Sky Digibox	Sky Analogue	Computer	Car Caravan	Audio Visual	Books
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. HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) Send this page address - CLICK HERE - to a friend !
SatCure Satellite (UK) Satellite Kits to Solve Your Problems!               Reliability improved 100 Percent! This Amazing little fan measures just 40 x 40 x 10mm. Designed to run off a 12volt dc supply, it will actually run off as little as 5.25 volts - which means that it is virtually silent. It spins quite slowly but produces just enough air movement to get rid of those "Hot Spots" which so often damage a satellite receiver. Mount it anywhere inside the receiver (away from high voltage area) and connect the wires to a 0 volt point and to the 5 volt supply rectifier diode. Instructions for the most common receivers included . Fan Kit Alternatively, fit two fans to your "Hi-Fi" cabinet (I call it an "oven"). You can connect them in series and use a dc adaptor which supplies any voltage from 12 volts to 20 volts. Order "two fans for Hi-Fi cabinet" at just £9.95 the pair. Try to mount them near cabinet corners where the cabinet is stiffer. This will help to reduce noise. Rubber mountings will also help. You can use silicone bath sealant but DON'T get it on the fan blades! A lot of people ask me: "Should I connect the fan so it goes OFF in standby?" My answer is "NO!" It should run all the time. Most receivers "cook" just as much in standby as they do when "on" because standby turns off only the output sound and picture - everything else keeps running so that Sky have access to your card at all times. The usual excuse is that "it maintains the LNB at a constant temperature." This may be true but Amstrad receivers don't do it so why should others? HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) Dear Martin, I've fixed one of the fans to my Pace MSS500. WOW! what a difference! I can even close the cabinet doors now and it STILL stays cool! On the back of the Pace was a plastic cover that is to hide the outlets for Pro Logic connectors, so I scribed a circle round the fan onto the plastic cover and used an old soldering iron to melt it out. 4 self tappers later and the fan was fixed on and the cover put back onto the receiver. I connected it so that air is drawn in through the side vents and then out the back through the fan....Great!! Thanks again for all your help Martin Stuart <stuart.lee@dial.pipex.com> Kits for upgrades and repairs Please note: The following kits are NOT for novices. If you need to ask "Will I be able to install this kit?" then the answer is "NO". Please do NOT order anything unless you are competent to fit it. Full instructions are included with each kit but they assume a good knowledge of electronics. That is, you must be able to recognise components and you must have the ability and equipment to perform neat solder joints and to desolder as well. If you are in any doubt then either DON'T order the kit or else make sure that your local repair shop will do the work for you. I'd just hate for you to be disappointed! I'd also hate for you to be killed or injured. Please do NOT attempt to make measurements on the 230v mains side of the main transformer. In a switch-mode PSU this is a pulse transformer and, if it is running, will have high-voltage "spikes" which you can not measure but which are nonetheless dangerous. If it is not running, you might measure only 5 - 10 volts but the large capacitor will still be at 320 volts or more! I personally measure ONLY the low-voltage dc outputs of a power supply. I fault-find by making resistance measurements with the 230v mains disconnected, checking the copper tracks for shorts/opens and measuring the resistors and semiconductors. It's also useful to measure the ESR of electrolytic capacitors. Unfortunately the actual capacitance reading is usually meaningless unless it is very low so ESR is the only way. Who is my nearest repairer? (A list) HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) HAPPY CUSTOMERS Dear Martin, Many thanks for your excellent service - the parts arrived incredibly quickly and, although I'm by no means an experienced repairer, I now have a working receiver again. I don't know if it's worth considering in your range but I'd have bought a desoldering kit,had you sold one, as I ended up using a desoldering pump which, as you predicted, damaged the soldering pads. (Solder Kit now available for just 0.95p !!) My receiver is now working before my local repair shop even thought they would give me an estimate so I'm extremely happy. Many thanks & best of luck for your business, Sincerely Chris Dewey Martin, Everything went brilliantly well this end: the SATKIT fixed the power supply problem and the RELKIT improved the picture quality no-end (it had some minor but annoying flickers and stripes before). Many thanks for the excellent service, it really was a pleasure. Adrian Taylor Solder Kit Most people have a soldering iron but few have the correct solder or Multicore desolder wick® to remove existing components without damage. Experience has shown that pump-action solder-suckers cause damage. We want you to be successful, so this kit includes low-fume solder in two sizes - one for conventional components and one for surface-mount - plus high quality "Multicore desolder wick®" desoldering braid, teflon-coated repair wire and two sheets of instructions for the beginner. There's sufficient to complete the fitting of any of our repair kits but you can order more if you need to. More about this solder kit HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) OBSOLETE KITS Some of the parts and kits listed below may be unavailable by the time you read this. Some may be available only as used parts that I have stripped from old receivers. As DIGITAL takes over from analogue, I am trashing more and more stuff so ASK NOW before it's too late! Upgrade Kits Universal 22kHz Tone Inserter board This PCB assembly can be fitted inside most satellite receivers. Fitting is simple. Locate the wire or track that carries the 13/17 volt supply voltage to the tuner and cut it. Connect the break to "IN" and "OUT" of the tone inserter. Connect the "ground" of the tone inserter to 0 volts (usually the tuner metal box). The "ON" connection controls the tone inserter. 0 volts turns the tone OFF. Any voltage from 3 to 12 volts dc turns it "ON". You can fit a switch or you can use a menu function (if available - read FAQs) to control it automatically for each channel. State receiver make/model when ordering. Pace Enhanced MENU upgrade for PRD models (use latest LNB) PRD800 upgrade to 199 channels plus favourites (simple kit) PRD upgrade for wideband "J17" audio (mostly surface mount components) PRD 22kHz tone upgrade kit (see above). PRD kit to provide control of an external box (22kHz tone inserter or LNB switcher) on a per-channel basis £1.95 Apollo 22kHz tone upgrade kit (surface mount parts!) This is for early versions only. Try selecting "tone on" with a Universal LNB. If the LNB switches band, your receiver already has 22kHz tone built in. Alternatively, test it with an external 22kHz tone switch box. 250 channel upgrade kit for Apollo and MSS200 SS9xxx single-input tuner kit (replaces Hitachi BF9 tuner module) £12.95 (Allows you to use an Enhanced (9.75) LNB on 90-channel receiver). Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a PRD kit Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a SS9xxx kit Go to this page before ordering/fitting a MSS kit for MSS200/300/Apollo Go to this page before ordering/fiting a MSS kit for MSS500/1000 ->1061 HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) Amstrad SRD510/520/310 Enhanced upgrade to 199 channels + 12v output for external box (No longer available) SRD510/520/310 Tuner (required for above conversion. Tunes to Sky Sports 3) (No longer available) SRX200 upgrade to 48 channels (No longer available) Universal 22kHz tone upgrade kit (see above). Go to this page before ordering an Amstrad kit for SDR510/520/540/550 Grundig GRD150/250/280/300 Power supply repair kit SATKIT 20 (Also GSR1, GSR1/2, Matsui RD600, Minerva SAT5000). 250 channel upgrade kit for GRD150 BT SVS250/Matsui OP-10 upgrade from 129 to 299 channels. Astra 1D Channel Expander upgrades Your receiver may be able to select programmes from Astra satellite 1D automatically! Once it's programmed you simply select a Channel in the normal way. No switches - no buttons. See list, below. ADX-plus Channel Expander Shifts frequencies 500Mhz either higher or lower (internal switch) External control wire allows your receiver to turn it on or off. Toggle switch allows you to select manual or auto-controlled operation. (If you subscribe to Sky you can order direct from Sky at a lower cost) Note: with some LNBs, some channels may be sparkly. We can not advise on this because the only way to find out is to try it. Automatic control of Channel Expander: AutoSelect for SRD510/520 FREE. Just add a wire. (See SRD510 FAQ) AutoSelect kit with instructions for SS9000/9200 £1.95 AutoSelect for PRD800/900 NOT REQUIRED!. (Use a 9.75 GHz LNB - See PRD FAQ) Pace SS9000 AutoSelect kit is also suitable for all single input Pace manufactured receivers such as SS9200, Ferguson SRV1, Nokia SAT1500, Grundig GIRD2000/3000, Philips STU801/05r, Bush IRD150/151, Network 9000/9200IRD, BAE9200IRD and Sportscast, Maspro SRE350S single input version. HOW DO I PLACE AN ORDER? Please read this before placing an order! HAPPY CUSTOMERS Your service has been superb, your help most invaluable, and your speed in replying astounding. I wish you much deserved success with the future of your business. Very best regards Chris Dewey Editor, Dark Star Official Mike Oldfield Magazine cdewey@dsmag.win-uk.net www.pcug.co.uk/~darkstar/ Power Supply Repair Kits and Reliability Improvement Kits These kits contain the components which will cure 99% of power supply faults. * Some parts are new or upgraded versions of the originals, in line with manufacturer's recommendations. All parts meet or exceed the safety specification of the originals. An instruction sheet is included with every kit. IMPORTANT!: The following kits are NOT for novices. If you need to ask "Will I be able to install this kit?" then the answer is "NO". Please do NOT order anything unless you are competent to fit it. Full instructions are included with each kit but they assume a good knowledge of electronics. That is, you must be able to recognise components and you must have the ability and equipment to measure voltage, resistance and diodes, perform neat solder joints and to desolder as well. If you are in any doubt then please either DON'T order the kit or else make sure that your local repair shop will do the work for you. I'd just hate for you to be disappointed! The most common problem is that people simply DON'T read the instructions carefully before whipping out the soldering iron! Please read the instruction sheet twice. If you find that you don't have the ability or the equipment then PLEASE return the kit for a refund (less postage) or get someone competent to do the work (ie. send the unit to us for repair). When you receive your kit, PLEASE check to make sure it's the right one and that no parts are missing. I admit that we DO make mistakes so please check everything immediately. We accept kits for credit (less postage) if you ordered the wrong one but please read the notes below: Who is my nearest repairer? (A list) HAPPY CUSTOMERS Dear Martin, Very impressed with the "Relkit" and the "Satkit". My Pace PRD800 is operating like a new receiver and the picture and sound quality are on par with units costing twice as much. Many Thanks. Tommy O'Connor <taoconnor@lineone.net> Martin, May I say "thank you" for your response to my problem and for sending me the necessary parts so quickly. What an excellent service that was. The receiver is now working fine. Just for the record I have been using your "Satellite Repair Manual" edition 3 and now edition 4 for quite some time. Looking forward to edition 5. (Edition 5 is available) Sincerely, Ron Brock Pro-Sat Sysems >Martin > >You are a star!! My SS9210 is up and running now and at a fraction of >the cost my local repairer would have charged. I followed your advice >and replaced the 3 capacitors in the PSU (actually I put all 4 in!) and >then the 2u2F in the tuner and the large 2200uF capacitors near the >front of the PSU and the whole thing worked first time! It's been a >while since I did such intricate soldering but I clearly must have >retained some of those skills from my days of repairing microprocessor >based central heating controllers! > >Once again thank you for your advice and prompt service. > >Regards > >Salih To guarantee success, order our Solder Kit as well (see above) Reliability Upgrade kits. Fix it BEFORE it goes bang! Get rid of picture interference. RELKIT 1 PRDxxx (Also fixes dead PSU if fuse has not melted) RELKIT 2 SS9xxx RELKIT 3 SRD510/520/540/545/550 (Also fixes dead PSU if R610 (2R2) is OK) RELKIT 4 SRD500 (Often fixes dead PSU) RELKIT 5 MRD920 RELKIT 7 MRD950 RELKIT 9 MSS200/300/Apollo RELKIT 10 MSS500/1000 Fixes all sorts of problems. Kit does NOT include the 100uF/400v capacitor. Order separately if required. C2 KIT MSS500/1000 front panel upgrade if display goes dim. £0.50 TRANKIT 10 surface mount transistors that sometimes cause picture problems £0.50 RELKIT 14 Amstrad SRD600 power supply RELIABILITY upgrade kit RELKIT 16 Amstrad SRD700/SR950 usually fixes streaks, sparklies, no decoder messages etc. £0.50 RELKIT 17 BT SVS250/260/300, Houston 1002, Matsui OP-10/Echostar SR90/Seemann TS4200 (Relkit 17 usually fixes "no decoder messages", "colours running", "dull picture" etc.) RELKIT 26 Philips FilmNet BBD-900 and BBD-901 RELKIT 27 Amstrad SRD400 RELKIT 28 Philips Visiopass RELKIT 29 Philips STU-902 (BSB decoder) RELKIT 33 early Grundig GDS200 Relkit (state version marked on power supply C2 label). Please be sure to specify make/model as well as Relkit. Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a PRD kit Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a SS9xxx kit Go to this page before ordering/fitting a MSS kit Go to this page before ordering an Amstrad kit for SDR510/520/540/550 HAPPY CUSTOMERS Dear Martin, The RELKIT 17 worked a treat! I enclose a cheque. Yours sincerely, M. Panayi DO NOT CONFUSE RELKITS WITH SATKITS !!! Power Supply Repair Kits SATKITS are to repair a completely DEAD unit (no voltages coming out). Before ordering a SATKIT, please measure the low voltage side of the PSU. A RELKIT might fix a dead unit (see above) but a SATKIT is very unlikely to help a unit which is "stuck in standby" or lights up or has measurable secondary voltages coming out of the PSU. I you are in doubt, please ASK before placing an order. See Technical Help FAQ. Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a PRD kit Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a SS9xxx kit Go to this page before ordering/fitting a MSS500/100 kit msskit10.htm Go to this page before ordering/fitting a MSS200/300/Apollo kit msskit9.htm Go to this page before ordering an Amstrad kit for SDR510/520/540/550 IMPORTANT: You really need a meter to measure resistors, diodes and capacitors. You can fit a kit without this but, if the kit fails to cure the fault, you will be stuck. SATKIT 1 Fixes power supply if fuse FS1 has melted. If fuse has not melted, you probably need only C5, C7, C8. RELKIT 1 also highly recommended. Order at the same time to save postage. RELKIT 1 contains C2, 47uF/400v which can cause PSU failure. It is not included in the SATKIT for two reasons: 1) it does not fail very often and adds to the kit cost and 2) if it has failed then you will definitely need all the other capacitors in the RELKIT as well. You can order C2 separately if you wish. Pace PRD800 (PRD900, PSR800, PSR900, Ferguson SRD5, SRD16, Grundig STR1, Maspro SRE250S/1, SRE350S/1, Goodmans ST700, Manhattan 850, 950, Toshiba TU-SD200, SAT99, Granada M/N92MR1/A, Philips STU802/05M, 824/05M) MRD950/960 and+. SATKIT 2 Fixes power supply if fuse FS1 has melted. If fuse has not melted, you probably need only RELKIT 2. RELKIT 2 is highly recommended. Order at the same time as Satkit to save postage. RELKIT 2 contains C7, 47uF/400v which can cause PSU failure. It is not included in the SATKIT for two reasons: 1) it does not fail very often and adds to the kit cost and 2) if it has failed then you will definitely need all the other capacitors in the RELKIT as well. You can order C7 separately if you wish. Pace SS9000 (SS9200, SS9210, MRD920, Ferguson SRV1, Grundig GIRD2000, GIRD3000, Philips STU801, Network 9000, 9200, Bush IRD150, Nokia SAT1500, Maspro SRE250S, SRE350S, SRE450S, Alba SAT6600, Finlux SR5700, Thomson SRS4). Note: Check like this to see if Transformer T2 has failed: Remove T2 from the board. There are four pins on the primary (power input) side. The outer two pins are connected by a low-resistance winding. The inner two pins are connected by a low-resistance winding. Measure between inner and outer pins. The resistance should be high (MegaOhms). RELKIT 3 Amstrad SRD510 (SRD520, SRD540, SRD545, SRD550). Fix/upgrade power supply and get rid of "streaky pictures." If R604 (2R2) is NOT open-circuit then this kit is what you need. SATKIT 3A Additional semiconductors etc. if required for RELKIT 3. Fit this kit if fusible resistor R604 (2R2 fusible) is open circuit. Fit RELKIT 3 first. RELKIT 4 Amstrad SRD500. Fix/upgrade power supply and get rid of "streaky pictures." SATKIT 4A Additional semiconductors etc. if required for RELKIT 4. Fit RELKIT 4 first. SATKIT 5 Amstrad SRX320 (SRX340 etc.) export model. SATKIT 6 Pace D100 (D150) SATKIT 7 Churchill D2MAC decoder SATKIT 8 Pace MSS100 and Prima SATKIT 9 Pace MSS200 (MSS300, Pace Apollo) (Relkit 9 recommended if electrolytics are discoloured or streaky pictures). SATKIT 10 Pace MSS500 (MSS1000) RELKIT10 + SATKIT10 Repairs PSU if fuse FS1 has melted. If FS1 has not melted then you probably need only RELKIT 10. (Note: RELKIT10 + fan kit highly recommended! Order them at the same time. Save postage.) Neither kit includes the 100uF/400v capacitor. Order separately if required. (Seldom fails). SATKIT 11 Ferguson SRD4 SATKIT 12 Echostar SR5500 (early PSU with adjuster - ask first) (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) SATKIT 13 Echostar SR6500 (SR7700) (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) SATKIT 14 Amstrad SRD600 (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) SATKIT 15 Mimtec (Sorensen type PSU only) SATKIT16 Amstrad SRD700 (SR950, SRX100, 301,501,502,1002,2001, SRD2000, SAT250) SATKIT17 BT SVS300/Houston 1002/Echostar SR90/ Philips STU1400/13G/Seemann TS4200 (RELKIT 17 highly recommended! Cures "no decoder messages" and "streaky pictures"). If R805 (2R2) is NOT open-circuit then you probably need only the RELKIT 17. SATKIT18 Amstrad SRD2000 SATKIT19 Bush IRD155 SATKIT20 Grundig GRD150/250/280/300/GSR1Minerva/Matsui RD600/Maspro ST5 SATKIT 21 Amstrad SRD650 SATKIT 22 Philips STU-909 SATKIT 23 Nokia SAT1700 (a bag full of surface-mount parts - you need good eyesight!) SATKIT 25 Maspro ST-8 (NO LONGER AVAILABLE) SATKIT 26 Philips FilmNet BBD-900 and BBD-901 Power Supply repair kit SATKIT 28 Philips Visiopass Power Supply Repair kit SATKIT 29 Philips STU-902 Power Supply Repair kit SATKIT 30 Philips CTU-900, CTU-916 Power Supply Repair kit SATKIT 31 Nokia ACU8152 Power Supply Repair kit SATKIT 32 Pace BskyB2200 PSU kit HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) HAPPY CUSTOMERS Dear Martin. What a service! I only sent you my email on Saturday and today (Monday) I already have all the parts. The receiver now works as new with clean pictures. Even MAC channels are better now! (Less grainy). Once again may I say thank you for your speedy and very helpful service. (And I only spent about £5 !!) Alex James   HOW DO I PLACE AN ORDER? Switch Mode Transformers TX-800 for PRD800 etc. and D100, D150, Churchill. (TX-800 hardly ever fails. Biggest problem is a cracked ferrite core). TX-9000 for SS9000 etc. (Black coloured ones *never* fail)** TX-510 for SRD510, SRD520 ? ask TX-540 for SRD540, SRD545, SRD550 ? ask TX-OPT for Optimac (No longer available) TX-300 for BT SVS300/Houston 1002/Echostar SR90 ? ask Dual-wound input inductor (state model) ** Measure your TX-9000 transformer as follows: There are four pins on the primary (power input) side. The outer two pins are connected by a low-resistance winding. The inner two pins are connected by a low-resistance winding. Measure between inner and outer pins. The resistance should be high (MegaOhms). Capacitors C-900 for Pace PRD and SS models 47µF/400v C-510 for Amstrad models 68µF/400v C-650 for Amstrad SRD650 150µF/400v C-1000 for Pace MSS500/1000 100µF/400v PLEASE check your order on receipt. We DO make mistakes and we don't mind it if you need to ask! (Well, OK, I might make sarcastic comments but you can probably give as good as you get :o) HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) Tuner Modules Cambridge RD480 (No longer available) Cambridge ARD200 (No longer available) Pace SS9xxx single-input tuner kit (state Hitachi or Sharp) 2GHz tuner kit for PRD800 Pace PRD900 2GHz (new) Amstrad SRD510/520/SRX320 etc. (used) £9.95 Amstrad SRD540/545 (No longer available) Amstrad SRD550/SRX350 (No longer available) Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a PRD tuner Go to this page for advice before ordering/fitting a SS9xxx tuner New tuners available only to special order. Payment in advance please. RF Modulators available for early Pace SSxxx, Amstrad and other makes. Please state model. Prices may be out of date as this page is no longer updated! HOW TO ORDER - go to our Sky Digibox web site (see link top left) This Web Site was created entirely on a Macintosh computer Return to SatCure index page Copyright ©1997 Martin Pickering Version 1.5 updated on September 23, 2003 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.  pace repair kits. sat power supply repair kits.    Send this page address - CLICK HERE - to a friend !