DSR-920 satellite list questions

[rrob311]

I picked up a DSR-920 this afternoon and was going to try and scan in a channel tonight. My satellite list shows 20 satellites total: C3,4 /GB,3,4,0,5,9,1/ F1/ E2/ W1,3,4,7,9/ T4,6,7. Which one of these translates to 99w which is where my dish is pointed? I would imagine this means the battery is OK still. It shows a record of a ppv being purchased in 2002.

 

[Mr Tony]

G4 is 99W

here is a list of the older satellite names and what they equate to
Skyvision Satellite Equipment

 

[tvropro]

Yes it seems your battery is still working. Being a 920 and not knowing its history I would change the battery ASAP. If it dies it will only do analog and still will need the battery replaced to retain any satellite tiles even the stock ones. Here are easy to follow battery changing instructions. 4DTV Online... DSR 920 Battery Replacement

 

[rrob311]

Thanks Ice, I always wondered what the w4 meant. Tvropro, how long do the new batteries last and is this receiver worth putting a battery in?

 

[Mr Tony]

W is for Westar which is what those sats were before AMC bought them out (and renamed them)

 

[Asket]

Thanks Ice, I always wondered what the w4 meant. Tvropro, how long do the new batteries last and is this receiver worth putting a battery in?

The batteries last 5 - 10 years. If its a 920 TVRO Pro has good instructions on how to do this. Also read the previous posts on the subject.

 

[tvropro]

Tvropro, how long do the new batteries last and is this receiver worth putting a battery in?

Depending on conditions the battery will last 10 years. I would really recommend putting a new battery in the 920. If it dies it won't be pretty. I have a brain dead 920 here and even though I put a new battery in digital is toast since its UID is corrupted. It will not decode or even lock ITC DC-2.

When the battery voltage drops it looses special information contained in the XC chip (the brain) This chip has an area of ram memory backed up by the battery that controls the decrypt process. This was done to prevent tampering to find out its routines and piracy. It worked good for GI since the DC is not cracked. It does not play well by the consumer though since toss the IRD if this happens. In short you need to change the battery before this happens.

 

[wildbill47]

I have changed batteries in both 920 receivers not hard but be careful. Install new battery in correct polarity prior to removing old. There are extra solder pads on the board for new battery. If you push wire too far through the board will short out against the case.

 

[rrob311]

Cool, what about the battery inside of the Digicipher module that comes out? I see a battery in there.

 

[rrob311]

Well I got the battery in and I still have all my satellites on the list so I guess that is OK. I still don't understand what the other battery is for in the box that slides out of the back of the receiver. Am I at risk of losing any authorizations with this? Also, how can I scan an open key channel into this box on Ku? I would like to receive one channel but I only have good access to Ku birds right now until I setup my new 10 footer.

 

[tvropro]

The module is a old Videocipher module for analog subs. Your best to remove it since it is no longer good for anything, It creates heat, and if the battery leaks can kill your digital board below it. Unplug you IRD pull it out and plug your IRD back in and you'll won't have to worry about it.

The only ku in FP or Zk in DC2 is on Anik. If you have a full set of maps and you point at F1 you will overflow the TDT count and cause all kind of problems and need a master reset. The only maps you can get now are on X4 and they are very limited. This will be solved with 4D map master. The only ones right now that can recover fully from a MR are the ones in the Map Master team since we are working on the project. We are in Alpha Beta phase at the present time. You can learn about map master here:

4D Map Master | The Official 4D Map Master Website. The ONLY way to map the 4DTV!

 

[Asket]

Cool, what about the battery inside of the Digicipher module that comes out? I see a battery in there.

That box that slides out is a videocipher unit which cannot be subscribed to any more.
It may at times find something but unlikely. You can change the battery in it if you want or simply remove the unit and reduce the load on the power supply that way. Make sure that it is a videocipher box though as some receivers have a different kind of box in them and if so modified the receiver may not operate well without it.

 

[tvropro]

Make sure that it is a videocipher box though as some receivers have a different kind of box in them and if so modified the receiver may not operate well without it.

Can I ask what other modules were found in 4DTV's. Do you know something I don't?

 

[eurosport]

Can I ask what other modules were found in 4DTV's. Do you know something I don't?

I'd like to know the answer to this one too!

Sent from my DROIDX using SatelliteGuys

 

[Asket]

Can I ask what other modules were found in 4DTV's. Do you know something I don't?

Wish I knew, solid black module of the same size as a VCII. No vents. Plugged in the same way.
In a few 920 years ago. No ID on them and 920s operated normally as far as I know.
Without the units did not do anything but analog in the clear. No idea what they did and have never seen them again. Were not units I controlled or owned.

 

[tvropro]

Were they prototypes ?

 

[rrob311]

Well mine says channel master on it and has a hologram on the bottom that says videocipher I think. It is blue. So I can't point it at F1 ku to check for a zero key channel? How does the receiver scan satellites that are on the list? Does it blind scan? if not how do you access trhe transponder list to find out what it's scanning?

 

[tvropro]

The 4DTV is not like a DVB receiver. You go to a channel mapped in on a satellite and wait for it to decode. There is more under the hood but it would take a week to explain. If you point at like Access on F1 the Shaw maps will cause your TDT count to overflow. There is only a maximum of 1920 entries. The non bricked 4D currently has 1750+ and Shaw adds over 2000 more. Once you hit 1920 the receiver will start deleting satellites and do funky crap. If you brick the 4dtv (do a MR and get X4 only) You can add Shaw without an overflow but you have also lost C band ITC stuff and generic tiles. Map master gives you a lot of options but currently since it is unfinished is not available to the general public yet. When it is released it will be a great tool that all serious 4DTV owners need. It allows you to do things that GI/Motorola in their great wisdom decided not to let the people do themselves and took away a big part that they did up to January 4th 2011 causing our receivers to die a slow death as limited bricks.

 

[Asket]

Were they prototypes ?

That is a good question. Was GI interested in developing a Digicipher VCII module
that would work in anyone's receiver that could be built to accept the module? That way they
would only need to license the interface and sell the modules separately. Sounds like a good
idea. Admittedly I was slightly excited when he said he found a digicipher module in a 920.
Unfortunately he just has a blue VCII box by ChannelMaster. Just got interrupted, there are a flock of 10+ Green Parrots in my backyard!

 

[tvropro]

The Videocipher worked off a baseband video signal, its easy to build an interface module for that. The Digicipher requires its own tuner that is something that would need to be changed in making a 4DTV megapipe friendly. So in short GI may have scrapped the whole idea because of cost with and integrated module.