Want fta tv -- what do i do? (for newbies)

[rafalski]

I want fta tv -- what do i do? (for newbies): by grandpooba this is brought to you by grandpooba, all rights for this how-to belong to him. This is a general “how to” and is not receiver specific, this is to serve as background as what is needed to purchase and setup a fta receiver. The first thing is you must be willing to do your homework, this fta web site has many posts and threads on fta selection, operation, programming and installation. So you should read, read, read! components needed: receiver, compatible dish and lnb, rg-6 cable, #12 copper ground wire, rg-6 grounding block, misc. Installation hardware. Tools needed: bubble level, wrenches, socket set, screwdrivers, wire cutters, drill motor & bits selection of a receiver (stb) receiver (aka "stb" stands for "set top box"): what stb do i want? there is several factors selection of a stb. The various types of stb, there are straight stb’s; stb’s with built in hard disk video recorders and now high definition stb's. Once i decide what type of stb, how do i decide what "brand" to buy? again you must read, read, read, personal experience is, look for support. Support of the stb by its manufactures and program coders is critical, because when the providers send a ecm (electronic counter measure) and the stb’s do not work, how quick the manufactures coders gets the program completed to correct for the ecm will be your down time. So again do your homework, the $20.00 you saved buying a lower cost stb, may not be a bargain. For beginners i recommend a straight, popular manufacture / model stb. Clones: if the stb is popular, there will be clones. A clone is a stb that is a copy of the original stb, made to appear like the original, but in most cases the original manufactures software will not work correctly in these boxes. The clone support is often late, intermittent and may not even be available. Stay away from clones! the best advice is, buy from a reputable dealer, such as the dealers that advertise on this site. Or if buying from online auctions, look at their feedback on the type of item that you are purchasing, if they have sold many stb’s, have good feedback and state “no clones” you are most likely safe, but be a prudent cautious buyer. Programing the stb start with this site, go to fta receiver discussions, find your stb's manufacture and model number, at the top of the posts are "stickies", start reading the "how to" download and program your stb. Next go to the fta files section and find your stb manufacture and model and download the loader and the current software, per instructions in the "how to" section. Please note, the files that you will download will be in a zipped format, you must un-zip these files prior to use. Note: double check these files and be sure that these are for your manufacture and model stb, if you down load the incorrect file into your stb, you may not be able to recover with out sending the stb back to the manufacture for repair. After un-zipping, make a directory in your computer and copy the un-zipped files (usually a loader and current .bin file) into this directory. Connect the stb to the computer with the cable that was provided with the stb. Carefully follow the instructions you obtained from the post in the fta receiver discussions. Note: do not power down the stb, as the stb will be flashing its internal flash memory after the computer is finished, that takes a few minutes to complete. The stb will usually give a indication on it's front channel display, i.e. "good" "done" etc. Note: this post would be hundreds of pages long if i were to include all manufactures and models of the available stb's. Dish antenna’s this is the critical item as to what satellites (birds) you will receive. The dish is highly directional and is aimed at a geo-synchronous satellite that is revolving around the earth in the same direction and speed as the earth is revolving. So to us here on earth, the bird appears to us to be stationary in our sky. There are many birds in the sky that we can pick up with a properly set stb and suitable aimed dish. Most dish antennas new and used that is “surplus” and available on the secondary markets that are round or oval and have a major providers name on them, are usable for picking up the major providers fta birds. Recommendation, purchase a dish with a major providers logo on it, an 18 to 24 inch round or oval dish, and the appropriate lnb(s) (see below). If you want to receive 82/91 bev you must use a dish that skews (pivots on its center axis) the dish 500 model with dual lnb’s is recommended lnb’s when you purchase your dish it will probably have a circular lnb attached. The “lnb” (low noise block converter), is the funny looking thing that has the white hockey puck nose, and it looks into the dish. The lnb can pick up one satellite per white hockey puck nose. You will want a dish that is 18 to 24 inch round or oval with one or two hockey puck noses (lnb’s). These dishes will pick up most of the birds of the major provider(s) configurations of the lnb’s; there are two physical types of lnb’s that we are going to address here, noting that there are more types, but they are specialized for hi def. Etc. First there is the single lnb, it has one hockey puck nose, and the dish would be called a single lnb dish. Some dishes have two on these on the dish with a “y” adaptor to hold both single lnb’s (if you can separate the two hockey puck noses, they are singles). The dish would be called a dual lnb dish. Then there are twin lnb’s, these have 2 hockey puck noses that are in one large body (noses can not be separated), it would be called a twin dish. The twin and dual dishes have their advantages and drawbacks. The advantage is that they can look at 2 birds using only one dish. The disadvantage is that there are limited “sets” of 2 birds that can be selected to use both lnb’s, currently 110/119 (dish) and 82/91 (bev), however these sets and birds are the most popular in fta use. You can take a single lnb dish and later add a second lnb to it, this is called “a poor mans dual dish”. These work quite well on 110/119, but you need a dish that skews for 82/91. Lnb output type: besides the physical difference described above, there are different output types of lnb’s, currently the legacy and the dish pro, either will work with modern stb’s but you need to know what type you have as it must be set up properly in the stb and are not exchangeable in the same setup, you must use one or the other but can not mix. For the legacy the stb setup for lnb type = single/standard. For the dish pro the stb setup for lnb type = dish pro/ ocs-dp. Twins if you are using a twin lnb the lnb switching is built into the lnb, but the legacy and dish pro use 2 different switching schemes. The legacy uses sw21 switch and is controlled by the 22khz setting in the stb setup. The dish pro uses a built in diseqc switch and is controlled by the diseqc switch setting in the stb. Do not use an external diseqc switch with the twin lnb. Single output or dual output lnb’s, to further confuse you, the lnb’s are available as single output or dual output in either type legacy or dish pro. The output designates how many cable outputs to the stb or switch that the lnb has. If setting up a single stb you need only a single output lnb, if you want more than one stb you should opt for the more expensive dual output lnb. Recommendations: my first choices are; the legacy single lnb is most common and available new from fta satellite stores. If a dual lnb dish, the dish 500 with 2 legacy singles. You can use the other configurations but will have to read the posts as to their setup. Switches; these are used to switch between lnb’s that are on dishes that are aimed at different birds. There are two basic switches that are commonly used. The diseqc switch. (most stb’s come with a diseqc switch included) this can switch up to 4 lnb’s into one stb (4 birds into 1 stb). There is a second switch called a sw21, which can switch 2 lnb’s, however can be used behind a diseqc switch to double that port. With the sw21 each diseqc switch port can control 2 lnb’s for a total of 8 lnb’s using 1 each 4 port diseqc switch and 4 each sw21 switches. The diseqc switch is setup in the stb under antenna dish or satellite setup. The sw21 switch is controlled by the 22khz in the stb under antenna dish or satellite setup, with the 22khz=on the signal goes to one port and with it off it goes to the other port and can be controlled through a diseqc switch. Warning: always disconnect the power from the stb when removing or installing a cable connection, or damage to the lnb or switch can occur. Cabling: if installing new, use rg-6 cable only. Pre-made rg-6 cables are available at satellite stores, radio shack, wal-mart etc. Grounding: your dish mounting post should have a #12 copper wire going to a good earth ground. You should also have a grounded (a #12 copper wire going to a good earth ground) grounding block near the stb, usually where the rg-6 cable enters the dwelling. Cable connections: cable connections should be, from stb to grounding block, grounding block to one lnb or if multi-satellite - switch, usually at the dish, switch ports to lnb’s. If switch is used you must set this up in the satellite setup in the stb. Installation and aiming the dish: first you must survey the proposed mounting site to check for obstacles. Use a dish aiming web-site (available on this web site posts, search for "dish aiming"). Once found enter the required information, the dish aiming calculator will give you the elevation, azimuth and skew of the satellite for your location for the desired bird(s). To survey, use the magnetic azimuth from the calculator, stand away from any thing magnetic or metal, turn the compass on till the compasses red pointer points at "n"orth, leave the compass at "n" and look in the direction of the magnetic azimuth found previously and using the "elevation" obtained on the aiming calculator, look up at that approximate angel, there should be no obstructions (yes - trees count). Look to your left and right at least 45 degrees, if clear this will give you expansion for future birds. The dish mount must be solidly mounted and bird post absolutely plumb to function correctly. To mount using the original universal bent pole mount. This mount is universal and can be used on a roof or a wall facing the right direction to see the bird. The key to the mounting is, the dish must be able to see the bird. The mount must be solid, and most important - plumb in all plains (translated - on all sides of the dish pole, with the bubble level, bubble is between the center lines). Alternate mounting using a metal pole; some dish installations lend themselves to a straight pole mount. This is a pole that is plumb that is set in cement into the ground. For most 18 - 22 inch dishes, a standard 1 and 5/8 inch chain link fence post can be used to mount the dish (available at hardware store). With a fence posthole digger, dig a 24-inch deep hole, put fence post in the center, fill with concrete, set the pole plumb with bubble level on all planes, wait 48 hours for cement to cure ground pole and mount dish. Mount the dish onto the pole, leaving the dish mount pole locking clamp bolts loose. Load your stb with the latest software down loaded from this web site for your manufacture and model of stb. If possible, bring the stb (receiver) with a tv hooked up to it next to you at the dish location, if not get an assistant and yell or use walkie-talkies to commutate. Connect the other end of the rg-6 cable to the bird in connector on the stb (receiver). Next set the elevation angle on the dish by, loosing the 2 nuts on the elevation adjustment and set it for the angle that was specified in the dish-aiming calculator for bird desired snug up the 2 adjusting bolts. Aim the dish for the magnetic azimuth that you have previously calculated for the birds. Set up the stb for the bird by going into the “antenna setup” and setting the “bird for lnb power=”on”, lnb type =”standard” (on less you have a “dish pro” then set lnb type for “ocs-dp” or “dp”), lnb freq = 11250, 22 khz=”off”. Save the setup. Set the stb (receiver) to indicate on the tv the signal strength. With the dish sweep the sky in the direction of the magnetic azimuth s-l-o-w-l-y, watching the stb signal strength “s” and then the “q”. Peak the reading, the stb should indicate the birds name and position, once found using a marking pen mark the pole and dish collar so you can return to that setting. Next loosen the elevation bolts and peak the signal strength readings. You should have greater than 35 on the “q”uality signal strength and the stb should indicate the desired bird. Once peaked, tighten the pole and elevation lock nuts to keep the dish from moving. Complete the setup by disconnecting the dish cable from the stb and running the cable to the grounded - grounding block and then another rg-6 cable from the grounding block to the stb. Hook the stb to the tv set and check for signal on the desired bird, if good then scan the bird, save it and watch tv. By: grandpooba