FTA Intro
What is Free-To-Air?
Free-to-air channels are those channels that are transmitted without encryption, so that any FTA receiver can translate them into television to watch. Most FTA channels are digitally compressed with the MPEG-2/DVB standard, so modern FTA receivers are able to decode that standard. View the hottest selection of FTA Receivers HERE.
What equipment is necessary to receive FTA?
A FTA receiver, a dish of sufficient size, a Low-Noise Block Filter (LNBF), and the cables to connect them. For most FTA channels (those using Ku-band), a 30-inch dish is necessary. We have excellent quality Dishes HERE. Only a few FTA channels are available using smaller, 18-inch dishes. There are even more channels available with a C-band (6-foot) dish, but we will not go over them here. If you are looking for all the necessary equipment to watch Free to Air, please browse our Receivers Here and our Dishes Here. You will need a Receiver, Dish with LNB, and Coax Wires to connect them together. We currently supply 1000 ft Coax Wires only, so it might be better to get the length you need locally. Your local installer usually provides these, though.
What types of channels are available with FTA?
A wide variety of channels are available, including broadcast channels, public interest channels, and foreign language programming. New channels come and go all the time, which is why you need a list such as this one to keep up with them. Go to www.ftalist.com for an updated list of FTA channels.
Are regular pay-TV channels available?
No. Scrambled or encrypted channels, such as almost all DirecTV, Dish Network, and Bell ExpressVu channels, cannot be viewed with a standard, legal FTA receiver.
Who pays for FTA channels?
The broadcasters. Some are using the satellite to send their signal to cable companies. Some foreign countries subsidize television for their citizens living in North America. A few hope aim directly at FTA viewers. The rule of thumb in you can't count on anything in particular being there, but you can always count on something being there.
OK, I bought this equipment, Now How Do I Set It Up?
If you are not familiar with setting up your dish, you will need to contract an installer to do it for you. While we do not provide these services, finding a dish installer locally is usually easy, depending on your location. You can visit local service classifieds such as www.Craigslist.org, or even look in your telephone book or local newspaper for dish installers. Look for Free To Air Dish installers, not Dish Network or DirecTV. Installers usually charge anywhere from $150-$200 a room.
Note: Please do not purchase any equipment without the knowledge required to setup or without knowing someone that can assist you. We do not provide setup instructions or help. We are a Retail and Wholesale fulfillment company and we do not offer technical help. Please do not ask us for tech help!
LINKS SECTION Please note that when you click on one of these links below, you may be moving to another company's web site. We cannot control the activities of any such company. We encourage you to read the terms of use and privacy statements of these linked sites as their policies may differ from ours. You access and use these and any other sites, including the information, services, products, materials or any other resources contained on them, solely at your own risk.
Free to Air Resource Links - This is all you need to learn www.lyngsat.com - Free-to-Air satellite and channel listings
www.ftalist.com - Official list of FTA channels
Free to Air Manufacturer Official Sites - Warranty and Tech Support
www.coolsatusa.com - Coolsat Corporate Site
www.captiveworks.com - Coolsat Corporate Site
www.conaxsat.com - Conaxsat Corporate Site
www.viewsatusa.com - Viewsat Corporate Site
www.sonicviewusa.com - Sonicview Corporate Site
www.nfusionusa.com - Nfusion Corporate Site
Our Official Retail Stores - Please visit our other stores!
www.FTAdeals.com - Our Main Free-To-Air Receiver and Equipment Superstore
www.Coolsats.com - Official Coolsat USA Retail Store
www.Viewsats.com - Official Viewsat USA Retail Store
www.Nfusioninc.com - Official Nfusion USA Retail Store
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