Primestar 300D receiver

[reho33]

Got an old primestar 300D receiver from a neighbor. I looked on the bottom and it says that it receives Digicipher2! Can it be used or am I just dreaming? I would really like to use it for FTA DG2 signals.

[crankbooster]

Originally Posted by reho33

Got an old primestar 300D receiver from a neighbor. I looked on the bottom and it says that it receives Digicipher2! Can it be used or am I just dreaming? I would really like to use it for FTA DG2 signals.

can you post the picture both front and back?

[reho33]

Just plugged it in and pointed it a Anik F1R to see if I could get anything, nada.
I guess I just have to save my pennies and get a DSR-922. Oh Well.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by reho33

Just plugged it in and pointed it a Anik F1R to see if I could get anything, nada.
I guess I just have to save my pennies and get a DSR-922. Oh Well.

I don't know anything about Primestar receivers, but are you sure that it says Digicipher II ? I thought that the Primestar receivers were Digicipher I , not II. There used to be a few things sent out in the DC-I format and people were receiving them with old Primestar receivers, but I don't think there is any DC-I now. But if it really is DCII (ie perhaps Primestar changed mode before it went away), there is a possibility that it could be used, however it's not just a situation where you can aim it at a sat and expect it to work. You'd have to figure out how to get it change freq/SR and lock on a transponder and load the VCT from that transponder. THere was a thread about a year ago, where someone was trying to get a DCII receiver originally set up with a similar service to work as a generic receiver, and I don't think that the fellow ever got it to work.

Does the receiver have any identification other than PRimestar? Like a General Instrument model number or something?

[reho33]

Bill,
My mistake, it said DC1 on the bottom. It is made by GI however. Maybe it would be useful for something but I doubt it.

[Star_Voyager]

Originally Posted by reho33

Bill,
My mistake, it said DC1 on the bottom. It is made by GI however. Maybe it would be useful for something but I doubt it.

Don't take this the wrong way, but they are very useful as door stops (and boat anchors), I have 3 of them myself, and so far as I know, they are pretty much usless as a sat receiver.



Edited for typos

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by Star_Voyager

Don't take this the wrong way, but they are very useful as door stops (and boat anchors), I have 3 of them myself, and so far as I know, they are pretty much usless as a sat receiver.



Edited for typos

HeHeHe... yup, about the only useful part on those babies is the AC power cord...

kat

[rainman]

Originally Posted by Star_Voyager

Don't take this the wrong way, but they are very useful as door stops (and boat anchors), I have 3 of them myself, and so far as I know, they are pretty much usless as a sat receiver.



Edited for typos

Been looking for a good boat anchor for my boat.LOL

[reho33]

OK , OK....so I screwed up. Well at least I learned how not to approach it. Probably no DC1 anywhere being used anymore. Just having a good time with the equipment that I have now...... When all else fails........drink beer. Then take a long pause, change channels, and drink even more beer Beer has amazing properties, it makes a lot of things, even satellite signals look better

[Iceberg]

there use ot be a DC I signal on IA5 about a year ago but that's gone now

you got a good paperweight

[xtgold]

Info from kickinchicken before they went belly up.
Original author unknown.

Resetting the channel maps in the Primestar receiver.

1) To clear all the Primestar channel mappings you must perform a factory
reset of the Primestar receiver. To perform a factory reset, on the remote
control press <MENU>, then select the option for "Set or Change
Password". When the password prompt appears, enter "996" and then press
the <BUY> button. This will take you to the "Distributor Installation"
menu. One of the options at the bottom is to set or restore "Factory
Defaults". Position the cursor over that option, then hit the <BUY>
button again. After 1 or 2 seconds, the receiver will say "DONE" on the
screen next to that option.

2) There is another secret menu. Press <menu> then 8 (password menu).
Once there press 114 then the <buy> key to get the "Setup" menu.

3) Tuning the correct frequency

Go to the "Setup" menu (114-BUY) and look at the channel map (after
you've performed a factory reset). Find something in the channel map
that is as close to the desired frequency as possible.
If you cannot find something in the channel mapping that directly
corresponds to the desired frequency, you have to use the "LNB offset" in
the "Distributor Installation" menu (996-BUY) to compensate; e.g., if you
want to look at 1190.0MHz, but can only find 1189.0 MHz in the channel
mapping, set the LNB offset to -1 Mhz, and that should fix it. The green
signal LED should light up when you tune to channels with a DC1 feed.

4) Signal Strength

Use the Primestar remote to press <MENU>, and then "7" for Receiver Status.
There will be a line on that screen that shows the "Signal Strength"
and it can very from 0 to 139, with "0" being a perfect signal and
"139" meaning "no signal". (Yes, it's backwards.)

[xtgold]

The original primestar lnb is standard ku linear with V and H outputs.
This can be used by feeding the V and H into a dtv type 3x4 switch.
The lnb can be converted to 118w use by inserting a dielectric plate
in the lnb throat at the 1 o'clock position.Some people chop up an
old smartcard and stick it in.Any non-microwave safe plastic will work.
The plate can be left in for regular linear sats also.