GEOSATpro GEOSATpro HDVR3500 - back from the dead

[Radioguy41]

While putzing around the house today I came upon my GEOSATpro HDVR3500 sitting on a shelf. It died quite a while back hence it's retirement but I figured the weather was against any outdoor work so I decided to open it up and see what I could find. After pulling the board, flipping it over, and examining it with a magnifying glass it turned out there was a bad solder joint on one of the pins. A little touch up with a solder gun and walla, it's alive! The point being, if an STB just quits, don't toss it out without checking those solder joints, you might just save yourself a few bucks. As someone who restores antique radios and electronics I can tell you that bad solder joints are not that uncommon. Worth a look.

 

[KE4EST]

As someone who restores antique radios and electronics I can tell you that bad solder joints are not that uncommon.

I do a lot of this. I bet you have ran into some of the same things I have. For example something Heathkit, that well was a kit, and open it up to find a joint that was never soldered. Guys were in such a hurry to get their new toy going sometimes they missed some soldering.

 

[Radioguy41]

Yeah, Heathkits can be a real pig-in-a-poke. It all depends how how talented the guy was who assembled it. Have you ever made the trip to the antique radio show in Kutztown PA? It's this Fri and Sat.

 

[KE4EST]

Have you ever made the trip to the antique radio show in Kutztown PA? It's this Fri and Sat.

No, have never got to go to that one.
You can see some of my repairs here: Michael Graves

 

[Radioguy41]

That Channel Master is quit a rig. Nice job. My daily drivers are a Panasonic RF-3100 and a Technics SA-303 unless I'm serious about SW at which point it's a Hallicrafters S-20R, Kenwood TM-281A, or a Yaesu FRG-7000 all located here in the radio room. Spread throughout the house are a Zenith 10-S-669 and Stromberg-Carlson 535M plus various tube table radios. I have an AM transmitter I built so I can transmit old tyme radio shows to any AM radio in the house.

 

[N6BY]

... A little touch up with a solder gun and walla, it's alive! ...

My U4 Quad Hybrid remote control died (crunched in half by my rocking chair). Its beyond my ability to repair a cracked multi-layer circuit board.

Anyway, I need a receiver and if you want to sell the HDVR3500 I am interested. I tried one out a few years ago and the blind scan was pretty fast. Thats all I need it for.

 

[Radioguy41]

Sorry, it's now my dedicated C-band receiver. I moved the receiver that had been there back to my Ku dish now that I finally had some time to figure out why the STAB HH-90 had stopped working (shorted LNB - see above).

 

[Gregtheham]

While putzing around the house today I came upon my GEOSATpro HDVR3500 sitting on a shelf. It died quite a while back hence it's retirement but I figured the weather was against any outdoor work so I decided to open it up and see what I could find. After pulling the board, flipping it over, and examining it with a magnifying glass it turned out there was a bad solder joint on one of the pins. A little touch up with a solder gun and walla, it's alive! The point being, if an STB just quits, don't toss it out without checking those solder joints, you might just save yourself a few bucks. As someone who restores antique radios and electronics I can tell you that bad solder joints are not that uncommon. Worth a look.

 

[Gregtheham]

Is this the same Geosat you had an unused remote for? In a previous post , you had offered a remote as the STB had taken a lightning strike and no longer working- I suspect it is....happy for you, sad for me ;-)

If available, I need a replacement remote for my distroyed geosat micro . Any geosat remote will work. Tnx from a fellow “ radio guy”. I only watch/use c band sat, so need a replacement solution. E-bay ect seem to all be now sold out. A fully programable may be the only solution, but likely need the flash codes etc.

Greg
VA3VFO

 

[Magic Static]

Is this the same Geosat you had an unused remote for? In a previous post , you had offered a remote as the STB had taken a lightning strike and no longer working- I suspect it is....happy for you, sad for me ;-)

If available, I need a replacement remote for my distroyed geosat micro . Any geosat remote will work. Tnx from a fellow “ radio guy”. I only watch/use c band sat, so need a replacement solution. E-bay ect seem to all be now sold out. A fully programable may be the only solution, but likely need the flash codes etc.

Greg
VA3VFO

It's my understanding that the HDVR3500 and the MicroHD have different remotes. SatelliteAV sells the HDVR3500 remote for $20. Found a GSP remote on eBay that will work for the microHD. It's an older one that doesn't have the lettered number keys.
eBay listing

 

[Radioguy41]

Is this the same Geosat you had an unused remote for? In a previous post , you had offered a remote as the STB had taken a lightning strike and no longer working- I suspect it is....happy for you, sad for me ;-)

If available, I need a replacement remote for my distroyed geosat micro . Any geosat remote will work. Tnx from a fellow “ radio guy”. I only watch/use c band sat, so need a replacement solution. E-bay ect seem to all be now sold out. A fully programable may be the only solution, but likely need the flash codes etc.

Greg
VA3VFO

No, sorry it's not the same and I donated the one I had.