do i need a 4DTV box

[nolany36]

this is what i just order but do i need to order a 4dtv box to get the c-band channels to. or can i use the Mercury II Receiver that gomes with package for the c-band channels


Fortec Mercury II Receiver

FC180P 6' Dish w/Polar Mount

BSC621-2: C / KU Band LNBF

QARL-3624 Moteck Actuator
V3000 Positioner (GBOX)

[rainman]

If you want the DC II digital then yes you will need a 4DTV box. If you just want to receive the DVB C Band program then all you need is the MERCURY ii.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by nolany36

this is what i just order but do i need to order a 4dtv box to get the c-band channels to. or can i use the Mercury II Receiver that gomes with package for the c-band channels


Fortec Mercury II Receiver

FC180P 6' Dish w/Polar Mount

BSC621-2: C / KU Band LNBF

QARL-3624 Moteck Actuator
V3000 Positioner (GBOX)

One problem though. THe BSC-621-2 isn't compatable with 4DTV on Ku. It will work OK on C-band, but much of the DCII stuff is converting to Ku. If you were going to do 4DTV stuff, you'd be much better off with the BSC-621.
Also, the 4DTV is for subscription stuff. If you are just interested in free DCII stuff, there are cheaper options.

[nolany36]

thx you all for your help this it way i come to sadun to get my satellite dishes you guys here are great here. thx agen for the help

[rainman]

you are welcome and we enjoy helping others to enjoy the hobby as much as we do.

[bali]

hi wejones, can you clue us in on some of the cheaper options for receiving the free DCII channels ?



thanks

[lumpkin666]

Originally Posted by bali

hi wejones, can you clue us in on some of the cheaper options for receiving the free DCII channels ?



thanks

ditto
I was thinking the same thing

[pmb1010]

The only way to get DCII is using a receiver capable of DCII. There are no clones, or 3rd party manufacturers.

There are only a few options:
905 sidecar
920 consumer receiver
922 consumer receiver

The other option is commercial receiver, one example is a DSR-4200v type unit.
You can find these on Ebay and such, usually reasonably priced. The problem with these, is a complex method to get the channel maps to them, its per satellite. So esentially you could key in the sat with PBS content, and recieve the (then) DCII PBS channels and watch them.

The easiest way to find one of these receivers is put an ad in the paper, "wanted C band dishes & equipment". Offer to take down their dish in exhange for receivers. You might stumble onto a 920 or 922 that way.

[wejones]

What I was referring to was a commercial receiver. I have 2 DSR 4200 receivers. You can get used 4200 receivers very cheap on EBAY. My original 4200V cost me about $1200 new, but I've seen them in the $100 range on Ebay, and that was prior to PBS eliminating a lot of their DCII feeds. I'm guessing you'd find them even cheaper now. My 2nd, which was a 4200b, cost me about $40 on ebay. The "V" version is better, as it does all the common SR values, while the B and C versions only do 3 of the common values.

The 4200 receivers will get things that are in FP or ZK free modes, sort of like FTA in DVB speak. The 4200 is a bear to tune though. Takes me about 55 keystrokes and a 5 minute wait to re-tune to a new transponder. THis is because it only holds one VCT at a time, while some of the other commercial receivers, and the 4DTV receivers hold data for hundreds of channels.

The commercial receivers can't be subscribed to the 4DTV channels though. You can only get what is free. Not very much DCII free, but there are things occasionally.

[bali]

thanks pmb1010, for the input. i kinda knew about some of the
consumer dsr 9xx options already but i don't want to subscribe to
any service to view free DCII stuff.

info on the commercial 4200 series receivers was new to me though

thanks wejones, for the additional details on them

i think i'll keep an eye out for a low cost 4200v

[nolany36]

thx you for the tip i am looking for one to

[wejones]

Originally Posted by bali

.....
i think i'll keep an eye out for a low cost 4200v
...

While the 4200 can tune the free things that a 4dtv can, plus several things that a 4DTV can't... be aware that a 4200 is not for someone who wants convenience. I think I said this already, but say you're tuned to the Neb PBS mux on G26, and want to move to say the Oklahoma mux on G11. You have to move your dish, hit about 10 keystrokes to get to where you can reset to factory conditions. Do the reset, wait about 15 sec while it resets, then do the 10 keystrokes to get to where you can change the frequency, type in the frequency, select the SR and FEC, then hit tune, then wait, and wait, and wait, while it locks and loads in the VCT, which takes anywhere from about 2 minutes to 5 minutes. At this time, you can use the channel up/down to select the channel you want. I think I counted keystrokes once, and it was something like 55 or so. So this isn't a particularly convenient receiver to use. But it can be tuned to any frequency/SR value, unlike the 4DTV, which can really only be tuned to freq/sr values in it's map. There are some tricks that 4dtv'ers use, but they don't work on everything.
I personally prefer the 4200 to a 4DTV, mainly because I'm not interested in subscribing, and want the capability of tuning any free channel, and generally just leave the thing tuned to one of the several free PBS channels. Although the main PBS left DCII for the most part, there are still things like NET, Oklahoma, Georgia, La, and some others, plus the occasional subscription channel that goes FP. Just didn't want someone to buy a 4200 then get dissappointed at how much of a hassle it is to tune channels in.

[bali]

actually... it sounds like it would be right up my alley !

thanks for the clues (and disclaimer)

[satnutwillb]

If you click on wejones' link,he has some interesting details about tuning on some of these models.If you purchase a 4200,it would help a lot to bookmark for quick guide.

[Ski5010]

Sounds like i made a mistake,I just bought a DSR922.DARN.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by Ski5010

Sounds like i made a mistake,I just bought a DSR922.DARN.

Well if you ever want to get rid of that "mistake" just let me know.