Questions on 4DTV

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jollyrgr

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
Aug 25, 2005
48
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I have a couple questions about 4DTV. I'm trying to find a replacement BUD receiver and figure I will go with a 4DTV unit. (My BUD receiver is mainly used to drive the dish mover and polarizer for my DVB receiver. Once in a while to view analog ITC feeds.) There are two main models I see; a DSR 920 and a DSR 922. What are the major differences? One thing I see is the 922 can receive both SCPC & MCPC; the 920 can only receive MCPC. Are these for radio stations or something else?

There is also mention of the 922 being able to receive 36MHz analog feeds where the 920 cannot. Excuse my ignorance but what are 36MHz analog feeds? I know enough to point a dish at a bird, set the polarity, and set the audio on analog channels. Thus far I've not dealt with 36MHz VS Non 36MHz analog.

Linuxman says to make sure to replace the battery. Is this a nuisance issue (i.e. power failure wipes programming) or can a dead battery cause a brain dead unit that cannot be recovered on your own? I know VCII boards can go dead and not be recovered should the battery die. Is this what he is referring to? Or can the 920/922 units lose their ability to receive DCII channels "permantly" if the battery dies?

My C/Ku analog receivers have slowly died. Some have even let out the magic smoke. I have a couple Echostart SRD 6000 (and another Echostar) that the power supply problem. (Anyone willing to share the which caps in the switching power supply are the ones that need replacing?) In any case I'm down to one Toshiba analog receiver that drives my dish for both the analog and DVB receivers. The analog signals on C-Band are what I use to reference programming the positions of the satellites. Is it worth going with a 4DTV receiver for the FTA DCII signals or stick with the analog only receivers?
 
Hey Jollyrgr,

Is this a nuisance issue (i.e. power failure wipes programming) or can a dead battery cause a brain dead unit that cannot be recovered on your own? I know VCII boards can go dead and not be recovered should the battery die. Is this what he is referring to? Or can the 920/922 units lose their ability to receive DCII channels "permantly" if the battery dies?

The unit becomes brain dead just as you described it above. The Unit ID dies, and without the Unit ID, it can't be authorized. Without authorization it can't download the maps. The maps are virtual channels only received by the 4DTV.

At that point, it is just an analog unit and not able to receive DCII signals.

Hopefully someone who knows more than I can answer the other questions.

Fred
 
Any way to figure out the status of the battery ? I got my 920 last week for free and have no idea on how long it's been in service.
 
The way I understand it, is that the 920s were the first units built and others can correct me, but they started building them in 1998 or 1999. A lithium battery is only good for so many years 6 or 7 in most units. Some have already died.

I buy my batteries at Batteries Plus for about $11.00 with two leads already spot-welded on. I had my neighbor solder on the first two or three, and I did the last couple including VCII boards.

There are step by step instructions in the C-Band FAQ thread above. If you aren't comfortable doing it yourself, get someone who is competent for the job. If you don't have that available to you, it will have to be sent to ATS Electronics.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Fred
 
Yea I downloaded the maps last sunday before I got my 920 authorized . I was not able to get the guide but I was not aware of that procedure till today.
 
Iceberg may be right about not having to be authorized to get the maps.

The question is, if it is brain dead, there are no maps available, and no way to get them because the brain can't hold them.

Hopefully someone else can explain it better than I can, but once it is dead, it is unusable for DCII signals without a new mainboard.

Fred
 
you can also get the lithium battery at radio shack.
Fits into a plastic AA holder, which has the leads you can solder.
Costs a few dollars more than the $11, but they are local and easy.

The one I took out of my 920 last week was dated 06/1995.
I measured the voltage, it was still OK at over 3 volts.

But, lithium batterys are either on, or OFF. They might be 3 volts one minute, 0 the next. The drop off is quite rapid.

The procedure was easy. Take out the VC2 module, cover off receiver.
Undo the 5 or 6 screws holding the VC2 cage down, so it can be lifted a little bit. Might have to unplug a couple connectors.
Solder in the new battery to the spare pads on the board just outside the existing battery connection points, double & triple checking correct polarity.

Unsolder the one end of the old battery, lift it off the board. Unsolder the triple end, carefully get it off the board. I double sticked my AA holder with tape to where the old one was. Done.
 
Now you know why I had a friend do my first couple, and show me how to do it from then on. :D

Even so, think of it as a $100.00 bill or more in your hand, and if the battery dies, it is like you set fire to the money.

Fred
 
Bottom line......If a 920 still works and the battery has not been replaced. You should do it immediately. In this case an ounce of prevention is worth the pound of cure. My question is, if the VCII goes can you swab with one that you know works and then just have the program company enter the new number? Thanks, Ross
 
I also have a 922 receiver im getting ready to connect it to my BUD What are the steps i need to do to do that.And how do i dnload the maps or guide before i ask for authorization as you have done.
 
Have you ever heard of Satellite Receivers C band and 4DTV satellite programming and what is the difference between them.

The above mentioned is SRL Satellite Receivers Limited (Programming Center). They are out of Green Bay WI. They are a good programmer. They also handle Skyvision's programming. NPS is National Programing Service out of Indiana. I have services with them both. Between the two Im able to get most of the channels I want ala carte. The few I don't get since there in big packages I've learned to live without. I can't see paying for something I won't watch. I fill the void with DVB (FTA)

If you compare the price of big dish programing (even the big packages) with my local Cable company (Comcast) prices. The big dish is 50% or more cheaper. When I talk to my friends and neighbors with cable and ask them what there paying? I can't believe it. :confused:
 
anyone have the counter readings for the g3 and gb sats on the 4dtv 922 reciever?
What is Counter Readings? If you mean the location of these Sats, it's probably different for each person? Because of different locations for each dish (Georgia, California, Minnesota, etc.). Not to mention, eastern arc as opposed to western arc, as opposed to horizon to horizon motors.

Al
 
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