(FTA box) "Network search" whats it for ???

Ulsterman 1690

My FTA box has a number of options for searching for channels

One called "Scan Mode" can be set for "all" or "FTA only" (why there is an option for recieving anything other than FTA channels on a box with no CAM slots is a bit beyond me)

The other is called "Network Search" which can be set on or off

Does anyone know what "Network search" is for ?

Tony

Network search should download information from the broadcaster updating the current transponder information. This may not be present on every transponder so you might have to try a few

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

My FTA box has a number of options for searching for channels

One called "Scan Mode" can be set for "all" or "FTA only" (why there is an option for recieving anything other than FTA channels on a box with no CAM slots is a bit beyond me)

The other is called "Network Search" which can be set on or off

Does anyone know what "Network search" is for ?

Antenna

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

"all" or "FTA only" (why there is an option for recieving anything other than FTA channels on a box with no CAM slots is a bit beyond me)

Teletext might be available on scrambled channels (i.e RTE, TV3, TG4)

Audio on some European pay channels is unencrypted (the audio on its own might interest some people)

Also there have been channels (usually tests) available in the past in the clear, even though they had a encrypted flag.

Though I have seen "all" come up as the default on Lidl receivers, having it as the default is daft allright.

watty

If you pick a transponder (on Sky the Skybox "default transponder" and a few others) with a NIT (Network Information Table) for a Network Search, all the transponders are automatically added and searched.

On Hotbird or Astra 19 or Turksat it won't add all transponders, just all the ones used by the pay TV package provider's "default" transponder. We should add a list of NIT transponders for the common top five satellites on our ICDG Wiki.

On the FTA vs Scrambled, Antenna is perfectly correct. Also some receivers have same SW for all models (Like RF Modulator setting when there is no RF Modulator) and the main PCB actually is the same as the one for the CAM, just the ICs, connectors and etc. are missing. This would be the explanation as to why "All" is default.

I saw one model where there was even a CAM door with nothing behind it.

wil

Watty
From what you say about network searching is this form of search only useful on certain satellites and of little use on others?
In one of my manuals it states it is fastest search method and should add in even transponders and channels not listed elsewhere. Is that just a best case scenario?
Is the NIT table held on and for individual transponders or is this list kept on one transponder for all transponders on that satelite.
Blind search is available on some receivers, is the most thorough but very time consuming but they also list automatic searching. Any idea what criteria might be used here, is it machine specific from manufacture or generally updateable/configureable in any way? Cheers

watty

The NIT is only on some transponders.
Only on some satellites.
Tends to be only provided by Pay TV operators (for auto tuning I imagine)
It's a list of other transponders.
On 28.2E it's good as Sky have at least one channel for Digibox on every transponder that you would want, thus the NIT has all the transponders you need.
On 19.2 or 13E, there are multiple NIT for each pay TV package. I don't think comprehensive.

Ulsterman 1690

The NIT is ....tends to be only provided by Pay TV operators

So would the Sky Italia NIT for example only have Italian channels or would it include all the FTA stuff on Hotbird

Teletext might be available on scrambled channels (i.e RTE, TV3, TG4)

Good point !