[mythtv-users] Using a large satellite dish (8-10 feet) with MythTV?

[Mark Small]

On April 1, 2008 12:25:47 am Chad wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 5:46 PM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:
> >  "TVRO" means TeleVision Receive Only, it was used to refer to an
> >  antenna not used for transmission. In the old days even a receive-only
> >  dish had to be licensed (at least in the USA).
> >
> >  Dishes of the size you mention are generally C-band (3.7-4.2 Ghz.
> >  downlink) as opposed to the Ku-Band used by DISH and DirectTV
> >  (12.9Ghz. downlink). Some antennas like that have dual-band feed horns
> >  that can receive C and Ku.
>
> Thanks, that is very hard to find information put as plain as you have
> above.
>
> >  (No, the Ku Band is not a group of musicians who perform at collegiate
> >  athletic events in Kansas)
> >
> :D
> :
> >  But as long as a satellite receiver outputs either baseband or RF it
> >  should be usable by MythTV. The problems would be getting the correct
> >  program listings and controlling the antenna aiming device, though
> >  some receivers take care of the latter for you.
> >
> >  In the worst case you would have to tune the receiver and aim the
> >  antenna manually.
> >
> >  beww
>
> Much appreciated.  Assuming I can somehow figure out where to get the
> hardware, how to hook it up, get some receivers that play well and
> have some decent output...  Any idea on how you then go about signing
> up for per-channel subscriptions directly with the channels?  I read a
> story about this person in Canada that did just that, instead of
> paying the cable-co/sat provider, they setup a contract themselves for
> about  $0.40 / channel.  From there, how do people who use this route
> get program guide information?
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Chad

Hi there

I'm pretty sure that most North American cband subscriptions these days are 
using 4dtv.  There is schedule info from schedules direct.  Try searching on 
4dtv and bud (big ugly dish).

Mark