Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: Considering the UST-4800
From: flash@lopez.marquette.MI.US (Gary Bourgois,Hamshack)
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 18:57:50 EDT
Organization: Great White North/UPLink

Well I have been reviewing IRD's for purchase consideration.  I was all set
to get the DRAKE 1524, as that seemed to be a very high performance unit and
seems advanced.

BUT a while back, I did a survey on FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE, and many of the
callers praised the UST-4800 with Superguide.  Well being that I don't plan
to get a VCmodule for at least a year, I did not see this having a lot of
advantages.

BUT last week while chatting with Scott Becker of BSN, he told me about some
of the audio features on the UNIDEN.  I don't know why nobody told me about
the SPECTRUM ANALYZER that is built in, but for someone who does what I do,
that is a very valuable feature.  They don't mention this feature on the
Satellite Shopper Channels, but it is a big selling point for me.

Now since SUPERGUIDE also has an informative NEWS service about the industry,
I had been considering a standalone SUPERGUIDE with the DRAKE, but when you
do the math, The COST of that setup versus the 4800 makes the 4800 look very
appealing.  What surprises me is the 4800 costs LESS than the Drake.

My primary concern has to do then with performance/reliability.  Those I know
who have seen both receivers side by side tell me that the 4800 makes just as
good a picture as the Drake.  Now picture quality is a bit of a moot point
for me, since I am partially sighted anyway.

Now comes the question of construction and reliability.  I believe the DRAKE
has the edge here.  A friend of mine on GENIE who is a Dealer says that UST
means "Usually Solder Twice".  He has NOTHING good to say about UNIDEN.

However I HAVE a UST-6000 and have never had a single problem with it, and it
is running 24 hours a day.  Other dealers I have spoken to tell me the
problems that the Uniden's have at least the older ones like mine, which
skimp on the values of capacitors in the power supply, etc.

So what I am looking for is someone who has the 4800 who can fill me in on
the unit.  Everyone who called LTR during our survey that had the 4800 were
very happy with it.  

So here are some questions:

     If you have a UST 4800, 

     1.  Have you experienced any technical problems?
     2.  The 4800 does not have Favorite Channel Memory, but uses SUPERGUIDE
         instead.  How complex is it to pop over to a favorite audio channel?
     3.  Does SUPERGUIDE's schedule include CBC, and other ITC channels?
     4.  Would it be possible for me to get from you any tech info, and
         perhaps a copy of the instructive video tape?  I will pay for
         tape or postage.
     5.  What frequency is the I.F. Loop on the unit?

With the features of superguide, Audio Spectrum Analyzer, etc, this unit
looks to be the most advanced receiver available for my purposes.


Any info anyone can provide would be appreciated.

I also today decided on the Orbitron SA-12 over the AE 4 meter dish, because
the window of opportunity is almost past for putting up a new dish here.  The
AE is definately superior from ALL I have heard, but the assembly is far more
complex than the Orbitron, and they are still debugging the design.  AE is
very good at working with folks who run into problems (Not all do) but in my
case, I need the project to happen NOW and assembly time needs to be as
minimal as possible.


--
    /   Gary Bourgois, WB8EOH, The Birdwatcher: Marquette Michigan  USA   \
   ([-o ~ Tune FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE!  S3/21 6.2. Fridays from 9-midnight ~ o-])
    \  Now a snazzy new DOMAIN address!  flash@lopez.marquette.mi.us      /
        GEnie: SIGNALS   FAX: (906) 228-7477    GWN BBS: (906) 228-4399