| Free
To Air 101
What
is Free-to-Air
Free-to-Air (FTA) is a term used to describe television
and radio broadcasts which are available without subscription.
The term usually refers to delivery by satellite television,
but in various parts of the world where encrypted digital
terrestrial and UHF television channels exist, it can
also be applied to those systems.
Free to Air satellite programming is not encrypted,
but it is encoded with MPEG-2. MPEG-2 is a worldwide
satellite transmission standard for digital broadcasting.
It is the wave of the future. It allows around 10 video
channels to use the same space as one channel in an
analog transmission. Just like the old Cband days when
most free channels where transmitted on a big dish.
Now Free to Air satellite programming is most often
transmitted through KU band.
Unlike satellite television programming which requires
a subscription, such as Dish Network, DirecTV, Expressvu
or Starchoice. Free to Air satellite channels are not
encrypted and can be received with an MPEG-2 compatible
receiver. There are hundreds of channels currently "in
the clear". Many of the available channels are
international language channels. Many others are special
interest channels broadcast in English. Two good sites
to get listings of what channels are FTA would be www.lyngsat.com
and www.satcodx.com
What
is a FTA Receiver?
A FTA receiver is a satellite receiver which is equipped
to receive unencrypted (Free-to-Air) satellite transmissions.
A FTA satellite receiver is able to decode the MPEG-2
data compression protocol used in most satellite transmissions.
A FTA receiver generally will not be able to pickup
DishNetwork, DirecTV, Expressvu or Starchoice satellite
programming.
Features
to look for in a FTA receiver
-Does the receiver have an Electronic Program Guide
(EPG)
-does it allow you to zoom into a picture?
-does it support picture-in-picture?
-does it have PIG/PIP interface?
-does it have S-Video output?
-does it have Dolby SPDIF output?
-does it have blind search power scan to find all channels
transmitted by a satellite?
-does it have On Screen Display (OSD)?
-does the OSD allow you to move, delete, rename and
sort channels?
Satellite Requirements
To receive Free to Air satellite programming you will
need:
- a satellite dish (either C-Band or Ku-Band)
- a Free-to-Air receiver
- an LNB
- an antenna motor (if looking at more than 1 satellite)
- multiswitch (to feed more than 2 receivers) or diseqc
switch (to connect multiple LNB's to a receiver)
To receive FTA channels you will need to know the following:
-what satellite the channel is transmitted from?
-what frequency is it on
-what polarity it is on
-what symbol rate does the channel have
-what format the Free to Air channel broadcasts in?
(DVB, DigiCipher 2, NTSC, PAL etc)
American TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
74W
|
ONN
- Ohio News Network
|
|
74W
|
WGNO-TV
(ABC - New Orleans)
|
|
74W
|
WNOL-TV
(WB - New Orleans)
|
|
79W
|
KUEN-TV
|
|
79W
|
NYN
- New York Network
|
|
79W
|
OTB
- Off Track Betting
|
|
87W
|
Coin
Country
|
|
87W
|
Cutlery
Corner Network
|
|
87W
|
Gem
Country
|
|
87W
|
LPB
- Louisiana Public
|
|
87W
|
Montana
PBS
|
|
87W
|
MTA
International
|
|
87W
|
NMSU
- New Mexico State
|
|
87W
|
PBS
X East
|
|
87W
|
PBS
X West
|
|
87W
|
PBS
You
|
|
87W
|
The
Patient Channel
|
|
87W
|
TiP
TV
|
|
87W
|
WYDN-TV
(Boston)
|
|
93W
|
ABC
News Now
|
|
93W
|
ABC
News One
|
|
93W
|
Classic
Arts Showcase
|
|
93W
|
IRS
Satellite Network
|
|
93W
|
University
Network
|
|
95W
|
ATV
Home Channel
|
|
97W
|
Bridges
TV
|
|
97W
|
UON
TV
|
|
101W
|
3ABN
|
|
101W
|
3ABN
Radio
|
|
101W
|
KUIL-TV
(FOX - Beaumont)
|
|
101W
|
Lawyers
TV
|
|
101W
|
LifeTalk
Radio Network
|
|
101W
|
LLBN
TV
|
|
101W
|
Radio
74 Internationale
|
|
101W
|
The
Hope Channel
|
|
103W
|
NBC
News Channel
|
|
103W
|
Pentagon
Channel
|
|
103W
|
Safeway
Satellite Network
|
|
103W
|
WCPE-FM
|
|
116.8W
|
BYU
TV
|
|
116.8W
|
IF
TV
|
|
123W
|
ACN
|
|
123W
|
CCCSAT
|
|
123W
|
Daystar
TV
|
|
123W
|
KAMT-LP
(Amarillo)
|
|
123W
|
KCBU-TV
(Provo)
|
|
123W
|
KEXP
90.3 FM (Seattle)
|
|
123W
|
KFDF-CA
(UPN - Fort Smith)
|
|
123W
|
KLEC
106.3 FM
|
|
123W
|
KPBI-CA
(FOX - Fort Smith)
|
|
123W
|
KQUP-TV
(UPN - Spokane)
|
|
123W
|
KTVC-TV
(UPN - Roseburg)
|
|
123W
|
KTWO-TV
(ABC - Casper)
|
|
123W
|
KWBF-FM
|
|
123W
|
KWBF-TV
(WB - Little Rock)
|
|
123W
|
KWBM-TV
(WB - Hollister)
|
|
123W
|
KWFT-TV
(WB
|
|
123W
|
KWWF-TV
(Waterloo)
|
|
123W
|
KYPX-TV
(I - Camden)
|
|
123W
|
Pentagon
Channel
|
|
123W
|
ResearchChannel
|
|
123W
|
Retro
Jams
|
|
123W
|
The
New Hot 96.5
|
|
123W
|
The
Razor 93.3
|
|
123W
|
UWTV
- University of
|
|
123W
|
WBIF-TV
(UPN - Mariana)
|
|
123W
|
WBMM-TV
(Tuskegee)
|
|
123W
|
WGMU-TV
(UPN - Burlington)
|
|
123W
|
WMQF-TV
(FOX - Marquette)
|
|
123W
|
WNGS-TV
(Buffalo)
|
|
123W
|
WNYI-TV
(Syracuse)
|
|
123W
|
WPXS-TV
(Mount Vernon)
|
Since the FTA American
channels are available on several different satellites,
a motorized system (i.e. M-1 ) is recommended.
European
TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
15W
|
Antenna
Satellite (Greek) (Eastern USA only)
|
|
15W
|
BVN
TV (Dutch)
|
|
15W
|
BYU
TV
|
|
15W
|
Radio
Pampa
|
|
15W
|
RNW
1 radio
|
|
15W
|
RNW
2 radio E
|
|
15W
|
RNW
3 radio Sp/P
|
|
15W
|
TV
Pampa (Purtugal)
|
|
30W
|
Kol
Haneshama
|
|
30W
|
ManaSat
1 (Portugal)
|
|
30W
|
Rede
TV! Sul (Portugal)
|
|
30W
|
RFI
- Radio France Internationale
|
|
58W
|
DW
Radio 1,2,7 (German) (8' dish required)
|
|
58W
|
DW
TV (German) (8' dish required)
|
|
97W
|
UTR
Ukranian
|
|
97W
|
HRT
Satelitski Program
|
|
97W
|
Horizon
Armenian TV
|
|
97W
|
Pink
Extra (Serbian)
|
|
97W
|
BVN
TV (Dutch)
|
|
97W
|
CNL
(Russian)
|
|
97W
|
Fashion
TV America
|
|
97W
|
Maharishi
|
|
97W
|
TelePace
(Italian)
|
|
97W
|
TELE5
(Polish)
|
|
97W
|
TVP
Polonia (Polish)
|
|
97W
|
TVP3
(Polish)
|
|
97W
|
TV
Polmusic (Polish)
|
|
97W
|
TV
Romania International
|
|
97W
|
Planeta
Sport (Russian)
|
|
97W
|
RTR
Planeta (Russian)
|
|
97W
|
Russia
Today (New in English)
|
|
97W
|
RBN
TV (Russian)
|
|
97W
|
Radio
Romania International
|
|
97W
|
WRN
1 North America Radio
|
|
97W
|
WRN
2 North America Radio
|
|
97W
|
WRN
Français
|
|
101W
|
Radio
Maryja
|
|
101W
|
RDP
Internacional
|
|
101W
|
RTP
Internacional América
|
|
101W
|
TV
TRWAM
|
|
116.8W
|
Polskie
Radio 1
|
|
116.8W
|
Trójka
|
Since the FTA European
channels are available on several different satellites,
a motorized system (i.e. M-1 ) is recommended.
Kurdish
TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
97W
|
Kurdistan
|
|
97W
|
KurdSat
|
Since most of the Kurdish
channels are available on one satellite IA5 (97W),
a stationary system (i.e. S-1 ) will be sufficient
to view these channels.
Iranian TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
97W
|
Andisheh
TV
|
|
97W
|
AFN
TV
|
|
97W
|
Appadana
International
|
|
97W
|
Channel
1 One
|
|
97W
|
Didar
Global TV
|
|
97W
|
Hakha
TV
|
|
97W
|
IPN
|
|
97W
|
Iran
TV Network
|
|
97W
|
IRIB
2
|
|
97W
|
IRINN
- Iran News Network
|
|
97W
|
Ishtar
|
|
97W
|
Jaam-e-Jam
International
|
|
97W
|
Jame-Jam
TV Network 2
|
|
97W
|
LAHSE
|
|
97W
|
Markazi
TV
|
|
97W
|
NITV
- National Iranian TV
|
|
97W
|
Omid-e-Iran
|
|
97W
|
Pars
TV (PTN)
|
|
97W
|
Payam
TV
|
|
97W
|
PEN
|
|
97W
|
PNN
|
|
97W
|
Radio
Iran KIRN 670 (LA)
|
|
97W
|
Radio
Sedaye Iran
|
|
97W
|
Rang-A-Rang
|
|
97W
|
Salaam
TV
|
|
97W
|
TAMASHA
|
|
97W
|
Tapesh
|
|
97W
|
TVR
International
|
|
97W
|
Your
TV
|
Since most of the Iranian
channels are available on IA5 (97W) satellite, a stationary
system (i.e. S-1 ) will be sufficient to view
these channels.
Arabic TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
| 30W |
Abu Dhabi |
|
61.5W
|
Arabic
Movies
|
|
97W
|
2M
Maroc
|
|
97W
|
Al
Iraqia
|
|
97W
|
Al
Karma TV
|
|
97W
|
Al-Alam
News Channel
|
|
97W
|
Al-Maghribia
|
|
97W
|
Canal
Algeria
|
|
97W
|
ISHTAR
|
|
97W
|
Jamahirya
Libyan Channel
|
|
97W
|
Jordan
Satellite Channel
|
|
97W
|
Kuwait
TV
|
|
97W
|
Oman
TV Satellite
|
|
97W
|
Palestine
TV
|
|
97W
|
Qatar
TV
|
|
97W
|
Salaam
TV
|
|
97W
|
Saudi
TV
|
|
97W
|
Sharjah
TV
|
|
97W
|
Sudan
TV
|
|
97W
|
Syria
Satellite Channel
|
|
97W
|
The
Arabic Channel
|
|
97W
|
TV
7 Satellite
|
|
97W
|
TV
Orient
|
|
97W
|
Yemen
TV
|
Plus more than 22 Arabic and
Quran Radio stations FREE
Since most of the Arabic channels are available
on IA5 (97W) satellite, a stationary system (i.e.
S-1 ) will be sufficient to view these channels.
A motorized system is required if you want to view
channels on different satellites.
Vietnamese
& Asian TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
97W
|
Asianet
News
|
|
97W
|
Asianet
USA
|
|
97W
|
Ariana
Afghanistan
|
|
97W
|
ASC
Xtra (Hindi)
|
|
97W
|
MHZ
Worldview
|
|
97W
|
Sanskar
TV
|
|
97W
|
STV
Bangla (Bengali)
|
|
97W
|
VTV
4 (Vietnamese)
|
|
101W
|
Vietnamese
Public TV/Radio 1&2
|
Thai & Lao TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
97W
|
NAT
TV (Thai)
|
|
97W
|
News
1 (Thailand)
|
|
97W
|
Thai
Asia
|
|
97W
|
TGN
|
|
97W
|
Thai
TV5 (Thailand)
|
|
97W
|
LAOBC
TV
|
|
97W
|
MRTV
3 Maynmar TV
|
|
101W
|
Dhamma
Channel
|
Since the Vietnamese channels are available
on several satellites IA5 (97W) and AMC4 (101W), a
motorized system (i.e. M-1 ) is recommended.
Korean
TV
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
97W
|
CBS
(occasional)
|
|
97W
|
JSTV
- Jesus Satellite TV
|
|
97W
|
YTN
|
|
97W
|
MBN
TV
|
|
97W
|
SBS
(occasional)
|
|
101W
|
CGN
TV
|
|
101W
|
TAN
TV 2
|
Since the FTA Korean channels are available
on several different satellites IA5 (97W) and AMC4
(101W), a motorized system (i.e. M-1 ) is recommended.
Chinese
TV
|
95W
|
CCTV
4
|
|
95W
|
CCTV
9
|
|
95W
|
CCTV
E&F
|
|
97W
|
Hakka
TV
|
|
97W
|
ET
Global
|
|
97W
|
Beautiful
Life TV
|
|
97W
|
BLTV
- Buddhism Light TV
|
|
97W
|
Da-Ai
Drama
|
|
97W
|
Da-Ai
TV
|
|
97W
|
EHS
TV
|
|
97W
|
ERA
News
|
|
97W
|
Hwazan
Satellite TV
|
|
97W
|
MAC
TV
|
|
97W
|
NTD
TV
|
|
121W
|
Pacvia
TV
|
Since the FTA Chinese channels
are available on several different satellites, a motorized
system (i.e. M-1 ) is recommended.
Spanish TV Channels
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
30W
|
100.5
FM Córdoba
|
|
30W
|
95.1
Metro
|
|
30W
|
ATEI
|
|
30W
|
Boca
TV
|
|
30W
|
Canal
Educativo 1
|
|
30W
|
Canal
Educativo 2
|
|
30W
|
Canal
Luz Satelital
|
|
30W
|
Canal
Vasco
|
|
30W
|
Catalunya
Ràdio
|
|
30W
|
CMBF
|
|
30W
|
Concepto
AM 1150
|
|
30W
|
Cubavision
|
|
30W
|
Cubavision
Int'l
|
|
30W
|
Radio
3 AM 780
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Enciclopedia
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Galega
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Habana Cuba
|
|
30W
|
Radio
María España
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Martí
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Progreson
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Rebelde
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Reloi
|
|
30W
|
Radio
Taíno
|
|
30W
|
REE
- Radio Exterior de España
|
|
30W
|
RNE
Radio 1
|
|
30W
|
RNE
Radio 5 Todo Noticias
|
|
30W
|
Rock
& Pop 95.9
|
|
30W
|
Solo
Tango
|
|
30W
|
Tele
Rebelde
|
|
30W
|
TeleCaribe
|
|
30W
|
TV
Canaria Internacional
|
|
30W
|
TV
de Galicia América
|
|
30W
|
TV
Martí
|
|
30W
|
TVC
Internacional
|
|
43W
|
XHG
- Canal 4 Guadalajara
|
|
58W
|
Cubavisión
Internacional
|
|
61W
|
FE
TV
|
|
61W
|
GSTN
|
|
61W
|
Guyana
TV
|
|
61W
|
La
Familia TV Network
|
|
79W
|
KTEL-TV
(Telemundo - Carlsbad)
|
|
93W
|
Azteca
America
|
|
93W
|
Azteca
Siete (Mexico City)
|
|
93W
|
Azteca
Trece (Mexico City)
|
|
101W
|
3ABN
Latino
|
|
101W
|
CRE
Satelital Radio
|
|
101W
|
Esperanza
TV
|
|
116.8W
|
Almavisión
|
|
116.8W
|
ESNE
|
|
116.8W
|
Hipódromo
El Comandante
|
|
116.8W
|
SAC
TV Network
|
|
123W
|
KKFQ-CA
(Univisión - Yakima)
|
|
123W
|
KKTU-TV
(ABC - Cheyenne)
|
|
123W
|
KLRA-LP
(Univisión - Little Rock
|
|
123W
|
KPOU-TV
(Univisión
|
|
123W
|
KUOK-TV
(Univisión
|
|
123W
|
KUTF-TV
(TeleFutura
|
|
123W
|
KXUN-LP
(Fort Smith)
|
|
123W
|
Más
Música
|
|
123W
|
TeleFórmula
|
|
123W
|
WUMN-TV
(Univisión
|
Since the FTA Spanish
channels are available on several different satellites,
a motorized system (i.e. ) isM-1 recommended.
African TV Channels
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
97W
|
RTS
1 Senegal
|
|
97W
|
ETV
EthiopiaTV
|
Turkish TV Channels
|
Satellite
|
Channel
Name
|
|
97W
|
TRT
|
|
97W
|
Samanyolu TV World
|
|
97W
|
Nur TV
|
Example:
Satellite: AMC4 @ 101W, KU band digital clear, FTA OR
T5 @ 97W, KU band, FTA OR Galaxy 3C @95W, KU, FTA Receiver:
T.E.S. saT , Blue Jay, Satcruiser
Dish: minimal 30" (76cm)
LNB: Fortec Single or Dual Linear LNBF, Skyfi Single
Linear, Invacom Quad-Dual Cir.& Dual Linear.
|
