Looking for Insight or Input Please

[stoogedog]

hi, does anyone know anything about a satellite system like this:

CES10649 - Fortec Lifetime Ultra Free to Air Complete Satellite System

$229.99
$199.99 On Sale!

Condition: New
Warranty: 90 Days

Production Description: Watch 100's of International channels from around the world for FREE! Plus 100's of video music channels. All in digital quality a with no subscriptions or monthly fees! Watch shows in your native language without the cost of expensive cable! Easy to understand step-by-step install guide.

Features:

- EPG (Electronic Program Guide) - 7 days of program information
- 3,000 Channel Memory (TV & Radio)
- Fully compliant with MPEG-2 Digital & DVB broadcasting
- 950~2150 MHz input Frequency (with IF loop throughput)
- Variable input Symbol Rate (1.5~45 Msps)
- S/PDIF Digital Audio Output (AC3)
- Multi-language OSD (On-screen Display)
- Automatic PAL/NTSC Conversion
- Fast Channel Change
- Flexible reception of SCPC & MCPA from C/Ku band Satellites
- Timer Function (Automatic On/Off Setting Function)
- 256-Colors (Graphic Use Interface)
- P-I-G (Picture-in-Graphic) On-screen Display
- 5 Favorite Lists
- Powerful Channel Editing Function
- Sorting: Alphabetic, Satellite, FTA/Scramble, Parental Lock, TP Order
- Move, Delete, Edit Favorites
- Parental Lock, Channel Rename, Channel Skip. (Default PW 0000)
- Manual PID/Satellite & TP/Network Scan
- Simultaneous Scan of 4 Satellites
- USALS Compatible
- Capable Of Setting the Frequency for SMATV Systems
- Upgrade through RS-232C (STB to STB, PC to STB)

Includes:

- Fortec Lifetime Ultra Receiver & Remote "White Box" with pre 12/04 motherboard. Flawless data transfers!
- Winegard DS-2076 76cm / 31" Dish
- .4 / 55 Standard Single LNBF
- Installation Kit

any and all info is greatly appreciated. thanks

[lordsmurf]

quote:Production Description: Watch 100's of International channels from around the world for FREE! Plus 100's of video music channels. All in digital quality a with no subscriptions or monthly fees! Watch shows in your native language without the cost of expensive cable! Easy to understand step-by-step install guide.

One word ..... "exaggerated"

This is hardly how it works. You need to go read about FTA at one of the FTA sites, a user forum, as well as read documents at http://www.lyngsat.com

I researched FTA last year, and in the USA, you can maybe get 50 or so FTA channels, most of which is crap. Not to mention lots of signals are PAL or SECAM and you cannot watch them on NTSC tv without a proper decoder/receiver (which is NOT the cheapest one) or a world-wide tv set.

Plus you either have to pick a bird or buy many, many, many dishes, because of all the various satellites.

[lordsmurf]

Actually, looking at the more recent documents, it looks like a number of stations are doing DVB FTA now, like Toon Disney, HBO and TV Japan. But how long that will last is anybody's guess.

http://www.lyngsat.com/freetv/United-States.html
http://www.lyngsat.com/freeradio/United-States.html

[stoogedog]

hi, LS tanks for the input. i trust your opinion. i thought it was too good to be true. i'll check out the fta forums. thanks

[lordsmurf]

If you figure out how to get good free channels on FTA (and I mean legit FTA, not hacked Nagra signals), let me know. I never learned as much as I wanted, mostly because there were no channels worth going after at the time.

Here's one forum to start with:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/forumdisplay.php?f=171

Google yourself a bunch more, and be sure you're reading updated info (fall 2005), and legal info (not nagra hacks, but true FTA).

Here's another sweet site:
http://www.planetdvb.com/content/view/6/
http://www.planetdvb.com/content/view/8/
http://www.planetdvb.com/content/view/15/
http://dvbn.happysat.org/
http://www.mysatpros.com/cgi-bin/mysatpros

If things have changed, and there is more DVB FTA, it looks to be a good investment. Keep reading up and make sure before you dump $200 (which is probably an average price, nothing special).

And another one http://www.dssrookie.com/forums/index.php

[onlyemokid]

I'll tell you whut, from whut i've noticed DISH Network is about one of the best for satelite around right now

[lordsmurf]

FTA is not even remotely the same as DISH Network or DirecTV.
We're talking a whole different kind of animal here.