Newby here...need help on selecting system

[Mike16W]

I am new to this forum so excuse me if it has been covered before. My last satellite dish was a 10ft Wineguard and then I went to Dishnetwork. I want to get back to FTA but need some help. I have a HD 50" TV and am wondering if it is to early to jump into a HD FTA receiver or should I just purchase a SD receiver? Is one HD receiver any better than the other? I see Viewsat, Sonicview, captain, and coolsat have HD receivers out now. Any recommendation on going to HD or staying with SD? Thanks for any help.

 

[Anole]

geez, I'd swear I answered this question just an hour ago....
maybe I started to, and got distracted.

I was just going to comment that I believe most of the hi-def on Ku band is PBS and undocumented feeds (usually sports).
If you don't have a local PBS station, or if you are a sports nut, then hi-def might be fun.
If you do have a local PBS and are not a sports lover, then I'll let someone else make the argument for hi-def FTA.

 

[Mike16W]

Thanks for the reply, I was starting to think I wrote it in invisable ink. I am going to try to cement a pole in the ground this weekend but need to know what satellite would be the furthest south that I would want to aim at. I live in New Mexico. Also is there a web sight that would list the position of that satellite. Thanks alot for the help and patience with someone new.

 

[Anole]

Use a level all around your pole, and make sure it's perfectly plumb.
Not just close - that only counts in handgrenades and horseshoes,,, and nuclear missiles .
For FTA, we want it dead nutz.


Just put in your zip code, and follow the instructions, and this web site should give you a nice PDF file with all the satellites listed in the sky:
http://www.geosatfinder.com/
...as well as how to aim at all of them.
You would want to use the magnetic headings listed, if you're using a compass to aim with (most of us do).


See some of these lists to get a taste of what's up there: 1, 2, 3, 4.
(all list the same sats, but presented in different formats)