Review of NII Norsat International Inc.'s MICROSAT 150 satellite receiver by Robert Smathers (roberts@nmia.com) May 20, 1996 (updated October 2002 with a clarification about what satellite signals it is designed to receive) INTRODUCTION ============ The Microsat 150 is an analog satellite receiver. There is no capability to receive DVB or Digicipher II digital signals. What makes the Microsat 150 (MS150) stand apart from other consumer receivers in the market? For me, what makes it stellar is the multimedia capacity, the ability to control it from a computer interface, data transmission decoding (especially ATIS decoding), FM2 reception, the Spectrum Analyst(TM) feature, and Panda audio mode. It also has 99 memory channels (best used for your favorite services, both audio and video) and a separate Infrared (IR) controller allows one to control the receiver if they don't have a computer or the computer is not turned on at the moment. The absolute best way to use the receiver to its fullest is by the computer interface. With a program that can transmit Windows desktop images (active windows and icons), you can control the MS150 from a remote location. In that situation, you will not be able to view the monitor, but that is not a problem (there is a On Screen Display (OSD) window you can open and it'll show you the same data you can see if you were watching a monitor). Before going into the interface (and the configuration options of the many menus for operation), let me comment on the multimedia aspects. MULTIMEDIA RECEIVER =================== To truly use the multimedia part, one should use a video card and a sound card. Assuming one has both of those components, you can place the video on your desktop (as part of the main Control Panel) and you can listen to the sound of that service. One can also do "thumbnails" of a satellite -- the receiver will scan all the channels on the satellite and present screen captures of each one. To go to a particular channel on the satellite, one double clicks on the thumbnail image and the receiver will tune to that channel. Other things that can be done include aligning the video to the overlay window in the Control Panel, color control of that video in the overlay window, motion enhancement that can end up in reduced motion artifacting when viewing live video, an adjustment for the display for interlaced computer video modes, a gray scale capture, a copy and paste for portions of the video display, a freeze video function, a grab frame function, and load and save image functions. I cannot comment on how well those video multimedia functions work, since I don't have a video card. The info above came from the MS150 manual. COMPUTER INTERFACE - THE MAIN CONTROL PANEL =========================================== Now, on to the computer interface. The interface requires Windows 3.1. The main control panel offers many functions: Data Terminal Window, Virtual Remote Control, On Screen Display Window, Spectrum Analyst(TM), Volume/Tone control, Channel Info/Settings Window, Mute/Unmute, Remove/Change On-Screen Info, Screen Snapshot, Thumbnail Channel Scan, Direct Channel Access Window, Channel Up/Down, and a About Box. The Data Terminal is a window that allows you to work with data streams (another super function of the MS150 that other consumer receivers don't offer). The easiest data streams a typical user might want to decode include Skylink, Planet Connect and ATIS (Automatic Transponder Identification System). Skylink and Planet Connect streams are easily decoded just for the price of a subscription (you won't need to buy their demodulator box -- the MS150 acts as that). For ATIS, no subscription fee is required (just the knowledge of what frequency the ATIS is on). The Data Terminal has a pull-down menu system. The "File" menu has Open/Close Log File options and an Exit option. The "Debug" menu lets you examine computer parameters, such as Internal RAM, EEPROM, External RAM, API RAM Table, AGC Readout, and Satellite Table. The "Comm" menu has an Echo Data toggle, a Data Settings setup, a Interface Settings setup, and a Parity Replace option. The Virtual Remote Control brings up a remote control window, with many of the keys on it doing the same functions as the actual IR remote control that comes with the receiver. The On Screen Display is a window that shows what the OSD of the receiver is displaying (handy if you aren't near a monitor). The Spectrum Analyst(TM) is a great function of this receiver. It scans the baseband of a transponder (0 to 5 MHZ, 5 to 8.5 MHZ, or 0 to 8.5 MHZ) and in about a minute or two, the plot of the spectrum is displayed in its own window with the carriers (and the frequency scale, for the most part done in steps of .1 MHZ, across the bottom of the graph). This is very handy for analyzing FM2 carriers, Audio subcarriers (called SAV for Subcarrier Above Video in MS150 notation/usage) or both. With the initial version of the software that came with the receiver, it only plotted the spectrum. With the current software release, there is a function that will allow you to move among the carriers the MS150 found and have the highlighted carrier automatically be tuned in, thus saving the time and hassle of figuring out the frequency of a carrier from the graph then tuning it in with the receiver. The Volume/Tone control is a window that you can control the volume/tone (bass and treble)/relative balances of the RF Modulator and the BA Output (Buffered mono audio output that one can use to drive headphones or amplified speakers). The Channel Info/Settings box is a window with many settings that one can enter and have the receiver execute (such as going to a particular satellite, downlink frequency, audio subcarrier frequency, video bandwidth, audio bandwidth, data channel frequency, data settings). Many (if not all) of these settings can also be accessed from the various OSD menus (to be described later). The Mute/Unmute is a toggle to mute or unmute the audio coming out of the receiver (useful if one is watching TVRO and the phone rings or there is some other type of interruption). In reality, I've found it much easier to hit the mute button on the MS150 than to find my TV controller to hit its mute button. Remove/Change On-Screen Info just cancels any currently displayed OSD Menu. Screen Snapshot does a screen grab of the current video image. Thumbnail scans the satellite and displays in one picture a screen grab of each channel on that satellite. Direct Channel Access Window is a entry box that allows you to type in the satellite and transponder you want to go to, or the Microsat channel number you want to go to. The Channel Up/Down buttons go up and down the programmed 99 channel memory. The About Box displays version information. ON SCREEN DISPLAY MENUS - REGULAR MENUS ======================================= There are many OSD menus -- the variety and options for each one make the MS150 a very highly configurable receiver. I consider that a very important aspect since many things can be set to my tastes (i.e. video bandwidth, audio subcarrier bandwidth, video level). OSD MAIN MENU The Main Menu has options to allow for fine tuning, volume control, bass level, and treble level. OSD CHANNEL MENU The Channel Menu has options for name, satellite name, channel lock, simulcast, setting a password, deleting a channel, and creating a new channel. The Name function allows one to name the memory location. A bunch of service names (i.e. World Harvest, ABC, FOX, Zmusic) are included in a list to choose from, as well as generic names (i.e. Satellite, Radio, Unnamed, Special). The Satellite Name is used for programming new satellites. The satellite names consist of one letter and one digit. This notation is highly configurable since all letters (A-Z) exist and each letter can be used with the numbers 0-9. The Channel Lock feature is for setting parental locked channels. Simulcast is used to send satellite audio out the external audio output and allows local cable or over-the-air signals to be viewed on a television via the RF channel 3/4 modulator (when the Antenna In connector is hooked up to the cable or TV antenna). Set Password allows for setting and entering passwords used for parental and menu locks. Delete a Channel allows for deleting the current channel. Create a Channel allows for adding to the favorite channel list the current tuned channel. OSD AUDIO MENU The options are for Audio Mode, Audio Band, Audio Boost, Audio Tuning, Data Carrier, and Make a Radio Station. Audio Mode is the setting for audio bandwidth. Supported modes are Mono Wide, Mono Narrow, External, Data Narrow, Data Wide, and Panda and Panda Wide. The external audio mode is for using an external audio source, such as a VCR or decoder. Audio Band is a selection between SAV and FM2. Audio Boost is for those quieter audio channels -- it amplifies the audio. Audio Tuning is used to set the audio frequency. Data Carrier is used to set the Data frequency for use in decoding data streams. Make a Radio Station is a function that copies the current channel settings into another channel for use in radio audio subcarrier listening. A good real life example of the usage is to go to an already-programmed channel that is tuned for the Midwest Sports Channel and set the audio to 6.2 for WCCO-AM and use the "Make a Radio Station" setting. It will use a unused channel location for the copy of the current settings and it will set other parameters so that the new channel will have a "There Is No Television Signal On This Channel" message on the screen and the audio will be WCCO-AM. Had "Make a Radio Station" not been used, there would have been a muting of the audio with the "There Is No Television Signal On This Channel" message (WCCO-AM would not have been heard). OSD VIDEO MENU The options are External AV, Video Frequency, Video Filter, Video Invert, Polarization, and Decoder Type. External AV selects the video input for the current channel. Options: Auto(int): Video was found on this channel Auto(ext): Video was not found on Aux input (if you have a decoder) Aud/Vid: Audio and Video are locked to Aux Input Video: Audio is from satellite, video is external Off: Audio and video always come from satellite Video Frequency is the downlink frequency setting. Video Filter is the video bandwidth. Normal is 27 MHZ and Narrow is 16 MHZ. Video Invert does just what it says. Polarization sets the polarity for the current channel. Decoder Type determines what type of decoder output will be sent to an external decoder. The settings are Standard, VC II, Oak, or BMAC. OSD MAGIC MENU The manual says it is for manual control of the internal expansion I/O ports (and works if one had a MS150 with an internal option module installed). OSD OPTIONS MENU The settings include Auto Dish Positioning, Auto Video Tune, Auto Skew, Version Number, Lock Menus, C Band Channel Number Toggle, Auto Message Display, and Transponder Scan Enabled. Auto Dish Positioning can be used with the optional power supply, since it involves peaking a dish on a satellite for maximum signal strength. (see the following Miscellaneous Section for details on the external power supply). Auto Video Tune maximizes picture quality on a on-going basis. Auto Skew peaks the polarity settings. Version Number displays what version of the MS150 software is being used (as well as a MS150 Unit ID Number that you can give to subscription data providers). Lock Menu allows for the inaccessablity of the entire menu system other than the OSD Main Menu. C Band Channel Number Toggle affects how C-band channels appear on the on- screen satellite and channel indicator. If On, it shows the satellite and the C-band transponder number. If Off, it shows just the satellite name. Auto Message Display controls if on-screen messages form network control are displayed on the screen immediately or held in memory with just a on-screen indicator that messages are waiting to be read. It's used only in private data network usage. Transponder Scan Enabled is also used for private data networks -- it is an option to scan all programmed data channels if the control channel is lost. OSD DATA MENU The options are Audio Tuning, Data Carrier, Data Mode, Data Invert, Total Bytes, Comm Errors F/O, Async Data Rate, and Data Boost. Audio Tuning is the tuning of the program audio/radio subcarrier frequency. Data Carrier is the tuning of the data carrier frequency. Data Mode is a set of bits to determine various things, such as Isochronous or Asynchronous data, Bypass mode, Encrypted data stream, 2 stop bits, 9 data bits, flow control, and passthrough mode. Data Invert selects the data polarity. Total Bytes is number of bytes sent since the data decoding process began (or since the byte count was reset to zero). Com Errors F/O is a count of Framing/Overflow errors. Async Data Rate is the baud rate when receiving Asynchronous data. Data Boost is an amplification of low-level data carriers. ON SCREEN DISPLAY MENUS - SERVICE MODE ====================================== The service mode allows a few more menus that installers and other technicians can use to setup the MS150. OSD LNB MENU The two significant options are LNB Adjust and LNB Frequency. LNB Adjust allows for setting the LNB voltages that trigger voltage-switching LNBFs to change polarity and/or frequency bands. LNB Frequency sets what type of frequency the connected LNB is (North American standards, European Ku, European DBS, S-band, Telecom, etc). OSD SKEW MENU This menu basically just sets up the skew parameters. OSD DISH MENU This menu only appears when the optional power supply is used. East limit, West limit, and the current dish position are displayed, as well as Auto Limit Set (using mechanical limits for East and West ends), Seek Satellite, and Order Channels by Position, which will sort all memory channels by position, polarity, and frequency in order to reduce wear and tear on actuator/polarizers. OSD MONITOR MENU This menu is full of "debug"-like info -- much of the info is not useful to the MS150 user, but is very useful should technical support be needed. The only useful features to the normal user is the video level and attenuation levels and a setting for the target video level. OSD SERVICE MENU Options include Standard Baseband, Polarizer Type, Interface Rate, Flow Control, Memory Transfer(Out), Erase All Channels, Total Reset, and Sync Lock. Standard Baseband sets the default baseband that is sent to an external descrambler. Polarizer Type sets the specs for the polarizer in use. The two types are 1-2 ms pulse and 0-255 = 0-5V PWM/switch Interface rate sets the baud rate for the computer interface Flow Control sets the hardware handshaking for systems where the output of the receiver is connected to a printer. Memory Transfer(Out) allows the programming from one MS150 to be transferred to another MS150 using a null modem cable. Erase All Channels clears all channels and sets up either a 32 channel Ku receiver format or a 24 channel C receiver format. Total Reset resets the MS150 to factory defaults. Sync Lock disables video from the video output port on the rear panel, while video is still able to be output from the VCR Video output. OSD TEST MENU The test menu has some info for service personnel, such as indication of the levels on the CPU pins and a real time monitor (various data things with no labeling as to what data means what). OSD NETWORK MENU This is used in a private data network -- various info given is Unit ID, Missed Packets, Total Packets, and Temporary Authorization codes. FRONT AND REAR PANELS ===================== On the front panel, there are no connections. There is a 2 digit LED readout (the channel display), an external input indicator and a standby/simulcast indicator. On the rear panel, there is a AC In jack -- this is where the AC adaptor that comes with the MS150 plugs into. The I/O Port is a 7 pin DIN plug that is used to connect to the computer through a serial port. The pins represent Servo +5/West/East, Ground, Buffered Audio, Servo Pulse, Serial Out, Switch Out/Dish Move, Detect/serial in, and Handshake In/Actuator Pulse. There is a Channel 3/Channel 4 switch for the RF Modulator. A F-connector is provided for a cable to the television from the RF Modulator. A F-connector is used for the LNB Input. A 5 pin DIN plug is used for A/V Out, an output for use with a video monitor, VCR, or stereo. The pins are for Video Out, Signal Ground, Audio Out R, Audio Out L, and VCR Video Out. A 7 pin DIN makes up the A/V Loop, used for interfacing with external decoders or to other external audio and video sources. The pins are used for Audio In R, Signal Ground, Video In, Baseband Out, Audio In L, +5V (option), and External Switching. MISCELLANEOUS ============= This section is just to comment on some things that wouldn't fit in better elsewhere. ATIS decoding -- other than Spectrum Analyst(TM) and the computer interfacing, this is the greatest feature to have in a satellite receiver. One can identify where video is coming from (or who is responsible for the video feed). ATIS decoding is very simple with the MS150. The Channel Settings window and the Data Terminal window should be open. In the Channel Settings window, one selects the satellite, transponder, enters the ATIS frequency in the Data Carrier box, and checks the box "ID Channel". The Echo Data toggle is checked in the Data Terminal window and the decoded ATIS appears character by character, spaces and all. The Data Logging can be turned on to save the ATIS to a file if desired. There are 5 ways to navigate various channels. The best way is to use the Satellite Parser software and my South Scanner Satellite Services Chart. The Satellite Parser software that comes with the MS150 turns the SSSSC into a format the MS150 can read. After the parser finishes it's work on the SSSSC, one clicks on the video or audio item of their choice and the MS150 automatically goes to that satellite, transponder, audio frequency of that item. If the item is a ATIS, the MS150 will automatically decode the ATIS and display it. That is the most complete and probably fastest way of navigating the arc since all the settings are already configured from the SSSSC and Parser. Another way is by using Windows icons (see below). The other ways are the Channel Settings window, the 99 Memory Channels, or by using the Virtual Remote Control or IR Remote Control and navigating the OSD menus, but a little bit more work from the operator needs to be done with these methods. The external power supply option is recommended -- it allows for the MS150 to move the dish across the arc (and with clicking on an item in the Satellite Chart parser, using an Windows icon, or typing in a satellite and transponder in the Channel Settings window, one can be clever and come up with a form of automation). Without the power supply, the MS150 makes a good receiver for a fixed dish or a manual movable dish system. The easiest way I can think of to do automation is to use the Icon feature of the Microsat. By clicking on Windows Icons, the MS150 will tune in favorite channels. The automation would occur if a Windows utility could be found to execute a icon at a certain day and time. I'm not aware of one, but I'm sure it has to exist. And another recent development with the Microsat 150 -- the ability to tune the MS150 using the World Wide Web! The utility that makes this happen is included in the MS150 software (and is used in conjunction with a web browser). OPINIONS ======== The features I most wanted for in the receiver haven't disappointed me! The Spectrum Analyst(TM) is well worth the minute or two wait! Other than the fact it takes longer to hand-tune the spectrum with my R100 than it takes the Spectrum Analyst(TM) to scan the spectrum, the Spectrum Analyst(TM) finds those carriers I might miss if I were to hand tuning (plus the bonus is that the Spectrum Analyst(TM) will go to any carrier on the Spectrum Analyst(TM) plot and pull it up on the stereo or television with just with a click of the mouse button). The ATIS decoder is much more convenient to use and does a better job -- it takes just a few clicks to get the decoding going. No more of the way I used to do ATIS decoding (use a software package, spend about 5 minutes to hook up the interface, load and use the software, etc). I'm equally impressed with the FM2 carrier reception. It gives me high quality, hiss-free FM2 reception, even doing better than my R100 for tuning in FM2! That's why I'm using the MS150 exclusively for FM2 reception. The Panda audio mode is great to have. When wide and narrow modes don't quite do the job for some carriers, the Panda mode comes to the rescue! The overall audio and video rivals that of the best receiver I've used -- absolutely no problems with it and it's clean. On the typical signal, it's very broadcast quality -- something I wouldn't mind putting over-the-air if I owned a television station. The audio has bandwidths that are great for the wide range of audio subcarrier bandwidths that exist, especially on the Anik satellites. The MS150 is the best receiver I've had for quality reception of the various audio subcarriers on the Aniks, especially the TSN sports channel audio subcarriers. The 3 DINS plugs on the rear panel might be a problem for some, but I like it that way! That leaves the back panel free of tons of connections while allowing flexibility in what can be input or output from the MS150. The MS150 is a mono receiver -- it might keep some from even considering getting it (since it's not a stereo receiver), but that second tuner that could have been used to make it a stereo receiver more than makes up for it by doing the data carrier tuning. It's more useful for me to have it mono and do data decoding at the same time than to be a stereo receiver. Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance and capabilities of the MS150. It performs as good if not better than receivers in its price range, plus this receiver can do many things other consumer receivers can't do (no matter what the price!) SPECIFICATIONS ============== These are taken from the Norsat Microsat web page (http://www.norsat.com/norsat/microsat/) or the Microsat Operator's Manual. The Disclaimers for the Specifications: - For informational purposes only - Specifications believed correct at the time of printing - All Specifications subject to change without notice Parameter Value Units Notes Min Typ Max ===================== ==== === ==== ===== ============ Mains Input 106 120 128 VAC Mains Frequency 49 61 Hz Operating Temperature 0 40 deg C Ambient 32 104 deg F Power Supply Voltage 21.2 24 25.6 VRMS Power Supply Current .75 1.0 A LNB Supply Voltage H 17.5 18.5 19.0 V Output set to 255 LNB Supply Voltage V 13.5 14.5 15.5 V Output set to 000 LNB Supply Current 200 mA Polarizer Supply Voltage 4.0 4.8 5.5 V Polarizer Current 150 mA RECEIVER -------- Input Frequency: 950 to 1750 MHZ Input Level: -60 to -25 dBm Input Impedance: 75 Ohm Input VSWR: 3.0 Max Noise Figure: 15 dB Max Threshold (Static) 7 dB (typ.) IF Bandwidth: 27 MHZ/16 MHZ Switchable Polarization Control: Digital Proportional Servo Control LNB Voltage Switching 5V Switch LO Leakage @ Input: <-50 dBm Radiation: FCC Part 15 Class B Compliant Tuning: Digital Frequency Synthesis AUDIO ----- Tuning: Digital Frequency Synthesis External Stereo Loop IF Bandwidth: Switchable 280 KHz/90 KHz Tuning Range: 5.00 MHZ to 8.50 MHZ (SAV) .150 MHZ to 5.00 MHZ (FM2) Frequency Response: 50 Hz to 15 KHz De-emphasis: 75 ms with or without Panda (switchable) Output Impedance: Approx. 600 Ohm Unbalanced Output Level: 0 dBm (volume control adjustable) (approx. 10 dB higher with optional BA output) Tuning Step: 1 KHz Audio Signal/Noise >40 dB @ 14 dB C/N Total Harmonic Distortion: Less than 2% VIDEO ----- Standard: NTSC De-emphasis: CCIR 405-1, 525 Line Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 4.2 MHZ Dispersion Removal: >40 dB Output Level: 1 V p-p Output Impedance: 75 Ohm Unbalanced Output Polarity: Negative Sync Baseband Filtering Raw/De-emphasized/Filtered Switchable per Channel Baseband Level: 1 V p-p Baseband Output Impedance: 75 Ohm Unbalanced Video Signal to Noise: >34 dB @ 14 dB C/N Differential Gain: +/- 5% Differential Phase: +/- 5% RF MODULATOR OUTPUT ------------------- RF Output: VHF 3/4 Switchable NTSC Built-in Bypass Switch Bypass Switch Isolation: >60 dB VSWR (all ports): <3:1 Insertion Loss: 2 dB VHF 3 dB UHF Spurious (out of band): <-30 dB Spurious (in band): <-60 dB Output Level: 30 dBmV min. Relative Audio Carrier Level: -16 dB (typ.) DATA OUTPUT ----------- Tuning: Digital Frequency Synthesis Data Modulation: FSK 6.72 kHz peak deviation Modulation Format: Asynchronous 9600 Baud Isochronous (V.35 scrambled) 19200 baud Output Rate: 1200-38400 baud Levels and Timing: RS-232/V.24 Compatible ACCESSORIES ----------- Cables: Computer Interface Cable 5 pin DIN to 4 RCA A/V Cable Batteries: 2 x AAA Manuals: User's Guide - English POWER ----- Input Voltage: 24 VAC/1A Adapter Input: 120 VAC, 60 Hz MECHANICAL --------- Weight: 1.5 Kg (3 lb) Size: 215 x 280 x 44 mm (8.5 x 11 x 1.75 inches) -=-=-=-=-