103G and ProgDVB

[colbec]

I'm experimenting with a Digiwave 103G and the included software ProgDVB. My dishes are supplying a good signal to my Coolsat 6000, quite happy with that, so I just re-route the coax to this new card and the card should be able to see what the Coolsat sees. But it does not.

I have made sure there are no motors in the lineup to confuse the issue. Just a diseqc 1.2 switch receiving signals from 4 fixed dishes, 2 C-Band and 2 Ku. I have scanned a few satellites and am finding signal quality of 100% and level of 67% from Echostar 7 but zero quality and 52% level from AMC-3.

I read the manual thoroughly and find that it is oriented to the European customer as it speaks of universal lnb being standard. The instructions for settings are a bit clearer for the circular polarization for E*7 which is why I am better off on that bird. I probably have settings wrong for my standard single pointed at AMC-3.

When I scan E*7 it seems to like the H(Left) pol. and not the V(Right), but then the results of the scan appear to be that it scanned the same transponder 8 times in a row, with a whole bunch of duplicate entries. The names of the channels are familiar even though I cannot see the content due to encryption.

At one point I made a mistake and told it to pretend it was looking at E*5 at which point it picked up one single radio channel in the clear. This must be because it loaded an incorrect set of TP info from the ini file for that satellite.

If anyone has managed to tie down the settings for a regular standard lnb, or has figured what the data in the ini files mean, it would be helpful.

 

[Anole]

walk first, run later ?

Kinda hard to give a concise answer, since the question was a bit, . . . general.
However, here's a general answer - double check the ProgDVB settings for:
- diseqc switch input
- 22khz tone
- LNB power
- local oscillator frequency
I haven't played with ProgDVB recently, but as I recall, you could put in all the required parameters during set up.

And I would concentrate on one satellite , with no switches.
If you have a single such dish available, plug that into your DVB card, and let's get that working.
Once you do, I'm sure you'll be able to expand and exercise your dish farm.

 

[colbec]

Anole: Well, I guess, in a way, the first post of any thread has to be largely general to set up the background and provide info that you can refer to later. The post did finish up with a specific request related to the settings for a non-universal lnb, since this is not clearly explained in the docs that come with the card.

It seems from reading here and elsewhere that a lot of folks have had a problem getting this card going. Many have dumped ProgDVB and taken the Mytheatre route and had a lot more luck. Others have fiddled with settings in ProgDVB and stumbled on some non-documented settings that work for them, but hesitate to recommend them to others since they may not work in another setup. Others have simply put up a lot of fuss and returned the card in frustration. I purchased from a retailer who probably sells about two of these a year, and he buys from a wholesaler who does not deal in retail. With such small volumes it is hardly surprising that neither provides end user support for this product.

I have tried isolating out the switch, but I know it works well from other testing. And the card does seem to be sending the right codes since I have from time to time seen the light at the end of the tunnel while experimenting since it has seen signal but has not properly identified channels.

My problems are two: to put in the right settings for my 4 lnb and then to extract the channels. First I will try the Mytheatre route even if just to ensure that the card is running as it should.

 

[Anole]

divide 'n conquer

Sorry -
I was thinking about getting the software to work.
Not the card.
I probably had Twinhan 102g on my mind.
They have some trouble sending diseqc commands....
But your card, I am not familiar with it.

I'm with you on avoiding MyTheatre, but if it works, that might be your salvation.
It supports more cards (possibly better) than other packages.
I just never found the software as stable as I'd like.

Wish the developer for DVBdream would get rolling again.
I think he's back on the job, but as to support for new cards, his software is limited.

As you say, there are two problems
- getting the switches to work
- just getting any reception at all
So, I'd go for the any reception, by taking out any switches, just as a first step.

 

[colbec]

Some success! I removed the card from my main machine (1.7 GHz, good memory size) and moved it into an older slower machine (400 MHz), below minimum recommended for standard definition TV. Now I get good signal and can scan transponders, even through the Diseqc 4-1 switch. Audio and video good. Card is good. MyTheatre was no better on the fast machine.

Pleasantly surprised that AC-3 is taken care of automatically. Very nice. ProgDVB does not seem to be very accurate deciding whether a channel is FTA or not, maybe the signal is lying. Montana PBS comes in a treat, but PBS Create macroblocks and freezes for long periods in the 400 MHz box.

Possible differences:

the fault with the main machine might not be the machine itself, but the other components it is sharing with. There is an internal fax modem in the machine which seems to be knocked out by the 103G so there could be some resource sharing going on. I can check that out.

It could also be the drivers, I used a slightly different install procedure on the second machine.

Cable is marginally shorter to the slow box.

I have also read that some motherboards can be problematic, however in this case both MBs are IBM (Netvista and 300PL)

 

[colbec]

Moved card back to faster box since it stopped working after about an hour in the slow box where the card seemed to be quite warm. There are other reports that this card can overheat. In that box the card was horizontal, the slot in the faster box is vertical and there is more space. I removed other modem PCI card and got the intermittent signal problem again. Re-did all F connectors in the line and now no problem at all after several hours continuous running. I'm pretty confident now that one of the F connections was bad.

 

[colbec]

The next day the card failed again. Checked all the F connectors again, still no signal. Fed up. Went back to store and asked them to check it out. They have no satellite signal to verify against. Long time later persuaded them to let me have another identical card from the shelf. Brought it home, plugged it in to the same slot, same machine, same software, bingo, 100% signal scanning like mad on all diseqc outlets. Tempted to report back here but whoa! give it a couple days. 2 days later card is AOK and I am hoping stays that way.

Card checks out fine with ProgDVB and Mytheatre. Still not recognized in Myth TV on Suse 10.1 but that can wait. It is probably just my configuration.

Lesson learned: there are good cards and bad cards. Keep at it until you are sure you have one of the good ones.

 

[voomvoom]

Congratulations on getting it working, even if the stress and frustration did take 6 years of your life? Good Job nonetheless!

Al