FTA (Free to Air)?

[SonofBone]

Anybody here use a Free to Air box?

[blm]

No. Do you? If so do you get HD or just some of the random channels, like PBS, Galaxy, and NASA?

[SonofBone]

I recently got a HD FTA receiver & it works great w/my current 480 signal. It down converts nicely. Have a HD tv on the way. I found a new .bin file which allows my receiver to receive all files. I'm only setup to receive 110 & 119W...some refer to these as DN, Charlie, D+, etc., etc. It took me about 2 days to figure out how to receive everything, but eventually got there...having to dial in transponder, LNB selection, etc., etc.

Maybe down the road I'll add 82 & 90W...B3V, beverly..canadian channels.

There is some other talk about converting channels from Nagra2 to Nagra3, but timeframe could be now until Oct. or later. I'm not exactly sure what that is or how it'll impact me, but I currently get everything. on the two sats I listed & expect to do so for awhile.

[blm]

I few friends w/boats have FTA receivers.

[Bouncer]

i consider myself somewhat tech savvy and yet I have no clue what the hell is going on here. lol

[SonofBone]

I didn't either until a couple of weeks ago when I went to a friends house & he started telling me about his great satellite receiver.

Basically, with the proper setup or a FTA receiver, you can receive satellite reception for Free to Air satellites. Some people download fixes that allow them to receive Dish Network or Belvue (canadian) satellite programming.

North American subscribers to Dish have their dish & LNB pointed to 110 & 119, so one could simply unplug the Dish box, replace with a Free to Air box, download a fix to be applied to the FTA receiver & receive ALL Dish Network channels.

Other minor details such as some receivers won't receive HD channels on Dish unless they attach a modulator to their board & depending on receiver you may have to purchase an external hard drive to record stuff...

This is how my friend explains it to me. Mine receives the free stuff on 123W...I just have it aligned on 110 & 119W...know where to get the .bin...just not sure that I'll apply it. :D

That help?

[Turbo3000]

I started researching on FTA a few months ago, I put the idea on hold for now. I just have to take out the time to learn everything I can about FTA, and then decide on what box, sat, etc. I would buy.

[hitmansb]

I am in a holding pattern on buying a sat box right now also.

With regards to B3V (Canadian sat), they are shipping customers smart cards to use with recievers, so a problem is definately on the horizon for those using FTA to watch B3V

[3v1lj03]

Anybody here use a Free to Air box?

How many channels do you get for free without hacking the dish network or Canadian Sat?

[SonofBone]

The full list is at:
FTAList.com Master Channel List

Basically,
Galaxy 25 = 97W = International
Galaxy 10R = 123W ~30 channels ABC & FOX
AMC3 = 87w = PBS

so not a lot, but nice if you miss East Coast or Midwest feeds during regularly scheduled times & you're without Tivo/DVR.

[SonofBone]

I am in a holding pattern on buying a sat box right now also.

With regards to B3V (Canadian sat), they are shipping customers smart cards to use with recievers, so a problem is definately on the horizon for those using FTA to watch B3V

Right, that is part of the Nagra2 - Nagra3 conversion. It has been discussed since 2006. Also, read it is really expensive for them to swap out those cards & they're unsure when it will all be completed.

Best advice is to do as you're doing & wait...or don't spend more than you're willing to potentially lose.