receiver with it. But, even at that, I don't want to waste my time and money for something that will never be adequate.
...

How big is the dish???

If it's OLD, and 10' or larger, I'd guess that it was C-band only, but if it was less than 10', I'd guess that it was Ku capable. Just a guess on my part, but back in the days when they made dishes just for C-band, you pretty much needed a 10' or larger dish for C-band, since the sats weren't as powerful, so if it were say a 7' dish, I'd bet that it was made for Ku.

I used to have a fiberglass dish that was about 4 or 5', that was used for some company that sold a satellite cable service of some kind. It came with a General Instruments Ku receiver. That receiver was nice, but they had the audio adjustment disabled, and it wouldn't pick up audio on any freq other than what their signal was on.

Charlie Baker · #16 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 06:46 PM

I have not been able to find out anything on the dish yet, but the receiver is a Drake ESR-1642-u. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it usable or worth anything? I think I might still be interested in the dish even if it is only c-band. At least that way I would only have to have a c-band lnb, right?
One other thing I am worried about, how heavy is that thing? It looks like it would weigh a ton! How do you move something like that?