This document is FindGalaxy25FAQ.htm (last updated on Jan 10, 2008 by an Oregon Center Quanyin Practitioner )

main guide can be read: https://g25smtvfinder.tripod.com/index.htm

Q1)  How much does system (materials) cost, monthly cost?

A1) for materials you need

OPTION 1, Basic System at http://www.wsidigital.com/smtvsat/products.htm cost about 170 dollars, this include a 76 cm dish + Traxis DBS3500 Receiver

OPTION 2, Hi-End System

a 39" (100cm) dish + LNB unit, cost about 60 dollars with Shipping & Handling about 60 dollars

a receiver Sonic View model SV-4000 cost about 150 dollars (Shipping & Handling included)

a roll of cable (RG-6 type), connections, pole, brackets cost about 50 dollars

so total cost about 60 + 60 + 150 + 50 = 320 dollars so I say 350 dollars for in case

OPTION 3, Combine Basic + Hi-End System

Even with 90cm dish the people in far North (Canada) or North West of USA still have a hard time to find FTA signal, so you might want to go buy 100cm with Traxis DBS3500 Receiver to save you less money but to save you from trouble in a long run. For the area with high tree or view to satellite being partially obstructed we should go with bigger dish 

that is, absolutely NO monthly cost for any cable, satellite company since we are using the FTA system, FTA stands for Free To Air

Q2)  Where can I buy them ?

A2) OPTION 2, Hi-End System: Base on writer research the cheapest place to buy a 39" (100cm) dish is www.ebay.com , you can buy  Sonic View model SV-4000 buy searching on internet, do not buy a CLONE unit, make sure you should buy a REAL  SV-4000 unit, a good site to buy SV-4000 is http://www.megasatusa.com/SonicView4000.htm or many other web sites, cables and misc stuffs can buy at local store as HomeDepot, WalMart etc...

The 39" dish + LNB is search on ebay by this string { 39" GOSPELL Ku BAND SATELLITE DISH w DSS LNB }the search will lead you to a Canadian dealer named oem_dealer, he was rated 100% over 3000 transactions, the dish + LNB cost 59 $US and S&H cost 55$US, so far I know his dish is the cheapest one, if you know where I can have better price please inform me - thanks

Below is one of his Dish list for sale on ebay, the list will end on Jan 14, 2008 but you should click on it for having rough idea how stuff look like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/39-GOSPELL-Ku-BAND-SATELLITE-DISH-w-DSS-LNB_W0QQitemZ370012073559QQihZ024QQcategoryZ61386QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It is noted that you need a paypal account to buy this stuff on ebay.

Q3)  Who have some experience about buying this stuffs ?

A3) If you are in Seattle center please talk with Mr. Sam Le, if you are in Oregon center please talk with Mr. Minh Tran. They are in process to buy Dish and SV-4000 through ebay and internet sites

Q4)  Is it legal ?

A4) Yes it is. Our system is FTA (Free To Air), as its named, it is 100% free and 100% legal in USA. 

Q5)  Many abbreviations that I do not understand when read satellite document

A5) here are few:

FTA - Free To Air, Non-encrypted channel (digital)

STB - Set Top Box, general term for receiver, in our case STB is SV-4000

FQA - Frequently Asked Questions

LNB - Low Noise Block

Antenna - Satellite Dish

L.O. Frequency - Local Oscillator Frequency (C-band = 5150, Ku Linear = 10750 (SMTV), Ku Circular = 11250)

TP - Transponder

MHz - Abbreviation for Mega Hertz

Ku-Band (FSS) - stands for "kurz-under". The 10.7-12.2 GHz (downlink) and 12.7-14.5 GHz (uplink) portion of the satellite frequency spectrum. In North America, this portion of the Ku spectrum requires a linear LNB

FSS - Fixed Satellite Service. Satellite service intended for commercial applications, such as transmitting feeds from an uplink facility to a downlink facility where it can then be processed for other uses. With few exceptions, FSS transmissions are usually not intended for consumers directly.

Q6)  Why 39" dish, why SV-4000 ?

A6) 39" (100 cm) give us enough signal strength in cloudy/snow/badWeather day,  an 36" is just barely big enough, in bad weather day 36" one likely does not have a good signal. Why SV-4000 ? it is most popular, good technical support from manufacture, if you read my guide you see it also search as a SIGNAL METER, signal meter itself cost you a hundred dollars, beside that I have to chose a particular model to explain in my guide. Of course if you are an expert you can choose what ever model as CoolSat, PanSat, ViewSat as you want

Q7)  What else SV-4000 can do ?

A7)  Legally you can use SV-4000 to watch all FTA channels from China, Taiwan, Russian, Vietnamese, Lao, Thai countries WITH OUT changing dish direction, for example if you can watch SMTV then with few click you can see the above FTA channels, for political reason I suggest that we will set up SMTV channel ONLY in our center.

We can use ILLEGALLY SV-4000 to watch most of the DISH NETWORK channels and more if you know how. Please don't ask I do not have answer.

Q8)  Can system be cheaper ?

A8) If you are an expert you can pick up a dish from a garage sale for $50 , you can bid a receiver PanSat model 2500 on ebay for about $50 then it should work for FTA system, I will try this sometime when I have time

Q9)  If I want to down load documents related to system to read before I buy *?

A9) for SV-4000 manual you can down load at:

http://www.sonicviewusa.com/SV4000manual.pdf

SelfInstallGuide.pdf:  http://www.directv.com/learn/pdf/SelfInstallGuide.pdf

Q10)  If system does not work ? How you can help me?

A10) You see my guide give you many real screen copies from real work, if you do it correctly it should work, however, if it does not work you should write down what step # you are, what screen you see so we can help you by phone. If you are in Seattle or Portland areas the writer might come to help you. The writer is about 60 years old, he can help you technically how to point the dish to the right direction, but will not help you physically to set up the system.

Currently writer are happy to train any young brothers/sisters who really want to learn and help, hopefully these young brothers/sisters will help you to set up the system both electronically and physically

You can email writer at email g25smtvfinder@gmail.com , if you email writer please make your letter title start with word "SMTV" so writer can differentiate your email with other unwanted junk mails.

Q12)  if I found some mistake in your guide?

A12) please inform writer at email g25smtvfinder@gmail.com ,  my English is lousy I would like to hear from you for any correction, if you email writer please make your letter title start with word "SMTV" so writer can differentiate your email with other unwanted junk mails.

Q13)  LNB adjust *?

A13) will be updated

Q14)  What restrictions prevent installing a 39” dish ?

A14) Base on discussions from many FTA forums and  the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) that the 39" in diameter dish is categorized as DirectTV or DishNetWork dishes so we can safely to follow the following rules of thumb:

  1. On YOUR property you can freely install 39” wherever you like, in short if you see DirectTV or DishNetWork dishes (18”) in your neighbor property then  39” dish should be OK on your property.
  2. If you rent apartment the landlord might stop you installing on the roof or wall but he can not stop you installing the dish on YOUR patio or balcony.

================================================================

FMI: FMI: http://www.roxsat.com/dishfcc.htm :

As directed by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules concerning restrictions on viewers' ability to receive video programming signals from direct broadcast satellites (DBS), multichannel multipoint distribution (wireless cable) providers (MMDS), and television broadcast stations (TVBS).

…..

The new rule prohibits restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance or use of antennas used to receive video programming. These antennas include DBS satellite dishes that are less than one meter (39") in diameter (larger in Alaska), TV antennas, and antennas used to receive MMDS. The rule prohibits most restrictions that: (1) unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance or use, (2) unreasonably increase the cost of installation, maintenance or use, or (3) preclude reception of an acceptable quality signal. This rule means that, in most circumstances, viewers will be able to install, use and maintain an antenna on their property if they directly own the property on which the antenna will be located.

…..

http://www.ttouchwebdesign.com/freetoair/fta-faqs.htm

My landlord does not allow me to install a dish on my roof. What can I do?
If you have a balcony or patio facing the direction where the satellite is and you have a clear line of sight then you can install the satellite on your patio or balcony using a stand that you can purchase from any hardware store, or have a professional installer assist you with the installation. If your patio or balcony is not facing the direction of where the satellite is or you don't have a clear line of sight then you're SOL (Simply out of Luck).

- - NOTE - - The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) allows installation of dishes (up to 40" in diameter) on a patio or balcony of any multi-dweling unit complex! (It's the LAW!!!)

Q15)  Do you know if my existing "Dish Network dish + LNB + buying a SV-4000 receiver" would work?

A15) Most of DirectTV and Dish Network LNB is CIRCULAR type, we need a LINEAR LNB type for our SMTV (in USA), most popular DirectTV and Dish Network dish size is 18", few are 24", rarely oval size 36" (so far I see nobody successes by using this oval dish for Galaxy 25 signal yet)

Q16)  Why you ask for 39 inch dish while I know some one in Texas use 30" dish to have a good signal from Galaxy 25?

A16) You know commercial DirecTV uses 18 inch dish for most places in USA, but when you go to Alaska you'll need a 1.2-meter (48 inches) dish, you need about 7 times (compare by area) bigger dish when moving to far North!

Now compare Seattle WA and Houston Tx, Seattle Latitude is 48 deg while Texas North Latitude is 29 deg, so the Texas have a lot of favor with Galaxy 25 position, beside that Texas with Longitude of 95 deg W it almost sees straight to Galaxy 25 (97 deg W), while Seattle (and Portland OR) Longitude is 122 deg W!.

So if you understand these factors you will not surprise why Texas get a good signal with 30" dish while Seattle barely have an OK signal in a good day, another factor you should concern is in Northwest (or Northeast) area you have bad weather most of the time. In short here are reasons why we should go with the 39" type:

  1. 39" dish is flexible with all weather
  2. 39" dish is big enough to work with most adverse conditions but small enough to meet FCC requirement for installing without restrictions (see Q14 FMI)
  3. if you need double LNB or Quad LNB then 39" dish serves you a lot of better
  4. if you want to add DirecTV or Dish NetWork LNB on your existing dish then 39" dish serves you a lot of better
  5. why you go for less for just to save 20 bucks?

    Is any thing bad about 39" dish ? Yes. Wind will affect stronger on bigger dish so make sure you bolt it securely. Good luck
     

Q17)  Run signal thru switches *?

A17) will be updated

Q18)  What kind of tools you need for dish installation?

A18) If you buy dish type as Q2 then here what you need:

(*) one adjustable wrench can be use for one set of 10 cm and 14 cm wrenches

Q19)  Save setting?

A19) will be updated

Q20)  Manufacture setting?

A20) will be updated

 

 

 

last updated on Jan 16, 2008 by an Oregon Center Quanyin Practitioner