GBox V4000 with Polarator control

[14karat]

Melgarga - put me down for one of your prototypes to test!!!

 

[melgarga]

Melgarga - put me down for one of your prototypes to test!!!

OR.......I could field test YOUR prototype for ya...............lol
Here's the site and the images of the circuits I was referring to -

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://uvasux.googlepages.com/pwmmodulator

The counter/logic assy:

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://uvasux.googlepages.com/pwm-unit2.png

The fixed duty cycle oscillators:

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://uvasux.googlepages.com/clocks.png

and the PC parallel interface he uses for the project:

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://uvasux.googlepages.com/parport-interface.png

For our purposes, two 74193s connected as an 8 bit up/dn counter would be our binary value source. We would also need a divider to scale down the 50hz clock to a usable value if we wanted proportional, ie continuously variable control.
Also bear in mind that this is for standard RC type servos, and that the duty cycle for a given position on our Corotors may or may not be the same or even similar. He explains how he derives the settings for the oscillators so re-calculating the osc freqs, duty cycle, & ratio should not be an issue once these position values are known.
For a stand alone unit, the final element would be to adapt some form of ir/rf control. Tcvr sets for 2 ch on/off rf control can be had for about 20 bucks online. A lil more interface [buffering/debouncing] circuitry would need to be considered as well. Proportional control would require add'l channel, 3 for mux plus decoding circuitry, or 4 for all 4 discrete commands
For integrating to the V/G Box remote, some revision to the module that handles ir control, a recompile and reflash of the units OS memory would be needed along with tieing an I/O point or two out to gate controling the binary counter's count enable pins.
Sounds easy huh.......ya aint done YET!........lol

 

[melgarga]

OK, now for something from the other perspective, PIC uPs.
This is the method Cadsulfide was referring to when he pointed me out onto the net for PWM control info.
Here is a pre-programmed 4 ch PWM controller for a popular robotics servo:

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/6361

But these guys show it out of stock so......
try here, 22 bucks, and in Ontario for you guys near Kingston:

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://store.qkits.com/moreinfo.cfm/QK102

Now the question is will it work with our corotors. Here is info on the servo it was designed/tested for:

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://home.earthlink.net/~tdickens/68hc11/servo/servo.html

I found the same kit in Australia with source code for $29 AU, plus shipping but that looks a bit more expensive:

h[COLOR="Red"]XX[/COLOR]p://www.oceancontrols.com.au/motor_controller/servo_motor/servo_motor_controller.htm

If we can get the source, and it needs modding to work with our servos.......there's this guy on the board, a PIC guy, that might be able to help us out in that dept...........lol
I think I might come over to the dark [uP based] side and order one of these to play with. 22 bucks + $9 for S&H, WTH. The Aussie one is over $35 at the current exchange rates.
Anyone else want to play? Anyone in Kingston want to buy up a batch and give 'em away to your 25 close friends in this thread?
Still got to work out a [now analog input] RC plan for it...........

 

[49studebaker]

count me in

 

[49studebaker]

I noticed that norsat lnb's have a power requirement of 15 to 24V and the Gbox v3000 has a output voltage of 13v to 18v. It would be nice if the Gbox v4000 had a switch so a person could either select "13v to 18v" or "15v to 24v". That way a person would not have to use a power inserter to power the norsat lnb's. This could add more value to the Gbox v4000.

 

[lumpkin666]

melgara, I haven't thought much about this one servo controlling thing that you guys are working through in your minds, but I do have a couple usb servo controllers designed for operating RC style servos (little robotics project a few years ago). If I can find some time to dig them out, I'll see what I can to to test them against the servo on a corotor and see if/how they talk (should be pretty easy to test after wiring up since I already have basic servo controling software on my laptop). If my controller can control a corotor servo adequately, I'd thiink any RC style servo controller could do the trick.

 

[49studebaker]

Any update on the release date?

 

[ACRadio]

I just wish the 3000 was still offered...for those of us who don't need polorotor control it would save us a buck...

 

[stogie5150]

I just wish the 3000 was still offered...for those of us who don't need polorotor control it would save us a buck...

I hear you might get your wish.

 

[linuxman]

I read in one of Phlatwound's threads in the C-Band section that the GBox V3000s were back in stock at Sadoun's.

 

[ACRadio]

I read in one of Phlatwound's threads in the C-Band section that the GBox V3000s were back in stock at Sadoun's.

I inquired a few days ago and they tried to sell me a VBox V...which I definitely DON'T want.....they didn't say anything about having the 3000 in stock tho...

 

[phlatwound]

I inquired a few days ago and they tried to sell me a VBox V...which I definitely DON'T want.....they didn't say anything about having the 3000 in stock tho...

AC, you might give them a call tomorrow to verify, but they assured me it was the G-Box.

I spoke with "Steve" and I believe he said they had just arrived this Thursday.

 

[Sadoun]

Hi guys, we have a limited qty of GBox V3000 in stock right now. These are going fast and I am afraid won't last long due to backorders and rush new orders. The balance of the shipment is in transit.

V4000 is delayed. No ETA yet.

 

[dem0nlord]

I do have another Q. though Sadoun, is the plan/design allowing for support of 'user variable' for lack of a better term skew adjustment. Since DiSEqC is basicly a 'one way or the other' control signal, such a feature would need to be accessed outside of the automated protocols. An automatic/manual mode with adjustments from the box and possible even from the remote. I was going to add maybe even some pre-set memories for the manual skewpoints but that is surely pushing it.....lol. I'm just curious if it was part of the plan, or was even considered. It would be a good thing since all the birds dont play nice when it comes to skew.

I'm with you on this. I watch both linear and circular C band, so I'd need the ability to manually set the skew for each position. While we should really only need the 2 different skew settings based on polarity at each stored position, and the 14/18V switching could make it flop between those 2(although it better always supply the 18V), we really need to be able to define what those 2 are at each position. Something that just flops it from -45 to +45 every time isn't always going to work, in fact it's going to totally hose my wideband feed, as those 2 skew settings only get used on circular birds. If this functionality is there, I'll buy one or two.

 

[Sadoun]

I'm with you on this. I watch both linear and circular C band, so I'd need the ability to manually set the skew for each position. While we should really only need the 2 different skew settings based on polarity at each stored position, and the 14/18V switching could make it flop between those 2(although it better always supply the 18V), we really need to be able to define what those 2 are at each position. Something that just flops it from -45 to +45 every time isn't always going to work, in fact it's going to totally hose my wideband feed, as those 2 skew settings only get used on circular birds. If this functionality is there, I'll buy one or two.

I understand what you are saying. Right now, the intent is too allow the V4000 to change polarity to V/H (i.e. 90 degrees full rotation). I will check and see if we can implement and a manual mode where the user can control how much skew is desired for a particular satellite. This will have to be done with the V4000 remote since the DVB receiver does not have that capability.

 

[esteveW]

GBox w/Polarity control

You guys must be reading my mind (0r my posts in another thread).
Count me in (with in reason $$).

Thanks

Steve

 

[Cham]

I am looking for something like this... The Pansat 3500 has skew control but if I switch to a 9200 or other HD receiver I'll have to use my old Uniden analog machine to control the skew as well as for the positioner part I use now. The old analog receiver could give out anytime...

Would need to dial in the skew, some sats are way off from the standard 45 plus or minus. Not sure how that works with diseQc or high/low voltage control...
-C.

 

[phpinfo]

Are there any LNBFs similar to the BSC621-2, with both C and Ku, where you could utilized the polarator control from the GBox V4000?

 

[Lak7]

The GBox V400 does not exist yet.
But you would use something like a Chaparral CorotorII ...
Chaparral Corotor II Plus Combined C/Ku Feedhorn
That is just the Feedhorn, LNBs are separate.

 

[phpinfo]

Will the V4000 actually store the skew position for each TP, or will you just have to use the remote controller to dial it in each time?