Looking for a very old and obsolete DSTV decoder

[AdrianR]

Hi all,

Does anyone still have a very old Panasat IRD 520 decoder or know of someone who has one? I am looking for one to add to my collection of old DSTV boxes.

It has to be this specific one though, because I have all the others. It came out circa 1996.

It would also be great if it has the manual with it too.

 

[ponder]

You have a weird hobby

 

[Beachless]

Pics?

 

[brianj74]

I am still using a mk1 dekodeerder. Works fine

 

[scudsucker]

You could probably just ask DSTV.

They have loads of old stuff hanging around.

I may be able to assist, PM me.

 

[AdrianR]

Hi guys! Thanks for the replies. Yes, it's true, it is a very weird hobby.

Basically, it looked like this:

Thanks scudsucker, I will.

 

[AdrianR]

Just want to ask, did anyone own and operate this box back in the day?

 

[calypso]

My dad used to have one. That was a long time ago.

 

[Beachless]

Never even seen one. The dsd 660 is about as old as it gets.

 

[Milano]

I remember the Panasat decoder by name. Multichoice had just launched DSTV. Installation including decoder and dish was advertised at R5k. The installer installed the dish for R2.5k. Then claimed that decoders were unavailable because the factory burnt down. Then advised the decoder alone would be R5k once available. They never could be trusted, even back then.

 

[AdrianR]

Yes, that's true. They were very expensive back then. The service was also run from the Panamsat 4 or PAS 4 satellite. Back then, digital satellite TV was pretty new, everything else (non-DStv) was basically analogue, on satellite! Try finding analogue channels on satellite today - pretty much non-existent.

 

[Milano]

Haha, yes. They were more unprofessional back then but just as rude. The post office mentality was strong. In the very early months of DStv launch, you actually booked installation directly with Multichoice. Took several weeks of arguing with them to remove their overpriced equipment and cancel the agreement built on lies. They tried to pretend that I booked with the installer (so they were not responsible for installation) in spite of them being the only party with the installer's contact number, having directly accepted the installation appointment, and having advertised the price. Eventually, in later months, they cottoned on to 'separating' themselves from installers so they would reduce comeback from 3rd rate installations and equipment. There were two decoders initially offered, what was the other? Fragments of memory, tell me Sun&Moon or was an early model Pace around back then?

 

[Number Six]

I think i've still got a original Pace DSR600 lying around in the garage. Think we got it in about 1996. Was R4000 just for the decoder.

 

[AdrianR]

Haha, yes, it was a Pace DVR 500, it was imported from Britain in late 1995 to supplement the market, but was eventually more of a gap-filler for the Panasat, which could not be produced because of the fire.

I actually have one, and it still works!

Doesn't have enough memory to capture all the channels, but on some it still displays info and so on. It still tries to scan them in when you plug it in. There's a big Multichoice logo in the top left corner when it's scanning.

Yes, and then came the DSR600, which ran in parallel basically with the Panasat IRD 520, until about late 1997 when the Panasat IRD 630 came out. Then in 1998, they did the first proper channel numbering system with bouquets and stuff, and that came out with a new decoder basically, the Panasat IRD 642. They also built a UEC IRD 642, which looked the same, but was exported to Australia for the Optus Aurora platform which just started back then (also doesn't exist anymore since 2013, now called VAST), which was almost something like our free Sentech channels we get on satellite here - public broadcasters and local free commercial channels. For them it was ABC, SBS and Channel 7, 9 and 10 programs, and local radio/satellite music channels, just like Sentech does here with SABC, e.tv. and stuff like Red Cap Radio for MrPrice, Hypermarket radio for Pick 'n Pay Hypermarket etc.

I think the Sun Moon Star came around that time too, or could be earlier, I'm not sure.