114 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
114 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
Upgrading for Astra 1D (set your page width 78)
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October 1995
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<---------------------------------------------------------------------------->
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This article is Copyright 1995 M T Pickering
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You may store or print it for your own use but you may not publish it
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without permission from the author and you may not sell it.
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<---------------------------------------------------------------------------->
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Astra 1D is the fourth Astra satellite. The satellites sit together in a
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tight cluster out in space (see the promotional video if it is still being
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broadcast).
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Each satellite broadcasts 16 or more channels.
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Each satellite transmits these channels within a certain band of
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frequencies.
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Astra 1E uses the highest band. 1F is also planned.
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Astra 1C uses a high band.
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Astra 1B uses a lower band
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Astra 1A uses a still lower band
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Astra 1D uses the lowest
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The old, standard LNB is designed to amplify channels in the middle three
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bands.
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Some can also amplify channels in the lowest (1D) band but the tuner in
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your old receiver probably can't tune low enough to receive them. (Some
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receivers can just about tune down to the TOP channel of Astra 1D but no
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further).
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There are several ways of getting to watch these 1D channels:
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Some receivers can't tune lower but they can tune HIGHER. If the numbers in
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your tuning display go up to 11.990 then you may be in luck. An "Enhanced"
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LNB not only amplifies the 1D channels but it also sends ALL channels down
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the cable at a higher frequency. It effectively shifts them all higher by a
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count of 250.
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So if you fit an "Enhanced" LNB to your dish and tune EVERY channel higher
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by 250, you should be able to receive every channel listed, or at least
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from NBC Super Channel near the bottom of 1D up to CNN International near
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the top of Astra 1C band.
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(For example, with your standard LNB you will find CNN tuned to
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approximately 11.627 but with an "Enhanced" LNB you must retune to 11.877 -
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that is 250 higher. Do this for every channel and the job is done. An
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hour's work with a calculator.
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Examples of receivers which will work with an "Enhanced" LNB are:
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Most Pace SS9200 and derivatives (GIRD3000, SAT1600, BUSH IRD150).
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Any Pace PRD800 or 900 which has "2GHz" on the serial number label
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underneath -
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(Otherwise a small modification may be needed to extend the range)
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Almost any receiver whose tuning display goes to 11.999 or higher.
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Receivers built in 1995 or later. You may need to change the Installation
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Menu LNB Offset from 10.00 to 9.75 or 09.75 in the case of Grundig
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GRD150/250.
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(Some receivers such as PRD800/900 can have "Enhanced" software fitted so
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that the frequency display is correct with an "Enhanced" LNB. In addition,
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a PRD800 can be given 199 channels instead of 120. This is also true for
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the Amstrad SRD510).
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Even if your receiver will not tune high enough, you can still use an
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"Enhanced" LNB but you will lose the higher channels, such as Sky Sports,
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UK Gold, CMT and CNN.
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However, you can get these channels back by fitting a "Global ADX Plus".
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When it is switched ON it shifts all the channels DOWN by a count of 500.
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So it counteracts the effect of the "Enhanced" LNB which has shifted them
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UP by 250.
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The "ADX Plus" connects between the satellite receiver and the LNB cable.
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There are various ways of switching it ON and OFF, dependent on your
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satellite receiver. I won't go into this; just assume that you use the
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ON/OFF switch on the "ADX Plus". With a paperclip you have to push in a
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little internal switch when you first fit it.
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With the "Enhanced" LNB fitted to the dish, tune ALL channels 250 higher,
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except channels which are above Sky Movies. Tune these top channels 250
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LOWER.
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To watch these top channels you will need to switch the "ADX Plus" ON. For
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the rest of the channels switch it OFF.
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You CAN watch some Astra 1D channels if you use a Standard LNB.
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You have to fit an ADX which will shift the channels UP by a count of 500
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when it is ON.
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All your existing channels remain tuned the same with the ADX off. You
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don't need to alter them. Starting with a channel number higher than those
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already in use, you can tune in the Astra 1D channels. With the ADX
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switched ON, tune all the Astra 1D channels by a count of 500 higher than
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the magazine listing says. Switch the ADX ON when you want to watch these
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channels. Switch it OFF when you want to watch your existing channels. (In
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fact, you don't really need to tune in extra channels for astra 1D. When
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you switch the ADX on you will find that they appear instead of some of the
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existing ones).
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The main drawback of using your old standard LNB is that it was not
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designed to amplify the Astra 1D channels. Some channels may be so sparkly
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as to be unwatchable.
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---------------------------------
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Confused? It will be much clearer when you actually try it!
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Martin Pickering
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Technical Author.
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Repairer of receivers, decoders and handsets.
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Supplier of spare parts for satellite receivers.
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100613,2105@compuserve.com
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