Fortec Star Passion Antenna Setup Help

AllanI · 09-08-2008

My first post so hello to you satellite experts out there. I have just bought a second hand but unused Maplin Fortec Star Passion HD setup.
I have set up the antenna for Astra 28.2 using a Maplin signal meter and believe that it is correctly aligned. However in the on screen setup menu with Astra 2A as the selected satellite no signal is shown being recieved. What am I doing wrong ?
Also looking at the listings it appears that Astra2D is the one to go for but 2D does not appear in the satellite list for selection.
I have looked for similar questions but couldn't find anything.
Regards
Allan

**Llew** · 09-08-2008

Hi Allan, welcome to the forum.

Astra 2A in the satellite list includes all Astra satellites at 28E, together with Eurobird at 28.5E. Provided you have definitely set your dish to that position (and the box is definitely a good'un) you should have no problem receiving anything from those satellites.

Llew

AllanI · 09-08-2008

Thanks for the Astra explanation Llew. Why the no signal indication on the screen when the signal meter is indicating a strong signal? Am I choosing an incorrect transponder setting?
Allan

**satelliteman** · 09-08-2008

It may be possible you have aligned the dish to 19.2e instead of 28e.

**Ratchet** · 10-08-2008

Originally Posted by AllanI

Thanks for the Astra explanation Llew. Why the no signal indication on the screen when the signal meter is indicating a strong signal? Am I choosing an incorrect transponder setting?
Allan

As satelliteman says you're probably aligned to the wrong sat. Best thing to do is perform a factory reset then select English > UK > All Channels. At the Antenna Setup screen select Astra 19.2 E then press the white button for Advanced Scan. Leave it on the default transponder 10788 V and press the yellow button to scan.

If the resulting scan comes back with a bunch of channels called 'TAQUILLA' then you are on 19.2 E

If the scan returns a channel called 'STV 3 HD' then you are on 23.5 E

If the scan returns various BBC 1 regions then you are on 28.2 E

If you get no signal on this transponder then the box maybe faulty or you are pointing somewhere other than the above mentioned sats (possibly Hotbird).

AllanI · 14-08-2008

Thanks to you guys for the replies.
Now I understand a bit more about how the setup and scanning works I had another go and great stuff I've got channels and pictures. I am going to move the antenna to a different location on the building which should be easier to setup and get better line of sight. I am sure I'll be back with more questions especially if I decide to go motorised !

Thanks
Allan

**mick2me** · 19-08-2008

Now I'm totally confused?

I just followed the above instructions. With the dish set in the same position.

I set the passion to Astra 19, then Astra 23, Then Asta 28, set it to scan each satellite in turn and got channels from all three satellites on the scans without the dish moving.

Then I thought I would Scan Hotbird 13e And am getting channels from that as well!

Disq and Usals was disabled for each satellite by the factory reset. But just to confirm the dish was not moving, I got the ladder out to check. Yep the dish is still on the same point.

I'm not complaining mind, but What gives?

**Robbo** · 19-08-2008

Originally Posted by mick2me

Now I'm totally confused?

I'm not complaining mind, but What gives?

The satellites share the same or close enough transponder frequencies. What differentiates them is which way the dish points.

Eg you could have a minidish pointed at 28E, but set the receiver to a Nilesat 7W transponder, you would get a signal, but it wouldn't be from Nilesat, it would be from 28E.

**Ratchet** · 19-08-2008

Originally Posted by mick2me

Now I'm totally confused?

I just followed the above instructions. With the dish set in the same position.

I set the passion to Astra 19, then Astra 23, Then Asta 28, set it to scan each satellite in turn and got channels from all three satellites on the scans without the dish moving.

Then I thought I would Scan Hotbird 13e And am getting channels from that as well!

Disq and Usals was disabled for each satellite by the factory reset. But just to confirm the dish was not moving, I got the ladder out to check. Yep the dish is still on the same point.

I'm not complaining mind, but What gives?

Satellites accross the arc use the same or similar frequencies and parameters. Assuming you have one lnb and your dish is static then you will be getting signals from one satellite only regardless of which satellite location you are using to scan. For example, if you are pointing to Astra 19.2E but use the antenna settings for Hotbird then you will get results from frequencies that are the same on both birds. The channels will be from the actual sat you are pointing at, not what the receiver tells you.

The guide I posted above was to help the OP confirm which satellite he is actually pointing at.

**mick2me** · 19-08-2008

Thanks for that Robbo.

I am pretty sure I am pointed at Astra 28e, As I am picking up all the BBC chanels.

Mentioned above is 'Eurobird at 28.5E' at the same location.

This does not appear on my Passion HD setup menu, perhaps needs an upgrade.

(Null modem lead purchased today on Ebay

)

**Ratchet** · 19-08-2008

Originally Posted by mick2me

Thanks for that Robbo.

I am pretty sure I am pointed at Astra 28e, As I am picking up all the BBC chanels.

Mentioned above is 'Eurobird at 28.5E' at the same location.

This does not appear on my Passion HD setup menu, perhaps needs an upgrade.

(Null modem lead purchased today on Ebay)

Eurobird 1 and the Astra 2 series are close enough in orbit to be considered as 'co-located'. On the Passion HD the transponders for Eurobird 1 are listed under Astra 2 @ 28.2E. There may be a couple of high band frequencies missing in the FSS range (12500 - 12750) but these can be added manually. Check out Lyngsat or Flysat for exact frequencies.

**mick2me** · 19-08-2008

Originally Posted by Ratchet

Eurobird 1 and the Astra 2 series are close enough in orbit to be considered as 'co-located'. On the Passion HD the transponders for Eurobird 1 are listed under Astra 2 @ 28.2E. There may be a couple of high band frequencies missing in the FSS range (12500 - 12750) but these can be added manually. Check out Lyngsat or Flysat for exact frequencies.

Thank You

Might be mentioed elswhere, but can I add the Freesat settings manually.

Also as mentioned above on factory reset "select English > UK > All Channels." I never get to the 'All Channels' bit

(loader V13 shows on switching on?) Again perhaps firmware update is needed

**Ratchet** · 19-08-2008

Originally Posted by mick2me

Thank You

Might be mentioed elswhere, but can I add the Freesat settings manually.

Also as mentioned above on factory reset "select English > UK > All Channels." I never get to the 'All Channels' bit

(loader V13 shows on switching on?) Again perhaps firmware update is needed

Yes you really should update to the latest loader (v1.5) and the latest firmware (v1.15 official / v1.18 beta). The multiple setup option was introduced in fw v1.08 so you must be way down level. The easist way to update fw is to put the .dnl files on a USB stick (make sure its formatted to FAT32) and perform the update on boot-up. I take it you aren't getting ITV HD at your current fw level ?

**mick2me** · 20-08-2008

I have downloaded the latest loader and firmware
I have a USB stick, but am not sure if its formatted to Fat32,
but do use it for storing data from the laptop.

Are there any specific instructions for updating firmware and loader?
Done in any order? or will the receiver do it automatically?

**thecaretaker** · 20-08-2008

Always update the loader first, then the firmware. The latest loader prevents users updating the box with the incorrect firmware (firmware for another Fortec box).

It's very quick and easy to do. The Fortec Star website provides the latest loaders and firmware with instructions how to update.

Just a tip, it's always best to only put the loader or firmware file you want to update on the USB stick.

**mick2me** · 20-08-2008

Thanks

I managed to update the loader, now shows V15

But the file p_av115_20080724 halts with FAIL at 86%?

**mick2me** · 20-08-2008

Down loded and unzipped the file several times, it now fails at 99%

Uploading via s/w Transfer - System Update

**mick2me** · 20-08-2008

Now completed the firmware update, but only after resetting to factory defaults.
Will this now give me Freesat?

**Ratchet** · 20-08-2008

Originally Posted by mick2me

Now completed the firmware update, but only after resetting to factory defaults.
Will this now give me Freesat?

You won't get the Freesat EPG, Freesat 7 day guide or any interactive services from Freesat. The only boxes that can do this are official Freesat boxes. You will, however, be able to get all the channnels available to Freesat (plus a lot more besides) as these are broadcast free to air and can be picked up on any FTA box.

The latest firmware comes with a customised channel list for UK / ROI. Tell the box where you are located and it will load a customised Astra 2 / Eurobird channel list for your location. It's not perfect but is a good building block for your channel list.

**mick2me** · 20-08-2008

Yes I have just found this.
Much easier to find channels.
You say this only works on 28e?

**Ratchet** · 20-08-2008

Originally Posted by mick2me

Yes I have just found this.
Much easier to find channels.
You say this only works on 28e?

As far as I know the customisation was only done for the UK / ROI market and will therefore only give you channels for 28.2E. I don't use the option myself but would imagine that you can add other locations to the UK list by selecting the desired location from the Antenna Setup menu and pressing the yellow button to scan (obviously you would have to point the dish to the relevant satellite first).

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