[BC] XDS "Pro" Satellite Receiver

[Tom Taggart]

Apparently this is the future for ABC affiliates, instead of the venerable Starguide receiver:

Here's the description, looks like the operative phrase is "low cost":

http://www.xdigital.com/pages.asp?ID=510

Fellow on our state radio message board reports getting one in this last week.  No operating manual. Tech desk in India.  No clear way to remotely switch the receiver.  Apparently the ESPN affiliates and the O & O's are getting them first (he's ESPN, as well as some baseball net--Reds?).

This unit has provision for a built in off-air receiver which reports back to the mother ship via internet.  Like the modified EDAS card in the Premier starguides; and apparently the new Jones receivers. Presumably so that the net can verify that agency spots actually air and on time.  Agency tail waiving the radio dog again.  

At least they tried to copy the Starguide connections: DB9's for audio, DB37's for relay closures. Has four audio feeds (2 stereo?), and you program the closures to the DB7.

Anyone else gotten one of these yet?  What's the roll-out schedule & what is ABC planning to do with the existing Starguide fleet?  Right now, if I find another audio card, I can configure my two ABC receivers to back-up each other. (They are cross-permissioned for everything I carry except NASCAR).  

Since ABC carries a number of regional nets as well as other contract programing such as NASCAR, I doubt that they want to re-equip every 500 watt daytimer that just carries the races from MRN on the weekends.

What about the built-in receiver? How deaf is it?  My one station is a Class A 25 miles away--no problem with typical consumer hi-fi stereo to monitor off air, but a Dayton one- chip-wonder receiver barely picks it up.  As other folks commented with the Jones roll-out, what would you do if you have an AM you can't hear in the building?  An FM modulator fed off the program line?

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