Can you guys identify this stuff?

[guapoharry]

That Channel Plus thing under the speaker might be an RF modulator. Would know better after seeing connections on the back.

That and all of the distribution stuff (amps, filters and whatnot) would be worth keeping in my book.

 

[teoteodore]

Update on 'Stuff'

I managed to do some more exploring and get some better pictures. I also found a 2nd satellite dish, a small Uniden one from a TV provider. That makes two satellite dishes and 2 antennae.

To help explain the pictures, here's what I discovered: The C-band dish has a 4-strand cable that goes thru the attic, bypasses the distribution panel and ends at the 4DTV receiver in the MBR. There it does its thing with the Kenwood TV, VCRs, gets some juice from the ChannelPlus.

The signal then heads into the basement hung ceiling and heads over and up to the LR where it met the huge Projection TV and some more VCR stuff. Not sure why the rotator for the C-band is in a nearby closet in the LR and not with either TV, unless it was to allow the viewer to get some distance from the Projection TV to see the effect of the rotation (you know those projection TVs require a 20 foot viewing distance to prevent blindness). And I don't have a clue what that small light panel with the 4 pretty lights does.

Anyway, the Uniden dish drops its cable into the attic at the distribution panel and hooks into one of two satellite receivers up there ... and although I didn't trace it, another of its cables heads to the MBR to also power the TV there.

The distribution panel is a mystery to me --- if I didn't know better, I'd assume it was only for FM radio signals. But maybe you guys know if it picks up both satellites' signals and distributed them through the house via the marked coax cables coming out of the top of the panel.

I marked up the pictures --- hope that helps. I took everything apart and brought it to my tool area to clean and keep safe during the move in ... so the pictures might give me some clues on how to put it together. I also have the original manuals on lots of this stuff.

 

[teoteodore]

Update ... Distribution Panel

Here are the details of the distribution panel:

 

[teoteodore]

and finally ... some details of vintage 'stuff'

And for all you guys who get off on primitive technology --- albeit quality stuff.

 

[teoteodore]

shhhhhhh... X-10 stuff

After I researched the X10 console and plugs I found, I realized that the old wall switches in the MBR and DR were X10, too. That is so kewl! I wonder why not the LR --- oh well.

It really is an interesting technology. If you notice the light switch, it consists of a larger push button to turn the lights on and off (that's if, you're not lying in bed using the remote) --- but can you guess what the little button below it does?

It was a mystery to me before I found the X10 stuff in the closet. X10 switches depend on a small current continuously running thru the filament of conventional light bulbs (PS, therefore you can't use compact fluorescents). Thus they provide that small toggle switch so you can turn off that current in case you want to safely stick your finger in an empty light socket.

 

[sergei]

Didn't you get a chance to talk with the previous owner before you signed the papers on the house? I surprised he didn't explain everything to you, because from what I see he really invested in the equipment. Have you checked to see if it works?

 

[teoteodore]

Ruth and Bernie weren't the most cooperative of people --- and they couldn't make it to the closing for some reason.

 

[Anole]

just the facts, mum:

Without getting bogged down by all the X-10, VCR, and other incidentals, the important points are:
- nice clean big BUD (let us know if it's 8, 10, or 12 feet across)
- dual C & Ku LNBs on the feedhorn
- AJAK H-H motor (I had no doubt, but your later pix confirmed)
- 4DTV subscription receiver (only question now, is it 920 or 922?)

If you read through our 4DTV forum, you may decide to subscribe it... and since you have it, why not? -
You'll want to fire it up and see if it still remembers it's serial number.
If so, you're good; if not, you're screwed.
After reviewing my choices, services, and the fact I'd have to locate all the hardware, I decided against it, so there are two sides to that coin.

The small dish appears to be an 18" DirecTV dish, but since you are there you'd have a better idea what actual size it might be.

 

[teoteodore]

Bottom Line about this Stuff ...

You bring up an excellent point and the reason for my being here in the first place. My wife and I spend no more than 2-3 hours watching TV per day, mostly to kill time between more important things --- we almost never plan to watch anything. I am more a garden and carpentry guy rather than an electronics guy, and although I love to see how things work and to restore them to 100%, I usually only do that when the object is useful or valuable to me. Lastly, the two setups in the LR and MBR are not where we'd want the TVs to be --- we'd want them in the Den and Upstairs BR/Sitting Room.

All that being said, it seems I'm better off finding this stuff a good home rather than trying to relocate it and researching/repairing/upgrading it. I may be stuck ultimately with the satellite dish serving as a trellis for wisteria --- unless you guys know how to go about selling it or finding someone who can safely remove it.

PS: I have a 9-digit number hand written on the self-instructions for the 4DTV --- DSR922 (BTW) which I assume is the serial number.

 

[Anole]

we offer all sorts of help:

Well, we'd like to keep you here and make you one of us, but . . .
if it's not to be, at least we can help you find a good home for the pieces I listed above.

Keep in mind that those items are -found- by members who search for satellite toys, and are often obtained for little or no money.
I have a nice high quality dish with the same H-H motor as yours, and it was free for the taking, along with a receiver, cables, and the owner helped me remove it.

One member was recently PAID by the owner, to haul off his dish & receiver! -

So, regardless of any financial compensation one way or the other, if you aren't really interested in learning about and enjoying satellite TV, please send it to someone who will use it properly.
Trellis, roofs for gazebos, and fish ponds, are some of the worst ways for an old dish to meet its fate.
Oh, and scrap recycling really &^%%#@ us off a bunch. - :rant:

Maybe stand well back and shoot a picture of the entire dish and pole, showing where it goes into the ground and how close to the house, trees, etc.
Roughly, how far from ground up to the motor?
Does the pole appear to have concrete pad at the base? Most do have quite a bit, but below ground.
What's the diameter of the pipe holding the dish? (hint: 3½"? ... 4½"? )

We've had many discussions about removing a dish, rescuing the motor, and taking down tall poles.
So, regardless if you do it or have someone do it, we can explain how to do it safely and easily.

 

[teoteodore]

I was kidding about the wisteria, but let me ask you this: I will at a minimum need to pull all the critical wiring from the satellite, rotator, etc. back to the attic to get it out of the way of remodeling I plan to do in the MBR and LR. The C-band is not the eye-sore you'd imagine, and so it can remain intact. And I have no problem storing/protecting all the equipment nearby in the attic, out of the way. It's just that right now, I don't have the time to focus on getting into satellite ... but I am intrigued by all this stuff and may get back to it later.

If I then bring in a satellite provider, what are the chances that I will get him to use the existing distribution panel and BT stuff, etc. in his install? Or will he just ignore it all and put in an independent system? Can he be bribed to stay a bit longer --- lol? I'd really like to come away with the potential of having signal in all the rooms that the distribution panel now serves. And I'd very much like to connect my audio system into that distribution system in some way that would enhance the FM reception, etc.

Are there people, like yourselves, who can be called in to test it and make this stuff work?

 

[Anole]

- the FTA subforum is like a separate branch of government:

There is about zero chance a DishNetwork or DirecTV installer will use any existing wiring.
He can't know where it goes or what it does, so if it breaks later, HE is at fault.
.... and often has to come back and fix it unpaid.

Also, many times, those installers will CUT disused satellite or cable wiring to prevent their future use.
That happened to a member in Palm Springs (?) last year.
There was a 12' section cut out of the BUD wiring in the house he bought.

I'm sure there are people here on the forum who can help you decide how you want to wire things up.
Not sure which forum that would be in, though.
And, there are custom system installers who hang out on the forum who'll do pretty much anything for money.

If 'n when you want to go a-satellitin', we are here to educate and guide you to get the maximum use out of whatever you've got or want to get.
That's for Free To Air satellite TV, of course.
For Dish or Direct stuff, there are other forum departments to turn to. - :up

 

[teoteodore]

Thanks, Anole! So, is the safest way to handle this to buy the service from DishTV and find my own installer to install their equipment? I will go over to another forum and ask that, too.

 

[Mr Tony]

If you get Dish or Direct they will do the installation for you when you sign up