On Sun, May 30, 2010 at 11:52:59AM -0000, VA1CQ wrote:
> I wonder if it's worth the effort to install either a C- or Ku-band
> FTA system on east coast these days considering costs/trouble involved?
>
> I've always been interested, never had one, but has the time passed to
> install such a system? I don't want to watch religious programming, I'm
> mainly interested in programming from foreign countries...
If you have a pretty up to date FTA capability (DVB-S2, H264,
HD) you will find there is probably as much or more in the way of feeds,
backhauls and the like as there ever was in the FM analog days. And
much is in amazingly high quality (because it is fully digital and you
either get it or you don't) HD in lots better than OTA broadcast
quality.
HOWEVER, regular the majority of 24/7 continuous cable like
programing tends to eventually get encrypted and very little of it can
be legally purchased by home viewers (different from the VCII days).
Some, but by no means all, foreign TV is encrypted as
distributed in North America... but there is lots open too. Some of
the encrypted foreign programming (but no all) is available for
public subscription, though you will usually have to purchase a specific
receiver for the channel(s) you are interested in (unlike in Europe where
this is done by access cards plugged into a standard receiver).
On the east coast there is also some material available from
satellites over the Atlantic fed directly from Europe... if you can
see low on the east horizon. (European satellites are not beamed
to North America in general and not visible, but there are several
birds that are used for transatlantic feeds).
As for costs, the equipment is available VERY cheap on places
like Ebay, and old dishes are often given away for free (take it off
my lawn)... not something that needs to cost a lot of money (and certainly
not the kind of money TVRO cost in its heyday years ago).
>
> Murray
> Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
--
Dave Emery N1PRE/AE, [email protected] DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass
02493
"An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten
'For Rent' sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - in
celebration of what could have been, but wasn't and is not to be now either."
