What is required to receive FTA satellite?
To receive FTA satellite channels, you require a satellite dish large enough to receive the desired channel(s) based on the band and power level it is being broadcast at. It is always a good idea to use a dish larger than the minimum size to avoid any issues with certain channels not broadcasting at full power or using DVB-S2 8PSK which requires a stronger signal. To receive Ku-band FTA satellite here in Southern Ontario, we recommend using a 85 cm (36 inch) dish or larger while C-Band FTA satellite requires a 1.8m or larger ground mounted dish.
You also require a Low Noise Block Feedhorn (LNBF) and a FTA receiver. The LNBF is installed at the focal point of the satellite dish and receives the reflected satellite signal from the dish which is then demodulated by the satellite receiver to be displayed on your television.
Which FTA satellite receiver should I buy?
As more and more channels are switching to MPEG-4 and/or DVB-S2 delivery formats, anyone purchasing a new FTA satellite receiver should ensure that it supports both MPEG-4 and DVB-S2 8PSK. This means that one should purchase a High Definition (HD) FTA satellite receiver as SD receivers normally don't support these.
Also, one should avoid purchasing any receiver mentioned in our FAQ: FTA receivers to avoid buying as these receivers were designed for satellite piracy so they typically only support DVB-S Turbo 8PSK and NOT DVB-S2 8PSK. These two formats are NOT compatible with each other and typically can't be received by the same tuner hardware.
