A New Set Of Fortec Star Spark Plugs Needed

[1881-A]

My recent purchase of a Mercury II FTA receiver, is a nightmare getting it to load channels from a satellite. After some ten or so tries, it has it's problems-- a run-a-way train wreck.

As the commercials--advertisement states. If you own a GM automobile that need repairs, take it to Mr. Goodwrench. So, with this unknown "pain in the backside" situation. It would appear-- take it to similar Mr. Goodwrench.
Given the fact this Fortec receiver unit was manufactured in So. Korea, and probably was somehow got past the quality control inspector, and should have been ****-canned. ( That's an old US Navy term for sending it to Deep Six). So, the best logic here, take it back to it's original destination-- the factory. I'll just hop on the silver bird, with ticket in hand showing next stop Seoul, So. Korea. In the box will be this infamous--Fortec Star Mercury II, aka a "****-canned" piece of US junk metal sent to Korea to be sent back as a bona-fide working genius in need for a replacement set of "spark plugs" to make it past the working stage.

Some would say, why spend a thousand dollars on a piece of metal with a printed circuit board that cost on $109.00 +s/h to get it back to the factory. That is a good question... however, it's the principal of matter to show up at the factory and slap the inspectors with it.

Enough said'...

[lumpkin666]

More info might help resolve the problem. Typically it's a configuration issue when you run into situations that seem impossible. Let us know what your configuration is, and what specific problems you are having, and I bet someone will be able to help you resolve your issues without flying to korea

[elgemcdlf]

Are you gonna send postcards? Seriously if this is your first FTA receiver the problem is most likely configuration. I have found FTA receivers to be akin to Linux. If you were not there with the early development years doing things may seem very difficult. This is not a DSR922!

As previously posted you have not provided any information which any of us might find helpful in resolving your issue. If I remember correctly you are slaving from a DSR922. So first things first. To be able to watch anything on a H polarity first your dish must be pointed at the correct sat. I have found renaming the sats in the Mercury to match your DSR922 works quite well. Now that you have your dish positioned properly you must also have the 922 on and on a H polarity channel.

Next on the list FTA receivers are far more touchy about alignment than the DSR922 is. Could part of the problem be alignment that is not quite right? Not bad enough to keep the 922 from locking but bad enough to cause problems with the FTA receiver? A little trick I like is to go to menu on a live tp and watch the quality as I bump the DRS922 until I reach peak signal.

Are you aware the Mercury has a channel backup feature? QWhen used and you perform a master reset as you did the other day you can load all your channels back in? Do you understand the menus when you go through them? Have you been to the Fortec site and looked through their online material concerning setup and usage?

Is this your first attempt at doing anything like this?

[1881-A]

Here are some facts... The BUD is a 10' Unimesh, which I've had some 26 years. The feed horn is a Chaparral with C-band Norsat LNB. A new Norsat 17 degree LNB was installed yesterday 2/3/08. My 4DTV-DSR922 is only 3 months old. The BUD sends signal qualities through the 922 in the 90 to 100 range on almost all satellites---AMC-10 (C4) to AMC-2 (W2). Only Galaxy 3R (G3) has a signal quality of 75-80.

When I was installing the LNB yesterday, had the wife to look at the signal quality on the Mercury while I was moving the BUD up/down and left/right. She told me the signal went to zero during my movements, so, it would appear the dish is in it's proper alignment.

The time spent has been on IA-13 (T7) (121.W, and Galaxy 10R (GO) 123.W trying to set-up the satellites and load those channels.. These two satellites carry the sports--The Sportsman and Outdoor Channels. I have no problem loading the Outdoor Channel on GO satellite. With Power Scan, Galaxy 10R came in and loaded, and was stored. Rainman, made a reply on how it should be done to get--Sportsman Channel. Set DSR-922 on T7, channel 21 (H) (Jewelry Channel), had the Mercury set to IA-13, Polarity--(All), Start Frequency--(3400), Frequency Step--(4). Locking Speed--(Normal), Power Scan-- Start (OK). I think ever vertical/horizontal channel loaded, "including" The Sportsman Channel.. GREAT..

I made a trip to the post office, and hour later I returned to find the Sportsman Channel had a "lock" with some ????? marks. To remove the lock problem, I did a factory reset.. There goes my Outdoor Channel, and Galaxy 10R satellite configuration
However, I did get the channels on Galaxy 10R to come back, and no problem there. Going back to rainman's suggestion, DSR-922 on channel 21, repeat same as above for IA-13 (T7), loaded just about ever vertical/horizontal channel.. with the exception --The Sportsman Channel.

The receiver remains calm at present---cooling off period. Maybe a diode will come back to life--soon I hope.

[elgemcdlf]

You have parental lock turned on for that sat. Go into the menu to the first category and choose the sat from the list of sats. You should see something labeled sat lock or similiar to that. You need to change that to OFF or UNLOCKED or whatever the opposite is of what you presently have.

By the way if you have the 922 set on a H polarity channel you are scanning in only H polarity channels. When you do a power scan set to H when on an H channel and V when the 922 is on a V channel. You are not scanning in both.

[1881-A]

I've notice another problem. On satellite Galaxy 10R (GO) with the Outdoor Channel shown, and I switch back to IA-13 (T7) this satellite has all the channels deleted that I had loaded. Just now I went back to Galaxy 10R (GO), and all the channels on GO has deleted. I have to go back and start all over again, but, once I leave that satellite, nothing is saved. However, I have press the menu stating to store.. I guess none of these satellite/channels are ever stored, as I thought I had done.

[1881-A]

I don't know what buttons I pushed, but, here's something worth considering-- more like this can't be... I've found on IA-13 (T7), 12 stored Sportsman Channels.
It is listed on channels . 12, 18, 24, 47, 66. 70, 112, 146, 166, 176. 180, 188.

I didn't make a correct count, but, there must be over 600 channels stored for this satellite.

Time to get one the silver bird to Korea.

[rainman]

Originally Posted by 1881-A

I don't know what buttons I pushed, but, here's something worth considering-- more like this can't be... I've found on IA-13 (T7), 12 stored Sportsman Channels.
It is listed on channels . 12, 18, 24, 47, 66. 70, 112, 146, 166, 176. 180, 188.

I didn't make a correct count, but, there must be over 600 channels stored for this satellite.

Time to get one the silver bird to Korea.

after you do a power scan and save channels and get back to the main screen if you click on the sat button then select the sat you want to veiw you will see all the channels you have saved for that satellite.