UEC IRD 642

[vk3hsv]

i have one of these STB's can you get free to air stuff by programming a smart card because it comes up with an E37 service unknown. I can have 20 TP's in the software it would be good to have as a STB in the house.

[SPLog]

The uec's can be fussy some require a valid card doesn't have to be working or for that service, some just need a bit of plastic or cardboard in the card slot .

With a card in you may get rid off the black screen and get pictures but sometimes you can get pictures but still have that scrambled message over the top which can be a tad annoying.

other times they just won't work properly on fta stuff.
Their usually best left on aurora or in the bin :)

[bassett]

Get on to Viewer. he's got all the good oil on 642's propable had one of the first in the country.

[viewer]

'Tis no use looking to use the 642 as a fta receiver, and what SPLog says is spot on.

The E37 message can often be overcome by either pulling the power plug, and have it boot up on the transponder you have prescanned into the signal setup, or using the remote to order up a rescan/tune.

Put any card into the receiver, even an old credit card etc, to fool it that it has a card inside the slot.

The 642 is great for a service that runs a nit in it's service ( Aurora,Select,Jadeworld, etc etc) but pontless for the rest.It is merely a set up and go receiver for a bouquet type service only. They go great, and always seem to power straight back to what they were on when interuptions happen, and are a set and leave type decoder.

To play fta etc, you need to look at blind scanner, with options of CI cam units, or embedded cams, cardslot for the services you are trying to receive. Prices are pretty cheap for these sort of units, and something like a Strong unit as seen on ebay etc may be more of what you will need? Others will give you other one's they prefer, but in the end it is really relative to what you want to spend, and what you want to achieve.

Good luck

[viewer]

Get on to Viewer. he's got all the good oil on 642's propable had one of the first in the country.

Seeing it was raining, and little to do, I thought I'd hunt up the old receipt for the 642.

I did get it from Kristal Electronics ( Phil) in Qld
It was 1998, and it was $949

For fun, I looked up what the 1998 minimum wage was, and then compared that wage to 2007.
Wages has risen by nearly 30% over that period.
My calculations say 949 + 30% is about 1231

For some of the newbies in the game now, would you consider paying $1231 for your receiver now...not likely.
Give's you an idea of those with old names on here and Austech, how much they paid for their gear in the early days. Tie into that the accessories that were needed, were also pricey and scarce, and you will see that "hobbie satellite" was a very very expensive bit of fun.
It's great that you can now get stuff cheaper, but unfortunately, the real fun and finds have long gone, but our faces are still there looking at the screens...we just can't help ourselves.
I may not post much,rarely comment, but still sweep my eyes through all the forums going to keep in touch with news and events that are satellite related.

Old timers like Bassett etc and myself would probably be able to be dropped anywhere in Aust, be given a pole, dish, etc, and have a C1 service on your screen quicker than you would ever imagine...only one thing gets you to that point...experience.

Anyhow, I have "stolen" this thread from it's original intention,so my apology, only to say vk3hsv, listen to what some may say, and don't jump in without proper research, or appropriate questions. Someone here will have every answer you need.

[vk3hsv]

oh well will have to talk the boss into Select TV and go from there by the way got this one for nothing still works after 10 years and dosn't get any were near as hot as my blind scan box