Idle question - are there channels that aren't "official"?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

In the past, friends' dish systems could be used to see video that
wasn't necessarily intended for public consumption. Most of this stuff
I saw back in the 1980s - things like workprints from TV shows that
hadn't aired yet, raw newsfeeds, etc. These were the big dishes, the
ones nestled in a concrete block.

I currently have a plain vanilla DirecTV system, no movie channels or
any extras except the $5 a month BOOMERANG package. Is it possible to
tune the receiver in any way to get stuff that's not on a normal
channel? Odd test signals, weather reports from other countries, B&W
eastern european cartoon shows?

Probably this is a no, but I thought I'd ask while I was thinking about
it...

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

"Frannnnkkk P." wrote:
>
> In the past, friends' dish systems could be used to see video that
> wasn't necessarily intended for public consumption. Most of this stuff
> I saw back in the 1980s - things like workprints from TV shows that
> hadn't aired yet, raw newsfeeds, etc. These were the big dishes, the
> ones nestled in a concrete block.
>
> I currently have a plain vanilla DirecTV system, no movie channels or
> any extras except the $5 a month BOOMERANG package. Is it possible to
> tune the receiver in any way to get stuff that's not on a normal
> channel? Odd test signals, weather reports from other countries, B&W
> eastern european cartoon shows?
>
> Probably this is a no, but I thought I'd ask while I was thinking about
> it...

Your suspicions are correct.
It's a no-go due to so many factors.
One being, your hardware can only receive the stuff that is offered
and beamed to-n-fro the satellites it is designed to be aimed at.

And now a days, the stuff you saw back then in the 80's is simply not
even there anymore due to the advancements in technology, like
compression, digital VS Analog, security measures like scrambling, and
etc..

Yer "little Vanilla" dish can't even hear a WHISPER from the few
satellites like even Telstar-5 for example, that put out so little
wattage (power), compared to the "higher power" that DISH and DTV use.


However, the use and buying of the larger 36 and more" dishes and
receivers for viewing both FTA (Free To Air) as well as International
and Educational channels from many Universities is still very
available.

But for that, you still need (or rather you would prefer to have) a
motorized dish and the additional hardware to view them all.
After all, there are a LOT of satellites hovering over any part of
the globe where you might live that transmit TV.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

AH# 49 writes wrote:
> But for that, you still need (or rather you would prefer to have) a
> motorized dish and the additional hardware to view them all.
> After all, there are a LOT of satellites hovering over any part of
> the globe where you might live that transmit TV.


Hey, thanks for the info. FTA sounds like a dentist's expensive hobby.

I'll do a Google for FTA and see what comes up.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

"Frannnnkkk P." wrote:
>
> AH# 49 writes wrote:
> > But for that, you still need (or rather you would prefer to have) a
> > motorized dish and the additional hardware to view them all.
> > After all, there are a LOT of satellites hovering over any part of
> > the globe where you might live that transmit TV.
>
> Hey, thanks for the info. FTA sounds like a dentist's expensive hobby.

Not all that pricey, really.
About 50-100 bucks or for a 36" dish with the LNB, another 100 maybe
for the motor, and a hundred or so for a receiver that also controls
said motor.
Set up and installation can be tricky so lay aside another 100 or so
to have somebody do it or help.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

AH# 49 writes wrote:
> Set up and installation can be tricky so lay aside another 100 or so
> to have somebody do it or help.

I just did a search, and it's a classic case of too much information. I
like the sound of this hobby, but the most basic introductory
information seems to be buried in the noise. Is there a FAQ or newbie
link for this stuff?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

"Frannnnkkk P." wrote:
>
> AH# 49 writes wrote:
> > Set up and installation can be tricky so lay aside another 100 or so
> > to have somebody do it or help.
>
> I just did a search, and it's a classic case of too much information. I
> like the sound of this hobby, but the most basic introductory
> information seems to be buried in the noise. Is there a FAQ or newbie
> link for this stuff?

http/search.yahoo.com/search?p=SATellite+faqs&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t&fl=0&x=wrt
?

Don't get disgruntled!
It only seems to be intimidating at first.
But in all reality, while the basics are really rather simple, it's
the physical and common sence things that are harder!