Free To Air Satellites

Good Indoor TV Antennas

2012-09-18T12:05:00.001-07:00

Do you always need a large OTA TV antenna? The answer is no. If you live in a large city or the suburbs of a large city, you can probably get by with rabbit ears or a slightly larger set top antenna.

The reason you don't want too large of an antenna is due to the digital signal you are tying to get being "too strong" which isn't good for your converter box or newer television with the built in tuner.

When I say you live within the suburbs of a large city I mean within 10 to 20 miles. Other factors can include the terrain of your area, how close and how tall immediate buildings are to you, and line of sight to the station transmitters.

Again, a good source for what kind of antenna will do is Antenna Web.

Here are a selection of small set top boxes good for city and close by suburb areas. The first one is made in the USA.

OTA Channels Whats the best TV Antenna

2012-04-15T18:58:00.002-07:00

Which TV antenna is the best for me?

An example of a Long Range TV Antenna. Why pay for TV
when you can get FREE HD TV Channels?

So you want to get a TV antenna and watch your local channels for free? Sure, this can be done and makes good financial sense. Your next question might be, "What antenna should I get?". Well, we need to do some good explaining for you to make an informed decision.

Whether you have cable or satellite television, you probably do not get all the local channels you could. For an investment of $30 to $250 dollars, this small investment will give you hours of great tv entertainment.

To start, we need to find what channels we can get where we are located. Two great websites for this are AntennaWeb.org and also TVFool.com. They both work the same. Just enter your address and you will get a listing of channels in your area AND also what type of antenna you need.

The smallest antenna would be anything from the old rabbit ear types to the set top with a built in amplifier. This is the type of antenna that might be best for you if you live in a major city or right outside one. What you need to remember is bigger isn't better. You Do Not Want A Large Powerful Antenna with a Pre-Amp in this scenario. The reason being, you can overload the digital tuner in your television. We don't want that. That is why the two previous sites are really helpful.

For me, I live somewhat in the boondocks. I live in a valley area with mountains surrounding me. Both online tools show I should be able to get three channels. What I have found is that both site are very conservative in what channels they "believe" you should get.

We haven't had an antenna in nearly 30 years when I started checking them out again. The first one I purchased was a Lava HD-2605 UHF/VHF HDTV Antenna with Remote Control. This was one of those that promised to get channels "100 miles away". Well, I was surprised. I was getting a total of 11 channels with the farthest being about 70 miles away. So, it was money well spent as far as I was concerned. This is one of those with the built in rotor and remote. The only drawback was when trying to use the rotor, I didn't know which direction it was pointing or what direction the rotor was moving. When mounting the antenna, you need to leave a couple feet of slack due to the antenna being able to rotate a full 360 degrees. It has a stop point, it won't just keep going around.

When it comes to top of the line TV Antennas, the two top names are PCT International ANCM3671 Andrew Channel Master VHF/UHF/FM Antenna, a Channel Master antenna, and also NEW WINEGARD HD7084P HDTV ANTENNA (ANTENNAS), a WineGard antenna. If you live in an area like I do, it's also a good idea to get a preamp for the antenna. This is usually installed about two below the antenna on the antenna mast. Here is a good decent preamp kit. Channel Master CM-7778 Titan Medium-Gain Mast Mounted Preamplifier.

My current satellite package is costing me a little over $100 a month. I am seriously thinking about ditching the pay service, setting up a top of the line antenna, and just watching most cable shows online.

Cable Subscribers Continue to Flee

2010-11-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

Cable subscribers continue to leave in record numbers. Cable networks lost 130,000 subscribers for the third quarter of this year.

Four of the major reasons are Netflix, Apple TV, Google TV, and Microsoft XBox. Netflix alone added 4.1 million subscribers in the third quarter. Another main reason is the availability of free online content such as YouTube, Hulu, and other video/tv networks.

At the current rate, cable companies may continue losing 1.5% of their subscribers annually.

People may continue to part with cable and use the internet more just as they did when moving from landline phones to cell phones in the past.

Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive - MB189LL/A

Dish Offering Google TV Box

2010-11-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

Dish Network is offering the Google TV set-top box to new and existing subscribers for only $179--around $120 off the list price. Dish is offering the Logitech Revue to subscribers with specific satellite set-top receivers--HDTV boxes and VIP 622, 722 and 722k digital video recorders. The addition of the Revue also requires Dish's $4 a month DVR integration services
Dish got a shout-out at the Google TV blog, which said nothing about Fox pulling its programming off the platform. Fox did so this week after briefly allowing access. None of the Big Four broadcasters have yet announced deals to optimize for Google TV, a combination of hardware and software that transmits web content to TV sets. It incorporates Google’s Android operating system and Chrome Web browser, giving it an edge over typical web-to-TV players.

Logitech Mini Controller for Logitech Revue and Google TV

Zinwell ZIN-5005HD "ZinTV" 3-in-1 Networking-Ready 1080p Full HD Multimedia Player/Streamer/Torrent Downloader, Free Internet TV/Radio, Black

OTA Television Channels

2010-01-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

In 2009 you had to be living under a rock if you didn't hear about the change from analog to digital television.

Most local television channels broadcast in analog until June 2009 when they switched their broadcast signals to digital.

So, what is this about and how do I get digital local channels ?

When channels were broadcast in analog the standard television used NTSC to convert the analog signal into the image and sound you received on your television. To use your NTSC television you will need to purchase a digital converter box. This will allow you to convert the digital signal to an analog signal.

If you are lucky enough to have a newer television with an ATSC tuner you do not need a converter box. This is because an ATSC tuner converts or decodes a digital signal into the images you would see on a newer television.

Having local digital television stations has advantages over the old analog format. Due to how the spectrum works with digital compared to analog, television stations can now also broadcast what are known as substations. These substations may carry weather, news, affiliate broadcast, movies, or anything that can be broadcast.

Many local tv stations now have anywhere from 1 to 3 substations broadcasting over the air.

If you are interested in knowing what digital channels you can receive for free over the air, check out Antennaweb. org . You can enter your address or zip code and retrieve a list of local channels. Be aware that the list is very conservative. I know this due to the fact that my location came backing showing no channels. However, this was not true and I am currently picking up 9 channels from just one direction and I can receive another 5 channels from moving the rotor.

I am satisfied with the 9 channels I currently get which actually ends up being 23 channels with the substations.

SonySat launches IKS Solution

2009-09-01T04:35:00.000-07:00

SonySat has just recently launched their own version of IKS.

SonySat's solution is similar to other IKS Sharing. Due to it being a recent implementation
there is some problems such as freezing, missing channels, etc. Their server is currently
being upgraded and such problems will hopefully be fixed in the near future.

Standalone N3 Fix

2009-08-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Currently, there is still no Standalone N3 Fix. The only option at this point is to point the dish at a true FTA satellite or use IKS with compatible boxes.

Right now, everything is about patience and I wouldn't throw away any current receiver. Just give things some time as before.

IKS or Internet Key Sharing

2009-07-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

Yes. Nagra 3 Encryption is in full effect and no stand alone fix is available yet.

There is still some solutions for the Nagra 3 encryption though. So let's talk about IKS or Internet Key Sharing.

To make it really simple, you would hook your receiver to the internet and you would be using a "subscription card" that will allow you to receive channels. nFusion has been doing this for a few years now. So, is it safe? That would be for you to decide.
You can find more information about NFusion IKS here.

nFusion isn't the only receiver currently capable of this. SonicView has a similar adaptation for IKS.
Conaxsat has also come up with their version of IKS for the Conaxsat Nano, the IKSlinger is also available but will only work with Dish and Bell Receivers. It will not work with FTA receivers. Finally, K-Box also has a solution for those using K-Box FTA receivers.

A stand alone bin may take some time and will probably require a new flash upgrade for your FTA receiver. Of course, we will only know when the time comes.

Until next time, happy viewing.

Nagra 3 Scams

2009-05-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

There is no fix for Nagra 3 Yet!

Currently there is no fix for Nagra 3 yet. Do not be scammed and pay money to any site saying
they have Nagra 3 Fixes.

If you are currently a member of any FTA site, you will know if and when this happens. I keep seeing ads for Nagra 3 fixes and low fees to join.

The fix for Nagra 3 will not happen until Nagra 2 is totally switched over to Nagra 3. Until then, everyone will have to do with what they have. This is a really good reason to be involved with true FTA which never goes down. Like any satellite, channels can change or no longer be available to watch.

Until then, be smart and keep your money. Sites have been popping up left and right promising they have Nagra 3 files. This is nothing more than a scam to get your money.

Great FREE FTA Site Found

2009-05-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

I was doing a Google search and came across another great fta site that is free.

I am a member of other great FTA sites. But as time goes on, most good sites go to a subscription only site. Since a don't have an extra $25 dollars or so at this time. I needed to look for a free FTA site that have good info.

Go and check it out for yourself

FTA Receivers for Nagra 3

2009-04-20T18:09:00.001-07:00

A common question these day is "Should I buy another FTA receiver with the implementation of Nagra 3?" Right now it is best to just hold on to your current receiver.

FTA makers will probably have to release a new flash update when the time comes. Another possible problem might be that future bins will be larger, so memory in FTA receivers might have to be larger. Right now the best thing to do is just wait. If you a true FTA user you can just continue viewing your true FTA channels and not have to worry.

Nagra 3 Encryption attracts more true FTA satellites

2009-04-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

Due to the recent implementation of Nagra 3 encryption, more and more FTA hobbyists will consider pointing at true FTA satellites.

If you really look into it you can find a lot of channels for true FTA receivers. What is really important when thinking of hitting a true FTA satellite is what the type of band the signal is.

FTA and satellites broadcast in two types of bands. One is C Band which will require a very large dish. This would typically be a 6 foot dish and an LNB that is capable of receiving a C Band signal.

The other band which is the most popular with FTA enthusiasts is the KU Band. The KU Band is more popular due to the fact that the dish is smaller and easier to install.
To receive most FTA birds like Galaxy 97 or Galaxy 18 you will need a dish that is a minimum of 30 inches. It is better to have a larger dish such as a 33 inch or a 36 inch dish. It is also possible to receive some FTA satellites using the epiliptical dish such as a SuperDish like the 500 series dish.

Now we have to look at the signal we are receiving from the KU band. Satellite networks such as DirecTV, Dish Network, and Bell use a circular LNB. What we need though for most FTA satellites is a linear LNB. Since most linear signals are weaker than the circular signals we need a larger dish than an 18 inch or 22 inch dish.

So what true FTA channels can I get? Well, this depends on your location. Since I live in the United States, here is a list of true FTA channels you can receive in the U.S..
If you live elsewhere in the world start here. Just click on your country or what area of the world you are from.

If we look at the list of channels and sats we see that no one satellite has a lot of channels. One with the most would be Galaxy 18, my favorite. In all these cases I am looking at true FTA satellites with KU band channels. Now we have a problem dont we? What do I do if I want to catch more than one satellite?

There is a solution. You can use a dish motor. There are a number of different motor brands. I only know about using a Motek SG2100 since that is what I use.

The installation of the motor is not that hard. The most important thing to remember is that the pole you install the motor and dish to has to be perfectly level and plumb. The biggest problem people have when installing is that they can hit a few satellites and think they got it, only to find out they are not receiving all of the satellites they are capable of receiving. All of the FTA satllites you can receive are along what is known as the Clarke belt. So if you are off just a fraction you will not pull in some satellites or you will not have the optimal signal possible.

For instuctions in setting up a motor you can go here.
If you read the installation guide you will see that you need to find your True South location. So, do I just get a compass and point south? No. True South is not the same as magnetic south. That is what magnetic declination is all about. This will be different depending on your location.

Now don't get all confused about installing that motor. I am here to save the day. All this longitude and latitude,motor latitude,dish elevation,motor latitude,true south azimuth sounds confusing. It might but thanks to the wonderful internet we can just enter our street address,city or town,state or province,and zip code or postal code and magically find all the setting for the motorized dish. Just go over here and enter your information. You will also have to select what motor model you are using from the drop down menu. You can also use this for individual satellites or multi-LNB setups.

So good luck and happy viewing. Nothing is more satisfying when you something yourself and it works perfectly.

Update your FTA Receiver Menu

2009-01-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

If you use an FTA receiver, it most likely has a menu that shows what is on the channels you receive. The FTA schedule may go up to 3 days or maybe even 7 days.

I use a Pansat so I will explain how to update the schedule. If your receiver is a different make like a ViewSat,SonicView,etc. the steps should be comparable.

First, click on the "Sat" button or the button that shows the satellites you receive. Now depending on whether you receive a certain "package" or just different satellites, click on the package or satellite.

You should now see the channels for that sat or package. Click on a channel from your selected package or sat. Now, just exit out and immediately hit the "menu" button. The longer you leave the menu up the more time slots will fill up.

Now you can view what upcoming programs are available. The amount of time it takes to fill up will depend on the amount of channels you have and what type of receiver you use

DN channels moving to N3 encryption

2008-12-29T03:29:00.000-08:00

The following channels on DN have moved to Nagra 3 encryption.467,895,5891,9990 are black while others are still good!!

Expect DN to have all channels moved to N3 by June or July of 2009.

This was expected as Bev has already moved all of their channels to the new Nagra 3 encryption.

Remember, Galaxy 123 is an alternative since it does not use encryption and is a true fta satellite.

BEV Changes Encryption to N3

2008-11-25T00:06:00.000-08:00

The BEV satellites have switched encryption from Nagra 2 to Nagra 3. What this means is they are replacing the cards for receivers.

As previously posted, for a true FTA satellite check out http://www.lyngsat.com/galaxy18.html among other sats.

FTA Free to Air Satellite Video Tutorial

2008-10-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

In the past posts, I have given some information on FTA Satellites and FTA Receivers.

I was recently on YouTube and came across some videos that explain FTA and FTA Receiver Setup.

The first two just explain FTA. What it is? What you can receive, etc.

This third video shows how to setup a nFusion Receiver.

Finally, you can just do a search for FTA Receiver Setup Here. You should be able to find setup information or videos with that link.

True FTA Satellites in North America

2008-10-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

True FTA Satellites in North America.

So you have your receiver and a dish. Now what satellites can you aim for and receive channels? Well lets look at North American satellites since that is where I am from and have some experience with these.

First, we can head over to Lyngsat to find a satellite or two. In the middle of the page,we see Frequencies,Packages,and SatTracker. Let's click on America.

Now we can see all coordinates and satellie names like Galaxy,DirecTV,Dish,AMC,etc.
We want the true FTA Channels. So lets start with Galaxy 18 Satellite.

Now what we are really looking for are true free channels. So what we want to look at is the column that reads "encryption. It would be the fifth column over that says video encryption. We then look for the F symbol which appropriately stands for FREE!!!

Scrolling about 2/3 down the page we can see the broadcast stations that are free.

This is a very popular satellite in the FTA community. Once you get tuned in, sit back and watch your free tv. Who needs cable or a satellite subscription.

Galaxy 14 and 13 also have some free channels among others. Just click your browser back to the sat listings and browse until you find satellites that have programming you like. Be sure to look for the "F" sign though. You don't want the encrypted ones.

How to find satellite coordinates

2008-09-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Finding satellites

When you set up your dish and receiver you will need to know what satellites are available and have a good idea of where they are located. One good resource is Lyngsat.

Here you can click your appropriate area from around the globe. North America,South America,Asia,Europe,etc.

Then you can view available satellites and what is listed on those satellites. Please note that encrypted satellites will not usually list their channell details.
True FTA Satellites will have channels listed.

In time, satellites due change their channel lineups and change what channels are on different transponders. So, it is a good idea to review the satellite list on Lyngsat from time to time. One way to know when to review the satellite list is if you start losing a favorite channel or channels.

Here in North America, popular satellites include Galaxy 25 among others.

What are keys for

2008-09-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

With most FTA receivers you can enter keys that can pull in additional channels or networks.

Keys work in the same way that bins do. For keys to work you will need to turn autoroll off. I prefer bins myself.

There are a number of keygrabbers online and even desktop ones that will retrieve the latest working keys.

Some great FTA Support Sites

2008-02-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite free to air support sites are FTA Index and Free Air FTA Forum

Technorati Profile

What is Free to Air Satellite

2008-02-04T16:20:00.000-08:00

What is Free to Air Satellite?

Free to Air Satellite or FTA is using a FTA receiver to catch television signals from satellites in orbit. Some popular models are PanSat,Sonic View,Captive Works,nFusion,and many others.

By hooking a receiver to a satellite dish, the receiver can then receive the signals necessary to display television.

Dishes come in a variety of sizes with the 18 inch dish being the smallest. To receive some satellites, a 30 inch dish is required such as when viewing the Galaxy 10R satellite.

So, to get started you will need a receiver, a dish(hopefully a 30 inch),and cable.
If you use more than one dish, you will also need a switch for Sat 1, Sat 2, etc.
The most common switches will allow up to 4 different satellites.

Then, you will set up the dish - make sure the mast is plumb. Next, go into your receiver menu and choose installation. Here you will pick what satellite you are aiming to setup and then tune the dish until you get a good signal.

If the satellite or its channels are true free to air, that is all you will need to do. Sit back and enjoy free televison