FTA box "Technistar 4000" - how to tune?

kdobey

What sort of box is this and how to tune (scan)

I've got this box I borrowed and I can't get it setup nor find any information on it on the web. It's a FTA sat box - has the the following on the front.
"Technistar 4000 Digital Satellite Receiver"

When i click menu on the remote it's got a fairly clunky looking menu system.
On the left it's got "Channel Editing" "Parental Guidance" "Installation" "General Settings" "IRD Status".
Then to the right of that it's got similar looking options that change based on teh selection to the right (the sub menu options).

"IRD status" shows a screen that says "software v16.0kN 7/28/2003"

On the back it's got

• IF in (400mA MAX)
• IF Out (also f-type)
• ant in (RF coax)
• tv out (RF coax)
• audio left
• audio right
• Composite video (yellow fella)
• s-video
• AND an rs-232 (over the audios)

I have a PC set up to receive sat but want to try out this box. PC works (TT-3200 DVB-S2 card). But doing a scan on the Technistar receiver shows nothing. (not spitting cabel or anything silly).

On "search channels" screen shows the following Columns

• DISEqC (select from None, DiSEqC 1.0, A-B Switch, DiSEqC 1.2)
• Num (shows rows from 1 to 4 when DiSeqC 1.0 is selected)
• Sat (you can select Astra2 or EUROBIRD - and lots others here)
• TP (Gets set to 10774/22000 H when you select Astra 2)
• POW (can select on or OFF)
• LNB (select from UNIVERSAL, DUAL1, Dual 2, etc)
• 22K (you can select from On or OFF - but always Shows XXX)

So i've selected DiSeqC 1.0 and set row 1 to ASTRA2 and row 2 to EUROBIRD. Default TP, POW set to on, LNB to Universal and 22k to ON.

When I click the green button to scan it scans away but says no channels found.

SO question IS. FIRST what is this box - can i get newer firmware for it.
SECOND - why the hell can't I tune it - i'm a complete novice.

My setup is a quad LNB (actually 2). There *may* be a Diseqc Switch on the cable (but they never came back to connect up 19 along with 28 - long story). 28 works on PC (out of the box as it were). Tried it in a different room which should just have 28 connected straight (no switch) but not working in there either (but then not confirmed cable is connected).

Any ideas or advice welcome - I'm confused - i thought it would be easy.

Thanks folks. Regards
Kevin
PS. I'm connecting cable to IF in - I presume that's correct.

Tony

Afaik this box was made by Armstrong electronics in Dublin you might try them.

Fat_Fingers

Hi ,

When you lock on 28E does is show any signal strength and signal quality?

byte

Try a scan with DiSEqC off, since it works this way with your PC. Scan Astra2 first, then Scan Eurobird after.

I've used these boxes years ago, they had a pretty poor menu system alright. Slow into the bargain.

kdobey

Tony wrote: »

Afaik this box was made by Armstrong electronics in Dublin you might try them.

Thanks for that info. I had assumed it was a re-branded something since D'interweb revealed nothing much. Is in fact something else rebranded - just wondering if i could flash it with something newer ... always a good idea me thinks.

Fat_Fingers wrote: »

Hi ,
When you lock on 28E does is show any signal strength and signal quality?

OK , so i'm not sure what you mean by lock. I've a dish pointed at 28E and i know it's right because I have a PC that gets channels on teh same bit of cable. I'm using TT-Viewer (technotrend s/w). The s/w supports multiple sats/LNBs (thus it reports to be DiSEqC capable). I got a triax multi LNB bracket up there - but i can't tell what's connected (on roof) it's supposed to be 19 and 28 but the installer fecked off job half done. I know there is no 19E Not sure if the switch I paid for is on the cable or not (would that make a difference).

I'm getting 0% on both when i'm on the tune menu.
In case it's not obvious I'm a novice and don't know what i'm doing - but i've been lurking here for a while (thus got the *basic* concepts).

What other settings (listed previously) should I select ?

byte wrote: »

Try a scan with DiSEqC off, since it works this way with your PC. Scan Astra2 first, then Scan Eurobird after.

I've used these boxes years ago, they had a pretty poor menu system alright. Slow into the bargain.

Thanks - tried that. No Joy. What other settings should I try.

Well besides my PC (which just worked) I've no prior experience of any box. Trying to work out what box I should be buying ... reading freesat thread.

Any other ideas guys ?

coffee to go

Did you read this thread?

http://wwww.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055029439

Might be of some use to you, or you could try and contact the poster...

byte

It's quite possible the box is just faulty (perhaps the tuner). They weren't a great box IMO anyway.