What is FTA
FTA means Free to Air Satellite. The other that you are used to like DSTV, MYTV, and HITV are what we call DTH i.e Direct to Home wherein you will be required to pay subscription. But as for FTA, you don’t need any subscription; all you need is a onetime installation fee.
What type of TV Channels Can I receive in FTA?
The Tv channels u will have to receive depends on the size of dish you’re using and also the satellite u faced your dish to. You have the choice of Ku band which usually needs the 90cm dish (dstv size) but the number of stations u will receive won’t be much. If you’re using 1.8m or 2.5m dish u will need C-band lnbf and that means more stations. Depending on the satellite, it can be as much as 40 to 80 channels for 1.8 and 2.5 m dish respectively. You have to bear in mind that what you’re using is free-to-air and not pay Tv so the type of channels u might receive will not be the best but they will be worth it. You will be Glad u did at the long run.
What is the difference between KU Band and C Band?
Ku-band permits the use of smaller antennas that are aesthetically better and much cheaper than C-band.
A typical Ku-band antenna ranges from about 50cm to 1.2m and typical C-band antenna ranges from 1.8m, 2.4m, 3.8m etc.
Ku-band requires less radio power than C-band to provide the same signal strength thus allowing a smaller antenna.
The cost of C-band equipment and installation is much more than that of Ku-band.
C-band transmits at a lower frequency (around 4 MHz), while Ku band transmits at about 11 to 12 GHz.
C-band dishes usually come with a larger size than Ku-band satellite antennas.
Some satellites transmit both C and KU band frequencies. E.g. Intelsat 7/10, therefore for one receive channels from the two frequencies, one needs a big dish that will be able to work with the C band signal and as well work for the KU signal.
The person can then choose to either provide two lnbs for the two signals or purchase a universal lnb that can receive signals across the C band and KU band frequencies (have not used that type myself).
For people who always ask, the whole thing is like the VHF and UHF TV signals we use to deal with back in the days.
TVs back then used to have separate knobs for tuning VHF and UHF frequencies until Toubab decided that everything should be pressed with button and that left a lot of younger folks not knowing anything about frequencies of TV channels they watch every day.
What do I need to set up this FTA
All u need is just the money for the equipments, i.e.: Dish, LNBF, Receiver or Decoder, and RF cables. It’s cheaper than u can imagine.
How much does this equipment cost?
A 90cm dish (DSTV) size costs only 3,000 naira. A dual KU band LNBF for the 90cm dish is only 1,500 naira and the receiver or (decoder) is only 5,000 naira upward. A roll of Rf cable is 900 naira, and that all you need for a Ku band FTA reception.
For 1.8cm dish C-band reception, your dish will cost 9,000 naira and the C-band LNB costs 2,500 naira. If u want 2.5m dish (the black net type) the only difference is in the dish and it costs just 24,000 naira. You will use the same Lnb with that of 1.8cm. (NB: Please note that the above prices has reduced in some cases)
Where can I get this equipment to buy
don’t go to people who are into the installation business they will not give them to u for the above prices. Just go to any major electronics market in your city to get them. Like Serekunda Market
How do I get this installation done?
Installation is easy. You can call on Installer wherever you purchase the above accessories or better still DIY it i.e. do it yourself. To do it yourself, just assemble the dish with the manual, mount the LNB/F on the dish and connect the Rf cable to it and then connect the end of the cable to your receiver (decoder). Connect the Video and audio outputs from the receiver to the appropriate ports of your TV.
You are ready to start; put on everything (TV and receiver) with the remote control, go to the installation menu of your receiver and put in the TP frequency and Symbol rate of the channel in the satellite u wish to locate. (Some websites where u can get these frequencies for free abound, the most popular is www.lyngsat.com ) when you’re sure u have put in the correct TP and SR, go to your dish which u must have positioned in the mounting pole and start turning. With your primary geography u should know where east and west is. If the satellite is in the east face your dish in the east. Don’t adjust the elevation of the dish for now. (Elevation is the up and down movement of the dish). Just make the dish stand parallel to your mounting pole. Now start adjusting the azimuth (azimuth is the side by side movement of the dish). Move from one side of the east to the other. if possible start from west . While you’re doing this your eyes must be fixed at the installation menu being displayed by now on your Tv. If your Lnb/f is good, if u move the dish slowly from east to west, there must be a point at which the signal strength will rise sharply. Try to move back and forth to locate this point. When u have done that. Screw the bolt that controls that azimuth movement and then go to the one that controls the elevation movement. Slowly again move the dish upwards until it gets to a point where the signal strength will rise very well. That is the position of the satellite you’re looking for. Remember if u have equipment that locates satellite (spectrum analyzer) u don’t need all the stress.
Where can I get these frequencies?
These are all satellite websites where you can get your frequencies for most satellites
http://www.flysat.com/
http://www.lyngsat.com/
http://www.arnoldsat.com
http://www.kingofsat.net
what satellites are receiveable in Gambia or West Africa
As of today, you can get the following free satellites in Gambia.
Eutelsat W3 on 7 degree east – KU Band
Pass 7/10 on 68.5 degree East – KU Band
Nilesat on 7 degree west – KU Band
NSS 7 on 22 degree west (KU Band)
NSS 7 on 22 degree west (C-Band)
What Channels are Receivable from above Satellites
They are Plenty
NSS7***22 degree West
* France 24 News (francais)
* Direct 8
* TV 5 Monde Afrique
* LC2
* STV 1
* STV 2
*KTV – Koollife TV
* Canal International
* TV GAbon
* GTV (Ghana Television)
* RDV
W3A on 7 degree east
* MSNBC
* MTA International
* TV Minimah
* Direct 8
* RTS 1
* Go Africa
* TV Malagasy
* 2STV
* Ariane TV
Nilesate on 7 degree west
So many channels mostly Arabic speaking but English channels includes
MBC 2, MBC3, MBC4, MBC Action, BBC, Aljazeera Sport 1 and 2 etc
Which FTA is showing English Premiership
For now, the only fta showing English premiership is NSS 22 degree west ku band, Eutelsat W3 on 7 degree west KU Band or 55.4 degree west on c-band
Why do I need FTA
When u compare these prices with that of DSTV or HITV without monthly subscription u will understand what u have to gain bearing in mind that u do not have to pay anybody for anything ever.
Does KoollifeHosting sell the equipment?
For those neither of us who will be ticking to ask, none of the forum member are not selling the equipments nor in business of installation. So we have nothing to gain in all this. we just giving back what we have learnt for free. We have gained more than this in KoollifeHosting. But if you have any problem in installation and think u might need help, just holla at any of the following – Enigma, bigjoe, enitan2002, justx24, twinstaiye, pitodenz
How can I reach the expert in the forum?
Chris Stephen: +2207337161
Can I use DSTV Decoder to watch FTA
Some people had tried in the past to try and use DSTV decoders to watch fta, but it is only possible if you subscribed to their channels, For instance, some people used to watch the TrendTV free channels with dstv decoder, but the moment there is no subscriptions, it is not possible again. However, I think the Strong decoder 4653X could be use to watch DSTV channels as well as free to air stations. The only minus there is that, you can’t receive some of the interactive channels of dstv on the decoder, but you can as well receive all the subtitled channels with the strong decoder.
What is the best Decoder to watch FTA
The best brand decoder in Gambia as of now is Strong Decoders, and we will suggest you go for SRT 4653x. TechnoSat, SuperMax
More FAQs would be added soon when this FAQs is updated