Underground sources are attempting to alert those interested in purchasing a DTH test device to beware, as all test devices are not equal in performance. Sources claim that there are many folks advertising through internet news groups claiming to be selling a 4M Device that is infact a fake.
The real 4M devices have taken all the past code updates and kept running flawlessly. The fake 4M devices have suffered various anomalies such as the loss of certain groups of channels. The only real way that you can have some assurance that the product your are purchasing is the real MCoy is to buy your device from a reputable dealer who is well known in the industry. Real 4M dealers advertise in publications like SWN and/or have been around for a long time. Sources said that there are presently more than 19 types of software in circulation, most seem to work very well, however, only about 5 are the real 4M type product. Know what your buying before you purchase any type of test device. Also if the price is less than $250.00, the deal you thought you got, may not end up being such a deal. Blazer Offers Free Upgrade
Blazer asked us to pass along to their customers that they are offering a free upgrade to those of you who are using their test device. The upgrade is free execept for the cost of shipping. Your Blazer test device should be sent to the Blazer group as soon as possible for the upgrade.
Howdy All
Well, we made it back from the Dayton Hamvention. It sure was good to see and visit with all of you, who attended this year. Doing the four DB-1 radio broadcasts from the Rib Shack was outstanding as those of you who participated made the one-hour broadcasts seem like only 10 minutes.
I would like to thank Bad Frog Beer of Rose City Michigan, Dentronics of Flushing Michigan, the Rib Spot Grill and Bar, and the folks at Blazer and North Sat Technologies for your fantastic support of the "DB-1 live from the 1998 Dayton Hamvention" broad-cast.
Photos from the Hamvention have been finally uploaded to the "DB-1 at Dayton" site. You can check them out at www.freeyellow .com/members2/swn/dayton.htm.
For those of you who do not have web access, I have included an abbreviated portion of the 1998 photo gallery in this issue on the next two pages.
Something to think about. On May 19th a group of seven hackers from Boston told a Senate Committe that they could crash the foundations of the internet in less than a half hour by interfering with long- distance phone links used by AT&T and MCI.
The hackers, operating collect-ively under the name of LOpht, opened a series of hearings by the senate governmental affairs commit-tee chaired by Fred Thompson(R) on the security of goverment and commercial computer and telecom-munications networks.
Mr. Tompson released two reports prepared by the Congres-sional GAO that said the State Department and the FAA's air control system are highly vulnerable to hacking. In a test conducted by the Group, congressional investigators accessed the travel itineraries of U.S. diplomats, employment records and e- mail traffic and even took control of the State Department's computers. The FAA report was so scary that it ended up being classified.
Mr. Tompson also explained that information transmitted VIA the internet dealing with utilities, stock exchanges, Federal Reserve and taxpayer credit and medical records are at risk.
LOpht hackers blamed the poor security on the patchwork nature of internet networks and goverment laxity. The hackers claim that it would be far easier to interfere with internet communications than change data or issue commands that could send satellites tumbling in deep space. Still the hackers said they could raise havoc for the entire country. Until next month
Last month we looked at the RCA/DSS power supply, this time let's look at the RCA/DSS tuner/modulator and LNB supply circuits.
It's the job of the Syscon microprocessor to select 13VDC or 17VDC for the LNB supply voltage. The satellites have 16 transponders and one is accessed by 13VDC right hand circular polarization(RHCP), the other satellite is selected by 17VDC left hand circular polarization(LHCP). Even channels are RHCP and odd channels are LHCP.
The tuner converts 950-1450Mhz to an 8-bit data stream and also passes LNB power thru the coaxial cable to the LNB.
First, check for 13 or 17VDC throughput at pin 26 and also at the "F" connector to the LNB. If missing, remove tuner cover and check for cracks around the "F" connector. Further repair isn't practical, replace the tuner.
If more than 300ma is drawn from the LNB power supply by the LNB, the DC level will be reduced and usually the receiver power supply will cycle on and off. U3501 is the most common cause of this symptom. U3501 pinout voltages are as follows: Also check the resistance between pins 1 and 2 on U3501. If below 1.0MW, it is probably bad. Check across C3504 for 3.84KW, it's very critical. Check Q3501 collector to emitter for 5.5KW, replace if shorted. Check traces between U3501 and J4010 for damage. R3513 in-circuit measures 1.5KW, R3512 in-circuit measures 2.5KW. They often increase with age.
Whenever U3501 is replaced, also replace Q3502 and CR3503. Till next time, Gene