A FilmNet remote with ALL functions is available from SatCure, price £19.95.
Problem Solver
Fault Cause or Solution
Decoder does not give desired result :
Check mains power.
Check Audio R and L, Video and Baseband connections.
Check all other outputs are correctly wired.
Check that selections in Installation menu are correct.
No picture on D2MAC programme:
Check in Installations menu, that the decoder is set up to
recognise the input, you use (Scart or Phono).
No picture on PAL programme: Check that both Baseband- and Video-inputs on the decoder are connected.
Poorly decoded picture on D2MAC programme:
Check that the input signal deemphasis corresponds to the one selected in the Installation menu. Check that selection connection between decoder and satellite receiver is in order. Check all connections to the satellite receiver. Check that the satellite receiver is tuned exactly into the channel. Look in user instructions for your satellite receiver if above does not help.
Picture not decoded:
Check the card.
Check deemphasis.
Check that you have tuned into a D2MAC programme
(check information menu)
Message on screen "No access" or "Ingen adgang":
Subscription for the payment channel has ended.
Incorrect settings in receiver or decoder.
Check the user instructions.
Message on screen "Check card" or "Kontroller kortet":
Check that card is correctly inserted into decoder and is
the right way up. The contacts should be uppermost.
Television wants to be able to view satellite programmes:
Remove control voltage to TV by pressing MENU OFF.
Crackling sound on audio:
Incorrect baseband input selection. Check menus.
Otherwise faulty chip.
Picture has green tint:
Use handset to access Service Mode.
Set Green Cut to a lower value.
Remote Control Handset :
Philips part number RC6932/01
Order code 4822-218-21137 from Willow Vale Electronics.
Fax: ++44 118 986 7188 (UK 0118 986 7188)
Price approximately 34.00 ukp !!! plus postage.
Or you can order one from SatCure for £19.95
One For All Codes <--- click
BBD-900 can be upgraded for remote control handset - read separate note.
Picture shifted left or right leaving narrow blank strip:
Go into "service-mode" on your BD901 by holding (+) and (-) while plugging in the 230v.
Use your remote or step your way thru with menu/+/- and use Mode 220 (write eprom adresses).
Select address 057 and write 046,
Select address 058 and write 061
Select address 059 and write 255.
Alternatively, if this doesn't work: Corruption of EEprom. Replace IC7518.
(You can use 24C04, 24C08 or 24C16)
Warning! VCO may then have to be reset in the Service Mode using remote control.
Also, SCART (default =RCA) may need to be selected in on-screen menu.
>I'm fed up with continually having to reprogram my BBD901 to get
>rid of the picture-shift. Can you supply a pre-programmed EEprom?
Unfortunately I can't copy the standard EEprom used in the BBD901 so what I used to do (I no longer repair D2Mac) is to replace the EEprom with a 24C - anything. 24C04, 24C08 or whatever. The micro will reprogram the new EEprom with factory default settings. You will then have to press the front panel buttons and reset it from "RCA" to "SCART" using the RF output so you can see what's on screen! You will also have to use the remote to get rid of the annoying FilmNet channel message and, possibly, to reset the VCO.
Two points: It's important to set the 5v supply to just a fraction over 5v so the new EEprom works. Also make sure the smoothing capacitors are OK to avoid noise because (I suspect) this is what corrupts the EEprom in the first place.
The PCB uses silver-painted via holes which are incredibly fragile. Crack one of these by bending the board and it will never work again. Support it well. Do not press down on it
Keeps asking to be tuned to a Filmnet broadcast with a valid card
Set the 901 into the service mode (power off, press and hold the + and - buttons, power on keep holding the buttons until service mode is seen at top of screen). Using the handset, enter
220 (EEPROM write mode) then 100 (address) then 000 (new setting).
Now enter 220 then 120 then 000.
Press standby to store. Before you power off, look at the strange menus :o)
You might have to enter the codes two or three times for it to work.
Picture drifts across screen or reluctant to lock and stay decoded:
VCO Adjustment. Original handset needed. Enter service mode
as above, key in 150 (PLL adjustment mode) use + and - buttons on
handset to change value, menu to store.
SECRET SERVICE MODE
The service mode can be used only with a remote control handset.
To access the service mode, disconnect the mains power from the decoder.
Press MENU+ and MENU- and hold them while you reconnect the mains power.
After a few seconds you will see "SERVICE MODE" and the Eprom version at the top of the screen, with the status/command line at the bottom of the screen.
To enter a command you must press a three-digit code on the handset.
Here is a list of codes:
100 RST CARD = 0 (maybe this resets the secret code?)
110 VPP CARD = 5 (set card Vpp to 5 volts)
111 VPP CARD = 15
120 READ CARD INT: 1
130 READ FRONT CARD IN: 1
140 INT PATTERN ON (blank screen)
141 INT PATTERN OFF (normal screen)
150 VCO SET (press + or - on the handset until scrambled picture is still.
then press MENU on the handset then STANDBY).
160 TDA8540 Out0 with Gain X
170 ADJUST WHITE (this resets the picture colour balance. Press MENU then STANDBY) You can also adjust the colour balance. For example, if you want less green press MENU until you see GREEN CUT FF. Press the - button to reduce FF to about CF.Press MENU repeatedly until you see "DONE". Then press STANDBY.
Warning! Each time you press 1 7 0 you will reset the colours to standard!
181 TPU PATTERN ON (white oblong in centre of screen).
180 TPU PATTERN OFF (white oblong removed).
190 CONFIGURATION 1
200 READ BER (Bit Error Rate)
210 (exits Service Mode - function not known).
220 WR EEPROM ADDR: (allows you to write EEprom address with hex number).
230 LEDS =
241 WR IMBUS ADDR:
250 CTRL - AUDIO = 0
261 (blank green screen)
260 DSY = 0 (normal screen)
270 (exits Service Mode - function not known).
280 SIGNAL PRESENCE = 0
290 TDA8540 Out0 Enable =
300 (blank screen)?
310 Init D2MAC and Sound =
321 VCO INPUT 0 LEVEL = C441
322 VCO INPUT 2 LEVEL = F70A
340 PRESET AY AP B
350 FRONT CARD SELECTED
351 BACK CARD SELECTED
Use these ONLY if you understand what you are doing!
>Any body out there had a problem with locking onto a signal
>once you`ve reprogrammed the 2k eeprom.??
>It seems to take an age locking onto even a strong mac channel
>I reprogrammed it in order to set my picture (which was slightly tothe left)
Yes, it's surprising that this doesn't happen more often. When you "reprogram" the EEprom you are actually feeding it code from a different receiver with different tolerances. If that receiver's VCO setting is slightly different from yours then the VCO will have difficulty in locking on. The answer is to use a remote control handset to "tune in" the VCO until the picture lock is perfect.
A complete fault-finding guide called "The Satellite Repair Manual IV" is available, price £16.95.
(Mostly UK PAL receivers, not D2Mac) DISCLAIMER
This information is given in good faith, based on several years of workshop experience involving thousands of repairs. No responsibility will be accepted for any death, damage or injury caused either directly or indirectly by the use of this information. The reader should check the facts himself. It is assumed and stressed that the reader will be familiar with good, safe, electronic workshop practice and will be familiar with all tools, components and terms used. If there is any doubt about the reader's ability to carry out such work competently and safely, the work should be referred to a specialist engineer.
COPYRIGHT 1996 M T Pickering
The information given here may be re-posted to any computer associated with USENET or CompuServe and similar public systems (not on any private system with restricted access) but only in its entirety with this message remaining intact. It may be downloaded onto an individual computer and printed as hard copy but only for the individual's own use. It may not be published in any form (other than as stated) without prior consent from the author.
Martin Pickering Email
Version 1.4 updated on August 11, 1999
Comments and questions are welcomed but state this version number.
THIS FAQ IS NOT APPROVED BY SKY OR BY PHILIPS
End of FAQ
Happy Customers
Dear Martin,
Many thanks for your prompt action with regard to my recent order for a FilmNet remote control. I am delighted with it. Please find my cheque enclosed in full settlement of your invoice.
Yours sincerely,
D.T. Cockroft
User guide Supplement and introduction to the BBD-901 "FilmNet" (tm) D2Mac decoder
by Peter Gibbs
Overview
This unbadged D2MAC Decoder (or Transcoder), said to be Eurocrypt M & S, is not a stand-alone receiver, and can be used only in conjunction with a normal satellite receiver. It will not work on the earlier B-MAC (very different) and D-MAC systems which are now little-used. The decoder is made in France (by Philips Electronique Grand Public) specifically for the Scandinavian market and is a grey import not supported in any way by Philips Electronics in the UK.
The original user guide is in Danish only but an English version is available from SatCure. User-friendly OSD menus are internally selectable in English, Swedish or Dutch. Best results are obtainable by using SCART (Peritel) connectors and/or phono plugs rather than UHF loop-through, assuming that your existing equipment will allow this.
The unit is designed to be connected permanently to the mains supply, sitting in standby - so there is no on/off switch. When interconnected correctly, it will self-activate automatically with the presence of the IRD baseband signal. The RHS red LED indicates that the Decoder is in standby, turning green automatically when functional. The centre LED glows when a D2MAC signal is present.
If the transmission is encrypted, a valid Eurocrypt Smart Card will be required before a viewable (unscrambled) picture can be obtained. Without such a card the sound might also be muted. The viewing card(s) may be inserted into either card slot, one at the front or the other at the rear. Card slot selection is automatic and help-messages are given. Note that the card contact face should be uppermost, unlike most other decoders. The LHS LED (pay-per-view warning) glows if both an encrypted signal and a valid card are present. Pirate multi-channel cards are readily available, but program providers occasionally implement electronic counter measures (ECMs) to disable these. Sometimes you may find the need to unplug the card and insert it again. The life of such a card is unpredictable, but on failure, it may be possible to upgrade it.
D2MAC transmissions are not intended for the UK, at the moment, but are available, often in English, from some satellites. Whilst most of these decoders do not have a remote control, OSD menus and their selection are achieved by four front panel push-button controls.
Instructions in the use of these are given on the screen and the software also allows use of a remote control handset. Once set up, menus will rarely be needed but users who frequently view Teletext will find the lack of a remote control slow and frustrating.
Although the Decoder doesn't have every advanced (more obscure) MAC facility, it provides most of those that MAC users actually want. The decoder is compatible with wide-screen TVs, and wide screen panning is automatic with smooth return. MAC sound mixing is automatic at a standard level.
D2MAC is a development of various earlier MAC (Multiplexed Analogue signal Components) standards developed by the IBA. MAC has been designed to better match the FM system necessarily used to minimise the transmission power required in satellite broadcasting. The nature of the signals contained in 64 s line intervals is very different to that of PAL, SECAM or NTSC. D2MAC pictures are at least as good if not better that PAL but, of course, may be limited by the quality of the source material.
The overall performance of the BBD-901 is excellent and its reliability has been proved. It contains standard ITT 68-pin chips which are used in almost all MAC Eurocrypt decoders. The mains input is 220/240V 30W double insulated. The unit is very well constructed and built to stringent European safety standards. The ambient temperature operating range is +10/40 Celsius, and the switched-mode power supply runs cool. Beware transit damage, however. Unless the unit is well packed, the printed circuit board has been known to break in half.
Scandinavian terrestrial TV uses the PAL system G having 5.5 MHz inter carrier sound, so the BBD-901 UHF loop-through modulator may need to be retuned to 6.0 MHz (PAL system I) to suit the UK market. However, it is extremely unlikely that this will ever be required because the receiver UHF modulator loop-though provides both PAL and MAC sourced pictures and sound. UHF loop-through allows only mono sound and gives less sharp pictures, so use Scart connectors if possible. Satellite receivers and decoders are sophisticated devices and you may need to seek help or advice from your dealer/supplier. If necessary, the internal microprocessor may be reset by temporarily disconnecting the mains cord; stored settings will not be lost.
Positioning your Decoder
Adequate cool ventilation must be provided: choose a location at some distance away from a radiator or other sources of heat and ensure that cabinets, curtains or coverings etc. do not obstruct air flow through the lower and upper ventilation openings. You should not stack this and other units (VCR etc.) one on top of another, otherwise overheating may occur with resultant early failure of the power supply.
Using in conjunction with PACE 9200/9210 PAL IRD s
These satellite receivers and their clones should be programmed to MAC-AUX, EXT AV, EXTl. They will also work set to MAC-AUX, AUTO, AUTO but encrypted D2MAC signals will be slow to detect. With the former setting, changeover between PAL and D2MAC transmissions will be quite quick (3 to 4 seconds) and entirely automatic, thereby avoiding a blast of transient acoustic noise. As with PAL satellite, UHF loop-through will be necessary in order to monitor a program being timer-recorded. There is no need to connect up the BBD 901 UHF loop-through because both PAL and MAC derived pictures and sound are essentially present on the PACE IRD loop-through.
Scart Lead 1 PACE "Decoder" socket to Philips D2MAC Decoder
Scart Lead 2 PACE "TV" to Television "EXTl" (blue)
Scart lead 3 PACE "VCR" to Video Recorder "Audio/Video"
The performance is also excellent with the PACE MSS series of IRDs, but then the BBD 901 remains permanently activated, never returning to its standby mode. The problem is due to the PACE design whereby the baseband signal is not killed in standby. You may be able to turn off an LNB to correct this. (SatCure has a modification to turn off the LNB voltage in standby).
Installation Menu (PACE settings underlined)
This menu and its options can only be obtained from the front
controls, not via the remote control (although it will turn it off)
Hold down "MENU OFF" and press "MENU SELECT" to obtain the menu
Make your selection and choice with MENU SELECT, MENU+ and MENU
Choose Language of OSD Menus (3 options only)
English, Swedish or Dutch
Choose Three Audio Languages (sound preference)
The MAC system allows for many separate languages, but if there is
only one available, that's the one you get!
First Language (choose from the following 13):
English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese,
Russian, Swedish, Finnish, Arabic, Danish or German
Second Language: as above
Third Language: as above
Choose Three Picture Subtitle Languages (subtitle preference)
First Language (choose from the above 13 languages):
Second Language: as above
Third Language: as above
Subtitling Language Control (manual or automatic selection)
Manual or Automatic
The MAC system allows for many separate subtitle languages and the
chosen one (if available) is always displayed with either option
until turned off with the remote control (subtitling on/off
function). It is not possible to turn off a subtitle which is
embodied in the actual film program itself
Choose Decoder Set-Up Options
*** Warning *** Changing these may stop your transcoder working
D2MAC Baseband Input via:
Scart Connector or Cinch (Phono) Connectors
Type of Baseband Input Signal:
D2MAC De-emphasis, No De-emphasis (flat) or PAL De-emphasis
Scart connected to:
Satellite Tuner, Nothing, TV with RGB or TV without RGB.
Decoder Main Menu
Press MENU SELECT to obtain the menu. A 3 or 6 option menu will be
offered as applicable.
D2MAC Network Information (for consultation)
Gives Station Name and Network Origin, Picture Aspect Ratio (4:3)
or (16:9), Sound Language(s), Subtitle Language(s) and whether
Teletext or radio is present. The information is sourced from the
transmitter and cannot of course be altered
Press MENU SELECT to return to the menu
Audio Information
Available language: Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish or Danish etc.
in mono or stereo
Press MENU SELECT to confirm option (if any) and return to menu
Teletext/Radio (if available)
Press MENU SELECT for this option (see Obtaining Teletext) after
which you will not be returned to the Decoder Main Menu
Conditional Access Smart Card 1 ( theme levels, PPV/P etc.)
The user pays explicitly for particular programmes either by
pre-booking or through buying on impulse from a tokens credit
balance. Unique over-air addressing on a regular basis is employed
to update the card authorisation details. Cards may be invalidated
for non-payment
Access Control:
View Card Information (consultation services)
Interrogate the authorised subscription availability periods,
theme levels, pre-booked pay per view, credit balance, prices
etc. of up to six channels. The listing may occupy several pages.
This facility is typically irrelevant if you use a pirate card
Change Secret Code
Protection of card consultation, program purchase and maturity
rating (parental control)
If unencoded, the 4-digit PIN is by default 0000
Enter your existing personal code ( PIN) and follow the detailed
instructions on the screen - be very careful. Rather than
wildly experiment, leave well alone
*** Warning *** If you forget your PIN, your D2MAC Decoder will
no longer work and your dealer will charge for assistance
Set Maturity Level (under-15 age viewing restriction)
Parental control is only possible having first set a PIN ( see
Change Secret Code above). The age boundary limit is contained
in the MAC transmission data
Conditional Access Smart Card 2 ( rear slot)
This would normally be a card supplied by an alternative network.
Access control is similar to Card 1 above
System Settings (initially setup on installation)
Change Language of OSD Menus
English, Swedish or Dutch
Change the Three Audio Languages (sound preference)
First Language (choose from the following 13):
English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian,
Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Finnish, Arabic, Danish or German
Second Language: as above
Third Language: as above
Change Picture Subtitle Languages ( subtitle preference)
First Language (choose from the above 13 languages):
Second Language: as above
Third Language: as above
Change TV Settings (analogue attributes)
D2MAC Picture Levels
Contrast, Colour, Brightness or Default settings
Adjusted values will be automatically stored until returned to
default settings (which cannot be changed)
TV Settings
Aspect Ratio:- Standard 4:3 or Wide Screen (Panavision) 16:9.
MAC Teletext
D2MAC Teletext is transmitted by a different method from that
used by PAL, and cannot be displayed using the handset of a normal
Teletext TV. However, the display format is similar to that from
PAL, and the necessary processing is built into the D2MAC decoder,
thereby allowing a non-Teletext TV to display D2MAC text.
Filmnet+, TV3 Norway, TV3 Sweden, TV3 Denmark and FilmMax have
Teletext, but TV1000 does not. If a program is encrypted, Teletext
itself (and radio) is not, and so is obtainable without a card
Only some MAC Teletext features are available, and which do not
include: Page Hold, Reveal, Picture/Text Overlay (Mix), Content
Index, Time, Fastext, Enlarge, Alarm, Subpage Search, Update
Obtaining Teletext (no smart card needed)
Display the Decoder Main Menu by pressing MENU SELECT
Step through the menu list with MENU+ or MENU
Stop at the Teletext option
Press MENU SELECT
The teletext header will appear, searching for page say, 100 or
800 etc. and if found, the page will be displayed
Selecting a New Page
A page is selected in hundreds, tens and units - eg. page 518
Press MENU SELECT, giving say, 1~?
Select wanted page hundreds with MENU+ or MENU
Press MENU SELECT when correct, giving 50?
Select page tens with MENU+ or MENU
Press MENU SELECT when correct, giving S10
Select page units with MENU+ or MENU
Press MENU SELECT when correct, giving 518
The decoder will now search for page 518 in the usual way
Select further pages as required
There is a 4-page store feature (but not Fastext). MENU+ will
advance the page(s) by one as required, whilst MENU- will go back
to the first stored Page. As with PAL, you must allow time for the
incoming pages to be stored off air
To return to the normal D2MAC picture, press "MENU OFF"
Some Useful Teletext pages
Filmnet's index pages 101/102 lead to details of their forthcoming
programs eg. pages 111/113 give today's programs, and page 120 is
an index for the next seven days given on pages 121/127. Page 860
is a useful technical index
Page 600 on TV3 Sweden gives an index to programs on TV3, TV1000
and FilmMax. Pages 601/3 details today's TV3 programs, and pages
604/610 give the next 7-days
Page 102 on TV3 Denmark is a program index, pages 301/2 detail
today's programmes, page 303/4 tomorrow's and page 300 is an index
for the next 7-days
Page 300 on TV3 Norway is a program index for TV3, and page 380 an
index for TV1000 and FilmMax.
Radio Programmes (no smart card needed)
There are very few of these at the moment. Programmes (if any) are available from the Teletext/Radio option in the decoder main menu, and station names are given automatically. There is no TV screen blanking.
Remote Controls
Although these Decoders have an IR receiver for a remote control, most are not supplied with one. However, if you have a remote control type RC5802 from the now defunct Philips BSB D-MAC satellite receiver STU902, a few of its functions will work (not Ferguson equivalent BSB version SRBl). For instance, its MENU button will bring up the Decoder Main Menu, items from which may then be selected by the numeric keys. A great boon now is that Teletext and individual page numbers may be called without having to access them from the buttons on the front of the Decoder.
Remote controls from Philips PAL IRDs STU801, STU802 or STU901 will be of no help but an RC5914 remote from the expensive multi-satellite receiver STU909 will control every available function. Also, the STU824 is a PACE 900 clone but does use Philips control codes. Therefore the handset will control both the IRD and this D2MAC transcoder.
A FilmNet remote with ALL functions is available from SatCure, price £19.95.
A universal preprogrammed replacement remote control known as the "One For All 4" will work using the recently introduced product code 200. There are two versions of these handsets, the later one having a rounded shape rather than rectangular. However, none of those presently in the shops have the necessary set-up code 200, but the distributor will supply a "One For All 6" exchange unit containing the additional coding free on request. There is also a consumer help-line 0800 317 774.
"Toptel", "Fox Smart 3", "Memorex", and "Vivanco" are other such universal preprogrammed remotes. The "Rotel" is a learning remote only. There are also others, but all have a shortage of keys, so a lesser-used function may have to be sacrificed.
Features available from an updated "One For All 6" Remote
Decoder Main Menu on/and return via menu tree, and Option Select Volume up/down
Sound Mute
Radio/Teletext from menu option
Teletext (direct call) on/off
Teletext page select +/-
Teletext Stored Pages, Submenu Options and Analogue Attributes Display channel name and active card slot number on/off
Subtitling Language on/off (subtitle automatically turns on after a channel change)
Off (direct return to picture from Teletext, menus and sub-menus etc.) There are no other Teletext facilities, so the absence of Page Hold can be annoying at times.
Philips "Filmnet" BBD 900
This is a similar but earlier D2MAC decoder, having only a one-card
reader (at the front), and there is no remote control infrared
receiver incorporated. The software is a little different.
BBD-900 can be upgraded for remote control handset - read separate note.
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Version 1.1 updated on 3/5/99
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