Free To Air Learning

  1. What are Free To Air (FTA) channels?
  2. Satellite Aim Calculators
  3. How to install a dual LNBF
  4. How to get started with Free to Air?
  5. Where can I find only Free USA channels?
  6. How to read Lyngsat chart?
  7. Are there any Dish Network or DirecTV channels that are FTA?
  8. Can I use an FTA receiver to receive premium channels from Dish Network or DirecTV?
  9. Can I use my existing 18" dish (Directv or DN dishes) to receive FTA?
  10. How to Install a Wineguard DS2076 dish
  11. How to add multiple LNBFs to your dish
  12. Circular & Linear LNB's: What's the difference?
  13. Use a multi-switch to add more receivers to your system
  14. Can I use a diplexer to consolidate my local broadcast channels with my satellite signal?
  15. Dish Pointing Tips (very informative)
  16. What are the rules for installing a dish in my sub-division or apartment?
  17. Where can I find additional Free to Air Support?
  18. Stab HH100-HH120 Installation manual
  19. How to Install a Moteck SG2100 motor?
  20. How to properly ground your satellite system
  21. STAB HH90 Installation Manual
  22. How to Assemble my Elliptical Dish
  23. 2 Dishes to 1 Receiver
  24. 4 Dishes to 1 Receiver
  25. 1 Invacom Quad Polar LNB to 2 Receiver
  26. 4 Dishes to 2 Receivers
  27. 8 Dishes to 1 Receiver
  28. 4 Dishes to 4 Receivers
  29. 8 Dishes to 4 Receivers
  30. 8 Dishes to 8 Receivers
  31. Which FTA receiver has the Best Picture Quality?
  32. Which Receiver gets the most channels?
  1. What are Free To Air (FTA) channels?
    Free to Air (FTA) channels are digital channels that are not encrypted by the service provider and require no subscription or monthly payment. They are provided free of charge by the provider and are perfectly legal to receive with an FTA receiver. In other words FREE channels = Unencrypted/Unscrambled. ***Channels that are encrypted require you to subscribe to the service provider.
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  2. Satellite Aim Calculators

    http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/sc.htm


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  3. How to install a dual LNBF

    http://www.dmsiusa.com/duallnbf.htm


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  4. How to get started with Free to Air?
    1) You need to determine what satellite to aim at, go to: www.lyngsat.com or www.ftalist.com or www.satcodx.com or www.sathint.com. These sites will show you all the channels/satellites listed. If your living in North America make sure the satellites are between 40 degree's west to 160 degree's west. These four sites above also tell you which channels are Free to view (unscramble/unencrypted).

    2) Once you determine which satellite you are interested in, look carefully at those four sites above to see whether its ku band (10.7GHz to 14.5GHz) or c-band (3600 MHz to 7025MHz). For Ku-band most area's required at least 30" dish or bigger while C-band requires at least 1.2 Meter dish or bigger.

    3) Now that you have determined which satellite you desire, go to www.dishpointer.com. Type in your address, and then click the link under "Satellites & Dish Sizes". This chart will show you the size of dish required for the satellite of your interest located in your area. Dishpointer is a must have to point your dish, download their app on your mobile device for free.

    4) If you want more than 1 satellite look at the degree's. If it’s less than 25 degree's a part from each other you can use a multi LNB bracket, please find below our brackets: http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/lnbs-brackets-c-38.html If you want many satellites or the multiple satellites which are further than 25 degree's you will need a motorized system, please find below our motors: http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/satellite-motors-c-26.html

    5) Now you will need to purchase the recommended dish size from dishpointer. If you are unsure if you need multi LNB bracket or motor contact our tech support. All our dishes are listed here: http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/satellite-dishes-c-22.html

    6) All our free to air receivers are capable of receiving the free channels. How to choose the best receiver really depends of the features and functions you desire. It’s like choosing the best blu-ray player or the best TV, its your personal choice. Our #1 selling receiver brand is the Conaxsat aka CNX. CNX is known for good quality, easy to use, affordable price and 1 year warranty.

    7) If you are planning to install this system by yourself you will need rg6 cable, cable clips, rg6 connectors, tool for crimp or compression connector, cable stripper and compass (recommended). Other tools that help with installation are satellite meters; this also depends on your budget and how many installations you plan on doing. Go to www.dishpointer.com for aiming coordinates. If you require a professional installer two great sites are www.ftainstall.com and www.mylocalinstaller.com

    Now you’re ready to Watch Free Satellite TV...
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  5. Where can I find only Free USA channels?

    http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/United-States.html


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  6. How to read Lyngsat chart?

     http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/readthecart.gif


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  7. Are there any Dish Network or DirecTV channels that are FTA?
    Almost all of the channels provided by these companies are NOT FTA. The channels are encrypted and require an authorized receiver and monthly subscription.
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  8. Can I use an FTA receiver to receive premium channels from Dish Network or DirecTV?
    Absolutely not. These channels require subscription and special receivers supplied by the service provider only. Any tampering with your FTA receiver (whether by hardware or software modification) to try to receive the premium channels without paying is not only a violation of the law and unethical, but also will void the warrantee on your receiver and may hinder it unusable. We do not support or condone piracy of signal. Don't even inquire about it.
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  9. Can I use my existing 18" dish (Directv or DN dishes) to receive FTA?
    No. All FTA channels are available on satellites with much weaker signal than DSS. The minimum size dish required is 30". Also, FTA and DBS / DSS satellites require different type of LNBs.
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  10. How to Install a Wineguard DS2076 dish

    http://www.dmsiusa.com/documents/ds2076.pdf


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  11. How to add multiple LNBFs to your dish

    http://www.dmsiusa.com/multiplelnbfs.htm


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  12. Circular & Linear LNB's: What's the difference?

    http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/cnl.htm


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  13. Use a multi-switch to add more receivers to your system

    http://www.dmsiusa.com/multi-sw.htm


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  14. Can I use a diplexer to consolidate my local broadcast channels with my satellite signal?

    http://www.dmsiusa.com/diplexer.htm


    [Back To Top]

  15. Dish Pointing Tips (very informative)

    http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/dishpointtips.htm


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  16. What are the rules for installing a dish in my sub-division or apartment?

    http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html


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  17. Where can I find additional Free to Air Support?

    http://www.dvb.org/

    http://www.dbsforums.com/

    http://www.sadoun.net/

    http://www.satelliteguys.us/

    If these sites don't help you can search Yahoo or Google for many more FTA Support Forums

    * Please note that when you click on one of these links above, you may be moving to another company's web site. We cannot control the activities of any such company. We encourage you to read the terms of use and privacy statements of these linked sites as their policies may differ from ours. You access and use these and any other sites, including the information, services, products, materials or any other resources contained on them, solely at your own risk

     


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  18. Stab HH100-HH120 Installation manual

    http://www.usals.info/guidahtml/manuale_tot_uk.htm


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  19. How to Install a Moteck SG2100 motor?

    http://www.dmsiusa.com/documents/SG2100%20easy%20manual.pdf


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  20. How to properly ground your satellite system

    http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/sp.htm


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  21. STAB HH90 Installation Manual

    http://www.usals.info/inglese/manuale_hh90/manuale.htm


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  22. How to Assemble my Elliptical Dish

    http://www.worldwidesatellites.com/edish.JPG


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  23. 2 Dishes to 1 Receiver

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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  24. 4 Dishes to 1 Receiver

     

     


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  25. 1 Invacom Quad Polar LNB to 2 Receiver

     

     


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  26. 4 Dishes to 2 Receivers


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  27. 8 Dishes to 1 Receiver


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  28. 4 Dishes to 4 Receivers

     

     


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  29. 8 Dishes to 4 Receivers


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  30. 8 Dishes to 8 Receivers

     


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  31. Which FTA receiver has the Best Picture Quality?
    You may own a LCD or Plasma or LED TV and now you want the best Quality programming. There's a few Free channels on C-Band however this requires a very big dish. Ku Band doesn't offer many HD channels. The Best option is OTA over the air antenna and certain area's are able to receive up to 35 free 1080i channels. We carry a variety of HD free to air receivers and most of them have built in ATSC tuner for OTA HD. Check out our free to air High Definition receivers section for the latest brands.
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  32. Which Receiver gets the most channels?
    all FTA receivers get the same amount of channels. Not all satellites are compatible in North America.
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