ASTON Xena 2000 User Manual

USER MANUAL

XENA 2000

Date : September 2001

Edition: no 2

DVB Project number :

XENA 2000 : 1865

Congratulations for buying the Xena 2000 receiver ! This user manual will provide you with explanations

and practical advice on how to use your digital satellite receiver.

CONTENTS

1. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

2. DESCRIPTION OF YOUR SATELLITE RECEIVER

2.1 THE FRONT PANEL

2.2 THE REAR PANEL

2.3 THE REMOTE CONTROL

3. GENERAL FEATURES

4. CONNECTIONS

4.1 SIMPLE CONNECTION

4.2 CONNECTING YOUR AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT TO THE XENA

4.3 EXAMPLE OF AN ADVANCE FIXED MOUNT

4.4 EXAMPLE OF AN ADVANCE MOTORISED MOUNT

4.5 CONNECTING A MOTORISED ARM-POSITIONER ANTENNA WITH A SATSEEKER
INTERFACE CONTROL

5. FIRST INSTALLATION

5.1 GENERAL PARAMETERS

5.2 AUDIOVISUAL PARAMETERS

5.3 SATELLITE ACTIVATION AND PROGRAMMING

5.4 CHOOSING THE TYPE OF EXTERNAL MOUNT (ANTENNA AND ACCESSORIES)

5.5 AUTOMATIC CHANNEL SEARCH

5.6 ADDING AND UPDATING BOUQUETS

5.7 ADVANCED FUNCTIONS FOR A MOTORISED INSTALLATION

6. USING YOUR RECEIVER

6.1 ACCESS TO CHANNELS

6.2 RADIO MODE

6.3 AUDIO SETTINGS

6.4 MINI PROGRAMME GUIDE

6.5 TELETEXT

6.6 MULTILANGUAGE BROADCASTS

6.7 ANALOGUE PROGRAMMES (XENA 2000 ONLY)

6.8 TIMER

6.9 THE FREEZE FUNCTION

6.10 MAGNIFIER

7. LIST MANAGEMENT

7.1 THE PRINCIPLE OF MOVING AROUND LISTS

7.2 TYPES OF PROGRAMMES

7.3 REORGANISING LISTS

7.4 TRASH

7.5 FAVOURITES LISTS

7.6 ACCESS CONTROL

8. PROTECTED ACCESS

8.1 INSERTING CARDS AND MODULES

8.2 READING CARD DATA

8.3 READING PCMCIA DATA

9. VCR PROGRAMMING

10. PROGRAMME GUIDE

11. INFORMATION ON YOUR TERMINAL

12. UPDATING YOUR XENA AND YOUR PCMCIA MODULES

12.1 MANUAL UPDATING

12.2 AUTOMATIC DETECTION

13. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

14. TROUBLE SHOOTING

1. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Before switching on your XENA receiver, we recommend that you take note of the following user and
safety instructions :

- Never attempt to open the hood of the appliance

- Keep your XENA away from damp

- Your receiver emits heat while in operation; this is perfectly normal.

- Do not install it in a closed cabinet or block the ventilation slits.

- You should not place anything on the appliance (cloth, vase...)

- If you are to be absent for a long period, we recommend that

you unplug the appliance from the wall socket.

- Check that the mains voltage corresponds to that marked on the rear of your receiver.

- Do not plug it into interlocking multiplugs.

- Never clean your terminal when it is switched on. Do not use detergent or damp cloths.

- Check that your satellite and UHF antenna are well earthed, in order to avoid any risk of overload.

2. DESCRIPTION OF YOUR SATELLITE RECEIVER

2.1 THE FRONT PANEL

• (1) ON/STAND-BY button : this button is used to turn the receiver on and to put it on stand-by

• (2) Channel selector in descending order (-)

• (3) Channel selector in ascending order (+)

• (4) Multifunction screen with fluorescent video display (displays the time when the appliance is on

stand-by)

• (5) Signal indicator

• (6) Scrambled signal indicator

• (7) Stand-by indicator

• (8) Smart card and PCMCIA module slots

2.2 The REAR PANEL

• (1) Satellite dish input A : IF input 950 - 2 150 Mhz : connect the satellite dish(es) here.

• (2) Satellite dish input B.

• (3) Y/C jack : output for connecting an S-VHS video recorder for better recording quality

• (4) RCA jack audio L (left) and audio R (right) : connect a Hi-Fi amplifier here for optimum

digital sound quality

• (5) Digital RCA jack : digital audio output: connect an external amplifier equipped with a

digital input or a CD recorder, using an RCA cable.

• (6) RCA video jack : composite video output

• (7) Television Peritel Scart connector : using a Scart connector, connect to the Scart connector

input on the television

• (8) VCR Scart connector : connect your video recorder to your XENA

• (9) Decoder Scart connector : connect an analogue decoder here using a Peritel scart

connector

• (10) Auxiliary Scart connector : connect an auxiliary appliance here, such as a DVD player, an

analogue receiver

• (11) ANT IN : Ground antenna input

• (12) ANT OUT : connect this output to the UHF/VHF input of your television. This also is

used to link a second television set to your XENA.

• (13) SERIAL PORT : DO NOT CONNECT ANYTHING HERE

• These jacks are reserved for use by a qualified technician.

• (14) (+5V): for connecting a mechanical polariser

• (15) (+12V): for supplying 12V commutators

• (16) MAGN : for controlling a magnetic polariser

• (17) CURR : earth

• (18) ON/OFF switch : for switching the XENA on and off.

2.3 YOUR REMOTE CONTROL

The remote control supplied with your receiver enables you to access the various menus on the terminal.

1) STAND-BY : to switch the XENA on or to stand-by mode.

2) TV/SAT: for choosing between the various available modes

(ground, satellite, auxiliary, VCR)

3) MUTE : to cut out the sound and turn it back on again

4) EAST : to rotate the motorised dish Eastwards

5) WEST : to rotate the motorised dish Westwards.

6) AUTOFOCUS : for automatic adjustment of the position of the

motorised dish, in order to obtain an optimum signal level

7) Q (Quit) : to quit and go to the video from any menu

8) VOL + and VOL - : to adjust the volume level

9) 5 and 6 : Up and Down buttons to navigate in the menus and the lists, to change channel

in the video favourites list

10) 3 and 4 : Left and Right navigation buttons

11) Pg+ and Pg- : to go from one channel to another in the main list

to go from one page to another in the different lists

12) OK : to enter a choice

to select/deselect a bouquet or a programme in the different lists.

13) R (Return function) : to return to the previous screen in a menu

14) LIST/Index : to select the list of programmes in video mode/go to the Home page in
teletext mode

15) I+/Reveal : to obtain supplementary information on a

programme or a bouquet/ reveal hidden teletext data

16) TV GUIDE / Stop : to select the mini programme guide in video mode/ freeze a teletext

page

17) SEL / View : to select a list in video mode (main list, favourites list or radio list) / to
display teletext, transparent or full screen

18) TXT : to select teletext

19) ZOOM : to enlarge the teletext window to enlarge the reduced format digital video

window in the menu to view a selected analogue programme to obtain an analogue
picture in the case of poor reception, for tuning

20) UPDATE / Lang : to select the analogue programme modification menu. To access the
different languages in multilanguage broadcasts.

21) AUDIO/ Add : to select the audio setting menu in video mode. To add a digital bouquet,
a digital or analogue programme in the update menu.

22) DEL / Timer : to delete a programme or a bouquet in the Reorganisation menus.
To delete a programme or a bouquet in the update menu.
To select the TIMER in video mode.

23) FREEZE : to freeze a digital video screen

24) SAVE/MENU : to save the modifications made in the various menus. To select the main
menu in video mode.

25) Alphanumerical keypad* : to select a channel directly or to enter alphanumerical data in
the menus.

The coloured keys numbered 20 to 30 are also used for selecting the corresponding teletext pages.

* keyboarding alphanumerical characters : The keys 0, 1,.......8 and 9 can be used for typing letters of the

alphabet. Thus, when you type, for example, on the 3, the first letter displayed in D, when you type the
key a second time, E will be displayed and so on, until the letter you desire is displayed.

3. GENERAL FEATURES

In order to benefit fully from the advanced technology of your new satellite receiver, it is important for
your equipment (dish and accessories) to be all of high quality.

This terminal has been designed in such a way as to avoid your having to consult your usermanual
constantly.

All the controls have been studied from an “ergonomic” point of view.
In most of the menus displayed on the screen, the usable controls are clearly displayed.
However, in certain menus, for aesthetic reasons, a number of buttons have not been shown, but can be
used.

As a general rule, the OK button is used to enter
R (RETURN) button returns to the previous menu without saving, and the Q (Quit) button gives direct
access to the video from any one of the menus.

Each time you save, a logo will be displayed in the menu for a few seconds, indicating that the save is
underway. Never unplug or switch off your appliance during save : you risk causing serious damage.

your choice, the SAVE button to save modifications, the

4. CONNECTIONS

4.1 SIMPLE CONNECTION

- Connect the Hertzian antenna cable directly to the Antenna input of the video recorder.

- Connect the ANT IN input of the XENA to the Antenna OUT output of the video recorder.

- Connect the TO TV output of the XENA to the Antenna input of your television.

- Connect the TV Scart output of the XENA to the Scart input of your television.

- Connect the VCR Scart output of the XENA to the TV Scart input of the video recorder.

- Connect the satellite dish to the XENA through the IF INPUT.

- Plug the power cord into the 230-50Hz mains outlet.

Note : If your television set does not have a Scart input, or if you wish to connect a second television set to
the XENA, use the TO-TV output of the UHF modulator directly. This is set to Channel 38 by default. You
can modify this value in the AUDIO-VISUAL PARAMETERS menu (see 5.1)

4.2 CONNECTING YOUR AUDIO-VISUAL APPLIANCES TO THE XENA

4.3 AN EXAMPLE OF AN ADVANCED FIXED MOUNT

4.4 AN EXAMPLE OF AN ADVANCED MOTORISED MOUNT

4.5 CONNECTING A MOTORISED ARM-POSITIONER ANTENNA WITH A SATSEEKER
INTERFACE CONTROL

If you own a conventional arm-positioner motor, you need to insert a DiSEqC 1.2 command interpreter
of the ASTON DS100 or DS200 type, in order to be able to use it with your XENA.

5. FIRST INSTALLATION

Before using your equipment for the first time, you will need to programme your receiver and then install it
fully . After switching your receiver on for the first time, if no installation has been carried out, it will open with the

main menu. Subsequently, it will open on the last channel you were watching.

We advise you to read the programming and installation procedures attentively and to follow them carefully.

5.1 GENERAL PARAMETERS

• Press the MENU button on the remote control to go to the MAIN MENU (if this is not already the

case)

• Select PROGRAMMING (Use the 5 and 6 keys then press OK to enter)

• Select SYSTEM PARAMETERS to display the programming screen.

You indicate local time, the date, the language for your menus as well as your geographical location (latitude and
longitude) here. If you do not know these, you should consult an atlas or a map of your region.

• Set the time and the date using the numerical keypad on your remote control.

• Select the language for your menus using keys 3 and 4.

• Select the language for audio broadcast, using keys 3 and 4.

• A number of channels broadcast their programmes in several languages. In this case, you indicate your first

choice language here. You can always change it in the video mode by using the LANG button.

• Enter your Latitude and Longitude

If you have a fixed dish, these parameters are used for information only, in order for the azimuth and the angle of
elevation to be calculated for each satellite targeted, as an aid to pointing the dish. On the other hand, they are
indispensable if you use a TracSat motor.

• Activate or deactivate the BEEP, according to whether you wish there to be a sound signal each time

you use the remote control or not.

• Activate the LNB theft protection, according to whether you wish an alarm to go off when the LNB is

disconnected from the coaxial cable or the antenna.

The volume of the beep is preset. It can not be adjusted by using the remote control.

• Enter your settings with the OK or SAVE buttons.

5.2 AUDIO-VISUAL PARAMETERS

You programme your audio-visual appliance here (type of television, video recorder...)

• Go to the main menu and select PARAMETERS (Use 5 and 6 then OK to enter)

• Select AUDIO-VISUAL PARAMETERS

• Set the various parameters corresponding to your equipment (16:9 or 4:3 television, mono or stereo,

VCR, DVD...), using keys 5 and 6 to move around and 3 and 4 to modify the parameters.

• Press OK or SAVE to enter your settings.

5.3 SATELLITE ACTIVATION AND PROGRAMMING

Before using your equipment, you will need to choose the satellites you wish to install. All the satellites preset are
selected and active, by default.

• In the PROGRAMMING menu, select SATELLITE PARAMETERS

• To select or deselect a satellite, use keys 5 and 6 to move the cursor to the satellite desired, then press

OK to activate it. You can deactivate it by pressing OK again.

The active satellites are displayed in blue, and the number of active satellites is indicated bottom left.

• To modify the name of a satellite and to programme the type of search (analogue and/or digital) for

each satellite, use keys 5 and 6 to go to the satellite you wish to programme, then press the RED
button.

- Use the alphanumerical keypad to modify the name if necessary

- Activate or deactivate the analogue or digital search for each satellite (use keys 3 and 4).

• To add a new satellite to the list, choose a satellite of the of the SATxx type at the end of the list (use

keys 5 and 6) then press the RED button.

- Use the alphanumerical keypad to enter the name of the new satellite.

- Use the alphanumerical keyboard and keys 3 and 4 to programme the angle and the direction of
the satellite

- Activate or deactivate your analogue or digital satellite search (use keys 3 and 4)

Press OK to enter, or R if you do not wish to save the modifications.

• To change search rates :

- Choose the satellite you wish to programme (use the keys 5 and 6)

- Press the GREEN button

- Select the rate to be modified (use keys 3 and 4)

- Use the alphanumerical keypad to enter the search rate

- Activate or deactivate the rate (use keys 3 and 4)

- Press OK to enter your settings or R if you do not want to save the modifications.

Search rates for each satellite are already preset in the factory. It may happen that operators modify them.

When you have finished activating and programming your satellites, press SAVE to enter your selection.

The total number of satellites activated is indicated bottom left. This number should be at least equal to the
number of satellites you wish to use.
For each satellite, the corresponding parameters will be displayed in the right-hand window. You can
modify these parameters and eventually configure a new satellite (in addition to the 31 satellites provided by
default, you can create 18 more, as indicated at the beginning of chapter 5.3).

5.4 CHOOSING THE TYPE OF EXTERNAL MOUNT (DISH AND ACCESSORIES)

Here you specify the type of mount corresponding to your installation.

a) INSTALLATION WITH FIXED DISH(ES)

♦ Select DISH PARAMETERS in the PROGRAMMING menu.

♦ Choose 1 FIXED INPUT or 2 FIXED INPUTS, according to whether your installation uses the two

satellite inputs of your XENA or not (Use keys 5 and 6, then press OK to enter).

♦ Firstly, use the CH+ and CH- buttons to select the type of box used in your installation, if you have 2

LNB on your dish or 2 dishes pointed in different directions (DISEqC with 2 or 4 inputs, ToneBurst
with 2 inputs, commutator 0 / 12 V). Choose the “cable” option if you have only one single LNB
linked directly with your XENA terminal.

♦ Press 5, then 3 and 4, to move the window and select the dish you wish to programme. Each time, use

the CH+ and CH- buttons to specify the type of LNB you use (Universal 1, Universal 2, Band C,
Polarised Band C, all types of Mono Band, or Wide Band). You can also select “none” if no LNB is
connected to one of the two or four inputs, if you use a commutation box. Recommence the operation
for each LNB then press OK.

♦ In the following menu, specify the satellite towards which your dish is pointed. Use keys 3 and 4 to

select the dish and the CH+ and CH- buttons to attribute a satellite to it.

Remember that you can choose only those satellites you have previously activated in the main satellite list (see
paragraph 5.2).

Signal quality and level are indicated bottom left. If they are insufficient, check that your dishes are correctly aligned
and adjust them in order to obtain an optimum signal. If you are certain that your dish are correctly aligned and if
there is still no signal, check that the dish-pointing parameters (frequency, symbol rate and polarisation) are correct.

♦ To modify the dish-pointing parameters, press the OK button; a window appears in which you can

select parameters other than those set by default (frequencies, symbol rate, polarisation and SKEW, if
you use a Wide Band LNB). You can also check that the analogue signal level is sufficient by
modifying the type of pointing (use keys 3 and 4).

♦ Recommence the operation for each dish, then press SAVE to enter your new parameters.

b) INSTALLATION WITH A MOTORISED DISH

♦ In the TYPE OF INSTALLATION menu, select ONE MOTORISED INPUT or MOTORISED

INPUT A AND FIXED B if you own a fixed dish connected to input B.

♦ Using the CH+ and CH- buttons, select the type of motor (DISEqC 1.2 or 2.3 horizon-to-horizon

actuator, arm-positioner for a dish less than 1.2m or arm-positioner for a dish less than 3m diameter)

♦ Press 5 to move the window and select the type of LNB (Universal 1, Universal 2,...), using the CH+

and CH- buttons. Press OK.

Go to the motor settings menu, select SATELLITE ACTIVATION to commence activating the satellites
you wish to include in your search.
Here you specify which satellites will be accessible in the automatic search mode.

♦ Scan through the satellite list (use keys 5 and 6), then activate or deactivate the satellites by pressing

OK. Then press 3.

The number of satellites selected in indicated bottom left.

♦ Select DISH ALIGNMENT (USE KEYS 5 AND 6, then press OK to enter). The dish alignment screen

will be displayed.

Then press OK again.

• Using 3 and 4, choose the satellite towards which you wish to point your dish

• Select your type of pointing (analogue or digital)

• If you use a Wide Band LNB, set the horizontal and

vertical SKEW.

• Check that the pointing parameters (frequency, symbol rate and polarisation) are correct.

It is necessary to tune SKEW for both horizontal and vertical polarisation for each satellite to be installed.

• If you use an ASTON Tracsat DH12 or DH23 model, select automatic tracking, then press OK. If this

search is unsuccessful, use the semi-automatic mode.

In order to have a clear understanding of the DiSEqC norm, you will need to consult the user notice of your motor.
Before using your motor, ensure that it has been installed and configured by a qualified installer.

• If you do not have an ASTON motor, select the semi-automatic mode, then press OK. Once the motor

has stopped, use the EAST and WEST buttons to readjust your dish pointing direction, until you
obtain a signal, then the AUTOFOCUS button, to look for the optimal receiving position.

• Press OK to choose another satellite and check your dish-pointing direction again, or RETURN to go

back to the MOTOR SETTING menu.

• Several operations are then possible :

- RECALCULATE ALL THE MOTOR POSITIONS when you use your equipment for the first time.

- SAVE THE CURRENT MOTOR POSITION if, after recalculating the position, it was necessary to
realign the dish manually, using the EAST/WEST keys, in order to obtain an optimum signal on a
given satellite.

- DO NOT SAVE THE CURRENT POSITION if you just desire to monitor dish alignment.

Your XENA is equipped with a data base containing the parameters of all the satellites preset. It can happen,
however, that these parameters change. In this case, if the satellite can not be located, it is necessary to update them,
by entering the frequency, the polarisation and the symbol rate of a bouquet carried by the satellite concerned.
In the automatic mode, the satellite search phase is preceded by a phase during which the motor is initialised : the
satellite position is then set on the basis of a 0 position. In the semi-automatic mode, the satellite position is
calculated on the basis of the current position : this is why you should use the semi-automatic mode (quicker than the
automatic mode) only when you have saved at least one correct satellite position. When first using your equipment,
just after pointng the reference satellite, it is necessary to RECALCULATE THE SATELLITE POSITIONS. This
operation enables the motor to memorise the position of all the other satellites with respect to the reference pointing
direction you have just set.

♦ Press SAVE to enter your configuration.

If, in addition, you use a fixed dish on input B, programme this as indicated in a).

c) COMMUNITY INSTALLATIONS IN MODE ISB

♦ In the TYPE OF INSTALLATION menu, select COMMUNITY FI/FI
♦ Use keys 3 and 4, according to whether your appliance requires LBN power supply or not.
♦ Press OK to enter the different search rates (then use 5,6,3,4 then the numerical keypad and press OK)
♦ Press SAVE to enter your settings

The search will be carried out for all the search rates declared active.

5.5 AUTOMATIC CHANNEL SEARCH

a) FOR FIXED DISH INSTALLATIONS

♦ In the INSTALLATION menu, select AUTOMATIC SEARCH

SCREEN E22

♦ To carry out a complete search on all the satellites, select the option ON ALL SATELLITES (use keys

5 and 6, the press OK to enter).

During a complete search on all the satellites, the former programme base will be deleted and replaced by the new
one.

♦ The installation will commence immediately after you have pressed the OK button again.
♦ When this is finished, save your new programme base, by pressing the SAVE button.
♦ If you wish to install one of the active satellites, select “ON ONE SATELLITE”. Select the dish

pointed towards the satellite to be installed, the name of the satellite then the type of search
(ANALOGUE AND/OR DIGITAL), then press OK. The search will commence immediately after you
have pressed OK again. When it is finished, press SAVE to save your new programme base.

If the satellite had already been installed previously, the programme base will be automatically
updated on this satellite, whereas the channels of the other satellites of the installation will be
preserved. You can interrupt the installation at any moment by pressing the OK button, then

SAVE if you wish to save the channels selected, or R to quit without modifying the initial list.