The Grundig GDS200/1 is one of the earlier digiboxes of its generation, its performance being comparable to that of the Amstrad DRX100/200 series. It is neither as sensitive nor as responsive as the Panasonic boxes. It seems to work best with a 60cm x 70cm dish with the signal strength at 50% and the signal quality at 75%, (signal quality is a measure of the Bit Error Correction Rate, B.E.R.), although this is likely to vary according to the transponder being received.
There is currently an issue with Astra, the satellite operator, concerning Channel Swamping which is a problem caused by the operator attempting to transmit too many channels with rapidly changing scenes, e.g. sports channels, particularly football, on one transponder causing it to run out of bandwidth thus seriously degrading the B.E.R. Panasonic boxes appear to be better at coping with this than the Grundig version, probably due to a more sensitive tuner, faster processor and increased memory.
CHANGING THE RF CHANNEL OF DIGIBOXES
To alter the RF channel of a Digibox, (Panasonic, Grundig, Amstrad or Pace); please execute the following sequence from normal Digibox viewing via the Audio/Video, (A/V), connection.
a) Select Services. This should bring up a menu numbered 1 to 6 starting with 1 Using your Sky Digibox and finishing with 6 Other Channels.
b) Either press 4 or highlight System Setup and press Select. This will take you to the System Setup menu numbered 1 to 7 starting with 1 Picture Settings and finishing with 7 System Test. c) In this menu press the numbers 0 then 1 and then Select, this should take you into the Installer Setup menu numbered 1 to 6 starting with 1 LNB Setup and finishing with 6 New Installation. If the Picture Settings menu appears then the Digibox has not registered the leading zero in which case press Backup and try again.
d) Press 4 or highlight RF Outlets and press Select, this should take you to the RF Outlets menu, which should read RF Channel Number, (60 in your case), Second Outlet Power Supply and Save New Settings
e) To change the RF Channel setting, ensure that this item is highlighted in the menu and then enter any two-digit number between 21 and 69, with the exception of 60 of course, via the keypad. These will appear in the on screen box and I suggest that you try either 21 or 69 to start with. Once you have entered the desired channel number use the arrow down key to highlight Save New Settings, (leaving Second Outlet Power Supply set to Off), and then press Select. The new RF channel number should now be stored. To Exit press Backup, Backup, Backup.
f) After completing this procedure check all other analogue channels for interference and repeat steps a) to e) as often as is necessary.
Please note that it is essential that this procedure is conducted whilst viewing the menus over the A/V link, as when in step e) having set the new channel number, as soon as you scroll down, thus leaving the RF Channel Number, the change is implemented immediately, hence necessitating an immediate retuning of any device using that particular RF output of the box.
The second RF out power may also be activated in this menu for driving the remote link.
Satellite Dish Connection
The Cable: -
The cable from your satellite dish is what as known as a Co-Axial cable and is of a multilayer concentric construction. At its core is a solid copper conductor which forms the centre pin of the F connector, this is surrounded by a layer of polythene insulation, (sometimes air spaced), on top of which is the foil screen, (if fitted) and copper braid. This has to be in contact with the screw thread of the connector. Finally this is all covered with a black or brown PVC sheath.
Cable Preparation: -
Firstly, as near to the end of the cable as is possible, cut off the end of the cable to leave a butt or stub end. Then, approximately 1 inch from the end of the cable using a sharp knife, Stanley knife, scalpel or razor blade, score a line around the outer sheath. Do not cut too deep otherwise the braid will be damaged. Having done this flex the cable at the score line and if all is well a crack in the sheath should appear revealing the copper braid underneath. Flex all around the cable until a copper line becomes exposed and the pull off the outer sheath. You should now have a 1-inch long plastic tube, which can be discarded.
Having now exposed the braid slightly unravel it and fold it backwards along the length of the outer sheath of the cable, this should now reveal the polythene insulating layer. Approximately 2mm forward of the folded back braid score a line around the polythene insulation, again not cutting to deep so as not to damage the centre conductor. Once again flex the polythene at score line and if all is well a crack in the polythene should appear revealing the copper centre conductor. Flex all around the cable until a copper line becomes exposed and the pull off the polythene insulator. You should you now have a 1 inch long polythene tube which can be discarded, and a length of exposed solid copper conductor. Fitting the connector: -
Grip the cable firmly at the end with your thumb on the folded back braid and literallyscrew the connector over the sheath and braid together as far as it will go. If the centre hole in the connector is the correct diameter the polythene insulation stub will poke through when fully home. Cut off any surplus centre core to within approximately 3mm of the front of the connector. i.e. centre core should protrude by approx 3mm. The surplus braid at the rear of the connector is of little consequence and may be trimmed off for neatness. When assembling the connector to the cable please make absolutely certain that there are no wisps of braid wrapped around the centre conductor as these will sort-circuit the input of the satellite receiver causing it to malfunction and may result in irreparable damage.
Updating Resident Software
This may be achieved by the following: -
1) Ensure that the dish is correctly aligned with the satellite, (28.2 deg East for Sky Digital) and that the LNB is connected.2) Remove the power connector from the digibox.
3) With the power now disconnected depress and hold the Backup button on the front panel of the digibox whilst restoring power to the box.
4) Continue to keep the Backup button depressed until all the indicators on the front panel illuminate, (happens after approx 15 seconds). Backup button may now be released. If you are using a Scart connection a message Updating Software . will appear on your TV screen. You need do nothing more while the updating process is in progress except wait 15 to 20 minutes for it to complete when the digibox will revert to Standby on completion. Normal viewing may now be commenced.The current update versions for the GDS 200 is 1.2S4FH for the Op System and 3.5.3 for the EPG.
Software Revision History
Below is a table of the software revision history for Digiboxes from what is believed to be the release version to the current version. Op Sys EPG Op Sys EPG Op Sys EPG Op Sys EPG Op Sys EPG1.2S1B7 2.5.10 1.2S4Bc 2.8b* 1.2S4F3 3.2.11 1.2S4FE 3.4.4b1.2S4FJ 3.7.61.2S1Bg 2.6a.9 1.2S4Bj 3.0.11 1.2S4F9 3.3a.6 1.2S4FH 3.5.3 1.2S4FM 3.8.81.2S3Bu 2.7a.2* 1.2S4Bq 3.1a.5 1.2S4FB 3.3b.51.2S4FI 3.6.4.18
ITV Regional Variations
If the regional variation of ITV auto selected by the viewing card,(by reading the post code from the card) is not that required, all 16 variations may be stored and viewed in the Other Channels menu section of the digibox. Currently the 16 ITV regional variations are broadcast from the Astra 2D satellite across 3 transponders and may be stored in the Other Channels menu by going to the services menu selecting the Add Channels option, and entering the relevant Frequency, Polarisation, Symbol Rate and Forward Error Correction (FEC). The transponder information is as follows:-
Freq 10.714GHz, Pol. Hor, S/R 22,000, FEC 5/6 6 ITV Channels Astra 2D
Freq 10.759GHz, Pol. Ver, S/R 22,000, FEC 5/6 8 ITV Channels Astra 2D
Freq 10.832GHz, Pol. Hor, S/R 22,000, FEC 5/6 6 ITV Channels Astra 2D
Freq 10.891GHz, Pol. Hor, S/R 22,000, FEC 5/6 7 ITV Channels Astra 2D
Freq 10.906GHz, Pol. Ver, S/R 22,000, FEC 5/6 7 ITV Channels Astra 2D
Film Four, E4, More 4
Freq 10.729GHz, Pol. Ver, S/R 22,000, FEC 5/6 7 Channels Astra 2D
( Now includes Ch4 London Free to Air)
Channel 4, Five, Five US
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