DIY Satellite Receiver Kit

[HB13DISH]

I am wondering if there is a DIY satellite receiver kit that one can build, or if any member was crazy enough to make an attempt at designing or building such a receiver.
My aim is to understand how the receiver works by building it from scratch.
I don't want to make anything sophisticated. Just the simplest FTA version for not more than 10-20 FTA channels (TV and Radio)
I know that you can buy a very good old receiver for few quids, but where is the fun in that?
Anybody interested to look deeper into this with me?

 

[T_G]

Ahh the good old days where I used to build my own amplifier from a kit. I used to have one, can't remember the name maybe SG 1000. Worked ok for a long time as well...unfortunately I cannot help you as my electronics is crap...

 

[HB13DISH]

Yes T_G, these were the good old days.
Last kit that I bought was from Elektor and it was a PC Teletext gadget so that I can print the information that was in some of the cable TV channels.
After I built it it worked great, but then I had a simpler solution from the satellite receiver that was installed afterwards. If only I knew.

Anyway, no more responses so far so I guess people are contented with just buying a receiver and don't have the time to spend to build one.

 

[T_G]

Maybe worth posting this in the workbench section? Most of the technical mineded users lurk in there

 

[HB13DISH]

Good idea. Thanks.
Perhaps a kind mod can move it there.

 

[Llew]

OK, moved as requested.

Before even thinking about such a project, you will have to equip yourself with a load of expensive test gear, chip insertion and soldering equipment etc.

Then comes the question of construction. A professionally made circuit board CAD drawn to you spec.

Sourcing of chips, tuner and so on.

My brain hurts just thinking about it

Llew

 

[Topper]

There are no Philips Electronic Kits for an STB are there?

 

[HB13DISH]

Thanks Llew.

If you know of any good technical books on the subject, I would appreciate it very much.

I looked for kits, but couldn't find any.
The technology for the satellite receivers has improved a lot over the last few years and from what I have seen so far there are some special chips to do a lot of the necessary functions and with less parts.
The problem is that such manufacturers deal with OEMs with commitments to buy huge quantities and wouldn't respond to private requests.
They have what is called evaluation boards which should give the developer a big head start.

It is a shame really since it should be possible to build a simple sat receiver for just few channels without any sophistication, just like a simple FM or AM radio.
I can deal with the hardware side, but it the software that I am worried about.

So if anybody wants to join me in this project, welcome aboard.

 

[BM300]

With so many very cheap recievers around, is it worth taking so much trouble and expence to build such a unit?

 

[HB13DISH]

Hi BM300,
Yes.
As I mentioned in my first post, It is for learning purposes mainly.

 

[modrih]

Hi!

maby anybody have schematics of simple digital sat receiver (no gui, only channel's Tv) and description, i will make this.

sorry for my english,

 

[Llew]

Hi modrith

There's not such a thing as a 'simple' digital satelllite receiver. Back in the analogue days, if I recall there were one or two DIY projects in magazines such as the UK Television Magazine, but constructing digital receivers would need test equipment at a price way out of the reach of the DIYer.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Most designs for the free to air receivers these days revolve around a single chip solution

Broadcom for example with their BCM7317

amd STi with the 551X chip (due to be superceded by the Omega 2 / 552X)