4dtv

[Costactc]

I would like to thank DishDoctor for sending me his General Instruments 920 4dtv receiver. I finally found some time this morning to hook it up. I find it a bit complicated since I have never tested one of these before.
I hooked up the actuator wires and set my limits and have been saving all my sat positions, I'm up to 95w. Once I finish saving all positions I plan to experiment and see what 4dtv is all about. As a positioner, it's precision is so spot on that it's even more accurate then my pansat ap3500 positioner.
Once I have it all setup I'll be reporting back.

[satchick]

Did you get a 920 or 922? They're both very similar, but the 922 will receive a few more channels (it'll pick up an extended range of symbol rates), and has a second set of rca outputs.

I'm sure you're aware of the issues surrounding the internal battery in these units. They're all getting old now, and the internal battery will eventually die, which will cause the unit ID number to be lose, which renders the box useless. Replacing the battery isn't too hard, and I'm almost sure I posted a link with instructions.

[Costactc]

It's a 920 satchick. I'm only using it as a stand alone positioner until I figure out how 4dtv works. I've heard of the battery issues but according to DishDoctor, the unit has never been used.

[Bowhunters]

It doesn't matter if its been used or not, the 920 and 922 use a battery to keep information intact like the units ID so no matter if its running every day watching tv or if the unit sits in closet drawing dust for 10 years the battery is still being drained.

Kind of like a CMOS battery on a computer motherboard only these batteries are larger.

Also from what i've been told the battery doesn't have to go completely dead but just get very low to lose the ID number and that even if that happens you can still use it for a dish mover but you can't use it for subscription channels.

I contacted a company that repairs them as I have an old 922 that started having issues including that it would lose some of my sub'd channels and so I had to get a 'rehit' every couple of days but the motherboards for those are not cheap and I found a 922 on Ebay that was cheaper than having the old one repaired not to mention the shipping going back and forth.

[satchick]

If you catch it before the battery dies, replacing it isn't too difficult if you can solder.I would recommend it, as the 920 is an old model, with most of them being 10 years old (or older)
---

Since the unit has never been used, even to get the some of the free channels you'll have to subscribe to something, even for one month only. Even if you cancel the subscription, the receiver will be able to receive Zero Key and Fixed Key channels that are in the map. Basically, the receiver must have been authorized at least once.

The future of subscription programming is still up in the air as Motorola has declared December 31/10 as the end of 4DTV support. Skyvision is supposed to be working on their own firmware for the 920/922 to allow it to receive their W5 package though.

[trommy]

I read a couple months ago a quote from Sky Vision that they had just about solved that problem and were very confident they would.They gave some details like EPG being solved (I think?) but that all I 'almost' remember.
Also,I seen 2 different ways to change that battery;quite easy if you can solder.I would put 2 external battery holders,both in paraelle with the original.Then you could place a new battery in the empty one before removing the weak one.

[Costactc]

Just testing the unit out, probably just going to use it as a stand alone positioner but haven't decided yet.

[StanW]

If you wish I can change the battery for you Costa - just say the word.

[Costactc]

If you wish I can change the battery for you Costa - just say the word.

I appreciate the offer Stan, but there really aren't many open channels with 4dtv so It'll be used as a stand alone positioner. I'm just curious, If the battery does go will it affect the unit from being used as a positioner?

[StanW]

From what I gather you will be able to use it as a positioner only which in a sense is a shame , you never know if you'd like to use all of its functions one day .

The battery cost would be negligent and would take 1/2 hour ( if that much) to change .

[Costactc]

I'll hook it up to my bud this weekend and make a decision.

[Gold]

You gotta try a few Analog channels at least :innocent:

[Costactc]

One of my neighbours gave me an old analogue stb but never hooked it up. How many channels or feeds are we looking at Gold?

[Gold]

Well,
there was a whopping dozen last year :yes:

[trommy]

One of my neighbours gave me an old analogue stb but never hooked it up. How many channels or feeds are we looking at Gold?

I was given a 'Tracker VII,SRD7000,VCII,Descrambler Equipped' a few months ago.I assume this is annolog,n'est pas?

[satchick]

Yup, that'd be an analog receiver... The only digital receivers used for subscription programming with the BUDs was the 4DTV. It's safe to say that if it's not a 4DTV it's analog.

[Bowhunters]

I agree with Satchick, I had a 'Tracker IV' before I went to 4DTV and got a Motorola 922 and the Trackers are indeed analog.

I would also note that the descrambler is useless, there are only about 6 channels left running in analog like 'C span' and they are all open/unscrambled.

[rickw]

I watch ESPN. G5 Channel 9 for Nascar Races.......( analog )

[Gold]

One of my neighbours gave me an old analogue stb but never hooked it up. How many channels or feeds are we looking at Gold?

Say wouldn't that give you 1212?

Is that a palindrome?:tehe::tehe:

[Costactc]

Say wouldn't that give you 1212?

Is that a palindrome?:tehe::tehe:

Gold I speak Greek, but not ancient Greek. What are you talking about bud?

[Gold]

Gold I speak Greek, but not ancient Greek. What are you talking about bud?

Oh, I seldom know :yes: especially when I reread what I wrote. :no:

No... I thought you said you get about 1200 channels, well I thought that with the 12 analog, which would make the 1212...My thoughts at the time were somewhere along those lines...

I think I might need to sleep:sleep1:

[Costactc]

Gotcha bud, your right approximately 1,200 fta channels scanning in here.