AMSTRAD SRX200 User manual

Amstrad® SRX200
User Instructions
See our web sites at:
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Introduction
Amstrad plc made it possible for the “man in the street” to purchase a low-cost satellite
receiver in order to watch satellite TV programmes from theAstra satellite designated
“Astra 1A”. The first receiver produced was the 16 channel SRX100 which did not have
an internal decoder. This receiver was upgraded to the SRX200 which worked with a
remote control handset. The SRX200 was later given 48 channels to cope with the
additional channels from theAstra 1B satellite and from the proposed Astra 1C.
Then the SRD400 was introduced, still with 48 channels and remote handset but also
containing a Videocrypt™ decoder which is needed to watch the scrambled channels
transmitted by "SKYTelevision".
Later receivers such as the SRD510, SRD520, SRD540, SRD550 have proved to be
somewhat less reliable than the early models, although they do have the benefit of
additional features such as on-screen menus, additional audio frequencies and more
channels.
Compared with more expensive receivers, the SRX200 has rather grainy pictures and the
audio does not use the trueWegener Panda™ stereo noise reduction circuitry. However,
unless you are a very discerning listener and watcher, you are unlikely to notice the
difference. In fact, compared with the average terrestrial television picture, the SRX200
satellite pictures are superb!
So, no matter whether you bought this receiver new or at a car boot sale, you may be
assured that you have got good value for money.
Now read on to find out how to use and improve on your purchase:–
If your SRX200 is not already installed you need our “How to Make Money from Satellite
TV” guide which explains all about installing satellite TV systems with a minimum of
equipment.Without following the professional methods described in the guide, you could
make mistakes which will fail to get the best from your equipment or even cause damage.
Assuming that your receiver is already connected to a properly installed dish, the
following information will guide you in obtaining the best pictures and sound and in
recording programmes on your video recorder.
Connecting up
The receiver, TV and Video recorder must be “chained” together by connecting them in a
particular order and you can do this by using either coaxial “RF” cable with an ordinary
TVplug at each end or by using a “SCART to SCART” cable.
In order to watch recorded programmes you must connect the TV after the video recorder.
In order to record satellite programmes, the video recorder must be connected after the
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satellite receiver.
So the line-up is as follows:
• TV aerial connected into the satellite receiver “RF in” or “TV in”.
• Satellite receiver “RF out” connected to video recorder “RF in” (or use the D – SCART
cable from satellite receiver “SCART/ PERITEL” to the appropriate SCART socket on the
video recorder).
• Video recorder “RF out” to TV (or use the appropriate SCART connector between the
two).
There are more complicated ways of connecting with SCART cables or a combination of
SCART and RF leads but the method depends upon the sockets available on your
equipment.
If in doubt, use the RF connection method to begin with.
The advantages gained by using SCART are as follows:
• No need to “tune” theTV to the satellite receiver.
• Marginally better picture quality, provided that high quality SCART leads are used
(some cheap ones can make the picture worse!)
• Stereo sound from your TV (if it is equipped for stereo).
You can also link the Left and Right stereo outputs to the “Auxiliary” or “CD” input on
your Hi-Fi system.
It’s not obvious to most people but your video recorder has a built-in TV tuner. In fact itis
a TV except that it has no screen! You can prove this by unplugging your TV set whilst
recording a TV programme. The video still works! This is why you must tune the video
recorder in to each of the watchableTV channels when you first install it. It does not get
pictures from theTV – it produces them from the aerial signal, direct.
Your satellite receiver sends its programmes out of its “RF out” socket on one TV channel
frequency (usually channel 38). You must tune your TV set to this channel and store it as
button 6 (for instance). Your TV will already be tuned to the video recorder (usually on
channel 5 or 0). With TV channel button number 6 selected you can now watch any
satellite channel you care to select with the satellite remote control.
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Now, you must tune your video recorder to channel 38 and store this as number 6 (or
whatever number you wish). To do this, select the video recorder channel with your TV
remote and select a satellite channel with the satellite remote. Now follow the tuning
instructions for your video recorder and tune it to see the satellite channel on the TV. (It is
easier if you flip theTEST SIGNAL switch ON in order to see the test bars on the TV
screen when the video is tuned).
Leave the satellite receiver switched ON to record the satellite channel which is selected.
Channel customisation
The receiver’s channels are factory-set to Astra satellite frequencies.
The only way to reset your receiver to these values (maybe somebody messed up the
settings or the audio disappeared) is to get an engineer to fit a new (blank) channel
memory I.C. (SDA2516), which will automatically set the correct channels, or to tune
every channel manually by pressing buttons.
To do this, set channel 1 as the lowest frequency as follows:
Select channel 1 by pressing the [1] button.
PressTune ▼until the lowest number in the display is shown (about 0960). If you
overshoot simply press Tune ▲until the number is displayed. then press [PRESET] twice,
to store this frequency as channel 1.
Then press the following sequence repeatedly:
[PRESET] [Tune ▲] [PRESET] then the channel number 2, 3, 4 etc.
or, for the 48 channel model:
[PRESET] [Tune ▲] [PRESET] then [Channel ▲]
Make sure that each time you press [Tune ▲] the [H/V] light changes from on to off or
vice versa; if it does not change, immediately press [Tune ▲] again then carry on with the
sequence.
This method puts the channels into transponder order.
If you want them set with all SKYor English channels first you must customise each
channel by pressing [Tune ▲] repeatedly until the required channel appears. The actual
frequency displayed is only approximate and you must imagine a "1" in front of it so that
it matches the channel frequencies listed in the satellite magazines.
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H/V
This setting determines the channel polarisation: horizontal or vertical. The H/V POL
setting can be adjusted between horizontal and vertical. You don’t really need to know
what this means but the technically minded might be interested to know that when you
select vertical polarisation, the receiver sends 13 volts up the cable to the LNB on the
dish. When you select horizontal the receiver sends 17 volts. The LNB looks for the
appropriately polarised signal, reflected from the dish, according to the voltage it receives.
In standby, the receiver turns off the LNB voltage. You will not need to change this setting
for pre-programmedAstra channels but you may need to change it if you customise any
channels to receive broadcasts from another satellite.
AUDIO
TheAUDIO setting can be adjusted from sound tracks 1 to 6. Some channels use several
sound tracks for different languages. For these channels, select the sound track with the
appropriate language. Some channels use two TV sound tracks together to produce left
and right stereo. Most channels also use some of the sound tracks for mono or stereo radio
channels. For instance, you will find BBC Radio 1 to 5 on satellite in MONO but, because
the SRX200 can not provide all of the available audio frequencies, you will not be able to
receive them all.
To select a channel for radio it is best to use channels 48 downwards, to avoid confusion.
Find out what satellite TV channel carries the radio that you like and tune the picture in.
Then press the [AUDIO] button to get the radio sound track and store it by pressing
[PRESET] twice.
FINE TUNE
This setting determines the fine tuning ofALL channels to match a particular LNB on the
dish.
You may need to adjust it if some channels seem slightly off-tune despite their frequencies
being displayed correctly in the menu (you will see either black "sparklies" or white ones
on the satellite picture).
To adjust it, remove the screws beneath the receiver and push the top cover back and
upwards. Reconnect the receiver and plug it into the mains power. DANGER! keep hands
away from the mains transformer and wires at the left side of the receiver.
Select the worst affected satellite channel.
Locate the tiny adjuster, near the front of the receiver, marked "OFFSET" and turn it
slowly with a suitable screwdriver until the sparklies disappear from the satellite picture.
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Checking the receiver status
Press [RECALL] once. The channel frequency will appear on the display then disappear
after a few seconds to show theAUDIO selection (1 — 6) which will also then disappear.
Pressing [RECALL] has no effect on the settings but simply allows you to check them.
Using a Videocrypt™ Decoder
Astandard "D" to SCART lead must be used to connect your SRX100/200 to an external
Videocrypt decoder.The decoder will have a “deemphasis” switch on the rear: set this
switch to give a stable picture with the “Please Insert Card” message.A smart card must
be inserted in the decoder slot before the pictures will be unscrambled.
Using a D2Mac Decoder
The SRX200 can not be guaranteed to work with every D2Mac decoder on the market so
this is intended as a brief guide.Try to see it working with your SRX200 in the shop
before you buy the decoder.
The normal PAL video output from your SRX200 comes from pin 5 of the INTERFACE
socket for connection to aVideocrypt™ decoder. A similar signal comes from pin 4 of the
INTERFACE socket for use with D2MAC decoders for some foreign channels. For these
decoders, a standard "D" to SCART lead will not work without modification unless the
decoder will accept a PAL input signal.
Modify a standard lead for your SRX200 as follows:
Remove the cover from the D plug. Locate pin 4 in the plug and cut the wire (if there is
one). Locate pin 5 and cut its wire then reconnect this wire to pin 4.
D2Mac channels are mostly scrambled using the Eurocrypt™ method and require a smart
card which is not legally available in Britain because of copyright reasons. Pirate cards
may be available but can not be relied upon and may damage your decoder.
Channel Lock facilities
The SRX100 has no lock facility.
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Looking After your Receiver
The main enemies your receiver must contend with are:
• Heat
• Moisture
• Mains surges
You should do your utmost to protect your receiver from these.
Heat
Mount the receiver on a smooth surface so that air can go beneath. Never place it on a
carpet or cloth. If possible, put small spacers beneath it to allow better air flow
underneath.
Do not put anything on top of it. There should be at least 3 inches (75mm) clearance
above it.
Do not place it on or near anything which becomes at all warm.
Shield it from sunlight and heat from a fire.
If you must put it on top of other equipment, make a small shelf out of plywood or
hardboard, painted to match. Put spacers beneath the shelf to allow air to circulate. If the
receiver is in an enclosed cabinet you must fit a small fan to keep the air circulating.
Moisture
Don’t put drinks on your receiver. Don’t use polish on it. If you must have it looking clean
and shiny, use a water repellent spray such as WD-40™ or Duck Oil™. Spray this onto a
polishing cloth, not directly onto the receiver. Stains and marks can be removed by
applying a little windscreen De-icer spray to a rag and wiping the receiver with this.
Disconnect it from the mains electricity first!
Mains Surges
Your Receiver has an internal fuse designed to melt in the event of a power surge. You
can avoid problems by ensuring that you do not plug in a vacuum cleaner, lawnmower,
etc. near to the receiver (or unplug it first) and by unplugging it during a storm. You can
also fit a “spike suppressor” mains plug to it.
Faults
If your receiver appears to be faulty, the first thing you should do is to unplug it from the
mains power for a few minutes. If this cures the fault then it was probably caused by a
mains surge. Make sure that no wires inside the mains plug are loose – all screws tight –
and that the outer sheath of the mains cable is clamped firmly where it enters the plug.
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Read the section about mains surges.
If unplugging it for a few minutes does not cure the fault then overheating may be to
blame. Try leaving the receiver unplugged for an hour or two. If this cures the fault tem-
porarily then it is suffering from an intermittent fault and must be repaired and upgraded
before it becomes worse.
No decoder messages: if unplugging the decoder from the mains for a minute does not
cure this then the decoder may need to be replaced. However, decoders are not cheap.
See if you can find another one in a car boot sale or send yours for repair.
Sparkly pictures can have a multitude of causes. If sparklies are both black and white
then a poor signal is the cause. The tuner module may be at fault but it is possible that the
dish has moved out of line or the cable or LNB are faulty. Of course, very heavy rain or
snow can also cause this fault, as can anything obstructing the dish (such as a tree). If the
sparklies are only black or only white then the tuning is incorrect. Make sure that the
affected channels have the correct frequency set then try the fine tune OFFSET adjust-
ment (described earlier) for the best picture quality on all channels.
Sometimes you can trick the receiver into tuning correctly. If you can’t get rid of white
sparklies, press [tune down] then immediately press [H/V] and wait. If the picture clears
press [Preset] [Preset]. to store it. If the sparklies are black, press [tune up] then [H/V].
No pictures or sound, just a grey screen with "snow":
Probably caused by no LNB voltage from the receiver. Try replacing the 630mA fuse at
the front inside your receiver. If the fuse melts again then you probably have a short cir-
cuit in your cable screw connectors. If the fuse is intact but you can measure no LNB
voltage (use a volt meter with one test probe held on the cable input connector thread and
one touching the centre) then the 15Ωresistor may be damaged and need replacing.
Can’t Tune receiver to TV:
Sometimes the receiver is tuned to a channel which is already in use by a terrestrial TV
station. In this case, pick an unused channel on your TV and turn the screw marked
CH.ADJ at the rear of the SRX200 until the satellite picture appears on the TV screen.
Pictures are grainy and of poor quality or interference on pictures:
Use good quality RF leads made with double-screened coaxial cable. The TV plugs on
these leads must be soldered on.
Wavy lines on all pictures or black & white sparklies:
Sometimes caused by a faulty capacitor. If you are sure that the cable, dish and LNB are
not at fault (borrow another receiver to test them) then the power supply capacitors may
be at fault.
Page 7

Repairs and Modifications
Your SRX200 can be modified to have 48 channels instead of 16.
Your SRX100 can have this modification and can also be upgraded to use a remote con -
trol handset.
Page 8
See our web sites at:
http://www.satcure.co.uk and
http://www.netcentral.co.uk/satcure
http://www.The-Cool-Book-Shop.com
Packed with “FAQ” information about common faults and cures for
faulty satellite receivers and decoders. Repair kits, upgrade kits, spare
parts, surplus components plus links to other satellite information
sites. Also Valve (tube) Audio stuff, Electronic Hobby kits, Dolls House
& Model Railway electrical stuff, Beginners’ electronics course, Apple
Mac accessories, smokers clay pipes and lots of other information that
will keep you occupied for days!