Museum of early consumer electronics and 1st achievements
www.rewindmuseum.com
Vintage satellite. Including receivers with knobs on!
Very few museums deal with satellite products but since we have had a satellite business since 1989
this was easy for us. At the time we were able to find receivers from the early 1980s.
The earliest receivers had knobs on and no remote control.
Other early, interesting, landmark satellite products are also included below.
The "Knobs-on" collection.
When we started in the satellite industry in 1989, receivers did not have knobs on. They were, even
then, remote control, but when customers were upgrading at the end of the 80s and beginning of the 90s,
they were upgrading from receivers with knobs on and so I took the opportunity of keeping some
of them. (They were being thrown away)
Receivers with knobs on would originate from the early 1980s.
Pictured above, bottom to top, Drake ESR3240 receiver with Drake APS3240E 36 volt positioer to the right of it.
Silver Drake 320E (earlier model than the 3240), Rockdale TR12E, Rockdale AP100 36 volt positioner,
Satcom 7700, Echostar SR-50, Rainbow 12 volt receiver. This last one was bought new at the time as
I found it very interesting and could not resist it, even though I had no plans to use it!
The Echostar SR-50
A very early analogue satellite receiver with knobs on.
When I started in the Satellite Industry back in 1989, the experts in the industry at the time
proclaimed the Echostar 5500 (which was available new in the shops in those days) as the best
motorised satellite receiver in the world. It was fairly short lived as at about that time the
Chaparral Monterey (see below) came out and then (in my opinion and many others) took the top
spot for the next 10 years as it was continuously developed and improved by SCT. However,
during that time Echostar introduced the 6500, the 7700, and then the 8700 analogue receivers.
After that came the 3000 analogue and digital receiver, the 3600 analogue and digital receiver,
and the 7000PVR. (Basically a 3600 with a hard drive.) By the time the 3000 came out the Monterey
had finished it's run at the top and the last three analogue and digital Echostar receiver
mentioned were then each proclaimed as being the best motorised receiver available at the time.
Not that the earlier analogue receivers were not good. They were excellent but they were also
much cheaper than the Monterey. A typical price being under £500 (e.g. the 8700) whereas
top-of-the-range late Monterey was as much as £2500 just the receiver! We are, however, getting
a little ahead of ourselves (literally) as we need to go backwards in time not forwards. Before
the 5500 back in 1989 was the Echostar 4500 and before that the 3500. In those days, I saw these
two in peoples homes when they were upgraded to an Echostar 5500 or Monterey and so although they
were "before my time in satellite", I did see them in the second hand area. The 5500 was a very
good receiver but I was not at all impressed with the earlier 4500 or 3500 as they had complicated
menus and were difficult to use and set up. Everything mentioned so far was controlled by a
handset remote control and my guess is that the Echostar 3500 could have been 5 years earlier
the 5500 of 1989. (i.e. early to mid 80s) So what about the SR-50 with knobs on? Was it earlier
or could it have been around at the same time as the 3500 to 5500? (I know it was available for
a number of years). It was not a motorised receiver. It had no internal positioner. It had knobs
on the front. It was considered to be a good enthusiasts receiver due to it's excellent
specifications (for the time) and the fact it had very good adjustable controls for the "DXer".
and feed hunter. I do know some people at the Echostar factory and am at the moment asking for
the timeline history. I will update the site soon.
This Echostar SR-50 has been donated to the museum by Roy Carmon a well respected feed hunter
and writer. On our main Satellite Superstore web site (link below) Roy has kindly provided
us with useful independent reviews and information for our site.
The Drake ESR 240
Another great receiver with knobs on AND large meters.
Clearly from the early to mid 1980s. In it's day this would have been a top of the range satellite receiver.
This unit was added to our collection in April 2007.
The Connections and the Rochdale SLC-7
Four more old satellite receivers with knobs on. Connections became a very well known make in the late
1980s and early 1990s. They often had full page adverts in the satellite magazines and they produced
a very good range of quality satellite receivers including motorised receivers.
This Connections satellite receiver with knobs on would have been one of the first from the mid 1980s.
This is the second type of Rochdale receiver in the collection. This is the SLC-7. This one
and the TR12E and AP10 positioner (above) would have been from the mid 1980s.
The Bennetts 2026L Satellite
Receiver Mystery - 1989
Bennetts was a large department store on Shields Road, Newcastle (with a head office on Kings Street, Norwich. UK)
Clearly this receiver must have been sourced and badged. That is quite a common practice these days by large
satellite distribution companies but for a general retailer store to do that in 1989 is interesting.
The receiver has some original warning stickers underneath that are in French and these
would indicate that was the country of origin. It was purchased in 1989 with a 90cm fixed dish
for £299.99 - this was expensive in those days. It was used on the Astra satellite at 19E.
In 1989 this satellite required a 90cm dish as it was not as powerful as it is now.
The controls are interesting. Signal strength meters were quite common.
A manual polarity switch! and variable skew using a knob on the front.
If anyone knows any more about a receiver with model number 2026L and probably
manufactured in France please let us know. The Receipt is dated the 3rd March 1989.
The DX Antenna Satellite Receiver.
and motorised dish positioner.
Here we have a motorised satellite receiver with posioner called DX Antenna.
they were made by a company called DX Communications Inc. from NEW York USA.
This was puchased in Dec. 1985 in Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex, England and all the manuals and the
receipt are shown above. It is unusual to find that the paper work is with the receiver.
It is also unusual to find a (knobs on) satellite receiver and positioner kit from an
early date of 1985 (this is early for satellite) to include a remote control handset.
The PDS Ltd. Rainbow
12 volt receiver. 1989/90 approx.
Possibly the first ever 12-volt receiver aimed at the caravan / leasure market.
This unit was available new when I started in the satellite industry and therefore can be dated
around 1989 - 1991 approx. Research tells us that the PDS Electronics Ltd. company was
dissolved in 1995 and I don't remember any other product that they made although there
could have been. This analogue receiver is very light weight and has knobs on. Even in
1990 knobs were a little unusual and were a throw back to the early 1980s but being a
simple to use unit for the mobile leasure market, it was meant to be no frills and simple
to use. This unit in the museum was owned by me from new although it was bought in as a
sample and like many things over the years was stored as a possible future museum item.
In those days on-line museums were not even dreamt of but I always felt somehow when
I saved something and put it away, perfect in it's original packaging, that it would be an
consumer electronics antique in the future.
If anyone has any more information on this product, please let us know.
This page will soon also contain -
Pace BSB receiver in original packaging. (In storage - will be added to the site later)
Toshiba BSB receiver in original packaging. (In storage - will be added to the site later)
Early LNB and polarisers. (In storage - will be added to the site later)
RSD 300 satellite receiver (see blind search notes below)
Receiver memory lane ...
These early receivers were around when I started in the satellite industry and they bring back memories .....
1985 Echostar SR-4500
The 1st ever integrated motorised receiver.
The 4500 in the museum was manufactured in 1987. This model was first introduced in 1985 and
was made until the SR - 5500 replaced it. The 5500 was introduced 1988/89.
The museum unit is in very good condition and comes complete with handset, manual and leads.
In the original collection going back many years we did have a 4500 handset, so we
now have two handsets. We also have an Echostar SR - 3500 handset.
The SR - 3500 was pre-1985 but was not motorised.
2007 Update
Even back in 1989 / 90 there were only old SR4500s to be seen. Incredibly in Dec. 2007 the museum
acquired a brand new and boxed 4500 complete with handset and manufacturers packaging.
This was an unbelievable find and is a valued addition to the vintage satellite collection.
It is especially important as this receiver was a first achievement and that
is what this museum is mainly about.
Uniden UST-7007
with UST-771 positioner. 1987
Motorised receiver kit. 36 volt positioning.
This was a popular motorised receiver kit in the mid 1980s.
This kit is complete with 7007 manual and both handsets and is in excellent condition.
As stated elsewhere on this page, I started in the satellite industry in 1989 and so these
units were a little "before my time". They were not being sold new at that time but they were
reasonably popular in peoples homes. Putting that last statement into context, popular with
the people who had motorised systems which even today is a minority situation.
These Uniden units were classed as good quality units from a manufacturer known for
quality products. Maybe not top of the range flagship units but certainly mid priced
good quality units. Indeed, the 36 volt positioner unit is as good, if not better, than
any available today and probably better built than any of them. The receiver
(indeed, all early receivers) became out of date within a few years as it only
had a 1750MHz tuner. (Modern LNBs need a 2GHz tuner). Many people, however,
continued using the 771 positioner with more modern receivers. It was really
only when the Echostar 5500 came out in 1989 (approx.) that this unit started
to look dated and when the Chaparral Monterey came out the same year
(1989) - everything took second place to a Monterey.
Discus Elipse
This was an inexpensive motorised satellite receiver from 1987.
An integrated receiver positioner - 36 volt positioning.
The manual says - "Design and production by The Communications Factory Dundee, Scotland." "Discus Satellites Ltd."
And on the receiver - "Made in Scotland."
At the time I new about this Scottish receiver and it was very cheap for all the features it had,
However, it was a receiver that I made a conscious effort to avoid and the reason was that it
was complicated to set up and complicated to use. Other receivers on the market may have been
more expensive but they avoided all the problems of customers "tearing their hair out" and complaining!
It does, however deserve it's place in the history of this type of receiver. These days there are
countless products that do a similar job, but in those days there was just a handful.
Moderm motorised digital receivers with blind search can easily exceed 8000 channels after a full scan.
Here is a quote from the Discus Elipse "Install and Use" manual,
"Thank you for selecting the Elispse Satellite Receiver. You now own a window to the world with
access to 184 channels of satellite television viewing - present and future."
Skyscan Systems K1A receiver.
A motorised satellite receiver from the mid to late 1980s.
An integrated receiver positioner - 36 volt positioning.
Details on the back of the receiver say "Made in Canada"
When you check out the US patent on this receiver it refers to "AED Satellite Systems, Ltd"
in Montreal Canada. That all seems to check out and agree with the description of this
product. If so, the US patent was filed in 1984 and issued in 1985. That being the case, a
manufacturing estimated date on 1987 would not be unreasonable and would tie in with
other similar products and dates above.
This is another receiver that had a good following at the time. Again just a couple of years
before I started but they were in peoples homes when repairs or upgrades were being dealt with.
Don't know a great deal about this one so information would be most welcome.
Triax Triasat 2000S
with positioner. Feb. 1989
Motorised receiver kit. 36 volt positioning.
This kit is complete with positioner, manual, handset and original boxes and is in excellent condition.
This is not a unit that I have ever seen before but it is clearly dated in the manual at Feb. 1989.
It has some interesting features. The unit looks very modern and has concealed controls under a
unique hinged up lid. The positioner module looks like the types of units used in the very early 1980s
and resembles a power supply rather than a piece of domestic AV equipment. The positioner is connected
to the receiver by a control cable and so everything is electronically integrated and controlled by
one handset. The handset is large, as most were at the time. The manual shows that the receiver was part
of a complete satellite system including a Triax prime focus dish and using a mechanical polariser.
Prime focus dishes were the norm until the mid. 1990s.
Once again is very pleasing to have a complete boxed kit. Triax is a company that manufactures a very
wide range of products today. Whilst most manufacturers of historic products on this page have long
since disappeared, it is good to include an old receiver from a manufacturer that
is still a market leader today.
The SCT Monterey.
The most upgradable and upgraded satellite
receiver in the world for 10 years.
For 10 years the Monterey was the best satellite receiver in the world.
Many more pictures are to follow when the museum's Montereys come out of storage.
(We have 4 of these units in storage.) Later models were both analogue and digital.
Our parent company sold the Monterey for all of the 10 years. Our company was an
authorised Monterey repair and upgrade centre. The Monterey was the most upgraded
satellite receiver of all time. Over the 10 year period it received countless software
upgrades. The first software had only 100 channel locations. Later software was 5000+
On the hardware side it had the following upgrades, Videocrypt decoder,
D2MAC decoder, Videocrypt and D2MAC decoder and 4 card reader, low threshold board
and sync inserter for low signals and better sensitivity, 2GHz tuner and tone inserter
for universal LNBs, integrated digital board with very crude blind search. (Not really
designed for blind search, more a by products of the chip design which gave it auto
FEC and symbol rate and some crude blind search qualities.) All this in the late 1990s!
Another first and even now, never equaled or beaten, the Monterey had the largest
alpha-numeric display ever fitted to any satellite receiver. Earlier models without
the display could be upgraded. Even an 8 card reader (two stacked 4 card readers)
was available and can be seen in the picture above.
The Monterey was manufactured by Chaparral Industries in California but Steve Chilver
in the UK was, at the time, a consultant engineer for Chaparral. He then became the
authorised importer forming his own business SCT Ltd. and he then designed, developed
and manufactured all of the software and hardware enhancements that made the Monterey
the worlds best motorised satellite receiver. The SCT Monterey also takes the title
"the most expensive consumer receiver of all time." Models started at £1000 and went
up to £2500 depending on how many features and hardware upgrades were added.
There were plenty of takers even at these high prices which sharply contrasts
with the situation today where customers think receivers at £300 are expensive.
We have 4 Monterey’s in the museum. One of them is complete with all
manufacturers packaging and in perfect condition.
The History of Motorized Satellite Receivers.
1980 to the present.
Fully integrated receiver (36 volt) positioner motorised receivers.
The main, most consistant manufacturer over 20+ years was Echostar.
Echostar motorized analogue receivers - 4500, 5500, 6500, 7700, 8700.
Echostar motorized analogue and digital receivers - 3000, 3600, 7000 (see the 7000 above).
(there were also some digital only models that ran alongside the analogue and digital models,
but the latter were classed as the most up-market.)
The Echostar SR- 4500 was the first ever analogue receiver with built in 36 volt positioner,
single input to receive both C & KU band satellite channels in 1985. It was before my time
(pre-1989) but I did see them in customers houses when they were upgrading. For the
first time it was possible to move the dish and select channels on the one handset.
More about the SR-4500 is where it is featured above.
The Echostar SR-5500 was the main motorized receiver available back in 1989
and they were sold in large numbers. They were a very good easy to use receiver.
I attended a motorized training session in 1989 run by Eurosat. The lecture was
being given by a company called Pro-com who made a very high quality dish (unfortunately
the company went out of business about 5 years later) but the MD who was giving the lecture
was using a new Echostar 5500 which he referred to as being the "best receiver in the world."
At the time I thought that he was a little out of date as the Chaparral Monterey had recently
been introduced. The future proof, upgradable Monterey ruled the skies for the next
10 years. That being said the Echostar 5500 was very good in it’s day. The 6500 had
reliability problems but the Echostar 7700 and 8700 (1994) were both excellent. They
were a good alternative to the Monterey as they were much cheaper. There were some
other receivers (not so up-market) that came out during this time scale including a
very complicated to use Discus Elipse (that most dealer / installers avoided like the
plague – it had two things going for it. It looked good and it was cheap but it was
a nightmare to use and set up.) and the excellent Pace 500/508 (1995) (not expensive
but the channels were not grouped in satellites – just one long list – apart from that,
very good and very easy to set up.) Another very good motorised receiver was
the Drake 2000 (and the cheaper Drake 800) which was similar to the Echostar 8700.
When digital started the Monterey received a free to air digital option (1998/99) which
was the only Monterey upgrade that was troublesome. This was a first but it was not really
a fully integrated analogue and digital 36 volt motorised receiver, more of an add on with
some integration. Really the first ever fully integrated analogue and digital motorised
receiver the Manhattan 2500 in 1999. The user menus were not ideal and it had bugs in
the software but it was the best at the time as it was the only one at the time!
Manhattan then followed it with the 5500 a year later in Dec. 2000 which had all the same
problems. In January 2001 Strong brought out the 4375 which was an excellent analogue
and digital motorized receiver with easy to use menus. It was ideal for a couple
of years but then Strong pulled out of the UK leaving dealers without any back up.
(When that happens, and a company eventually return to the UK market, as a dealer
we will not go back to them. Same happened with a company called Metronic.) Following
the Strong was the Echostar 3000 later in 2001 which was an excellent receiver but had
some reliability problems, Following the Echostar 3000 was the Echostar 3600 in 2002
which was even better and totally reliable and then finally in 2004 the Echostar 7000PVR
which was a Echostar 3600 with a hard drive inside. At the same time as the 3600
and 7000, Technomate introduced the 5500 DAPCI analogue and digital 36v motorised
receiver and 5500 CIP digital only 36 volt motorised receiver in 2002 followd by
the 5500 DAPCI and CIP plus in 2004. By now the balance had shifted and the vast
number of channels in the sky were digital. The need for an analogue component
in a satellite receiver had gone. After the Technomate 5500 CIP, Manhattan in
2005 introduced the Plaza range of receivers with a whole new chassis, great
menu structure and blind search. Some models had 36 volt positioning.
They are still current and are excellent and reliable.
Some library pictures are below of these receivers. Only the Monterey
and Echostar 7000 are in the museum.
Top row left - Pace 508. Top row right - SCT Monterey Classic with 8 card reader.
2nd row left - Manhattan 2500. 2nd row right - Manhattan 5500
3rd row left - Strong 4375. 3rd right - Echostar 3000.
4th row left - Technomate 5500 DAPCI. 4th row right - Echostar 3600.
Receiver positioners. The 2-box approach to motorized systems.
Good early examples are on this page. Very early examples are the Drake 3240 and Rochdale
100 (see receivers with knobs on) - both early 1980s. Then in 1987 came the Uniden 7001
and 771 (see it in this page.) In the early 1990s we had the Pace 800 (and 900) with
separate positioner. This was probably the most common motorized receiver set up in the
country until the Pace 508 came out. The 800/900 with positioner was unlike previous motorized
receivers that used the 2-box approach as the two boxes talked to each other down a scart
lead and acted like an integrated unit. Before the Pace 800/900 and positioner, motorised
2-box units had 2 remotes, one to move the dish and the other to select the channel.
with early units, the two boxes matched each other in appearance when stacked but
did not talk to each other.
Of all the units mentioned in this history section, the outstanding ones were the Monterey,
the Echostar 8700, the Drake 2000, the Echostar 3600 and 7000 and the current
Manhattan Plaza 36 volt motorised receivers, the 500, 550PVR and 450PVR
Another popular motorised receiver from the late 1980s was the Skyscan. Made in Canada.
More about the Skyscan is where it is featured above.
BSB, MAC and D2MAC.
The Philips BSB receiver.
The Ferguson BSB receiver.
These units are complete with all packaging and in perfect condition.
Two unopened boxed squarial dishes.
MAC and D 2 MAC was a late analogue television system of potentially better picture quality than standard
PAL analogue. In those days there were 4 television standards, PAL for Europe, NTSC for the States,
SECAM for France and the new higher quality MAC system. D2 MAc was used by some television providers
and a D2MAC decoder could be added to a standard receiver either via a scart lead or it could be embedded
BSB was a satellite television broadcast company, like Sky today, that used a satellite to broadcast 5 channels
in the high quality MAC system. In addition to the quality, the satellite was higher power and small dishes
could be used. Many of these "dishes" were of the flat Squarial type and some were small 35cm dishes.
The system was popular due to the very small dish sizes required (even by today’s standards).
BSB were in direct competition to Sky Television, who, at the time, were transmitting from the Astra 1
satellite at 19E. At the time I remember going to what was then called "The Cable and Satellite" show
at Olympia in London. I think it was 1989. That was the first time I ever saw the famous
"Chaparral Monterey" receiver. Anyway, Sky had a big exhibition stand and so did BSB.
(Remember BSB was offering 5 channels.) At the entrance to the Sky stand, on the floor, was a walkway
outlined with tape and written on the floor in the middle of the walkway were the words,
"WALK THIS WAY FOR 8 CHANNELS". Clearly a direct boast that Sky had more channels that their rival BSB!
Eventually BSB got into difficulties and Sky took them over. As far as Sky was concerned, the MAC system
was discontinued and the satellite moved to a different position. It was then used by the Scandinavian
broadcasters who continued to transmitted in the MAC system.
The BSB name lived on to an extent as Sky TV changed their name to B Sky B.
The 1st ever dedicated Sky System.
1989. The Amstrad Fidelity SRX200 receiver
and Videocrypt decoder.
Sky Television had been available in the clear for some time using free to air receivers but
in 1989 the Amstrad Fidelity SRX200 satellite system was introduced.
Several features made this an industry first.
It was supplied specifically for the analogue Sky channels that were, at that time, being transmitted
from Astra at 19E. It was a 16 channel receiver that had 16 preset channels tuned to the Sky frequencies
on 19E. This made it unsuitable for other satellites or packages as the tuner was not infinitely variable.
It could not be altered for other frequencies on different satellites.
The dish was designed for reception of Sky TV from the UK.
The price was low and affordable - for the first time most people would be able to afford satellite TV.
When Sky scrambed some of it's channels, a Videocrypt decoder was needed for the subscription card. This unit
was connected to the receiver by a lead. It acted as a decoding device like a modern digital cam.
You can see above a Videocrypt decoder complete with box, packaging and manual. Alba also produced a
16 channel receiver very similar to the Amstrad unit and a boxed sample is also in the collection.
The blue cap voltage switching single band LNB is shown further down this page. Since it used 13/18 volts
to switch from vertical polarity to horizontal polarity (not using a polariser) only one cable was needed
between the LNB and receiver making it easier to install.
What Satellite Magazine May 1989
The 1st ever integrated decoder
Sky System.
1990. The Amstrad Fidelity SRX400 receiver.
This is a complete kit. Original box - all serial numbers match. All accessories and manuals.
This was the first ever Sky receiver that had an embedded decoder to take a Sky card.
The embedded decoder was a Videocrypt decoder and the Sky card was inserted into the card reader.
The Amstrad 400 was a dedicated 48 channel receiver for Sky programs and free programs when
they were originally transmitted on Astra 1 at 19E in analogue.
Analogue & digital viewing cards.
Four early Sky TV analogue viewing cards. Left to right, 07, 09, 10, and 11. If anyone
has an earlier Sky card than an 07, we would be interested in a donation.
On the left above, two analogue "Adult Channel" cards. The one on the left is the earliest.
On the right above, two D2MAC analogue cards. The one on the left is for a movie channel "Filmnet"
and on the right, the adult channel "Rendez Vous".
Above, two analogue D2MAC cards. The left hand card is for TV 1000 and on the right NRK
This digital card is for the Dutch Multichoice package and is in the IRDETO system.
The History of Blind Search Satellite Receivers.
The Coship CDVB3188C
The first real blind search receiver.
This receiver was sold by our company during 2004. In 2006 Blind search is the norm but
in 2004 it some receivers had limited blind search capability. That is to say they were finding
a number of channels without the frequency data being in their data base, however, the
search was not at all thorough and most new channels and feeds were missed.
The Coship was the first receiver to offer a thorough blind search capability.
It only had 1500 memory locations and so it had to be used as a tool. Blind search
one satellite, transfer the new channels to a standard receiver manually, factory
reset the Coship, then move on the the next satellite. Modern blind search receivers
Like the Manhattan Plaza range have 8000 channel memory locations.
Notes on Blind Search receivers.
Satellite Superstore - our main business site says ......
"The first ever blind search receiver was the RSD 300 except the manufacturers did not
really know what blind searching was, enthusiasts basically discovered the hidden
qualities of the chip set and clever scanning software.
The 300 board, converted into a free to air version, went into the SCT Monterey
but the Monterey version had some irritating software problems.
The 300 was then licensed to "Newwave" and became the NW9000 but again the software
was modified and the general opinion was that the original 300 was the best.
The receivers channel search mode found channels that were not in it's own internal
software database. It had both auto FEC and auto symbol rate. However, the channel
search mode was not as thorough as the advanced search in a modern blind search
receiver. Not sure of the exact date of the 300 but could have been about 2000.
The Coship CDVB3188C was one of the first real blind search receivers on the market
and very good at that time. The Technomate and Manhattan Plaza range of receivers
are the best blind search of all receivers on the market in 2006. Fortec receivers
made early headway as good blind search receivers (going back 6 to 9 months) but
now are mostly coming to an end and have been overtaken by Manhattan and Technomate.
Support from both Manhattan and Technomate is excellent. The manufactuers listen to
feedback and make improvements.
Only Manhattan in the 500 and 550 offer thorough blind search and 36 volt
positioning for motorised systems using heavier duty motors and/or larger dishes.
Only Manhattan offer thorough blind search with PVR options, the 250, 350 and 550.
So the 550 has thorough blind search, 36V positioning and Diseqc and PVR
options - and multistandard - and multivoltage. We currently rate the 550 PVR as
the best - flagship receiver - in the world.!
The Manhattan Plaza ST 550.
The first ever 36 volt motorised digital
(PVR) receiver with blind search.
The Manhattan 550 was introduced at the beginning of 2005. It had a built in 36V positioner.
The early software did have blind search but it was not very thorough. By mid 2005 a large leap
forward was made with the 70 software. This software contained what many in the industry agreed
to be the most thorough blind search available. More improvements followed. The 550 was available
from some dealers with a 120 Gb AV hard drive. In mid 2005 our parent company introduced the
160Gb AV drive version of the 550. In May 2006 a new AV (audio video) 200gb hard drive was
fitted into the 550 by our parent company providing about 100 hours of recording capability.
In April 2005 the Manhattan 550 received the "What Satellite" magazine's
"Best Premium Satellite Receiver" award. In Feb. 2006 it was retested with the latest software and
received "What Satellite" magazines "Gold Award - 90%" with comments "Blind search faster and
smarter than ever" In late 2006 the 550 hardware is being developed further and an improved heavy
duty, larger current, positioner power supply will be fitted to drive larger motorised dishes.
The Echostar DVR-7000.
The first ever 36 volt motorised digital PVR receiver.
(Hard drive built in.)
Two CI slots, embedded via access, 5000 channels, SVHS and Dolby Digital. 36 volt 5 amp
positioner and 40Gb hard drive. Diseqc switching but not compatible with Diseqc motors.
Introduced by Echostar in Dec. 2002 this unit was based on an Echostar 3600 but with a
40 Gb hard drive built in. It was probably the best receiver Echostar ever made but it
was discontinued from the market far too early. The software could have been developed
further. It was introduced with the 100 software and this was upgraded once to the
200 software but no further. Larger hard drives could have been fitted.
The main problem with this receiver was the high price (about £600) and this
resulted in low volume sales. It was prematurely discontinued in January 2003
after only 13 months. There is one in the museum. Fully boxed and perfect.
NEC LNB.
Early 1980s block type LNB.
This LNB has a C120 flange for fitting on a feedhorn.
Notice that polarity had to be changed manually by actually rotating the LNB through
90 degrees using the knob on the back of it.
This item has been in my possession since the early 1990s. It was given to me by a supplier
when he found out I was a collector of "old stuff". It is difficult to date this item.
Very early 1980s is as close as I can estimate.
Blue Cap LNB.
Early to mid 1990s voltage switching LNB.
This was the standard voltage sitching LNB fitted to 60cm dishes set to receive
Sky analogue when Sky was on Astra 1 at 19 degrees east. Most 60cm dishes
were the black mesh type. The Sky systems had Videocrypt decoders.
The LNB had a local oscillator frequency of 10,000MHz and was a single band LNB.
Once voltage switching LNBs had been introduced, this was the most common LNB
of that type used in the early days of Sky TV on Astra 1.
The History of LNBs (Low Noise Blocks).
The pictures below show LNBs and polarisers that are in the museum.
To understand how LNBs evolved from the 1980s onwards we need to first look at how an LNB works and,
in particular, the frequency bands it deals with. The common band used for satellite TV is the KU band.
The modern universal LNB scans this band and can receive and process signals from 10700 up to 12750 GHz.
In simple terms, the LNB collects the electromagnetic radiation and down converts it from GHz to MHz
frequencies. It also amplifies the signal (like an aerial mast-head amplifier) and tries very hard not
to introduce “noise”. (In Hi Fi terms noise sounds like a background hiss in the speaker but in satellite
TV it affects the LNB’s capability to capture a “clean” picture.) Too much noise reduces the all important
“signal too noise ratio”: that is the difference between clean signal and noise. The signal to noise ratio
must be as large as possible. An LNB with a “high gain” is able to “drive” the signal down longer cables.
The satellite dish parabolic reflector collects the Electromagnetic radiation and reflects it into the
feedhorn (flared end and cap) of the LNB. It is then sensed (induced) and converted to electricity in a
small sensor at the end of the LNB. At these high MHz frequencies the signal is still a combination of
radiation and electricity and so the coaxial cable is a combination of electrical conductor and wave guide
(which is why high quality LNB cable should be used).
The radiation entering the feedhorn needs to be polarised in the vertical or horizontal plane. That is so
that more channels can be carried on a satellite since two transponders can have the same frequency but
opposite polarities. One can be vertical and the other horizontal. By having a 90 degree difference in the
polarity between two signals of identical frequencies; the two signals do not then interfere with each other.
Also note that a digital transponder can carry a number of channels (all of the same polarity).
In those early days, in the 1980s, “block-type” single band LNBs were used. These could only receive and
process frequencies from 10.900 to 11.700 GHz. The polarity was controlled by a polariser. This was an
extra device between a separate feedhorn (the horn collects the reflected radiation) and the LNB.
Two types of polariser we used: mechanical and magnetic. The mechanical polariser had the highest
performance as it had zero insertion loss but since is was a piece of wire that turned vertically and
horizontally by a small motor, it could seize up in the winter. The magnetic polariser polarised the
signal vertically and horizontally using a magnetic field in a solid state semi-conducting material.
Above left - Magnetic polariser and 1.1dB single band LNB. Right - close-up of label.
These polarisers could become “noisy” after a couple of years. Modern LNBs simply have two conducting
sensors set at 90 degrees to each other each detected by the receiver switching from 13 to 18 volts.
This voltage (and current) also provides power to the LNB. In early receivers, polarity was changed by
the mechanical polariser’s motor-driven, 3-wire driving circuits or the magnetic polariser’s 2-wire
driving circuits from the receiver.
Above left - Chaparral mechanical polariser fitted to a gold feedhorn and a single band block type LNB
and below this combination, an "IRTE BU" magnetic polariser.
Above right - Type "A" Swedish Microwave (non-enhanced) X line block type triple band LNB and a
modern Astrotel quad band block type LNB.
Following the single band LNB were two LNBs, fed from a single feedhorn that split into a Y-shaped
device called an “OMT”. One LNB covered the FSS band (10.900 - 11.700 GHz) and the second LNB either
the DBS band (11.700 – 12.500 GHz) or the Telecom band (12.500 – 12.750 GHz). Clearly, all of these sub
bands are within the main KU band. The output from the two LNBs ran down two cables into two inputs of
the receiver and were switched accordingly by the receiver. In the early 1990s, the block-type dual band
LNB was introduced. This was actually two LNBs in the one LNB package and the receiver accessed each ½ of
the LNB by using 13 to 18 volts from the receiver
(these days voltage switching is used to switch polarity not bands).
These LNBs were short lived and soon the block type triple band LNB was introduced
(remember all block-type LNBs use a mechanical or magnetic polariser system) and this covered the KU band
from 10.900 – 12750. The last block-type LNB to be introduced was the quad band LNB: again, two LNBs in
the one LNB package, one coving the bands from 10.700 to 11.700 and the other from 11.700 to 12.750 GHz.
Polarity was switched by a polariser and the band by 13/18 volts.
Above - modern universal LNBs, 40mm and c120 flange types.
Finally, in the mid to late 1990s the universal (also quad band) LNB was introduced. This also covered the
KU band from 10.700 to 12.750 but this time the bands (the two LNBs in the one package) were switched with
a 22Khz tone and the polarity was switched by 13 to 18 volts: 13V accessing the vertical conducting sensor
and 18V accessing the horizontal conducting sensor (the two sensors being positioned at 90 degrees to each other).
In our museum, our earliest LNB is an NEC unit where polarity was changed by physically rotating the LNB by
hand, using the knob on the end of it!
The cable and Satellite Show 1986.
1986 show guide brochure.
1986 was really in the very early days of satellite TV. The annual show in the UK was called The Cable and
Satellite show. Many exhibiters from that time have long since disappeared.
See What Satellite magazines from the late 1980s on the
old satellite publications page.
"Satellite Television" by Peter Pearson.
1987
We are very grateful to Peter for providing a signed copy of this historic publication.
First published in 1987 it explains the basics of satellite TV to a public who, at the time
only knew about the 4 channels available from an aerial. Very few people in the UK in 1987 had
either satellite TV or cable. Indeed the satellites were low power requiring a fairly large dish
and whilst the channel choice was wide compared to terrestrial TV, it was very limited
compared to the digital choice today. A small extract from the book is shown on the right
and the main satellites available at the time are detailed. Clearly 13E was just as
important in 1987 just as it is today. Peter also contributed some old satellite receivers
to the museum including the Triax 2000S shown higher up this page.
Making a donation.
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a voluntary basis. Donations,
not money, just old items you no longer want, are always welcome.
If you have something that you think would be of interest, please contact us with the details.
We can send in a courier to pick them up. (Even an international courier). Thank you.
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