Can you go FTA "Retro"?

[Bowtie41]

Hello All,
I recently heard about FTA,did a search,found this forum and joined it.Haven't read all the posts,but have learned alot.Guess about 20 years ago I installed a few C/Ku-band systems,so I'm not totally new to satellites.Been a subscriber to several systems over the years(Primestar,Direct,and currently Dish),but i want to just experiment,mainly for wild feeds,and for the sake of tinkering!Went out to my shed to see what "oldie" stuff I had,and was wondering if any of it is compatable with FTA,or if I need to start from scratch.I was given a Perfect 10 dish the other day,but it doesn't have the LNB,arms to hold the LNB,or the base ring to mount/tilt it to a pole,so I'm gonna search locally for another free one.Here is what I found in the shed that I need to know if it will work:

1.General Instruments Videocipher II Plus 2400R Satellite Receiver
2.Rural Cable RC2000PS Antenna Positioner/Power Supply
3.Amplica CSR-300A Satellite Receiver
4.STS MBS-AA Antenna Actuator
5.STS MBS-SR Block Satellite Receiver
6.STS SR Block Satellite Receiver
7.Have A SuperJack II + HB(or H8?)

I want to set it up for both C/Ku.Can someone tell me what this Ka is about?4DTV?Is it compatible with a BUD?Since I been "out of the loop" for so many years,perhaps more has changed than I thought,so any input as to what LNB to choose,or if I need a different receiver(not worried about HD,I'm just a poor redneck),would be greatly appreciated.Thank you.
Kirk

[Sadoun]

Kirk

Welcome to the forums here.

We have a lot of members that will be happy to assist you with your new hobby. Looking at your equipment list, I think you will be able to re-use a few. The Dish you have should work once the missing parts are located or made.

The technology has changed since all channels on satellite went digital and mostly DVB. So you will need one of the FTA receivers we carry such as the Mercury II or the CLASSIC NA.

[Bowtie41]

Sadoun,
Thank You for your reply!My next question I guess is if there is a receiver that "catches all the bands/channels" in FTA?No illegal crap,but was wondering if one system gets C/Ku,and whatever other new technology is out there since by C-Band days.I've read about circular/linear.Are both capable on one feedhorn?I also read in another post I think that a C-band can't swing the entire arc?Is there a cure for this?I saw on one sat chart that some sats are in an inlined orbit,do I need to swing both axis(E-W,N-S)now?
What I'm looking to get is the maximum channels I can,with the least amount of dishes.I have a good view of the southern sky behind my pole barn,but it's about 120' out from my house.Could 2 BUDs be setup with an overlap?
Sorry for all the questions,but this is alot more invloved than the old days.I saw somewhere about some kind of card for the PC for satellite viewing.Is it illegal,or just a variation of a tuner card?Can a combo be setup that lets me control my dish(s) from the receiver to watch on a TV,but also combined with something I can control/view on my PC too?
FYI,my Lat is 38.72,and my Lon is -90.14,near St. Louis,MO perhaps there is an actuator that will let me swing enough to reach them all?
Thanks in advance to all who reply.I'm eager for knowledge in this new hobby!Need somethin' new to do when the weathers bad!!
Kirk

[elgemcdlf]

There is a lnbf BSC-621 series that does both C and Ku band reception. Most DVB receivers (that is what you are talking about here) do not control skew so using a feedhorn while possible is out of the picture unless you want to increase your investment.

If we are talking about mesh dishes there are 2 types. One has small holes and one large. If you can fit the lead of a pencil through the holes it is a large hole dish and only good for C Band. Spun alum solid will work and older solid dishes are actually mesh dishes with a covering. From what many say they do not do Ku either. Your arc will be from 133 down to roughly 30 in the east and should be able to get with a 24" or longer actuator. Providing the mount on your dish will allow that much travel.

Multiple dishes is an option but keep in mind you will need to use 1 of the 2 offerings from BSC on each dish. One uses a DiSEqC switch to switch between C and Ku and the other uses 22 MHZ so My recommendation with multiple dishes is a DiSEqC switch prior to the dishes running separate lines out of the BSC621-2 into port 1 & 2 of the DiSEqC switch. Use port 1 for C and port 2 for Ku. Port 3 on the DiSEqC can run to the out of the other lnbf and using 22MHZ off and on for the switch between the two bands on that dish.

You will need separate controllers for each dish for movement. I do not know anything about the receivers you listed but if they are capable fo moving the dish I would use them. They most likely can control a servo motor so using a feedhorn setup would also work but probably more costly than the BSC units.

Clear as mud yet?

[ronpar]

i run a 10ft dish with a bsc621 lnbf not the bsc621-2 lnbf and a coolsat 5000 platinum. i run the jumper on the ku side of the lnbf and 1 coaxel to the coolsat works great. and if i won'ted to pick up dish network or directv or even bev i can get them with a directv and a dish netwok lnbs to a 18 inch dish and run a spliter between the 10 ft. and the 18 inch dish that's if i won'ted to steal networks but i don't think so just because they screw us don't mean i am going to steal to make up for it. and besides the plain fta is enough for me you can get all the sports, local channels from all over the U.S.A. if i won't to see a new movie i will go rent one. it's still a lot cheaper then if the law catches you stealing programs, with all the money they will take out of your hide and about 5 to 15 years in the state pin. i think if you got to have it pay for it. the coolsat 5000 and the bsc621 is heaven sent for fta and they act like they were made for each other. the B.U.D. may be big and ugly but it beats the crap out of 10 to 30 small dish's in the yard or on the roof. i know it takes some time to move the dish but in the long run and cost wise it's worth it or i gusse you could get a roter for a small dish.

[rainman]

Originally Posted by ronpar

i run a 10ft dish with a bsc621 lnbf not the bsc621-2 lnbf and a coolsat 5000 platinum. i run the jumper on the ku side of the lnbf and 1 coaxel to the coolsat works great. and if i won'ted to pick up dish network or directv or even bev i can get them with a directv and a dish netwok lnbs to a 18 inch dish and run a spliter between the 10 ft. and the 18 inch dish that's if i won'ted to steal networks but i don't think so just because they screw us don't mean i am going to steal to make up for it. and besides the plain fta is enough for me you can get all the sports, local channels from all over the U.S.A. if i won't to see a new movie i will go rent one. it's still a lot cheaper then if the law catches you stealing programs, with all the money they will take out of your hide and about 5 to 15 years in the state pin. i think if you got to have it pay for it. the coolsat 5000 and the bsc621 is heaven sent for fta and they act like they were made for each other. the B.U.D. may be big and ugly but it beats the crap out of 10 to 30 small dish's in the yard or on the roof. i know it takes some time to move the dish but in the long run and cost wise it's worth it or i gusse you could get a roter for a small dish.

Very nicely said Ronpar. wouldn't trade my BUD's for anything.