Editing Television receive-only (section)

==Current uses==
Most of the free analogue channels that BUDs were built to receive have been taken offline.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} Due to the number of systems in existence, their lack of usefulness, and because many people consider them an eyesore, used BUDs can be purchased for very little money.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} As of 2009, there are 23 C-band satellites and 38 K<sub>u</sub>/K<sub>a</sub> band satellites.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-15 |title=SatelliteGuys.US - TheList |url=https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215131127/https://www.satelliteguys.us/thelist/ |archive-date=2009-12-15 |access-date=2023-01-23 }}</ref>

There were over 150 channels for people who want to receive subscription channels on a C-band dish via Motorola's [[4DTV]] equipment via two vendors [http://www.programming-center.net Satellite Receivers Ltd (SRL)] and [http://www.skyvision.com Skyvision] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113123637/http://www.skyvision.com/ |date=January 13, 2011 }}. The 4DTV subscription system shutdown on August 16, 2016.

The dishes themselves can be modified to receive [[free-to-air]] and DBS signals. The stock LNBs fitted to typical BUDs will usually need to be replaced with one of a lower [[noise temperature]] to receive digital broadcasts. With a suitable replacement LNB (provided there is no [[wikt:warp|warping]] of the reflector) a BUD can be used to receive free-to-air (FTA) and [[Direct broadcast satellite|DBS]] signals. Several companies market LNBs, LNBFs, and adaptor collars for big-dish systems. For receiving FTA signals the replacement should be capable of dual C/K<sub>u</sub> reception with [[linear polarization]], for DBS it will need a high band K<sub>u</sub> LNBF using [[circular polarization]]. Older mesh dishes with perforations larger than 5mm are inefficient at K<sub>u</sub> frequencies, because the smaller [[wavelength]]s will pass through them. Solid fiberglass dishes usually contain metal mesh with large-diameter perforations as a reflector and are usually unsuitable for anything other than C band.

Large dishes have higher [[antenna gain]], which can be an advantage when used with DBS signals such as [[Dish Network]] and [[DirecTV]], virtually eliminating rain fade. Restored dishes fitted with [[block upconverter]]s can be used to transmit signals as well. BUDs can still be seen at [[antenna farm]]s for these reasons, so that [[video]] and [[backhaul (broadcasting)|backhaul]]s can be sent to and from the [[television network]] with which a station is [[network affiliate|affiliate]]d, without interruption due to inclement [[weather]]. BUDs are also still useful for picking-up weak signals at the edge of a satellite's broadcast "footprint" – the area at which a particular satellite is aimed. For this reason, BUDs are helpful in places like [[Alaska]], or parts of the [[Caribbean]].

===Modern equivalents===
Large [[parabolic antenna]]s similar to BUDs are still in production. New dishes differ in their construction and materials. New mesh dishes have much smaller perforations and solid dishes are now made with [[steel]] instead of fiberglass. New systems usually include a universal LNB that is switched electronically between horizontal and vertical polarization, obviating the need for a failure-prone polar rotor. As a complete system they have a much lower noise temperature than old BUDs, and are generally better for digital K<sub>u</sub> reception. The prices of these dishes have fallen dramatically since the first BUDs were produced for several thousand dollars to as little as $200 for an 8&nbsp;ft mesh started BUD sold on eBay or amazon as of 2014.<ref>[http://sadoun.com/Sat/Products/Fortec-Star/Dishes/FS6P-180P-CM-C-Ku-Prime-Focus-Dish-Polar-Mount.htm 6.5' Fortec Star with Polar Mount]</ref> Typical uses for these systems include receiving free-to-air and subscription services.