Getting Started... Just Rambling !
Ok, I'm just going to make some general statements, where we might start some dialog on FTA, so...
It's just like OTA, except you use a Dish, a Box similar to a Cable Box, then cable it into your TV via Coax to HDMI.
Sorry to say, but, the above components are a bit more expensive than a normal OTA setup. Dish may run you $50-$100, you really will be better off using a Rotator $100, and the Receiver (UOO) can be $300-$700.
Dish size depends on your Latitude. Here in Houston we can get by with a 1 Meter pretty well, and the farther north you are, like in Washington/Montana like that, you need a bigger dish. They make FTA Dishes up to 10 ft or so in Diameter, so, you CAN do it ok.
The Receivers have the ability to memorize Thousands of Channels, not that you'd want to watch that many, but, with a Rotator, you have access to "several" Satellites. Sat Companies are just like OTA's, they like to shine their stuff in highly populated areas, and those who are in line N/S, can benefit from having a Sat aligned on that Longitude.
Part of the Dish is a Receiver Module, called an LNB or LNBF.
They are rated to receive Vertical, Horizontal, Circular CW, Circular CCW signals.
One probably will be more interested in a Horizontal or Vertical. Most of the PTV's like DirectTV or DishNet use the Circular Signals. But, someone who is more up to date with this, may have additional info on that. But, those thousands of channels are available with the V or H LNB's.
Problems...
Just like in the PTV stuff, one can get Rain Fade, a bigger dish helps here, but other than that, I need to step back a minute, and think if there's anything else.
Have a good Day !

S.W.
The above generally applies to the
Ku Band of Sat Signals.
Ok, I just thought of a little more...
Most all of the Receivers have a "Card Slot", where you can subscribe to a PTV and get their normal Programming, AND, the FTA stuff as well. I'm not sure just why one would want to do that, since FTA is free, but it would work just like having an OTA Antenna input, and a Cable Box input. One would need to share his Dish with more than one LNB, or, have a second Dish (one for FTA, one for PTV).
The Receiver/Rotator/Dish controls is done with Software called DIsEqC. Which means that once you scan a channel, the Receiver remembers which Sat it's on, and can return to it when you select that channel. Just like Rotator Control on some of the Converters and TV's.
Installing/utilizing a FTA Dish, in no way will interfere with your OTA stuff, as long as you have a sufficient number of "Source" A/V Inputs on your TV. It'd be like adding a DVD or other component.
So, HA, now that I've edited this Post for the fourth time....
IF you really want a supersetup for FTA, you need to be thinking about an investment of $600+, I do mean + if you get really nice stuff.
However, IF you can find a Dish and Receiver on Special, you can get the basic (1 Satellite) setup for maybe as low as $250.
NOW, I'm going to stop editing this post !
