[Ed Schilling]

Anyone here using FTA? If not I might suggest you check into it. It is an "interesting hobby"........I suspect many are not aware of it's existence. A google search will get you started. It's not complicated, hard or expensive but you'll have to figure some stuff out. There are forums that help. Nothing like FTA on a giant screen......if you like TV, that is. And FTA receivers are perfectly legal, much to the chagrin of  some satellite providers. Ever felt ticked off because you actually PAY to watch commercials? Remember when TV was "free" and the purpose of commercials was to pay for the programs....you know, they used to be called "sponsors"? Once cable and sat came along people just went along and the paying to watch commercials became the norm. You can fix that.
Ed
FTA= free to air

[Bob in St. Louis]

Interesting subjet Ed. Thanks for posting that.
As you mentioned, a quick search of "fta" yields many results. I was looking for an "official" FTA website, so first I tried "FTA.com". That's an unused domain name that turns out to be a search engine so don't bother.

I did find this though: http://www.totalfta.com/
And....oh look....I found another forum: http://www.purefta.com/forum/index.php that's what we all need. 

Thanks again Ed. Are any of you folks out there using this, or have any knowledge of it?
Jeez, I could save $70+/month by loosing DirecTv. 

Now if only there was FTA highspeed Internet.  aa

Intriguing. I'm very interested.

Bob

[Ed Schilling]

Thanks Bob, You will LOVE this hobby. Try something like..... freedomfta......maybe........ ftaconcept.   

A receiver that works well I'm told is a Sonicview 4000........of course if you want PVR or HD you'll need to spend more money.

There is no legal way to watch Direct TV. Period. And you probably shouldn't load a bin file to unlock DikNet or Beverly either but I heard you can, but only for "testing" your receiver. Not "illegal" but not suggested either! You can NOT legally MODIFY any equipment. So don't modify any....just buy the right receiver to start with!

There are about 190 satellites up there just waiting........a couple good ones to test are 119W, 110W and 91.0W.

Ed
BTW...I have installed sat dishes for over 25 years starting with one of the first C-band antennas privately owned in Columbia...that I bought and installed.  It was commercial equip. That was all that was available, this was before "consumer C-band" stuff was available. I have NEVER owned and still do not own a single piece of illegal satellite equipment. I NEVER had a modified Videocipher (for C-band) or got involved with hacking sat TV of any type. Even to this day.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Thanks Bob, You will LOVE this hobby.

Oh shit Ed, I didn't know this was going to be a hobby.   

Personally, I can't remember the last time I watched a channel that wasn't a local channel. The wife and I don't watch TV other than the news (gotta see who got shot in the ghetto today). If my video system is on, it's for home theater. The only reason we subscribe to DirecTv is so the kids have access to the half dozen children's channels.
Kinda sounds messed up to pay $70+ a month so the kids can have Nickelodeon. 

But if there's a free (or close to free) option out there, then I'm all for it.

Good information you've got there Ed. Thanks for posting. Good to see a fella like you in a place like this. 

Anybody else use FTA?
Bob needs more info = pro's and con's?

Bob

[Ed Schilling]

All local channels are on FTA........for testing purposes, of course. It is ALL available. Ever payed for a "sports package" only to find the local games you want to watch are "blacked out"? Doesn't that piss you off? Movie channels now have commercials! We pay to get "movies" and now pay for the commercials there again! You can usually find the blacked out channels...to test.
Ed

[lonewolfny42]

How many hours a night do you test Ed ?

[Ed Schilling]

Good one wolfy! I think you get it!

here is a con.........let's say you live in Ca. and have a prescription for Medical Marijuana.....and it is perfectly legal and required that you smoke some. So you are sitting on your deck burning a fatty and your neighbor sees you and calls the cops. You will not get arrested but you'll have some 'splaining to do. FTA is like that. Only there are no FTA cops and no one to come knock on your door. But that may not stop an ass from claiming you are "pirating" tv. So in the interest of not giving busy bodies something to do don't go telling all your neighbors you are testing FTA. No reason to be paranoid but no reason to cause yourself grief over nothing either. Think of it this way.....the receivers are FCC approved...the sites for info exist.....you need not pay a dime to test a receiver...you do not have to "buy" files  and rest assured Charlie and Beverly are very much aware of FTA and would love to see it go away. I'm sure they would find a way to shut off the sites that help if they could. So long as that signal hits your roof and you don't use illegal equipment to hack it you should be fine as far as a claim of "piracy" goes. DO NOT MODIFY YOUR EQUIPMENT! I would not have made this post nor would I suggest anyone do anything illegal. FTA is perfectly legal.
Ed

[lonewolfny42]

Cool Ed.....thanks...

[launche]

One of the best kept secrets out there, enjoy.
Get this set up and seperately get your OTA HD antenna for your free local HD channels and you're in business.

[launche]

Interesting option...

http://whathifi.com/television/archive/2008/06/10/exclusive-review-we-test-panasonic-s-freesat-integrated-th-46pz81-lcd-tv.aspx

[Alwayswantmore]

I did some reading on the topic, and find it very interesting. I have one question: Do the channels change or drop out? There is a lot of talk about updates and codes, which seems to imply this is a dynamic world. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks.

[satfrat]

Actually i use a Panst 300a FTA digital receiver that's piggybacked onto my C-Band satellite 4DTV receiver. I've owned a 12' satellite dish since 1985, 1 year before the cable channels encrypted. Back then, even after the cable channels encrypted, there was lots of fta channels, backhaul feeds actually. but with the advent of digital tv, C-Band (or analog tv) has dried up. I myself went to DirecTv HD last august. But what actually keeps me hanging onto my big dish is the digital channels that can still be gotten. Nothing major actually but I can get 3-4 different network channels from as far away as the St Thomas Islands to Alaska. With a digital HD receiver, you can get the Nascar Hotpass in the clear. To use a digital fta receiver, one only needs a 4' dish but it needs to be a movable one inorder to receive multiple satellites.



Cheers,
Robin


ps,up here in vermont, we only have access to about 25 satellites. I've never heard of anywhere in the world where 1 location can have access to 190 satellites. That sounds like a worldwide  satellite availability number to me.

[Ed Schilling]

satfrat,
My total list shows 195 . That does not mean you can view all of them. But there are in fact that many and they all have a name. For instance right now I have a dish pointed at Nimiq 1,3.......most people, I am sure have never heard of that one. Well, in the USA, The Canadians would know it has BelExpress Vue on it. You do not need a 4 foot dish. An 18"-20 inch dish works fine. A dish network dish 500 is a good place to start. You should investigate a little more. That is a suggestion, NOT a sarcastic remark!
I gave all the info needed to get about 900 channels ( I have 991 actually scanned and saved), many are dupes. I have several dishes pointing at various things.

A motor is needed to move a dish to other sats. but most everything anyone needs, wants, or can pay for are on two or three and a d500 will hit them both I heard.

I'm sorry but I can't provide instructions on FTA or how to set it all up, but again, I figured it out on my own using just what I have provided here. I just read the forums. Everything one needs is there, links to equipment, links to sites that show how to aim a dish.....and even implied things one might do to avoid high price sat bills. And one need not spend a dime on "programs or files" unless they want to. It is all available for free. You just need to figure it out.

Assuming you have a sat. dish and it is NOT Direct TV then you are already mostly "there".

In order for the benefits a fellow is going to have to do a little research and work. Specific questions about FTA can be asked and will be answered on any FTA forum.

I've given enough info for the motivated to become "extremely happy" for a small investment in time and equipment, say under 200 bucks.

Unless you want HD...those receivers cost more.

Good luck.
Ed

....added.....yea, world number is 195, as you guessed.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Bump.... For a greater sense of urgency on my part.

I've been interested in this subject since Ed started this thread. My interest has not decreased, but admittedly, I've been a little busy recently, and slightly lazy to be perfectly honest. I suppose I've fallen in the same "safe and content" trap of retail satellite subscriptions. The fear of the new and unknown has kept me from learning more about this relatively unknown underground option for television viewing. Also, our house has 4 receivers in it, so the cost of replacing and installing 4 of them (not to mention retraining myself and my family how to use them) is a slight 'con'.

Until now.

My DirecTv receiver (R-15) has crapped itself. Looks like a good time for change to me.  aa

If you don't mind, I'd like to ramble out loud a few thoughts, questions and discoveries regarding FTA.
A bit like throwing a rock into a bush to see what comes out. 


I've been told (by a little birdie), that the SonicView SV4000 is a very good receiver to start out with. However, the couple sites I've been on do not list that unit any longer. Possibly out of production? I've found a nice unit; Sonicview SV-360 Elite for $170. The SV360 maybe the upgraded new model number that replaces the SV4000?? Not sure.

I've also been told (by that same little bird) the Dish500 dish is a very nice dish. From what I've found,  the dish itself ranges from $200-$300. Is this the Dishnetwork brand dish?

I became a member of the "FTAconcept" forum about six weeks ago. However, I forgot my password, and they haven't sent me my new password yet. 
Stupid. 
Maybe I'll join another forum or two. (not that I need MORE forums). 

A quick Ebay search of "FTA" in the Consumer Electronic section reveals about 1,900 products. There's quite a few receivers in there (no reserve) that are ending today that cost less than $20. Same with a few dishes.
In fact, there's a receiver (Item number: 120292749106) that ends in just over an hour and is currently at $1.40 + $26 for shipping.
Might be one of those "clones" though.

There's also one of those "500" dishes that ends in 11 hours and cost $30 (shipped). Item number: 220265068916

I've not been able to find a receiver that also has the ability to record. Most will output to an external harddrive, but have not found one with an internal DVR (digital video recorder). Anybody know of one?
I ask because the wife and I watch 'American Idol' downstairs on my home theater rig. American Idol begins it's new season in about a month. A DVR is an absolute 100% MUST have.

Bob

[Ed Schilling]

Bob,
Short answers.......do not buy a used receiver, period. The SV 4000 has been discontinued. The 360 premium and elite are new models. It is IMPERATIVE you get a receiver that is "supported" by "someone". I'd be looking at the 360.

Dish 500 WITH DISH PRO LNB.....is what you should get. 50-80 is the going rate for new or used. Locally they are 79 bucks WITH LNB.

You don't need FTA for American Idol....... www.warez-bb.org  will probably do. Search in the "TV Showz" section.

Now a question....why in the world would you want an internal HD? That only limits your options. External HD's are cheap now. Most of the receivers with HD capability have dual tuners too.........and thus all the capabilities of an internal HD receiver.

Hope this helps.
Ed

[Bob in St. Louis]

Short answers.......do not buy a used receiver, period. The SV 4000 has been discontinued. The 360 premium and elite are new models. It is IMPERATIVE you get a receiver that is "supported" by "someone". I'd be looking at the 360.

Understood, no problem.

I DON'T want an internal drive?? --->why in the world would you want an internal HD? That only limits your options. External HD's are cheap now.
I DO want an internal drive?? --->Most of the receivers with HD capability have dual tuners too.........and thus all the capabilities of an internal HD receiver.

You've confused me now ED. 
Your first two sentences seem to discourage me looking for internal drives. But your last sentence seem to be encouraging me to get a HD(harddrive {recordable}) receiver.
I assume, in this context here, "HD" is defined as 'HardDrive', and NOT HighDefinition.
At this point in time, I'm not ready to spend the cash for HighDef.

Since my last posting, it seem the FTA world prefers to call the ability of recording "PVR" as opposed to "DVR".
I'm in the VERY early stages of research, so PLEASE excuse any stupid questions.

Thanks,
Bob

EDIT: I checked out "www.warez-bb.org " and don't a sub-forum dealing with 'TV Showz'.

[Ed Schilling]

Bob,
 HD=hard drive.............internal HD in a satellite receiver is just something to go wrong. External HD ability does the exact same thing as an internal HD except when it breaks you don't have to trash the whole receiver. And you don't lose stored programs when lightning destroys your equipment either! A MUCH better way to do things!

It takes a dual tuner to watch one thing and record another.....all receivers with HD, internal or external require this.....I was saying that ......"MOST FTA have dual tuners but this is NOT needed just to record"....only to watch one thing while recording another.

The ONLY reason for HD capability either internal or external on a satellite receiver is to record. PVR=DVR. With FTA there are no extra charges or fees and "pausing live tv" is possible just like with the pay service.

"TV Showz"....is a sub category of "Moviez". It is there. Trust me, keep looking! I found all episodes of  the "new" series (on BBC) "Primeval". By "all" I mean "seasons one and two".

Hope this helps...

Ed
BTW......High Definition would be abbreviated (by me) as "Hi Def".  Hard Drive is always "HD" when talking about equipment. Just to avoid confusion of terms.

Hi Def is over rated.......in my opinion. The selection of program material is just too small........I watch for the program, not to marvel at how good the picture is. The best picture in the highest definition is not worth a thing to me if the movie itself is not something worth watching. I don't care for sports I can't play. And I am not going to watch anything I don't like.......regardless of how "great it looks".
My projector in SVA is fine and  so long as I keep it to 100 inches it looks pretty damn good, plenty good enough.

[andrewbee]

There is FTA and "true FTA". FTA is "Testing",  which is watching (Dave and/or Beverly) "True FTA" is really watching F (free) T (to) A (air) which is watching TV from around the world from open channels of which they are many, (think of it as shortwave radio for the TV).

You want an external usb drive. Whichever model receiver you decide upon, take a look for external drives that will work with it on fta forum posts, they all should work but we do not live in perfect world so read first.
This is just so you can record programing, if you don't want to record then you don't need the external hd.

Some receivers have built in memory that buffers the stream and so you can actually "go back in time" to watch. E.G. you get up to to go take a leak, you can "rewind" the program and see what you missed. The Coolsat 7000 (discontinued) has this feature.

Most receivers nowadays have one or two built in usb ports so you just attach your external hd there.

FTA is not a substitute for a "Dave or Beverly" subscription (look them up), but rather a way to "educate" yourself by "testing". If you want tv 24/7 then testing is not for you , you need a subscription but if you want to "entertain" yourself then its okay.

Remember too that without subscriptions there will be no testing.

Once you read up on the subject you will understand more.

[Ed Schilling]

Good post Andrewbee. And you are exactly right. This "hobby" is NOT "plug and play". The rewards are worth the trouble though.
I think I'll do some "testing" and see if the race is on...............................
Ed

[satfrat]

There is FTA and "true FTA". FTA is "Testing",  which is watching (Dave and/or Beverly) "True FTA" is really watching F (free) T (to) A (air) which is watching TV from around the world from open channels of which they are many, (think of it as shortwave radio for the TV).

You want an external usb drive. Whichever model receiver you decide upon, take a look for external drives that will work with it on fta forum posts, they all should work but we do not live in perfect world so read first.
This is just so you can record programing, if you don't want to record then you don't need the external hd.

Some receivers have built in memory that buffers the stream and so you can actually "go back in time" to watch. E.G. you get up to to go take a leak, you can "rewind" the program and see what you missed. The Coolsat 7000 (discontinued) has this feature.

Most receivers nowadays have one or two built in usb ports so you just attach your external hd there.

FTA is not a substitute for a "Dave or Beverly" subscription (look them up), but rather a way to "educate" yourself by "testing". If you want tv 24/7 then testing is not for you , you need a subscription but if you want to "entertain" yourself then its okay.

Remember too that without subscriptions there will be no testing.

Once you read up on the subject you will understand more.

You bring up a good point, FTA is not subscription channels that you're paying for like DirecTv or Dish Network or the Canadian Dish Networks. FTA are free digital channels that have not been scrambled. At best FTA is a hobby and is not meant to replace cable TV channels. The only satellites any ground dish will have access to are those on the equator that you have an unimpeded line of sight to. The closer to the equator you are, the more satellites you will see. For a good idea of what's available on any satellite you can see, go to http://www.lyngsat.com/america.html

Cheers,
Robin