Using a German satellite dish in the U.S.

Hi, I was wondering if anybody knew whether it was possible to use a German satellite dish and set top box in the US to receive German programming?
Thanks,
Jen

nope. think about it for a second. The earth isn't flat.

Flat Earth Society (Wikipedia)

The simple answer is No.

The technical reason is: Satellites put a signal 'footprint' on the ground in a defined area and the satellite follows the rotation of the planet to stay in a pretty constant position relative to the ground. (In simple terms, if you shine a torch on a wall you get a circle of light on the wall, that's your 'footprint' anything outside the footprint will not be lit up be the torch)...satellite footprints are pretty small so you will not get a signal in the US.

You find a US satellite provider that beams German channels. That's your only hope...

even if you managed to build a satellite with a large footprint you still wouldn't get round the problem of the curvature of the earth. Any signals pointed at Europe cannot reach the US and vice versa.

But the satellite Google Maps used to take this photo can see both Germany and the US so it should be possible really.

Unfortunately I think you need something like this to pick up the signal:

Well, we do have a big yard...
I'm just not sure the neighbors wouldn't mind...

google uses multiple pictures taken from a moving satellite (not one in a geo-synchronous orbit) stuck together

However, dish network offers some German programming.

I've lost track of who's kidding who here.

maybe moving was the wrong word. the satellites used are in a sun-synchronous orbit (but yeah i did get that Keydeck was kidding, I just don't think the OP did).

Used to be able to see that from our back garden...

Maybe you can get someone to pipe the signal into a HAM radio and ping-pong it over the pond.

Of course you can...we are both on the same hemisphere, it would just mean that the satellite would have to be placed in a much higher geo-stationary orbit which would be difficult to maintain...pull the torch further away from the wall and the footprint gets bigger!!! you just then need to up the power...it is feasible but technically cost prohibitive...unlucky mush!

Go get 'im OG.

Thank Christ, I was genuinely worried there for a second.

You can use any normal satellite dish available in the USA. There are special packages of Umlaut stickers that you can use to sensitise the dish to pick up the German signals. A minimum sticker density of 12 per cm3 is recommended.

Ritually disembowling a small rodent by the light of the last full moon before the first program you wish to see may also help.

I would call you and give instructions on how to do this but my cell phone won´t reach that far.
Take care,
space

I think you could probably get a signal if you used lots of strategically placed big mirrors. Husnes from Ikea might work and it has a nice interlocking shape too.

what's the point. He obviously has no clue about geo-stationary orbits and doesn't realised they can only be maintained over the equator at about a height of about 36Tkm. Only at this height above the equator does the satellite orbit at the same rotation as the earth keeping the satellite's footprint on a stationary position on the earth. The fact that orbits have to be maintained over the equator is also the reason why northern reaches of Europe suffer from lack of or weak signals due to the curvature of the earth.

Iceland are looking to change their economy. Perhaps you could see if they would install a few of these mirrors for a reasonable cost.

I suppose it is a typo from OG, geostationary orbit is at a height of 36000 km.

I don't know if this guy is single but he doesn't look that weak to me.



EDIT: After OG's edit this does not make sense, of course.

He said "lack of or weak singles", so although this guy doesn't look weak, he is either married or there aren't a lot of him. He looks like he could carry the signal on his back quite easily (I think his name is Sonny Ericsonn).

oh year i meant to write 36Tkm

Technically, it is not a 'height', it is an 'altitude'.

technically a satellite isn't a big torch either.

Show me where I say that a satellite IS a torch? Please...and I will buy you a beer

Maybe if the ASTRA consortium started using Duracell they could enlarge the footprint to cover the whole globe!

A giant rabbit footprint.

...keep's going and going and going...

Duracell and a big mirror on the other side of the planet

should use two to be fair but we could forget about the pacific islands.

They would just need higher masts...

somebody here is bound to calculate the hight...

Maybe they can use that new skyscraper in Dubai?

Except no Greys Anatomy dubbed in german. Or the Simpsons for that matter.