Mini SAT 2012

[polgyver]

A few days ago I won on E-bay miniature satellite receiver, for which I paid about $16. I suspected that for this price, the item could be not fully functional, and that was the case. I had to shorten (using fine file) the plastic tip of the 12 V plug, and after this it made reliable contact. There was infrared sensor with 1/8 " multi-ring plug, which also could not reach its proper place, because the enclosure was too big. Drilling it out with stepdrill solved this problem. The initial screen of this receiver was jumping wildly up and down, when tried on two different CRT TV's probably it was set for PAL system. Finally I used small, 7" LCD Viore TV, which displayed steady screen. Only then it was possible to set up needed parameters, and do a blind scan from 101 W and 97 W. This last scan went really fast, it took maybe 2 to 3 minutes, and pulled in more than 200 TV programs and radios. However, there is still one problem: after plugging in to 120 V AC, the mini receiver does not react to pressing power button on remote. It does turn on by quick disconnecting and reconnecting the 12 V DC plug. As long as the power supply is connected to 120, the receiver can be turned off and on by remote. But when it loses 120, the receiver becomes insensitive to remote, and the trick with 12 has to be done again. A few pictures follow.

 

[northgeorgia]

Really interesting review. Thanks!

 

[wallyhts]

Have u tired a different wall wart?

 

[eurosport]

That's pretty cool for 16 bucks!

 

[xtgold]

ali3329 processor I think

 

[polgyver]

ali3329 processor I think

I am not sure : On one of IC's it says ATI with some digits, two more photos included:

 

[polgyver]

Have u tired a different wall wart?

Not yet: I have to look for one; another advantage would be avoiding this intermediate adapter

 

[Jim S.]

I am not sure : On one of IC's it says ATI with some digits, two more photos included:View attachment 86218View attachment 86219

I think that's a "1", not an "I", after the "AT".

On the other hand, I see the tuner (I'm assuming it's the tuner) is by Airoha. I wonder if it's the same Airoha tuner that the MicroHD uses.

Your pictures don't show the output jacks, are they just composite video and audio? Or is there an HDMI jack somewhere?

 

[polgyver]

I think that's a "1", not an "I", after the "AT".

On the other hand, I see the tuner (I'm assuming it's the tuner) is by Airoha. I wonder if it's the same Airoha tuner that the MicroHD uses.

Your pictures don't show the output jacks, are they just composite video and audio? Or is there an HDMI jack somewhere?

Right, it is digit 1, the full symbol is AT 1511 S, and below is S3T 865 S (plus 3 additional digits or letters which I could not decipher.
The output is only Red and White (audio) and Yellow (video). I still have to figure out how to edit (delete) unwanted channels. The instruction says that for editing one should press "3" on remote, but in reality it does not go to editing.

 

[lamp]

Keystrokes needed to reset from PAL to NTSC

I bought one of these cheap receivers. It only shows "Bad Signal" when turned on. Could you possibly detail the keys on the remote to press to reset from PAL to NTSC. I think this might be the problem. If I had a list of the remote control keys to press I could change it even without seeing the screen. For example: press menu, down, right, ok, right, ok and so on. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[polgyver]

I bought one of these cheap receivers. It only shows "Bad Signal" when turned on. Could you possibly detail the keys on the remote to press to reset from PAL to NTSC. I think this might be the problem. If I had a list of the remote control keys to press I could change it even without seeing the screen. For example: press menu, down, right, ok, right, ok and so on. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

I tried it without LNB connected, so it displayed, of course, "bad signal". Pressed "Menu". Then, 2 times "Vol +" - this took me to System Setting. Here, I pressed 3 times "Ch - " - this took me to A/V setting. Pressed OK - this took me to TV Type. From here , pressing "Vol + " will cycle receiver through "Auto", "PAL" and "NTSC". If needed, I can take some pictures. Cheers, polgyver

 

[lamp]

Thank you for your help. I tried all I could but couldn't make it work. The "Bad Signal" screen never went away. I put it back in the little box and there it shall stay until I throw it away. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Tron]

Those are probably sample receivers that were used as early prototypes for a final product.

 

[polgyver]

Thank you for your help. I tried all I could but couldn't make it work. The "Bad Signal" screen never went away. I put it back in the little box and there it shall stay until I throw it away. Thanks again for the help.

Try to make sure that the photocell which receives commands from remote - has good connections with this tiny receiver. The photocell cable has small jack with tip and 3 rings, and probably the jack can not reach its "nest", as the plastic enclosure is too big. Unscrew the 4 screws, detach the 2 halves of enclosure, and enlarge the 2 semicircles of the hole with a round file - or, maybe scissors? Alternatively, try to use the receiver without its enclosure, just place the receiver innards on any non-conductive surface, like small pillow or dry piece of sponge. Connect all cables. To switch it on, unplug the 12 Volt jack, plug it in again, until you see a picture - colourful riverbank which lasts 1 - 2 seconds, and later you get this "bad signal" screen. Now press the "menu" on remote, hopefully you get it working. Cheers, polgyver

 

[lamp]

I took it apart as you recommend. I had just the circuit board and plugged in the wires. I saw the two second screen and then the "Bad Signal." Nothing happened after that. I turned it on and off several times by unplugging and plugging in again. I tried the key sequence that you gave me several times. Either the remote is not working or has no effect. I pointed the remote right at the little part where you enlarged the casing. That part seemed to be just an empty tube. Was there supposed to be something inside?

 

[polgyver]

I took it apart as you recommend. I had just the circuit board and plugged in the wires. I saw the two second screen and then the "Bad Signal." Nothing happened after that. I turned it on and off several times by unplugging and plugging in again. I tried the key sequence that you gave me several times. Either the remote is not working or has no effect. I pointed the remote right at the little part where you enlarged the casing. That part seemed to be just an empty tube. Was there supposed to be something inside?

Did you get in the receiver package the small photocell which plugs into the receiver using 4-terminal mini jack? Sorry if I am a little confused, as you mentioned that you pointed the remote at "the little part", which is a receptacle for the photocell.
On the photo, the cell is not fully plugged in

 

[lamp]

I did not understand about the photo cell, cable, and jack. I saw that part and didn't take it out of the package. I thought it was an ear phone, ear speaker. I never saw anything like that before. They must do things different in China. The owners instruction manual is so small you almost need a microscope. I don't think it has anything about that part. I plugged that in and now everything works. You have been a been a big help polgyver, thank you.

 

[polgyver]

Lamp,
Glad to hear good news. True, the instruction "manual" is poorly made. You were lucky to get this receiver from newer batch - as Tron noticed, the early prototypes need some modifications. I bought another one shortly after the first, the price was also about $ 17, and I had to shorten the 12 V plug again. A few hours ago I took it apart, connected to Star Choice dish, and scanned the SES-1 (101 W). It registered most transponders, despite rather low S/Q. It still does not react to Power On from remote, so quick disconnect of 12 V plug has to be used. It has fairly high audio, sufficient to drive 8 ohm speaker. My next project will be installing a tiny telephone speaker (pictured) inside. The square IC gets really hot, I could not withstand holding my finger on it longer than 2-3 sec. Planning to glue the tiny speaker to this IC, space permitting, so it will act as a heatsink. This receiver could be used, with 12 V battery, for pointing dishes.

 

[lamp]

Polgyver: Yes it is good for using outside with a little TV. I have a 7 inch tv just for that. But, it would get no signal on 125W Public Television because it is all DVB-S2. Mine is working good. I did a blind scan on 97W and got all the channels. I didn't leave it on very long. The case warmed up just a little. I got mine for $15.oo. Thanks again

 

[polgyver]

Mini speaker just built in

Small speaker from cordless phone fits nicely inside this mini receiver. A small sponge disc with double-sided glue surface, included in the package for fastening photocell, came handy for attaching the speaker. After some consideration, I abandoned the idea of glueing the mini speaker to the top of the overheating IC. Instead, I fastened it to the opposite side of PCB. This set can work similarly to satellite finder, using 12 V battery, without any additional small TV. For the pictures taken, I used home-made "illuminator" utilizing LED strap tie-wrapped to plastic basin