DirecPC dish & LNB of any use for FTA digital TV?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

Today I was given a used DirecPC dish and LNB by someone who thought it was
a Primestar dish (I have let it be known that I am looking for one or two
used Primestar dishes to use for Ku band reception). My question is, is a
DirecPC dish useful for picking up any kind of television and if so, does
it have any special considerations I should be aware of (for example a
nonstandard L.O. frequency? Anything weird regarding signal polarity?).
I've never used a DirecPC dish before so have no idea what I've got here.

Please reply in the group, and thanks for any info.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

One addendum to my previous post, I took the plastic cover off the feedhorn
and there was a red sticker on the LNB, which had this information:

DirecPC LNB
FSS 11.7 - 12.2 GHz
HNS P/N 1029272-0002 Rev. A
Made in Taiwan

Also it only has a single coax connector so I'm assuming this is NOT the
two-way dish.

Interestingly there is no visible skew adjustment on the LNB itself but it
looks like there is a rotation plate on the back of the dish itself - so
apparently you rotate the entire dish to get the skew set correctly?

So what do I have, anything remotely useful?

On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 20:27:23 -0400, not-a-real-email@donotemail.us wrote:

>Today I was given a used DirecPC dish and LNB by someone who thought it was
>a Primestar dish (I have let it be known that I am looking for one or two
>used Primestar dishes to use for Ku band reception). My question is, is a
>DirecPC dish useful for picking up any kind of television and if so, does
>it have any special considerations I should be aware of (for example a
>nonstandard L.O. frequency? Anything weird regarding signal polarity?).
>I've never used a DirecPC dish before so have no idea what I've got here.
>
>Please reply in the group, and thanks for any info.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

You can use the combo to get music from Echostar-7 @ 119º, or Nimiq-1 @
91º. I use an old DirecTV 18" dish/lnbf for exactly this purpose. The only
video available FTA on this bird(E7) are a couple of Dish instructional
channels or Angel One. In other words, nothing of use or interest. To me
anyway.
The lnbf is circular, so there's no skew to set or adjust. Polarity is
either left or right. One connection on the lnbf means that you feed one
receiver. Two connectors are not an indication of being a two-way dish, but
the ability to feed an additional rcvr.
Stereo off the 2 birds mentioned above is all I do with my mpeg2 rcvr. I
use an old elliptical Primestar dish with a CalAmp lnbf to get Nimiq-1. So
the answer is YES. It can be useful. And if you live in a radio wasteland as
I do, it offers a variety available only in very large radio markets. I can
tune my radio to country, hip-hop, rap, or classic rock. I can only handle
so much Lynrd Skynrd, and can't tolerate any of the rest. Enjoy the
possibilities!

MH

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

Forgot to mention that the LO frequency is 11250 when using a DSS lnbf.

MH

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

not-a-real-email@donotemail.us wrote:

> One addendum to my previous post, I took the plastic cover off the feedhorn
> and there was a red sticker on the LNB, which had this information:
>
> DirecPC LNB
> FSS 11.7 - 12.2 GHz
> HNS P/N 1029272-0002 Rev. A
> Made in Taiwan
>
> Also it only has a single coax connector so I'm assuming this is NOT the
> two-way dish.
>
> Interestingly there is no visible skew adjustment on the LNB itself but it
> looks like there is a rotation plate on the back of the dish itself - so
> apparently you rotate the entire dish to get the skew set correctly?
>
> So what do I have, anything remotely useful?
>

Yes, it's just like a PrimeStar dish.

Only thing you need to make sure is that the LNBF can get both polarizations.

Please ignore the guy who thinks you've got a DirecTV dish.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 20:27:23 -0400, not-a-real-email@donotemail.us
wrote:

>Today I was given a used DirecPC dish and LNB by someone who thought it was
>a Primestar dish (I have let it be known that I am looking for one or two
>used Primestar dishes to use for Ku band reception). My question is, is a
>DirecPC dish useful for picking up any kind of television and if so, does
>it have any special considerations I should be aware of (for example a
>nonstandard L.O. frequency? Anything weird regarding signal polarity?).
>I've never used a DirecPC dish before so have no idea what I've got here.
>
>Please reply in the group, and thanks for any info.


Yes they kick ass. You can use it for 105, 121 or any other linear
polarized birds.
LO=10750

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb (More info?)

It was right in my face, and I missed it. I read DirecPC, but had
DirecTV on the brain. The responses I posted were in regard to the use of a
typical DSS dish and lnbf. I've used a DirecDuo dish which has a DSS lnb and
feedhorn alongside the data lnb. That lnb is a New Japan Radio and is
shorter(relevant?) than other units I've seen. It must be rotated manually
to change polarity, and yes you skew the entire dish. I never tried to use
that lnb for anything other than data reception. Now I'm wondering if as
"kryppy" suggests, that I could use it to get G10R since the majority of
what's available on that bird seems to use vertical polarization?
I stand by my previous posts; though misdirected in content as regards
the question posed. The info I offered is the result of personal experience
which may be of no interest to you. I apologize for any confusion I may have
caused.
As for the admonition to "Please ignore the guy who thinks you've got a
DirecTV dish", I've acknowledged my mistake. I goofed. I advise not posting
to any NG containing "tvro", unless you want to talk about BUDs. Too many
big dish snobs lying in wait to pounce on simple and honest human error.
Particularly in regard to small dish usage, which they seem to regard with
disdain. Must be a heavy burden to be a know-it-all. Am I a pizza dish
snob? NO, cuz each dish type has its proper application.. My C-band BUD is
just one of the 7 dishes to be found on the property. Variety is good!

Well excuuuuuuse me
MH

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 05:59:41 GMT, Zoyburg <rats@attib.com> wrote:

>not-a-real-email@donotemail.us wrote:
>
>> One addendum to my previous post, I took the plastic cover off the feedhorn
>> and there was a red sticker on the LNB, which had this information:
>>
>> DirecPC LNB
>> FSS 11.7 - 12.2 GHz
>> HNS P/N 1029272-0002 Rev. A
>> Made in Taiwan
>>
>> Also it only has a single coax connector so I'm assuming this is NOT the
>> two-way dish.
>>
>> Interestingly there is no visible skew adjustment on the LNB itself but it
>> looks like there is a rotation plate on the back of the dish itself - so
>> apparently you rotate the entire dish to get the skew set correctly?
>>
>> So what do I have, anything remotely useful?
>>
>
>Yes, it's just like a PrimeStar dish.
>
>Only thing you need to make sure is that the LNBF can get both polarizations.
>
>Please ignore the guy who thinks you've got a DirecTV dish.

Thanks - So then I assume I could use it to pick up the FTA stations on
Galaxy 10R at 123.0° W? Okay, well the LNBF only has one coax connector
(the Primestar dishes I've seen have two, labeled H and V) so does that
mean it's only a single polarity? I'm just thinking that if it had been
intended for use with DirecPC there would really have been no need to
change polarity once it had been installed, since it would always pick up
signals from the same transponder. But, if it were capable of changing
polarity, how would you do that with the Pansat? Seems like the skew
setting is intended to control a mechanical polarizer (as on a C band
dish). I have heard that some small dish systems select polarity by
sending either 14v or 18v to the LNB, but it doesn't seem like there's any
way to control that with the Pansat. Please excuse me if these are stupid
questions, I'm just trying to get everything clear in my mind.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

not-a-real-email@donotemail.us wrote:
> [snip]
> Thanks - So then I assume I could use it to pick up the FTA stations on
> Galaxy 10R at 123.0° W? Okay, well the LNBF only has one coax connector
> (the Primestar dishes I've seen have two, labeled H and V) so does that
> mean it's only a single polarity? I'm just thinking that if it had been
> intended for use with DirecPC there would really have been no need to
> change polarity once it had been installed, since it would always pick up
> signals from the same transponder. But, if it were capable of changing
> polarity, how would you do that with the Pansat? Seems like the skew
> setting is intended to control a mechanical polarizer (as on a C band
> dish). I have heard that some small dish systems select polarity by
> sending either 14v or 18v to the LNB, but it doesn't seem like there's any
> way to control that with the Pansat. Please excuse me if these are stupid
> questions, I'm just trying to get everything clear in my mind.

You may need to configure the Pansat to say you've got a LNBF.

In any case, look for a voltage setting (14V/18V) when setting up a transponder.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 10:53:03 -0400, not-a-real-email@donotemail.us
wrote:

>Thanks - So then I assume I could use it to pick up the FTA stations on
>Galaxy 10R at 123.0° W? Okay, well the LNBF only has one coax connector
>(the Primestar dishes I've seen have two, labeled H and V) so does that
>mean it's only a single polarity? I'm just thinking that if it had been
>intended for use with DirecPC there would really have been no need to
>change polarity once it had been installed, since it would always pick up
>signals from the same transponder. But, if it were capable of changing
>polarity, how would you do that with the Pansat? Seems like the skew
>setting is intended to control a mechanical polarizer (as on a C band
>dish). I have heard that some small dish systems select polarity by
>sending either 14v or 18v to the LNB, but it doesn't seem like there's any
>way to control that with the Pansat. Please excuse me if these are stupid
>questions, I'm just trying to get everything clear in my mind.

I heard that some, if not all DirecPC LNBFs were single polarity.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

Gary Tait <classicsat@yahoo.cominvalid> wrote in
news:ndb9i0tep1et9rg84fq2mvot08r96l2obi@4ax.com:

> I heard that some, if not all DirecPC LNBFs were single polarity.
>

======

I used DirecPC for a couple of years and I just used regular Ku-band LNB
and an a spare old 4 foot dish which I mounted on a creosote post. A
friend supplled me with a DirecPC ISA card for my PC.

It worked perfectly ..... that is as perfectly as one can expect DirecPC
to work. I absolutely despised their service because of their FAP
program. I sometimes still check into the "alt.satellite.direcpc"
newsgroup and I see that they are still complaining about the same short-
comings that everyone was complaining about 5 or 6 years ago.

As soon as Cable Modem service became available to me, I left DirecPC
behind.

PON

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.satellite.mpeg-dvb,rec.video.satellite.tvro (More info?)

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 09:41:06 -0400, Gary Tait
<classicsat@yahoo.cominvalid> wrote:

>On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 10:53:03 -0400, not-a-real-email@donotemail.us
>wrote:
>
>>Thanks - So then I assume I could use it to pick up the FTA stations on
>>Galaxy 10R at 123.0° W? Okay, well the LNBF only has one coax connector
>>(the Primestar dishes I've seen have two, labeled H and V) so does that
>>mean it's only a single polarity? I'm just thinking that if it had been
>>intended for use with DirecPC there would really have been no need to
>>change polarity once it had been installed, since it would always pick up
>>signals from the same transponder. But, if it were capable of changing
>>polarity, how would you do that with the Pansat? Seems like the skew
>>setting is intended to control a mechanical polarizer (as on a C band
>>dish). I have heard that some small dish systems select polarity by
>>sending either 14v or 18v to the LNB, but it doesn't seem like there's any
>>way to control that with the Pansat. Please excuse me if these are stupid
>>questions, I'm just trying to get everything clear in my mind.
>
>I heard that some, if not all DirecPC LNBFs were single polarity.


Only REAL old one ways with a gray dish. They are square like a
regular KU lnb.