How to Program a DirectTV Satellite for an FTA Receiver

Watch free programming with your DirecTV receiver.

Although the DirecTV satellite dish is used to obtain satellite programming, it is the actual receiver itself that unscrambles the signals and displays the content on your television. If you do not want to pay for a monthly subscription, you may view free-to-air stations (FTA) with a designated FTA receiver. You may also use the DirecTV satellite dish with your FTA receiver because, like other satellite dishes, all it does is detect and absorb the satellite signal.

Things You'll Need

• DirecTV satellite dish
• FTA receiver
• Coaxial cable
• Component cables

Instructions

1. Find the coaxial cable running into your home from the DirecTV receiver. After you have finished with your DirecTV service, it is possible to purchase the receiver from the company and leave it on your roof. You may also order the equipment from an FTA retailer.

2. Connect the coaxial cable into the "In" port on the FTA receiver. Make sure the cable is connected securely to ensure a strong audio/video signal.

3. Insert the component cables into the "Component Out" ports on the FTA receiver. These cable connections have five different cables--three for the video signal (blue, green and red) and two for audio (red and white).

4. Plug the opposite ends of the cables into the "Component In" ports on the television.

5. Power on the FTA receiver and the television, then press "Input" on the television and choose "Component". At this point the programming from the FTA receiver through the DirecTV satellite dish will appear on the television screen.

References

• Galaxy-Marketing: What is FTA