Subforum to post manuals? (Thoughts please)

[Mr Tony]

Instead of hijacking a thread, I'll respond to a post here

Iceberg, have you guys thought about having a thread that would have nothing but owner manuals of FTA receivers and other FTA accessaries?
If anyone buys a used FTA receiver or used SG2100 arm and don't have a owner manual for it, they would find them on Satelliteguys.
I reckon there may be a legal issue from the manufacturers? If not, then this would be a great service for the FTA guys! Maybe some of us guys could upload the manuals we have to help those who need one...

I was thinking the same thing earlier this week and was in the process of talking with admin about it. A subform (folder I would call it) where we can post files of manuals and/or factory software too. Just anything FTA related that could help a member with their setup. I know I have a copies of a few manuals for various boxes that I could contribute

As for the legal issues, I don't think there would be any. Heck, we post the attachments right now in various threads. We could have one spot where people can check to see if a manual for X reciever is there or if they get a box that has some "icky" software in it, they could flash it back to factory defaults.

Thoughts guys?

 

[dfergie]

Good Idea, I had a member last year looking for info on a GI2400r and I had to write word for word what he needed ( my old scanner won't work with XP)

 

[gabshere]

i like the ideal and i also have the GI 2400 manual

 

[iafirebuff]

If my vote were to count, I would say GREAT idea!

 

[voomvoom]

Sounds Good to Me!!!

Al

 

[digiblur]

My thumbs up....:up :up

If we stay with the factory software only we should be fine.

 

[Anole]

good plan

As far as older or obscure equipment, I think it's a fantastic idea.
In another thread, we're even documenting other names the receiver is sold under (with identical firmware).

But for current receivers such as Pansat/Coolsat, et al, where the manufacturers have web sites with baseline firmware and manuals, maybe it would make more sense to just have a link to those.

It's a little depressing when someone doesn't take a minute with the search engine of their choice, to go hunting down a manufacturer.
I have only about 50% success doing that, but for the half I can find, it is quick 'n easy.

One thing I've found when looking up manuals on speciality receivers I want (ones with hard drives), is that most of them are one-product-wonders.
Companies like that are suspicious, and we should probably warehouse their manuals and firmware immediately!

 

[GreatFTA]

I am ALL for this, guys!
I will in the next few days get all the manuals on Pansat 2000v, Satpros DSR 500s, Pansat 2700a, V-Box, BSC621-2 LNBF, and Moteck SG2100 together and when you're ready to get this thread ready (of course if the adminstration approves of this) I will copy them to my computer and either zip them, or maybe the PDF mode.

 

[Zorak]

It would be a great resource and I'd upload anything I had of value. It is a great idea.

 

[KE4EST]

I say go for it this is a great idea.

 

[Tron]

Sounds good to me. I could contribute some PDFs as well (I download these when I see them, never know when they might come in handy)

 

[1inabillion]

A Subforum to post manuals is a great idea got a :up here.

 

[colbec]

I can see a list of links to actual manual sources on manufacturers' websites, but of course would need permission to actually post the manual itself which may be copyrighted.

If I were a manufacturer, given the reputation of satelliteguys I would probably welcome the reduced load on my server and let you host some of my docs. However I might forget to tell you about any changes I make to make the manual more helpful, or notify you about new documents available.

A list of documents (links or doc itself) sorted by manufacturer would be helpful when deciding which receiver to purchase. Support can be kinda strange in the FTA world - if you need help then there is a suspicion that the box has been tested, can't blame the manuf. for thinking this, but he might be wrong. As a potential purchaser considering a wide range of boxes, if I come to your page and see a comprehensive list of support docs for one box and none for another, as a newbie which am I going to prefer? It would be an incentive for manufacturers to publish.

A mightily useful thing would be a link to the actual document, and then a list of comments on where the doc is misleading or plain wrong, or could usefully be expanded. The docs are often written in a country where English is not a first language, with the result that things can get confusing. An incentive for the publisher to get the content right, or at least update it based on comments on your site. You will be providing them with a service, a quid pro quo, unless they choose to see it otherwise.

Just my 2c.

 

[rdel]

Great idea Ice:up

 

[Mr Tony]

well Scott gave his blessing.

check out the thread http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=92303 on how to submit them

 

[jayelem]

Well before I purchased my Toshiba Analog C-/Ku Receiver , I did find this , it's an official page with all the PDF needed for Toshiba Receivers , up until I received the unit with manual I did have the PDF but since then have deleted it.

So heres the link that I found to be very useful .
http://www.pdf-zoo.com/companies.pl?company=227

 

[Sadoun]

Good idea indeed.

 

[SatelliteAV]

We have many manuals that will be useful. Count us in!

 

[dfergie]

Thanks! we have already been getting submissions and will have the subforum up pretty quick.

 

[Anole]

The new manuals section of the forum is being updated now.
Take a look at it.
Pretty nice resource.
Good work Iceberg, et al. :up