Freesat V7 receiver

[M0YDH]

Hello all
I'm a new member and here's a first post. I'm reading the Getting started guides and am taking my time to understand all the combinations of gear for DATV.
I've seen this receiver on Ebay for £18.99
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Store-Free ... Swj85YQnwf
It says DVB-S2 and takes a 12V DC supply so looks promising. It may be build quality for the price that is the issue. Change the wall wart for a proper Stontronics linear power supply?

Anything else on Ebay Freesat Set top boxes take your fancy? Lots of PVR devices and ones combined with Freeview to avoid? What do you think please?
73
David M0YDH
Wolverhampton

[G8GKQ]

Hi David

The spec (here http://www.freesat.cc/v7-hd_p0011.html) says that it meets the DVB-S2 standard, which should mean that it will decode DATV down to 1MS. Note that this does not include the RB-TV modes at 333KS and 125 KS. However, my experience on eBay is that nothing is guaranteed - sometimes you can be lucky, sometimes not! You may also need a frequency converter if you want to receive 70cm.

I shouldn't worry about the power supply - these RXs generally have their own switch mode supply inside and are reasonably tolerant of the input.

The key thing to look at is the the SR range that the RX will cover. Many ex-Sky boxes will not go below 10MS so are useless for DATV.

Dave, G8GKQ

[Wolfie G8VAT]

Quite a few ATVers are going for these at the minute for 23cms. A bit more than your V7 admittedly but everything in one and portable self powered too, they had come down to around £40 at one time but seem to be creeping up again.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Satlink-WS-69 ... Swa~BYN-0u

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[g8vpg]

Most of us in Bristol have one of these Satlinks and they work very well for 23cm. I've had mine down to 1133ks/s, but no lower. They are available from UK suppliers on Amazon for about £65. There is one slight snag - they put out a sprog on 2m, exactly 144.750MHz would you believe!
73 Shaun.

[Wolfie G8VAT]

I've not met the sprog yet but.. 144.750 you couldn't write it..

[keng8vdp]

The Satlink can be opened up and a small switch and L.E.D easily fitted to the top panel near the antenna socket in order to isolate LNB volts.
The only time you need to switch OFF the voltage is when using an antenna such as a beam or Alford Slot where it would cause a short across the socket if plugged directly into the device.
You can see several points where you can cut the track or lift a component and test with a multimeter to check the voltage is there.
of course it changes with vertical / horizontal so you can see that you are on the correct point.
This allows you to switch OFF the LNB voltage or of course ON so that you can power a preamp.
If you don't want to go inside the device then you need to isolate the voltage coming out of the F connector some other way.

Theres appears to be a function in menu's to turn ON or OFF the voltage but on mine that function doesn't work.
If anyone out there finds a way to turn off the LNB volts from menu , please let us all know ?

Please note : if you have the idea these "might" provide indication of signal strength for analogue , forget that , unfortunately - they don't !

Good luck ... Ken G8VDP

[G4HTZ]

Just ordered one of the satlink receivers ...look ideal for the money
Will be using it with mast head pre amp powered over coax on 23/24 cms
Thanks for posting...wasn't aware of them before

[G4HTZ]

Anyone got an idiot guide to programming the satlink
Going round in circles trying to programme some repeater frequency in ....
Essexsteve@icloud.com
Cheers
Steve

[Wolfie G8VAT]

First thing you need to do is to Add (a New) Satellite.. I called mine 'Amateur TV' Oddly enough..
Sat Longtitude can be left 00000
LNB set to Universal

This next one makes your life easy, set the LNB Freq 1 to 100000 since this would be the LNBs 'downshift' frequency, the actual frequency required will simply have this amount added to it. ie 1316MHz will now be programmed as 11316MHz.

So LNB Freq 2 (for our local repeater) is set to 11316MHz Give us the Channel frequency to scan.

I set the LNB Power to 13V since the Preamp is probably happiest closer to 12V than to 18V.

22K and DISEqC can be left OFF.

That has set up a New Satellite, and (potential) Bank of Channels.

Next, when in range of a Digital signal, Repeater or whatever, you need to do a SCAN of the Satellite..

Any available Stations should spring up in the search list.

So you save the result(s) as a new channel and rename it as you like.

Robert should be your Mother's Brother.

[Wolfie G8VAT]

Ah, A picture is worth... as they say.

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