Anyone watching FTA Ku?

[TheJesteR]

Hey,
My project is starting to take off, Ive been attempting to assemble a FTA rig for Ku. Theres still alot of free programming out there belive it or not, Most of it is MPEG but some is still in the clear, Telstar5 for example has a bunch of nondigital feeds, If you have a new style reciver box with a MPEG decoder theres tonnes of free tv to be had without stepping on anyones toes.

My setup is not complete, Ive got a 30 inch starchoice dish and LNB that is appearently large enough to pull in Ku signals at a usable strength and from my research the starchoice LNB is within the appropiate freqency range for use with Ku.

However ive been stuck for months as ive been unable to find a reciver for anything resembeling a reasonable price, I guess all the BUD stuff has hit the trash heap years ago or fell into the hands of entusiasts and Ebay power sellers that know their value.
Luckily a friend of mine found one for me, I dunno if its what im looking for but i guess i'll know tomorow when i go to pick it up.

Anyone else out there DXing Ku?
Regards
Jest.

[Sam Adams]

I come across various equipment from time to time, care to elaborate on "BUD stuff"

[xgamer123]

Guys,

T-5 already has hacked channels for Irdeto, Viaccess and maybe Nagravision. But there are lots FTA channels at this bird too.

KU FTA IRD cost only around $150. CA IRD should plus $100. If you want to use Magic CAM, FreeCAM or what else CI module in one IRD. That cost higher than plus $300 totally. All of systems need skills to hack it.:cool:

[megados]

Originally posted by Sam Adams
I come across various equipment from time to time, care to elaborate on "BUD stuff"

BUD = Big Ugly Dish

hehe :D

[Sam Adams]

Now I standunder, thanks megados!

I do recall some of the old dual band receivers C/KU, duct tape a KU LNB on to the old C band LNA/B, but is this much antenna gain needed for these KU chans? Can the 24" dish work, or how about something around 2 meters?

[TheJesteR]

For Ku band you need a dish that is a minimum of 28 inches for a usable signal.

If you do some searches there is still a bit of info out there.

[TheJesteR]

Well i picked up my reciver today, Bonus is it didnt cost me a dime!.
Its a General Instruments 2730r with a videocypher 2 module..
Its a Ku/C band reciver but i will only be using Kuband and since i dont have a actuator i'll be aiming it at one bird and leaving it there.

This thing is way better than i expected to get, I figured i would be picking up some completely useless old cband reciver with a big analog signal meter and a bunch of knobs..

As a bonus it also came with not only the original infered remote but also came with the UHF Anywhere remote new in box.

I hooked it up to my tv and buggered around in all the menus and the unit seems to be in working order!.

Tommorow my mission is to get my old 29 inch starchoice dish and LNBF up on the roof and pointed at T5 (that should be interesting..Where did i put my old camping my compass again?)

hopefully i will be able to get a signal and mabey even a picture, If not no big deal..

29 inch star choice dish with LNB: $1 at the dump
GI 2730r reciver: Free
100 feet or coax: Free
Spending your friday on your roof swearing and freaking out because you cant get a signal: Pricless
If youve got yourself a hobby who needs a mastercard??.
Garbage: Accepted everywhere.

p.s. does anyone know where i might find a manual for this reciver online somwhere?

Thanks
Jest

[Sam Adams]

Originally posted by TheJesteR
29 inch star choice dish with LNB: $1 at the dump


Thats where I do all my shoping!! Can even find cardboard boxes for those items that need to be gift wrapped for Christmas:)

[ginnz]

Jester...

did you manage to find t5 with the starcheez dish?

i 32" sc dish and a twinhan 1020 sat tuner card..... i cant find the t5 to save my life. i even have a signal meter. just cant find the damn thing!

im in southern mb,can.

[TheJesteR]

Originally posted by ginnz


i 32" sc dish and a twinhan 1020 sat tuner card..... i cant find the t5 to save my life. i even have a signal meter. just cant find the damn thing!

im in southern mb,can.

Oh god, dont say that...

I havent even screwed the bracket to my roof yet, Ive had a bit of a lazy day but the drill is on the roof so im off to do it shortly..

I have no idea if i will even beable to get a signal, Im near Vancouver Bc, so i hope mabey my look angle will be better than yours is or atleast a little more forgiving.

The reciver is going to give me headaches..lol, I dont actually know how to program it, and i havent been able to find a manual for it anywhere on the net so im kinda flying blind.
I think my reciver really wants (or needs an actuator for the dish but its SOL on that one, I just set the e/w limits to say that the dish is locked in center and thats the best i can do.

Im just gonna get out my compass, crunch some numbers, aim my dish and hope for the best.

EDIT: well..After three hours of shouting back and forth to my dad and me sitting on the damb roof i wasnt able to get any sort of signal at all, However it i point it at the trees in discust my signal goes from -55 to -51..What the hell did i do wrong?.
I was also wondering what LNB(F) are you using with your setup?

[ginnz]

im using the old style L-shaped lnb. its the proper one to use, im just not convinced a starcheez dish will work. maybe the arm angle is off a bit.

it would be nice if someone would confirm whether they have a working setup.

i pointed in the right direction, and using a siglnal finder, can lock onto a strong signal all over the area, just all diff. sats (eg. galaxy)thats just 2 deg. off, but STILL cant find the T5.

ill try again in a day or 2.

[Cold Logic]

I have a Video Cypher II manual, but i'm not sure if it's what your looking for.

[Decibel]

TheJesteR,

Found this site (http://www.satellitehelp.com/gi2700s_index.asp) that shows how to program and erase a satelite and how to also enter a password.

Hope it helps...

:cool:

[lakay]

Originally posted by megados
BUD = Big Ugly Dish

hehe :D

Are you sure. TELSTAR irdeto have been hack. Please pm me what ever you got. I'm interested with irdeto like the TFC channels. Thanks

[Helicon20]

If is this Irdeto2 not hack
Telstar5 for Vancouver azimut 145.08
elevation 28.28
direct TV 101 sat is on 151.54
29.65
Nimiq1 140.34 25.79
You can watch Globecast with PCI sat tv card no problemo

[WyrTwister]

Oh god, dont say that...

I havent even screwed the bracket to my roof yet, Ive had a bit of a lazy day but the drill is on the roof so im off to do it shortly..

I have no idea if i will even beable to get a signal, Im near Vancouver Bc, so i hope mabey my look angle will be better than yours is or atleast a little more forgiving.

The reciver is going to give me headaches..lol, I dont actually know how to program it, and i havent been able to find a manual for it anywhere on the net so im kinda flying blind.
I think my reciver really wants (or needs an actuator for the dish but its SOL on that one, I just set the e/w limits to say that the dish is locked in center and thats the best i can do.

Im just gonna get out my compass, crunch some numbers, aim my dish and hope for the best.

EDIT: well..After three hours of shouting back and forth to my dad and me sitting on the damb roof i wasnt able to get any sort of signal at all, However it i point it at the trees in discust my signal goes from -55 to -51..What the hell did i do wrong?.
I was also wondering what LNB(F) are you using with your setup?



Several comments .

Your GI IRD is analog Ku . Probably puts out 18VDC to the coax / LNBF . Does your StarChoice LNBF have 1 or 2 " F " connectors . You may be only able to get either horizontal or vertical polarity , because I will bet that if the LNBF has only one " F " connector , it switches polarity by switching between 13 - 18 VDC .

Look up the elevation , azmuth and skew for the sat you are aiming at . The dish may or may not skew the entire sish . If not , you will have to skew the LNBF .

I am doing digital Ku . If you are shooting for analog Ku on T-5 , you may or may not be " listening " when they transmit . Some of these transponders are ocasional feeds .

Bottom line , you are mixing 2 different generations of technologies . Not saying it can not be done . I have picked up one occasional Ku analog feed on AMC 4 . But just once so far . I plan to try T-5 , soon . But there is more stuff in Ku that is digital . But much of it is foreign language or religious . So , it depends on what you want .

Wyr

[sawmancutter]

is anyone doing KU on a twinhan is the next question? I have a 24 inch starchoice dish.

[billijay]

is anyone doing KU on a twinhan is the next question? I have a 24 inch starchoice dish.

Those LNBFs don't hack it when it comes to Ku band tv. Yes, you can get a dish 24" in dia. that will receive any ku band station you point it at. You can get anything you want for C-Band or Ku Band brand new except a decoder and there are plenty of them being sold as used. I am a hobbist .. that until recently never heard of testing because I didn't use my computer. I have three C-band dishes one 8 1/2 ' H/H and two with arms one 10' and one 12'
all are C-Ku units. Most people don't know you can get 110 119 61.5 and any other you want with A Ku LNB .. I'm one of the few that kept all my systems going. I have one Memorex ( Radio Shack reciever made by Houston Tracker) best ever made.
and a Uniden new. and a Houston Tracker.. and the greatest reciever
I own is the 4DTV 922. it's my gate way to all the TV a man deserves.

That small dish and the Ku band LNB and the whole kit can be bought for $89.00 on sale right now. I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you where to buy it . I use a Pansat 2100a and a Fortec Lifetime Ultra ( it will scan for channels) and my Spacestar will too. Satellite TV is not new I've played with it for 42 Years.. For futher information My e- mail address is listed somewhere on this site .. if not you can get in touch.