Re: RE: [amsat-bb] NASA TV on DirecTV

["Frederick M. Spinner" <w0fms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The software question was for NOAAPORT, a DVB-data service.  Some of the sat tv hobbiests are looking into it as it's an open non-encrypted standard.  I'd develop something for it but I do not have the time.

As far as the MPG/DVB hobby, there's a lot up there.  Little "entertainment" programming, but a lot of cool news channels and many foreign broadcasts.  (Sometimes very revealing even if you do not understand the language).  Examples are the arab channels on IA (telstar) 5 Ku or the Pentagon Channel on AMC1 Ku or 5 PBS channels on AMC3 Ku (some technical catches there.. Audio is AC3, have to have the right receiver for this).

MPEG receivers are cheap, I bought one for a friend new for $90, although $150 is more typical.  If your actuator is toast, it'd be $40-$50 to replace it.  If you like SWLing, then this is the video version of that.  If you like looking for "hidden signals" then look into a "blind search" receiver, such as a Satworks, Coship or Fortec Ultra.  If you are more of a computer type you can get for <$50 off e-bay a Broadlogic 2030 card and some software that will allow you to see FTA DVB on your computer(free).

Check out the MPEG section of http://www.satforums.com for information, and look at http://www.lyngsat.com "Americas" and "Atlantic" sections to see what is available FTA (Free-To-Air:  unencrypted) in a general sense.

This is an excellent thing to do with that AO-40 BUD while waiting for another HEO s-band bird or the recovery of AO-40.

Fred


> Hi Fred...this is the second time lately..that I have seen mention of C-band
> MPEG/DVB feeds on the band.
> I saw a msg where you asked a guy about 'appropriate softare'
> If you have a few minutes.please outline what you can see,where it is
> what signal gets sent to what kinda-card,,,etc.
> I used to be big into C & K TRVO especially the 'hidden signals'
> 70mhz IF into TV sound radio, raw video into HF recv'r, etc.
> 
> What is the state of art today? as to hidden signals
> 
> Think I still have a semi-working VCII around but dish has been
> stuck for awhile...I think it's only a motor feedback wire..but we'll have
> to see
> 
> Sounds interesting
> thanks
> John
> n8ghz
> ohio
> 73
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org [mailto:owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org]On
> Behalf Of Frederick M. Spinner
> Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 3:04 PM
> To: Mark McGregor; amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] NASA TV on DirecTV
> 
> 
> Actually, after I put up my c-band dish, I eventually dropped DirecTV.  Why?
> When I audited what I actually was watching, I found could get the watched
> channels for less than half the price on C-band.. (this may not apply to
> some as C-band no longer has every channel available to it, but the one's my
> family and I watched are available.)  Yeah I have to swing the dish around,
> but for $300 less a year it's worth it.
> 
> That, the wildfeeds, the MPEG2/DVB and free DCII stuff still makes putting
> up a BUD if you are able worthwhile regardless.
> 
> (NASA's main feed will go MPEG/DVB by the end of summer on C-band, BTW)
> 
> It maybe true that the Clarke Arc might Go Dark in a year or two, but in the
> meantime I'll take the $300-$600 and buy ham equipment with it!
> 
> Fred
> 
> > Well, it figures that one week after I finished putting my C-Band dish up
> at
> > my new house, that DirecTV would start carrying the NASA channel. It's on
> > channel 376.
> >
> > Enjoy!
> >
> > Mark - KB9KHM
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________________
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