Anyone here into FTA Sat. TV?

[Honda_Fan]

Just curious how many BITOG'ers were watching FTA (Free-To-Air) Satellite TV. I've only recently got into it (about 3 months ago) and find it quite interesting.

Definately the only way to watch certain channels, networks, etc. as most of them you won't find on Dish, Direct, or Cable.

I'm currently using a PanSat 250 receiver with a converted Primestar dish and it works great. I forgot the particular LNBF head i'm using, but i'll go out and look at it later.

Anyone else?

 

[dwcopple]

I thought it was shut down?

 

[JHZR2]

pls tell more!

 

[D189379]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
I thought it was shut down?


Me too.

 

[The_Jeff]

I was but got out of it a few years back.

used to be all I could count on was RFD-TV.

When I got REEEEALLY bored I'd bang over to IA5 and watch 300 channels of foreign oddball stuff. Bollywood soap operas with overuse of zoom lenses etc.

Was also watching some canadian stuff on nimiq when it was in the clear. "Discovery Channel Canada" has local content where they focus on the contributions of some Canadian scientist/cop cooperating with Americans on some problem.

And every commercial break has a Tim Hortons ad with Howie Mandel.

 

[Honda_Fan]

Not shut down, it's alive and well. Yes there are a lot of foreign channels, but that's not all bad. For instance, you see a side of the news - Russia Today, Al-Jazerra on 'Galaxy 19' that aren't censored by the USA.

Please checkout LyngSat for a complete list of satellites and channels available on each.

Sure, many of the channels are scrambled (Dish & Direct operate on some of the same birds) but any channel with the 'F' designation is free. Not just TV Channels, but many free radio channels on there as well. Satellite SES 1 has 'The History and Biography Channels' free to watch (not scrambled) on their Hotel Networks feed. If any of you travel much and stay in motels, then you know what i'm referring to when I mention the Hotel Network. It's only 2 channels, but this way I can watch Pawn Stars & American Pickers.

Now this does not have all of the premier Cable/Satellite channels for free, but it is a chance to see channels from around the world (many of which have an English feed) that you won't see anywhere else. You can also search for 'Wiki FTA' and learn much more.

The receivers if purchased used (Ebay, etc) are cheap and it's free entertainment.

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: eljefino


.

And every commercial break has a Tim Hortons ad with Howie Mandel.


I hope you're laughing at Howie 'cause Tim Horton is no laughing matter here. If I don't get my Timmie's in the morning, I get gnarly...

 

[The_Jeff]

This FTA history channel looks interesting. Maybe I'll dust off my gear. Thanks!

 

[opensource]

I've got a SuperDish sitting outside but I haven't got a FTA receiver yet. I actually found this forum by mistake while doing some research. Honda_Fan, it look's like we're in the same town... any tips for getting started would be appreciated.