Uniden UST 4800 super receiver

[pmb1010]

Is the Uniden 4800 Super, an analog or digital C/Ku band receiver?

I'd like to slave an analog C band receiver off of my Ultra's IF output port, and looking for recommendation on a receiver.

Found the Uniden model on a popular auction site, new in box but missing the VCII module. I dont care about encrypted programming, but would want the unit to work without it if possible...

[satnutwillb]

I think it's an analog c/ku receiver.I have a Uniden Supra and a 4400 c/ku receivers and they're both analog.Their is a 4800 digital c/ku receiver,but I think it's made by GI or Motorola and is very expensive.Edit: It will work without the module on the non subscribition chs.,but you need the module to sub.to anything.Hope this helps.

[rainman]

the 4800 is a analog receiver I have the 4600 the only difference between the 2 is the 4800 had picture in picture capabilties.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by rainman

the 4800 is a analog receiver I have the 4600 the only difference between the 2 is the 4800 had picture in picture capabilties.

Interesting how the model numbers seem to have no relationship to how old the receiver is. I have a Uniden UST6000, which was prior to having any on screen displays, and prior to having VCII units included, had a click click channel changer, etc, and didn't include a dish mover. Very nice receiver, but ancient compared to what you describe these 4800 and 4600 receivers, even though the model number is higher.

[rainman]

I think the 44,46.and 4800 came out at the same time the higher the number the more the options.mid 90's if i remember correct.

[satnutwillb]

Rainman,if I'm not mistaken doesn't the 4600s have the option that you program in the east and west satellites and it will auto set all the others in between?I thought I read about that after I got my supra and wished I'd bought the 4600.

[rainman]

yeah it will do that.not real accurate thought.

[elgemcdlf]

To my knowledge the only digital C/Ku receivers out there (minus DVB) for the general public are the offerings from Motorola / GI. These would be the 4DTV boxes. You also would want the module regardless of subscription. Many channels are broadcast clear but require the module to view. This holds true for DVB also. I have an embedded Irdeto receiver and get some of the Irdeto channels with it with no sub.

I do not know the terminology for a "clear encrypted" channels. In other words if you have the ability to decrypt it is clear to you.

Unless the receiver is dirt cheap it most likely is not worth buying unless it can move an actuator and you need a dish mover. Most everything is moving over to digital (MPEG). I watch the channels disappear rather rapidly from analog.

[rainman]

alot of times channels go in to fixed mode which opens up the channel for free viewing.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

...
I do not know the terminology for a "clear encrypted" channels. In other words if you have the ability to decrypt it is clear to you.

I'm not sure where the "clear encrypted" issue came in here, and this is probably not what you're referring to above, but with a DCII receiver, there are non-encrypted channels that are ZK that can be received by any receiver, and another category called FP or fixed process, which are encrypted, but encrypted with a fixed key. The FP channels are only viewable if you have a receiver that has at some time been authorized. I guess that would fit your "clear encrypted" description. Also, with the analog VCII signals, there are several categories of signals, some of which are viewable by any VCII, similar to the ZK thing above, and then there are signals that can be received only by people with a subscription, some things that can be viewed by people without a subscription, some things in barker mode that can be viewed for a while, then jump back into barker mode, unless you have one of those receivers which can issue the right keystrokes to keep it in view mode, and finally some things only viewable in Canada or USA, etc. I think all of these might fit your term "clear encrypted". Still not sure where the term came from though.

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

Unless the receiver is dirt cheap it most likely is not worth buying unless it can move an actuator and you need a dish mover. Most everything is moving over to digital (MPEG). I watch the channels disappear rather rapidly from analog.

I wouldn't be without an analog receiver, even if ALL the analog channels went away. One of several reasons is that the baseband output of an analog receiver allows you to accurately determine the SR of a DVB signal, if you feed it into a communications receiver capable of FM reception in the HF band. Ie I use my Broadlogic receiver to give me a spectrum of a satellite, from which I can see signals, then I tune my analog receiver to that frequency, and feed the baseband output to my short wave receiver, and I can very accurately pin down the SR value of the signal.

This can also be used with a known signal to locate a satellite quickly. Ie I set up my analog receiver on the frequency of a known signal on a sat I'm looking for, and set up the shortwave on the SR value, then move my dish, and when I get close to the sat I'm looking for, I'll see the signal meter go up on the shortwave, and hear the static go to a full quieting signal. This is generally faster than putting a DVB receiver on a signal, because there is usually a delay in the signal meter response on the DVB receivers, whereas the SW signal is an instant response.

Anyway, just a couple reasons that I would never be without an analog receiver, even though I watch very few analog signals anymore.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by wejones

I'm not sure where the "clear encrypted" issue...came from though.

Channels that require a decoder to view but do not require a subscription. That could be sub channels in the future. As with my Coship receiver compared to either of my other 2 DVB receivers. With the other 2 I get "scrambled channel" on all Irdeto channels. With the Coship some Iredeto channels are watchable and others are not.

Originally Posted by wejones

I wouldn't be without an analog receiver, even if ALL the analog channels went away. One of several reasons is that the baseband output of an analog receiver allows you to accurately determine the SR of a DVB signal, if you feed it into a communications receiver capable of FM reception in the HF band. Ie I use my Broadlogic receiver to give me a spectrum of a satellite, from which I can see signals, then I tune my analog receiver to that frequency, and feed the baseband output to my short wave receiver, and I can very accurately pin down the SR value of the signal.

This can also be used with a known signal to locate a satellite quickly. Ie I set up my analog receiver on the frequency of a known signal on a sat I'm looking for, and set up the shortwave on the SR value, then move my dish, and when I get close to the sat I'm looking for, I'll see the signal meter go up on the shortwave, and hear the static go to a full quieting signal. This is generally faster than putting a DVB receiver on a signal, because there is usually a delay in the signal meter response on the DVB receivers, whereas the SW signal is an instant response.

Anyway, just a couple reasons that I would never be without an analog receiver, even though I watch very few analog signals anymore.

Is this all that is required to set up a treedish Actually fair enough. My response was strictly from a view TV line of thought. You know, turn it on and have picture.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

Channels that require a decoder to view but do not require a subscription. That could be sub channels in the future. As with my Coship receiver compared to either of my other 2 DVB receivers. With the other 2 I get "scrambled channel" on all Irdeto channels. With the Coship some Iredeto channels are watchable and others are not.
.....

That does sound similar to the FP DCII channels. Do you have an example of a channel that requires the decoder but you can't view with plain DVB. Just curious what one would look like with TSREADER.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by wejones

That does sound similar to the FP DCII channels. Do you have an example of a channel that requires the decoder but you can't view with plain DVB. Just curious what one would look like with TSREADER.

I have the Coship in a box at the moment but if I get a chance this weekend I will hook it back up and find you one or two. They are calling for rain here all weekend so I may get that chance. If not I am planting poles and plumbing the back yard.

I was curious about the concept so I bought the receiver just to see and I was right. The ability to decode even without any subs is worth having as it adds channels. Now if I ever remember I will buy a cam or 2 for the Platinum and play with it a bit.