I've begun reading up on satellite TV, and in in particular, the C and Ku Band satellite systems. While the inital cost and setup seems a bit intimidating, I'm convinced it's worth it, as I've read that you used to be able to get quite alot of channels (many for free), though I'm getting the idea that many networks are dropping these feeds.

Anyone care to weigh in?

Well, you could mount a digital TV feedhorn on the big ugly dish and have TV in a hurricane. LOTS of gain from those big dishes.

If you can get one cheap enough or free for taking it down might be worth it, but there is little or no "free" in the clear programming any more. I'm on the tail end of big dish ownership since 1987. At the peak there were 3.5 million big dish owner-subscribers. Last count I heard we are well under 100,000. Some networks like ESPN refuse to allow their programming to be distributed via 4DTV the current encryption system because they cannot selectively black out sports events as they want. Some other networks just don't want to bother with the big dish market because of the low numbers these days. The Videocipher that has been in use since 1986 sees its demise this month as Motorola will no longer maintain the old VCII system. If you do get one be sure to get a DSR922 receiver it is the best and latest design of the 4DTV receivers.

It certainly is worth it. Like was said earlier, you can practically get the dish for free, and can find the DSR-922 receivers on ebay for good prices. Here's a tip - drive around your neighborhood and go dish scouting. If you see one in someone's back yard, chances are fairly high that it's not being used anymore. Go up to the door and tell them that you'd be willing to disassemble the dish and get it out of their yard for free. Doing it this way, you could be pretty selective and find just the dish you want. I have a 10' mesh dish that I got that way, and I found my 922 on craigslist for $150. I went with NPS (National Programming Service) for my subscription. I hunted around online and they seemed to be the lowest cost. I also have a HDD-200 HDTV decoder hooked up to my system, but there aren't that many HD channels on DCII though, but for the ones that are there, it works great. If you want more hannels (both SD and HD,) look into getting an MPEG-2 DVB receiver that can do HD. You can piggyback it onto the 4dtv receiver. I've been more than happy with my system. Better picture quality than cable, and doesn't rainfade like Directv and Dish Net do.

The thing is an eye SORE!

The thing is an eye SORE!

My neighbors think so... But I think their dog barks too much!!

They're just jealous because you have a better picture! :D

Alabama's state flower. . . .













kidding. . .