I searched the forum, but could not find the answer. I am new also to the whole HD issue.

Why is it not possible to use the satellite dish as an OTA also? Is it a technical issue or has to do with FCC regulations? Thanks .

Technical.

I searched the forum, but could not find the answer. I am new also to the whole HD issue.

Why is it not possible to use the satellite dish as an OTA also? Is it a technical issue or has to do with FCC regulations? Thanks .

Technical.

Satellite broadcasts are in the approx 4Ghz (C band) and 10-12GHz (Ku band) frequency ranges.

OTA TV broadcasts in the US are in the Band I & III VHF (approx 54-88Mhz, 174-216MHz) and Band IV and V UHF (approx 470-860MHz) frequency ranges.

As you can see the frequencies used are totally different - and thus an aerial designed for one will not work on the other. (1GHz = 1000MHz)

You can also add to that the fact that satellite dishes usually contain an integrated Low Noise Block downconverter, that actually converts the radio signal to a lower frequency "on the dish" so that it can pass down a coax cable over a reasonable distance.

If you have a ten foot dish, you could mount a UHF yagi in front of it, like Kent Parsons has done at Levan Peak in Utah. But, a DBS dish "ain't near big enough" to capture the longer wavelengths of UHF TV.

If you have a ten foot dish, you could mount a UHF yagi in front of it, like Kent Parsons has done at Levan Peak in Utah. But, a DBS dish "ain't near big enough" to capture the longer wavelengths of UHF TV.

I KNEW someone would say something like that! (There were parabolic based set top aerials/antennae sold in the UK a while back - never sure whether the dish bit was cosmetic or not. Was only about a foot in diameter)

I KNEW someone would say something like that! (There were parabolic based set top aerials/antennae sold in the UK a while back - never sure whether the dish bit was cosmetic or not. Was only about a foot in diameter)I remember seeing them here, too. I think they were in these chincy mail-order type ads from these companies that try to sell stuff at inflated prices using their novelty and the fact that you can't actually see the item in person first before ordering. You know - the same outfits that always sold those old, "Use your house's electrical wiring as your antenna" pieces of junk.

You mean like this from from DXer Jeff Kadet in Ill?

http://www.oldtvguides.com/DXPhotos/newants.JPG http://www.oldtvguides.com/DXPhotos/dish1.JPG

I think you'll see more of those after Feb 09.
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/antennas/2.4gig/2.4-aluminum-parabolic.php

Nah - the things I was talking about were solid plastic-y dishes (probably meant to look metal - and may have had some metal in them), with a dipole type device at something close to the focus of the dish.

DX'ers have all the fun.

Nah - the things I was talking about were solid plastic-y dishes (probably meant to look metal - and may have had some metal in them), with a dipole type device at something close to the focus of the dish.Yeah, that sounds like about what I saw here, too, but it came and went in a flash. In fact, I think I do remember seeing it in some stores. It probably didn't work at all :rolleyes:. I just remember laughing at it when I saw it. I got the impression that it was actually a bit of a deception - leading the uneducated to think they could maybe receive satellite signals with a set -top, OTA antenna. It came out a few years back, about the time satellite really started catching on here. They probably got so many returns on it just for that reason that they canned the design right away.

Do you mean something like this? http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2348191&cp=2032057.2032187.2032189.2032205&fbn=Type%2FHDTV&f=PAD%2FProduct+Type%2FHDTV&fbc=1&parentPage=family

A friend of mine swears by them. They are made by Winegard i believe.

Foxeng..

That top photo looks like a scene from "Honey I Shrunk The Balloonist."