NOTE: This analogue receiver is obsolete. Some accessories and modifications mentioned on this page are no longer available. MSS kits for MSS200, 300 and Apollo explained. RELKITs contain mostly high-reliability capacitors which help get rid of streaks and lines that were not present when the receiver was new. Often the capacitors fail after the receiver has been left to cool down. RELKITs can also repair a "dead" receiver. This is most likely when: SATKITs are intended to fix a completely dead power supply that gives no output voltages. In almost all cases, the fuse FS1 (F1A) will have melted and/or the 1R fusible resistor will be damaged. If your receiver is dead but you think you should fit BOTH kits, you should order "MSSKIT 9". This way you will still receive SATKIT 9 and RELKIT 9 but those parts which are duplicated in one kit will be omitted and you will get a discount. If fuse FS1 has not melted then you should NOT fit SATKIT 9 ! You will simply increase the risk of other problems. MSSKIT 9 for MSS200/300 and Apollo = SATKIT 9 + RELKIT 9. Quite often the voltages in the MSS200/300 are too high. If the 5 volt supply is too high, failure of various I.C.s will occur. The reliability prospects can be improved by reducing the 5 volt supply. Fit the power supply capacitors from Relkit 9 first, since these can affect the voltage measurements. The resistor which sets the voltages is R56 - a surface mount device indicated by the red arrow. The circuit diagram shows its value as 18k. Usually it is 9k1. Replacing it with a 6k8 will reduce the voltages. This should be done if the 5 volt supply measures more than 5.25 volts between the infra-red sensor (0 volts) and pin 1 of microcontroller U4 (809-xxxxxx). After fitting R56, measure it. It should be approximately 1k6 because R55 (a 2k2) is in parallel with it. If it reads zero then you have left solder beneath it! R56 affects ALL voltages. It is likely that the 13 volt supply for the LNB will be too low. This can be corrected by replacing D32, a 6v2 zener, with a 6v8 zener. Note the cathode band is to the LEFT in this picture. The band may be white on a black body or black on a red body. (Included in RELKIT 9) Q42 is a surface-mount transistor mounted under the board, close to C231. It affects the picture from all outputs except the Decoder Scart. The red arrow indicates the two holes which the placement machine in the factory uses to locate Q42. Before Q42 fails, a brown burn mark usually appears here. Evidence of failure can include intermittent bright flashes across the picture; dull picture or blank screen (except from Decoder Scart - always check this). Similar symptoms occur when capacitors are failing but the Decoder Scart output is also affected. The required components are all included in RELKIT 9 Please read the notes that come with each kit. They are short and concise to fit on one sheet but they are designed to help you. I get a few people who mail me to say "I fitted your kit but the PSU went bang again". When I ask "did you make the checks and measurements, described in the notes, before applying power?" they reply: "Erm... well...no..." Fitting the kit is not sufficient. It's too easy to make mistakes. DO check your work for solder-shorts, cracked tracks (use a meter) and measure those low-value resistors and diodes that are not supplied in the kit. It's too late after the "bang". Be patient and do those checks! Dismantling WARNING! Tuners If you don't understand what a "Universal" LNB does, you should read the LNB FAQ. You might also consider fitting the miniature cooling fan kit. 
Caravan
Visual If you find this information useful and want to thank me, why not buy one of my low-cost "virtual books" that you can download direct to your computer? My books can be read on-screen or printed out on paper. They are full of colour photos and illustrations. Click on "Books", above, for more information.
Return to SatCure index page
Read this before fitting a kit. In fact it's a good idea to read it before ordering a kit.
Please also read the relevant FAQ page for your specific receiver.
Please see how to DISMANTLE your receiver safely.
Power Supply Kits and Reliability Upgrade Kits
DO NOT SIMPLY REPLACE THE FUSE! It is there to protect YOU and the receiver. If you replace it you can make the damage worse and put yourself at risk!
When you fit the RELKIT, it's a good idea to fit just the power supply capacitors first. If the power supply works OK on test, start to fit the remaining parts. Fit only a few at a time before testing. This way, if you make a mistake, it is easier to find. 
See How to Dismantle your Pace Receiver.
The flat white "ribbon" cable in some models is easy to damage. Pull/push it carefully. If you kink or crease it, the conductors will break.
The "tuner" is the metal box with screw connector at the rear of the receiver. If you want to discuss upgrades with us PLEASE quote the part number which begins 221-. You will find it printed on your tuner. Tuners with "77" in the part number have a tuning range of 2GHz.
The latest tuners have "78" and extend to 2.15 GHz.
If your receiver has an old "standard 10.0GHz" LNB (see LNB FAQ) you will NOT receive the full range of Astra satellite programmes unless you attach a "Channel Expander" (which shifts ALL frequencies by 500MHz). However, a "Channel Expander" has to be selected for some channels and not for others. In addition, it relies upon your old LNB passing the Astra 1D frequencies (which it was not designed to do). The "Channel Expander" is worth a try but is not the ideal solution.
What you really want is to use an "9.75 GHz Enhanced LNB" (which shifts all channels up by 250MHz) for which the receiver is designed.
Channel increase
This is not an option except with Apollo 120 and MSS200 which can be increased to 250 channels with our kit.
If you fit a "Universal" LNB to your dish, you may wish to select "high band" which uses the 10.6GHz local oscillator instead of 9.75GHz. This requires the insertion of a 22kHz tone into the LNB cable. Early Apollo receivers had the 22kHz option in the menu but the components were not included on the circuit board! A 22kHz kit of parts is available but note that most of them are "Surface Mount Devices".
Copyright ©1999 SatCure
Version 1.0 updated on May 12, 1999
This file may be downloaded for private and personal use but NO part of it may be published in any form without the prior permission of the author.
HOW DO I PLACE AN ORDER?
Return to SatCure index page