How to setup and tune a SKY decoder from scratch?

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geekIT

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#51566 29-Nov-2009 13:34

We had a power outage (not uncommon in the Queenstown area, unfortunately) the other night and, as usual, I had to fiddle around afterwards with my TV and SKY decoder to get them back in sync.

Which prompted me to begin a write-up for next time, which made me realise that I don't have any information from SKY about how to set up one of their decoders. And pressing the big 'O' on the remote then clicking the SPANNER icon leads to a bewildering multiplicity of alternatives that I won't attempt to navigate without more information.

So, let's say I have a SKY decoder that's been reset to its defaults. (I think mine's a PACE DS230NNZ, it's a small, silver box about 250mm x 40mm x 170mm)

Let's say I connect the decoder to the side input ports on my TV, (S-Video, L,R, audio) then select those ports as the signal source. Now I know that anything I see on on screen must be coming from the decoder.

OK, how to begin tuning the PACE from the ground up? Anyone know?

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andrewcnz

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#277462 29-Nov-2009 13:56

They don't usually loose their settings. call customer service 0800 759 759

geekIT

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#277767 30-Nov-2009 12:08

I guess you don't know the answer, andrewcnz.

Yes, I'm aware that I could call SKY, but as I stated, I want to obtain and record the information for future use. It can't be a secret, known only to installers, surely...

Anyone?

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cws82us

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#277813 30-Nov-2009 13:06

All th tuneing is from sky. They upload it right to our boxs.

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allstarnz

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#278083 30-Nov-2009 22:15

cws82us: All th tuneing is from sky. They upload it right to our boxs.

exactly, there are no settings you can adjust.

ring Sky and they can probably force a reload of your settings.

geekIT

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#278165 1-Dec-2009 09:35

Are you saying that you can take a brand new, never-been-used, decoder of of its box, connect it to a TV, turn it on, and it's instantly tuned to every station within your local range?

Hard to believe. I recall that our SKY guy took some time to set up the decoder, back when we first got it.

I mean, if you press 'O' and select the SPANNER icon, there are umpteen options. If all this is pre-configured, why are the choices available to the user?

Apart from anything else, how would the decoder know which Optus satellite you want to use? Obviously, the technician would have originally set the dish to point at the correct area, but there must be a matching setting to be made in the decoder, otherwise there'd be no signal.

But choice of satellite is just one item in the many menus. Sorry, I can't believe all this happens automatically.

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Bung

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#278182 1-Dec-2009 10:09

andrewcnz: They don't usually loose their settings. call customer service 0800 759 759

That's what Sky say but I've had to reset the satellite a few times and the No1 answer in their online help FAQ is

"If you have a standard Digital Decoder (not a MY SKY decoder) and are currently seeing a Rain fade error message, please try the following steps to fix your service:


1.       Go back to the Rain Fade message
2.       Press the plus(+) or mosaic button
3.       Highlight the “Spanner” and scroll down to “Advance Setup”
4.       Enter your Pin Number
5.      Enter “Select Satellite”
6.      Highlight and select “Optus  D1 NZ13L”

If after completing these steps you are still experiencing problems please call us on 0800 759 759"

Apart from that the rest would be dependant on your particular TV and connection type but those don't seem to get lost.

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geekIT

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#278262 1-Dec-2009 13:27

Thanks Bung, that's just the sort of info I was after. So there's nothing else online about basic decoder settings, or tuning procedure?

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Bung

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#278289 1-Dec-2009 13:51

What tuning? I think you are trying to over complicate things, other options have logical choices.

geekIT

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#278383 1-Dec-2009 16:41

You're right. As far as 'tuning', anyway, there is no option. Obviously, once you select a satellite, every channel available to you will be available within that core signal.

Interesting, I used an old black DSR600 decoder to fool about with, and the satellite you mention, "D1-NZ13L" isn't even in its menu; it was set at D1-TSL. (It's available in the silver DS230NNZ, of course).

The only other setting that seems to require setting is the "UHF Output Channel". Both decoders have choices of 21 through to 69, but both are set at 38. I assume this is a NZ configuration.

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cyril7

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#278633 2-Dec-2009 08:59

Hi, D1-NZ13L is the "Home" transponder however in normal situation (except when Sky are doing changes) most other transponders carry the same SI info that will get the box up and running, but NZ13L is the normal transponder that the box looks for at boot to get the needed SI (Service Info tables) to work out whats where. I would presume the older box was most likely pointing to the correct place even if the label was out of date.

In NZ channels 36 and 38 are reserved for inhouse modulator use and would never be allocated to an on air broadcast transmitter for this reason. Normally a VCR/DVR would be on 36 and Sky on 38 but any unused channel can be used if you desire.

Cheers
Cyril

geekIT

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#278673 2-Dec-2009 11:12

Thanks Cyril, that's clarified the situation :-)

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