One of the fun things about FTA is scanning for temporary feeds. Some of those feeds are really pay-TV channels that have slipped temporarily into the clear, or are being used to test some distribution system.

What should I do about them? If I include them on FTAList, I have two problems: I’ll have to remove them once they stop being tested or the scrambling gets fixed, and then some folks will blame FTAList for tipping off some TV executives, leading to the channels’ removal. On one hand, I think that’s like blaming me because your snowman melts in May – it's going to happen no matter what. But on the other hand, it’s always good to be cautious.

Another factor is personal. When I see a FTA channel that I can already get with my Dish Network subscription, I don’t get too excited about it. I’m not saying that’s a good attitude. In fact, I should sympathize more with the intelligent, frugal households who limit themselves to true FTA + OTA for $0 a month. So here are a couple of tips.

AMC 4 has long been a place to check for channels that sneak into the clear. It’s particularly true right now. And over on Galaxy 16 (formerly Galaxy 4R at 99 degrees west), there’s one channel that’s supposed to be PowerVu scrambled, but isn’t.

If you’re reading this in February or later, these feeds might already be scrambled or gone. Maybe if you scan some more satellites, you might make the next interesting find.