Hello to all.
We just got a new FTA Dish 1000.2 and a Viewsat 9000HD receiver all monted on a 4' tripod.
I have a 3 LNB dish head that has the LNB connections numbered 1 2 3 and LNB IN.
I also have a 4 in 1 DISEqC Switch that has connections numbered LNB1, LNB 2, LNB 3, LNB 4 and receiver.
I figured that the dish head LNB1 goes to the LNB 1 switch, 2 to 2, 3 to 3, and the receiver connection on the switch goes to the reciever. My question is this, Where does this LNB IN on the head go to?
Do I have two RG6 going to the reciver or just 1?
If anyone understands what I'm asking for, please respond.
In other words, how do you wire a 3 LNB head to a 4 x 1 switch.
Never had to do this before, so I claim "honorable ignorance".
Byron & Linda
04 MADP 4016
08 Jeep Liberty 4 x4
Motosat F1 Internet system w/DirectTv BOW
Escapees
Full timers and loving it.

Now I can't help answer your questions, but try this web site, just signup(free) and ask all the questions you have. Some one there will know the answers.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/

As far as hooking up multiple LNBs, you'd just hook up LNB1 to Switch position 1, 2 to 2, and 3 to 3. Just because the switch is a 4X1 doesn't mean you have to use the forth position. Just use what you have.

There should be just one coax (RG6) running from the switch output to the back of your receiver. That's all that's needed.

That said, I'm unclear from your description what you're trying to accomplish.

"FTA dish" imnplies that you're looking for "free to air" signals. You're not going to find much "free to air" with most of the "3 LNB dish head" setups that you find on dish setups typically used for Dish Network and DirecTv.

(Incidentally, true FTA channels are not going to be found on the DirecTV and Dish Network satellites, with the exception of the NASA channel on one of Dish's birds.)

True Free To Air signals will require a different LNB setup. Those signals, with only rare exception, are going to be with either a Standard or Universal LNB which will be able to receive a LINEAR signal.

To receive the signals put out by Dish & DirecTv, you'll be needing the kind of LNB typical of the standard Dish & DirecTv setups and that will be set up to receive CIRCULAR signals.

They are not the same. And they will not receive signals interchangablly.

From the lower lines of your post, I am asuming you're using a Motosat dish with BOW to get DirecTv with that. I'm not sure what you're wanting to receive on your tripod setup. If you're looking for true FTA, you've probably got the wrong LNBs. I also can't see how anything other than a single LNB (or a dual or quad in a single package) will do you much good as the spacing for the LNBs will be different for viewing different satellites. The range of FTA channels covers a pretty big arc in the sky and maybe 7 or 8 satellites. If trying to pirate... well, no comment.

As far as setting up your receiver, you may have to make extensive use of the menu and I'm not familiar with your receiver. On mine, I had to designate what satellite I'm looking at and the settings for the particular LNB and it's location on the switch in order for me to do the search and save functions. I only have a 2X1 switch and have a dual LNB (one linear and one circular) on a motorized dish.

FWIW, I think the only channel of any interest that I can get in true FTA fashion with the circular LNB is the NASA channel. The rest of the FTA is all on the linear LNB.

I'm reluctant to go any farther as I don't want to encourage piracy... hoping those are not your intentions.

Good luck,

Brian

Upon reflection, I hope I wasn't too harsh with my reply yesterday. No offense intended, hopefully, it wasn't taken in that tone.

Anyway, I did want to add that if you're looking for a Stardard or a Universal LNB for true FTA, they're cheap. If you go looking on ebay, you'll probably find a lot of them for less than the shipping to get them to you.

I think most people are using a Universal LNB, which has a bit more inclusive frequency range. It really doesn't do you any good unless you're looking at satellites way off to the east over the Atlantic. I don't have a view to see those anyway so have never worried much about that.

There can also be a potential advantage to using a Standard LNB if you have a more complex setup, which I doubt you will. It has to do with the ways in which the LNB switches between Vertical and Horizontal polarity.

As I said, most FTA types use a Universal LNB. They're easy and cheap and integrate well with any of the FTA receivers.

Anyway, good luck. Hope you find some interesting channels to watch.

Brian

Brain
Thanks for your replies. You explained everything I needed to know better than the manual.
I do have BOW on a MotoSat F1 system with DirecTV. It is my understanding from a few other forums that once DirectTV moves their channels off to this new KA & KU bands that I wouldn't be able to get both Internet and DirectTV channels on my F1 system. So, I decided to buy this FTA system. I'm not a big TV fan, so whatever I can catch is good enough for me. DirectTV was about 60 - 65 dollars/month, so I'll be saving that.
I can catch 3 satellites which are giving hundreds of channels to choose from.
I go the system up and running this AM and just amazed at how many channels are there for just my initial investment.
I'm happy and once I move around to a few states with our motorhome and get proficient at aiming this dish, I'm going to discontinue DirectTV channels.
I never took your comments to be harsh, only helpful. Besides, I'm one of those guys that like my freedom and won't endanger my way of life getting channels from a "cracked box".
If it's illegal, it's not for us.
Again, thank you for you advice.
Byron
04 MADP 4016
08 Jeep Liberty 4 x 4
Full Timing RV'ers and loving it
Originally posted by BrianT:
Upon reflection, I hope I wasn't too harsh with my reply yesterday. No offense intended, hopefully, it wasn't taken in that tone.

Anyway, I did want to add that if you're looking for a Stardard or a Universal LNB for true FTA, they're cheap. If you go looking on ebay, you'll probably find a lot of them for less than the shipping to get them to you.

I think most people are using a Universal LNB, which has a bit more inclusive frequency range. It really doesn't do you any good unless you're looking at satellites way off to the east over the Atlantic. I don't have a view to see those anyway so have never worried much about that.

There can also be a potential advantage to using a Standard LNB if you have a more complex setup, which I doubt you will. It has to do with the ways in which the LNB switches between Vertical and Horizontal polarity.

As I said, most FTA types use a Universal LNB. They're easy and cheap and integrate well with any of the FTA receivers.

Anyway, good luck. Hope you find some interesting channels to watch.

Brian[/QUOTE]

Hi Byron,

You may already have this, but I thought I'd post it anyway...

http://www.ftalist.com/english.htm

It's a list of English language FTA satellite channels. (You may find a few more as things do tend to move around a bit.)

Between this and the batwing antenna, it keeps us pretty well contented. For those who must have the typical cable lineup and a few dozen movie channels,... well, they probably wouldn't be very happy.

Actually, a few years back, I went through a period of time (maybe a year or two) when I had no television at all. It seemed a little odd at the start, but when I found other things to occupy my time (like reading), I didn't really miss it all that much at all. Occasionally, I wonder to myself if I'd like to return to those days as they weren't so bad...

Have fun,



Brian