C Band Digital Receiver

Debbi · #1 (**permalink**) 09-02-2007, 03:27 PM

I just got a big dish and receiver set up for C-Band. Unfortunately the receiver (Personal Cable by Uniden) is only analog. I am coming into the receiver with the big all-in-one cable, my receiver also turns my dish.

I'm interested in getting a C-band digital receiver, but I'm not sure what I need. I also have a Fortec Star Classic that I use for Ku-Band. The Classic is capable of receiving C-band, but I don't think it will turn the dish and I don;t know if I can run C and Ku band off the same receiver. I'd appreciate any suggestions - thanks.

rainman · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2007, 09:10 PM

what type of c band digital are you interested in DVB or DC II?

pmb1010 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-04-2007, 02:06 AM

this device will allow your Fortec box to posisiton your big dish.

Sadoun Powertech VBOX III V3000 Positioner DiSEqC 1.2 Compatible

The issue now becomes, how do you adjust polarity and skew with this setup. Some of the guys more versed on C band dish LNB's might care to comment.

You will only get whats available on DVB in C and Ku.
You could "slave" your analog box off of your Fortec unit and still get Analog stations.

You still have some options to get things working. Hang in there.

elgemcdlf · #4 (**permalink**) 09-04-2007, 07:56 AM

You have a few options. If you want the ability to sub to channels you need to look to the Motorola DSR922. It is the only digital offering out there for residential usage. Basically just unhook your present receiver and hook it up. Other options would be to use your classic with a BSC621 or BSC621-2 lnbf along with a VBox. The other option would be to replace the classic with a receiver that can control polarity of a standard feedhorn setup combined with a VBox. The VBox gives you the ability to move the dish with a DVB FTA type receiver (not required if you choose the DSR922). I believe the Pansat receivers will control polarity. Not sure on that one you will just have to do a bit of homework.

Debbi · #5 (**permalink**) 09-04-2007, 09:46 AM

I appreciate all the ideas. For now I have come up with an idea that's working for the time being. I am using the Personal Cable receiver to turn the dish, but I have the coax hooked up to the Fortec Classic. Apparently I'm not getting any analog stations, but I seem to be getting DVB.

I'll check into the receivers mentioned and maybe I can get a better setup. It appears that my polar rotor motor (I think that's what it's called) is only reeiving vertical but a friend thinks he has one for me. The only station my husband wants is RFD and it's horizontal of course, but I'm getting closer. Thanks again for the input.

wejones · #6 (**permalink**) 09-04-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbi

I appreciate all the ideas. For now I have come up with an idea that's working for the time being. I am using the Personal Cable receiver to turn the dish, but I have the coax hooked up to the Fortec Classic. Apparently I'm not getting any analog stations, but I seem to be getting DVB.

I'll check into the receivers mentioned and maybe I can get a better setup. It appears that my polar rotor motor (I think that's what it's called) is only reeiving vertical but a friend thinks he has one for me. The only station my husband wants is RFD and it's horizontal of course, but I'm getting closer. Thanks again for the input.

If you "slave" the DVB receiver as mentioned above, you can get both analog and digital. Two ways to do it, either run a "T" with DC block (some power passing Ts have the DC block built in), and run the side with the DC blocked to your DVB receiver and the other power passing port to your Uniden. You lose a little signal this way, and you have to use the Uniden to switch polarities for the DVB receiver (which you're probably doing now anyway).
The other way is to run the coax to the DVB receiver, and run the passthru from the DVB receiver to the coax input of the Uniden. This would probably give you less signal loss. I'd still recommend using a DC block between the Fortec and Uniden.

Re the subscription DCII, since you already have an analog receiver, you might be better off getting a 905 sidecar rather than a 922, since getting the 922 means scrapping your Uniden, while the sidecar allows you to use your current receiver, and the combination can do everything and possibly more, than the 922. I assume your Uniden has a built in VCII or VCRS module?

rainman · #7 (**permalink**) 09-04-2007, 10:20 PM

here is a diagram on slaving a DVB receiver to a analog receiver.

Debbi · #8 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 09:00 AM

Thanks Rainman, the diagram was a big help and I found the splitters and the switch at Sadoun. It seems to be the answer to my problems.

rainman · #9 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbi

Thanks Rainman, the diagram was a big help and I found the splitters and the switch at Sadoun. It seems to be the answer to my problems.

Glad it help thats the way I have one of my Mercury II hooked up and it works just fine. I use the analog receiver to move the dish and control the polarity. when you get your splitters and disqec switch let us know how it works.