TUNE IN SATELLITE

We have the SmartSat Oyster system - now this stuff can get a bit tehnical and I don't profess to be an expert on the finer points (hopefully, someone else will chip in with additional info).

Optus C1 is the correct satellite (Optus website says "Note: Aurora free-to-air services are currently carried on the Optus C1 satellite, which is located at the 156 degrees East orbital slot.")

Now you often need to leave the system turned on for some time to receive any software updates for the system to operate correctly ("From time to time Optus finds it necessary to conduct maintenance on the satellite network. During such a maintenance period, any smartcard not in its decoder may not receive satellite updates, resulting in a possible loss of service. For this reason, we recommend leaving the decoder in standby power mode, with the card left in the decoder, whenever the decoder is not in use.")

Normally, if the sat system has found the channel, but there is a card problem, there would be a message something like "Service Scrambled". If you are not receiving a message like that, I think there is a settings problem with your decoder box, rather than a problem with Optus Card?

Available channels and services: Site Link

Beyond this, my technical expertise is exhausted I am afraid.

Just noticed that you said that Austar is working (we use this also). This strongly implies a porblem with your Optus Card, rather than the decoder.

Now, if you have a decoder which accepts two cards, we have found by experience that the system is unreliable if both cards are inserted at same time, so trying using it with the Optus card only (NB: Daniel from Sound In Motion warns that you should only remove the card, not the cam which is the plastic receptable that the card slots into. The cam has very fine connectors on it, and damage can lead to the whole decoder having to be replaced).

Leave system tunred on, with Optus Card only, for about 24 hours in case there is a need for software updates.

If it still doesn't work, then attention would turn to the card: now when we originally activated our card, it turned out that Optus had not activated it although they said they had, and a second request for activation got it working.

If possible, try your Optus card in someone else's system and see if it operates successfully there.

Thanks Phil and Lorraine
I will leave the system on, I have not been doing that, Then I will contact Danial tomorrow if all else fails
Thanks
Lyn

Might be a in the wrong orbit here butfor what it's worth ???????/
We take a "dish" with us when out and about to watch free to air but when at home often bring in our sat. decoder to watch free to air in the house (terestrial reception a bit dodgy in our area sometimes), we hook it up to our Austar dish on the roof but frequencies thru Austar ar different to the free to air although coming thru the same sat. optus c1. It's the LNB freq. we have to change and a very simple job done thru the installation menu. From memory austar is 10700 and free to air is 11300. Anyway more fuel for the brain matter ??

Cheers Tony

Lyn,
Take it from me, someone who has been involved with satellite TV for many years that what you have done is correct. The fact that you receive EXPO and NITV confirms that the equipment is working properly, that you are on the correct satellite but that your Optus Aurora card is not activated.
In order for it to be activated you need to have the system online to the C1 satellite then call 1300301681 to activate ABC and SBS, WIN and GWN if in W.A.
Call 1800501063 to activate 7 Central if not in W.A.
Call 1300301683 to activate Imparja if not in W.A.
If you're still having problems, PM or email me and I'll assist you.
Dave

Thanks every one for your help, but I still have not got the ellusive ABC or SBS.
I have phoned twice now and they assure me that my card was ACTIVATED on the 2/6/08.
Danial assures me that he will get me going, but I have not heard back from him since Tuesday.
He thinks that maybe it is my card, and was going to talk to Brian, I presumed that he was trying to get me another card just to try (to eliminate if it is a card problem) He had me turn the power off completely then start again, leave the TV alone for 30 minutes for a longer search.
I've spat the dummy for a couple of days, will try again over the weekend
Lyn

Very true about lack of service. We bought our sat system from a snake-oil salesman a couple of years ago. When he set it up he dismissed the Optus on-screen warnings about pirated systems and assured us we had nothing to worry about. Within twelve months our hard-wired (no card slot) decoder was rendered redundant by Optus, leaving us and many others with a useless electronic box.
Service? It went out the window as our friendly seller went to ground and we never heard back from him. Cobradave? Hmmmm.....now that name rings a bell....
FWIW, we bought a new box and an official card from SatPlus who had few kind words to say about this particular gentleman.

Your fabricated imagination is so far from reality. Get a life, preferably far away from mine.
THE END.

Is this where we enter our names to the long list of dissatisfied customers of CobraDave's?