Totaly new to C band and all that

[Lepere123]

I am intrested in Cband . I allready have a FTA KU setup with a HH motor and A 90cm dish with a fortec star 9800v2 reciever... I want more out of it. I would like to know what I need to get in order to start surfin multiple sats with cband either slaved to my 9800 or another reciever or do I even need another reciever. I am not entirely sure what all I need in order to get started . I am thinkin about orderin a dish from sky vision. But as far as making everythin move and track I need to have that explained and ....well I just need help
Thanks
chris :wink:

[bobkat]

If you want to get into C-Band you need help alright.... :shock: [j/k].

Seriously, C-Band is all but gone these days. It is very hard to get parts anymore and there is really very little worth watching that is FTA.

To answer your question (one of them); you can use your Fortec receiver but you will need an actuator device and a polarity control device; these are kind of expensive. Just look on flea-bay for an old analog C-Band receiver. I picked up a cherry G.I. 2750R last year for $50.00. I use this to move the dish and use a SatCruiser 101 Plus to watch DVB stuff.

If you want to get into this antiquated hobby then I suggest you buy everything used. Check your local buy and sell newspapers and such to find folks getting rid of their system. I got a few big dishes for free just by taking them down for people and they were glad of it.

There are lots of websites for C-Band; search around.

:wink:

kat

[spyder]

Originally Posted by bobkat

If you want to get into C-Band you need help alright.... :shock: [j/k].

Seriously, C-Band is all but gone these days. It is very hard to get parts anymore and there is really very little worth watching that is FTA.


kat

Every now and then I see something so far from the truth I just have to laugh out loud. :roll:

Sorry kat, just have to disagree here.

C band is still very much alive and well. I have setups for both C and KU and I can tell anyone there is a ton of stuff available fta on C band. There are still many dealers out there who carry and support the big dish supplies. Yes it's a little more expensive to get into due to the size and complexity of some of the parts, but in the end very much worth the effort.

But bobkat is correct in saying that the easiest way to find these parts is to look around for someone not using their system anymore. Most will be more than willing to part with it.

As far as setup on the big dish systems I always recomend this site: http://www.geo-orbit.org/sizepgs/tuningp2.html A ton of info on all things big dish there. Most people end up printing the entire site out for future reference.

[Lepere123]

ya I figured out the part of looking in the classified adds for dishesand I have actually been to the web site spyder mentiond but. I am intrested in what Exactly i should get and things like that .I have an analog c band reciver but I dont know that it will make the dish move or not. and if not what do you call the box that moves the dish aka brand etc.
Thanks for your feed back kat and spyder.
Chris

[bobkat]

LOL @ spyder :lol: :lol: :lol:

I knew my post would raise a few hackles from the C-Band crowd !!!

OK; spyder is right in a way. If you already have a C-Band setup then its a great hobby. I guess my point was that for somebody to get into C-Band these days it is a bit redundant. Considering the cost of the hardware and, as spyder says, the complexity of the equipment (eg: an actuator arm last time I checked was over $ 300 for a good one like Von Weise) it is not cost effective to buy all that stuff new. If you're lucky enough to find a used system complete for a couple hundred dollars then by all means do it.

I'm not sure I agree about there being lots of good channels free on C-band anymore; but to be honest I haven't checked lately. I stopped taking C-Band service calls in 1998 and I can truthfully say I don't miss it.... :lol:

Anyway, I take back my previous statement about C-Band being not worth it. It is more accurate to say it is worth it to those who appreciate the fun and challenges of this hobby.

kat

[bobkat offers spyder an olive branch and an ice cold Corona] :wink:

[spyder]

Originally Posted by bobkat

[bobkat offers spyder an olive branch and an ice cold Corona] :wink:

I think the olive branch may be more tasty than the corona :lol:

Honestly though, I do see your point, I just hate to see a blanket statement made to that effect.

Lepere,
If someone looking at fta c band has a good understanding of big dish setup and operation I think it's very rewarding and well worth the effort. But I recomend a little investigation and research to learn as much as you can.Many often find it very confusing and overwhelming.

[tdti1]

Originally Posted by Lepere123

I am intrested in Cband . I allready have a FTA KU setup with a HH motor and A 90cm dish with a fortec star 9800v2 reciever... I want more out of it. I would like to know what I need to get in order to start surfin multiple sats with cband either slaved to my 9800 or another reciever or do I even need another reciever. I am not entirely sure what all I need in order to get started . I am thinkin about orderin a dish from sky vision. But as far as making everythin move and track I need to have that explained and ....well I just need help
Thanks
chris :wink:

You can look around, I'm sure you can find a free big dish some place, with all the parts, try getting atleast 10' then ad a 4dtv and a dvb and you will love it, big dish is the best system around.

[Labgate]

Hello

I want to make the same move. I have a fortec ultra lifetime and a vp1020a dvb card.

What I'm wondering is how do I bring the signal from the lnb's to the receiver and how do I drive the motor from the fortec or the dvb card

Best regards

Labgate