1500ci/5500 DAPCI with any satellite, any channel

[New Bill G]

Hello I have a very old motorised satellite dish, at least 12 years old. The receiver unit is a Technomate 5500DAPCI. I have recently started to get back into this stuff and have bought a Technomate 1500ci super. I am convinced that this receiver has the ability to control and move a motorised dish but there are no extra inputs to do so.

My old TM 5500DAPCI has inputs at the back labelled “ACTUATOR”, where 4 wires clip into place and I know these are to move the dish. My new TM 1500ci super does NOT have these inputs, in fact it does not have any inputs to control any motorised dish, and when switching to another satellite (say 13EHotbird to 30WHispasat) it says it’s moving the dish but obviously it isn’t! Am I right in thinking that today’s modern motorised dishes are controlled via only the LNB input? If not then how else??

I heard that my “old style” dish and TM 5500DAPCI is a very desirable and sought-after setup, and it requires a CAM and card (which I don’t have), whereas the TM 1500ci super needs only a Darkman firmware update via null cable (which I have done). However, I have noticed a null input at the back of the 5500DAPCI as well. Have I wasted my money buying the 1500ci super? Should I sell it and keep the 5500?

If the dish is pointing at 30WHispasat I can view most scrambled channels (damn that TV Cabo!) using the 1500ci. If I unplug that and connect the 5500 I get only FTA channels, but I have the ability to move the dish to 13EHotbird (or any satellite within the motor’s range actually!) and view only FTA. So while the dish has been moved to 13E by the 5500, I can then unplug it and re-connect the 1500 and view 13EHotbird’s scrambled channels, but then I won’t be able to move the dish again until I swap receivers again. What a mess!

I cannot find any info on playing with the 5500DAPCI (probably coz its old now), but I heard I can update it to a “NEXT” version to have the abilities of the 1500ci super, whatever that means! I would prefer to keep my 1500ci super but I don’t know if I can.

I have 3 options:
1: Keep my dish and 5500DAPCI and buy a CAM,
2: Keep my 1500ci super and replace the dish with a modern one,
3: Keep my 1500ci super and search for an adapter to convert the motorised actuator wires so that it can be used with the 1500ci super (I don’t know if option 3 is even possible!!).

Sorry for this post being so long, I know you guys are experienced pros and I appreciate any feedback.

NBG

[lincsat]

For option 3, try the V-Box - http://www.satstore.co.uk/access.htm

[New Bill G]

Wow, a v-box costs 60 squid, and is quite big like another receiver! Are there no modern receivers that has a 36v positioner built in like my old 5500 DAPCI? Or is that why the 5500DAPCI is so sought-after? Maybe I should keep it and sell the 1500ci super and use the money to buy CAMs and Cards and learn how to do all that.

I think I will need to convert to a NEXT to do so, im looking into it, cant find much though. Im trying to justify keeping my 1500ci super but I think the best way to optimise my dish setup would be to keep the 5500. Does that make sense?

NBG

[lincsat]

As I said in your other post the Manhattan ST550 has a 36v positioner (although some have reported some problems) and it's patchable - you can also fit a hard drive to make it a PVR

[New Bill G]

Thanks Lincsat, but remember im at beginner level, and those manhattan receicvers are seriously expensive and with un-accurate positioning. Considering my tm5500 has never mis-aligned my dish over the course of many years, plus I like the tm interface. I suppose I could go for the £10 v-box positioner and keep the 1500, or to be most cost-effective, keep the old 5500 and mod it to have more capabilities.

If the 5500 isn't patchable, how comes it has a 232 null cable port like on the 1500?

NBG

[lincsat]

Well I suppose "un-patchable" is the wrong word, they can have the software updated via the RS232 port - It may be possible to patch the firmware, but no one has.