[jerry281272]

Hi everyone,

I need some much needed advice regarding FTA television for South Africa. I am keen on doing everything on my own (setting up dish etc..) as I am seriously interested in the FTA scene as a hobby. In south Africa there isn’t much support let alone specialists stores that can assist with the information I need. There is Spacetv, but the advice was not sufficient and if anything I left the store a short while ago quiet perplexed (when I told the sales person I was interested in FTA channels, he looked at me completely lost and did not know what FTA stood for……this from the only specialist supplier of satellite goodies) Later I was referred to one of the customers in the store who was an installer.

Basically I want to catch the signal from Intelsat 7/10 (previously Pas 7/10) and other satellites like Eutelsat and Astra. My house is east facing and quiet high up a hill with no obstructions to the horizon. I think I am better off scanning the east since the western side has some obstructions. At present I have a DSTV decoder (unsubscribed), a universal Ku band LNB (ranges to 12.75 ghz) and a Elsat 90cm dish. This is pointing to the Intelsat 68.5 E satellite. With this setup I am able to get the Ku band Free channels such as BTV, CNBC, SABC Africa and a host of religious channels. I saw the listings on lyngsat and am also eager to target the C band listed channels on the same satellite (these include Aljazeera and doordhashan etc) Based on this information can I :

Scenario 1 - Use the existing dish and change the LNB to a C band one and connect a FTA receiver like Fortec star. Will I be able to catch the C band channels with these small changes on the 90cm dish. If so what type of C band LNB must I get. Alternatively do they have a single C/Ku band lnb and if so what type do I get? Remember the sales people here are seriously challenged in this field.

Scenario 2 – Stay on KU band - The technician at the store told me that I could stay on the KU band and go for the various satellites and their KU band channels. If that’s so can I setup a separate portable KU band dish (90cm) on the veranda and tweak it accordingly for different satellites since the tv is about 2 meters away and I can check the tv screen for the signal. Would it be advisable to manually scan from satellite to satellite this way. I don’t mind the work and welcome the challenge and experience in locating satellites. (I don’t want to mess with the fixed dish). I also noticed on the DSTV decoder that it has settings for Astra 1, Astra 2, Hotbird, Irdeto lab E, Irdeto lab W, DSTV w4. If I get the channel settings from lyngsat and point my dish to the above satellites would I be in business.

If the above is not advisable, then what C band package do you suggest I get for South Africa (Dish, LNB, receiver) What satellites do I aim for and should I consider a motorized dish.

I appreciate any advice and thank you in advance.
Jerry