*Jezza

As per the title, I want to know what is the overall cost of setting up a satellite system cause I want to know if it is worthwhile (depending on how cheap it is). So what do I need, decoder box, Smartcard, dish, LNB and where would I go about sourcing this stuff?

I could set it up myself if it's not too greatly hard, I'd probably enjoy the challenge

KennyB

Good place to start is to read some of the existing stuff here: Free to Air Satellite Forums (Asia Pacific)
You certainly will need the stuff you mention and a bit more too ... but you really need to understand what you're doing first. Get a basic understanding and then talk to the guys on this forum, they'll help you.

LeroyPatrol

What about reading the stuff here? There are some good threads here in the newbie section.

Leroy

tink

jezza,
Although that i am still getting tid bits here and there i have managed to set something up for less than $300. That being said i have brought some items that you may not. I am also just getting started.
tink

oceanboy

Strong Decoder $60
65cm dish $35
LNB $19
Mounting bracket $35
Coax & Crimps $20

(or you could find an old unused provider dish, lnb and bracket for free with a bit luck)

So for less than $170 you are up and running. Able to get a 100 or more FTA channels. The only thing you need is the knowledge to do so and that is free

Quite a lot of companys and online shops offer these items in a kit, making purchase easy and you even get some idiot notes i believe.... Check them out, it's a good place to start.

Sanity

I must have missed where he asked about a FTA system kennyb. I didnt think they had smartcards.

jezza , Oceanboy has provided a guide , though it may be higher depending on where you live.

Min

Also if you keep an eye out here Buy Sell and Trade - Austech
you might save some $$$.

*Jezza

So FTA doesn't have smartcards? I'm assuming that these are all the international channels. What happens if I want to get ABC, that Imparja thing, do I need a smartcard in that case? I read somewhere I you have to apply to ACMA to access to these channels.

It seems pretty cheap to me and a good little project too.


Where did you get these prices from?

Also, those 100 channels, do I have to re point the satellite or can I get them off one?

EDIT: I was just browsing lyngsat and saw some of the encrypted channels. What do I need if I want to get them, I'm assuming that's where you need the smartcard? Like a few of these channels

LeroyPatrol

I wish we could get those channels fta ..... sigh! HD as well.....double sigh!!

Optus D1 will get you the ABC's, ABC2's, SBS etc from all states. You can pick up various feeds including central 7/imparja type feeds as well from time to time. They're not there permanently like a year ago.

But a dreambox with the appropriate autoroll.key file may get you all the Aurora channels But these are on Optus C1. There is also Aljazeera there.

Intesat8 has Select TV which is a pay tv provider that requires a smart card.

Optus D2 has V8 super car feeds etc and lots of channels I can't understand and Russia Today, Press TV are there also.

Look on Ebay and check out Aussie Satellites for example for ideas on prices.

Leroy

beer4life

Methinks you need to get a better understanding of Satellite TV.
Eutelsat W3A at 7.0°E

For a start this Sat is below our horizon and not visible from here.
Geostationary Satellites are in a narrow belt at about 37000 Kms height above the equator, called the " Clarke Belt ". We can only access about 1/3 of these.
Many more lessons to come:
Kindest Regards, " The Druid "......

__________________

*Jezza

I just hit HD and clicked any random satellite there.

Also, I have an old AUSTAR box, would that work or is that locked to AUSTAR cards

Sanity

They are generally locked to Austar and are not suitable for what you want.

Realistically , your best and cheapest option would be an Openbox X-810. An Austech member Joffaa is selling them new and delivered for under $100. All satellites , transponders etc are already scanned in for you and the receiver also does blind scan to find all channels for you.

Sanity

FTA = Free To Air. Although the Optus Aurora channels are FTA is their respective states , they are transmitted encrypted on satellite.

You can purchase a genuine card and have SBS and ABC legally enabled if you are on the east coast , however you need to live in a remote location to have others enabled.

Optus Aurora is dual encrypted in Irdeto 1 and 2 with Irdeto 1 being turned off later this year according to Optus. There are a lot of people watching Optus Aurora via homemade smart cards and via keys inputted in to receivers , but this will get knocked on the head when Irdeto 1 is turned off.