Philips STU 801

Johnboy1951

I have 're-discovered' a very old, but in great condition physically, satellite receiver ... Philips STU 801

Anyone familiar with this thing? ...... familiar enough to say if it might be of any use at all these days ..... even very limited use ..... or if it could be used for 'playtime' or whatever else one might think of doing with it

I realise it is extremely likely to be of no real use, so I thought it could be played with for a day or so before dumping.

The big question I suppose would be if it is incompatible with modern LNBs or if there might be some reason not to connect it to one.

I *think* it does not generate the 22Khz signal so use would be limited of course ...... but it might be fun to play with for a couple of days

Any thoughts or info ? (besides the absurdity of even trying to play with it )

Thanks

Peter Rhea

Seems to be an analogue receiver? All European analogue satellite is gone. Doubt there's much left anywhere in the world.

Johnboy1951

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Seems to be an analogue receiver? All European analogue satellite is gone. Doubt there's much left anywhere in the world.

I would say so .... it is OLD

Oh well the recycle centre it is then, unless someone comes up with some use for it, no matter how weird

Peter Rhea

The last remaining analogue channel @ 19 east (Eurosport) closed down on 30th April 2012: http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/mainpage.html

snaps

Is it a D2mac receiver? i seem to remember owning a phillips branded D2mac. Used to use it for filmnet channel i think from Scandinavia or Holland?? Remember making a homemade "Device" for helping me receive the channel!!!!

steveon

exactly what it is snaps where it all began for me in the sat business....:-)

snaps

steveon wrote: »

exactly what it is snaps where it all began for me in the sat business....:-)

I started off with an original bskyb square aerial and receiver I got down in a trade fair in earls court London in the late 80s. As far as I can remember bskyb or British sky broadcasting (can't remember which name then) used the old Thor or Scandinavian satellite to start up. Possibly moving it to 19 east. Then came the videocrypt days......when homemade devices really became big!

Peter Rhea

According to the manual, here, the STU 801 has an integrated Videocrypt decoder & can output PAL or MAC baseband to an external decoder.

Here's a Squarial & Tatung MAC receiver for BSB (MAC broadcasts from 31W). This had been stored away, unused, for over 20 years. The documentation with it would seem to indicate that they were sold in Ireland as Sky receivers, shortly before Sky turned off the MAC transmissions for good, having kept 31W going, along with the PAL transmissions from 19E, for a while after taking over BSB.

Johnboy1951

I dumped one of those square BSB squarial thingies last year ..... I seem to be rather slow in disposing of stuff

Yes the STU has - what is marked as - a Smart Card reader on the front.

Although the manual I accessed referred to twin Satellite inputs, the one I have here has one Sat input and a terrestrial Aerial input and pass-through.

It has 3 scarts ..... TV, Video and Decoder/Descrambler

Also has a possibly useful 'test' micro switch on the rear alongside a pot for changing the RF output frequency -- channels 31 to 44 apparently.
I tried that .... it output a few vertical bars to help with tuning.

They're pretty much useless to the general public but not completely useless. Amateur TV enthusiasts can use analogue satellite receivers - in fact I donated one to a group in Rathfarnham during the summer. I also still have a Philips STU 3301 knocking about which I might fire their way once I find it.

Johnboy1951

Well if anyone living in the Limerick/Ennis area wants this one before it is dumped, they are welcome to it.

It seems I can not make a lot ANY of use of it.

telecinesk

Hi,
i have a similar one except its the cable version STU501 (i think) ,I think it came from Netherlands. Also a rhode & swarz d2mac test generator. ironically it all works fine,but beyond generating a d2mac testcard & 1khz tone,its only a doorstep.
Recycling is all I suppose it can be sent to.

steveon

snaps wrote: »

I started off with an original bskyb square aerial and receiver I got down in a trade fair in earls court London in the late 80s. As far as I can remember bskyb or British sky broadcasting (can't remember which name then) used the old Thor or Scandinavian satellite to start up. Possibly moving it to 19 east. Then came the videocrypt days......when homemade devices really became big!

would have been bsb then ....mad looking dish...wasnt it 1west then or somethink....happy times...was 13 or 14 then so tthink its 20yrs now lol

steveon

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Well if anyone living in the Limerick/Ennis area wants this one before it is dumped, they are welcome to it.

It seems I can not make a lot ANY of use of it.

I will take it for nostalgia...lol

steveon

steveon wrote: »

would have been bsb then ....mad looking dish...wasnt it 1west then or somethink....happy times...was 13 or 14 then so tthink its 20yrs now lol

31° west. I was only 5 or 6.

steveon

Karsini wrote: »

31° west. I was only 5 or 6.

Ah yes of course thank u.....

Johnboy1951

steveon wrote: »

I will take it for nostalgia...lol

PM me if you really want it