FTA Satellite, Part 3: The Equipment

In the third installment of our Free To Air (FTA) satellite series, we'll cover the equipment needed to set up a simple, one satellite system that will get you started. We'll assume that you are going to set up your system for Galaxy 19 at 97 degrees. While there is lots of programming on other satellites, Galaxy 19 has over 200 unencrypted channels available (although most are foreign language and/or religious) and it is the logical place to start.

While you can add a motor drive or use multiple LNBs to get more than one satellite, at this point we'll be focused on just a single satellite. For this, you need just 4 things: A dish, 30" or larger with mount, an "LNB" (a Low-Noise Block down converter), a receiver, and some coax cable. I would also suggest an inexpensive satellite finder to make setup much easier. 

Here's the low-down on all that you need:

Our first item to consider is the dish itself.

Let me get this out of the way: No, you can't simply use your old DirecTV or Dish Network dish. These dishes are just too small and use a different type of LNB. Although some hobbyists have adapted the larger sizes of these dishes for FTA (notably the DirecTV "Slimline" dish), they just aren't big enough for dependable reception. What you need is a dish from 30" or larger, with an appropriate mounting. For your setup, I'll suggest a 30" dish. Make sure the mount is included. Some dishes will also come with an LNB included - this is not a big deal, since you can buy an LNB for under $10. If you want to view on more than one TV, you'll need a "twin" or "quad" LNB, and additional cable and receiver for each TV. 

Some choices for your dish:
Winegard DS2076 76 cm Dish Antenna, $44.97 + $19.30 shipping
30" FTA Satellite Dish 76cm with Ku Linear LNB, $42.95 + $12.00 shipping

You could also search eBay for a dish: http://www.ebay.com/sch/?_nkw=fta%20satellite%20dish&clk_rvr_id=507935369359. I got my 36"x39" dish, with mount and LNB, for about $80 on eBay.

If your dish does not come with an LNB, you'll need that, too: Linear Ku Band LNB

Be sure to select an LNB that is for Ku band, "linear". Do not get one intended for Dish Network or DirecTV, as these are "circular" LNBs and will not work for FTA.

I also strongly recommend a Satellite Finder. There are many to choose from, but you'll need nothing more than the basic $8 analog model. 

You'll also need coax cable. I recommend a good grade of RG6 Coax cable. You'll need enough to run from your dish to each receiver, plus a few extra feet for slack and drip loops. You will also need a short (3 to 6 foot) length of coax for between your LNB and signal meter when you are setting up. This can be any old coax, even the cheap RG59 from the dollar store.

Your next item is a receiver. There are a lot of choices out there, ranging in price from under $20 to over $200. Some are good, others are not. A lot depends on the firmware and support. Your first decision is whether you want or need an HD receiver. If you are planning to just set up Galaxy 19, you won't need HD. Most feeds on Galaxy 19 are SD. There is at least one caveat: TFC, The Filipino Channel, is SD, but the sound is AC3 - and therefore you will need an HD receiver. You can view the video with an SD receiver, but you will get no sound. If you are considering HD or multiple satellites, then spend the extra money for an HD receiver. Another feature of some receivers is the ability to record to a USB drive. Be aware, there are plenty of flaky designs and poorly made clones out there! Some great receivers have poor motor control as well.

So, if you need a basic, single satellite SD receiver, I can vouch for this one, for just over $20:

X2-fta Dvb-s Mini Digital Satellite Receiver
If this box meets your needs, then you can build a complete FTA system (dish, receiver, LNB, cables and signal meter) for under $100!

If you're needing an HD model, then this one should serve you well:

X2 Premium HD PVR FTA Satellite Receiver - Special Edition

It also has a PVR function and the price is around $55 - and it will do AC3 sound.

If you're looking for the best designed and best supported HD PVR receiver currently on the market, the GeoSatPro Micro HD comes highly recommended, at just over $100 on eBay:
GeoSatPro Micro HD

This receiver will no doubt serve all your needs well into the future, even as you add a motor or multiple LNBs to your system.

Should you decide you want a motor drive, the Moteck Sg-2100 Satellite Dish Motor is recommended by many hobbyists.

So there you have it. All the ingredients for a FTA Ku band satellite system, with prices ranging from under $100 on up to several hundred for a complete system. Choose the components that meet your needs and order them, and then meet me back here for the next part in this series to install and set it up.