[linux-dvb] DiSEqC trouble with TT S-1500

P. van Gaans w3ird_n3rd at gmx.net
Sun Feb 24 16:48:38 CET 2008 

On 02/20/2008 08:24 PM, Remy Bohmer wrote:
> Hello All,
> 
> Maybe I have the answer:
> I also had problems with switches and LNBs which did not want to work properly.
> Behind 1 receiver it worked properly, but behind another 2 different
> DVB-S PCI cards, it just failed. I never suspected the LNB/Switch
> setup, because it worked behind another receiver.
> But, In the end it turned out that there was 1 LNB in my setup that
> caused all the trouble, that LNB refused to cooperate with the
> switches and other LNBs, when a DVB-S PCI card was used (both
> Technisat Skystar 1CI, and TT-S1500). Once switched to this LNB, the
> complete setup failed to work from that moment on. I could never
> switch back to 1 of the previous LNBs, but the last (buggy) LNB still
> worked if I switched back to it.
> 
> So, my advice is to start with 1 LNB behind a switch, once it works,
> add another one, check if both LNBs still works, if so, add another
> LNB and so on. Maybe you end up, just like me, with 1 LNB that
> destroys the complete behavior.
> 
> So, my 3 TT-S1500s are properly working here now with MythTv and
> DiseqC switches with 4 LNBs per card/switch. So, it _can_ work...
> 
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> 
> Kind Regards,
> 
> Remy
> 
> 
> 
> 2008/2/20, P. van Gaans <w3ird_n3rd at gmx.net>:
>> On 02/20/2008 10:48 AM, Doru Marin wrote:
>>  > P. van Gaans wrote:
>>  >> On 02/18/2008 02:04 PM, Doru Marin wrote:
>>  >>
>>  >>> P. van Gaans wrote:
>>  >>>
>>  >>>> On 02/16/2008 01:20 AM, P. van Gaans wrote:
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>>> On 02/13/2008 09:21 PM, P. van Gaans wrote:
>>  >>>>>
>>  >>>>>> On 02/13/2008 03:01 PM, Doru Marin wrote:
>>  >>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>> Hi,
>>  >>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>> Can you explain how you select those 4 positions ? DiSEqC
>>  >>>>>>> commands or tone/voltage changes ?
>>  >>>>>>> Also can you determine the input type of those positions (Hi/Low,
>>  >>>>>>> H/V, etc) ? A scenario to see when and why that happens, would be
>>  >>>>>>> more useful.
>>  >>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>> P. van Gaans wrote:
>>  >>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>>> Hi,
>>  >>>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>>> I've got a Technotrend S-1500 (if it matters: I use it with
>>  >>>>>>>> Kaffeine 0.8.3). It works mostly fine, but there's a strange
>>  >>>>>>>> problem. With my Spaun 4/1 DiSEqC switch (they cost approx 25-40
>>  >>>>>>>> euro), I can only switch without trouble to position 1 and 2. If
>>  >>>>>>>> I tune directly to position 3 it won't lock.
>>  >>>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>>> However, if I first tune to a channel on position 1 or 2 and try
>>  >>>>>>>> a channel on position 3 after that, it will work. Position 4
>>  >>>>>>>> however is completely unreachable.
>>  >>>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>>> On a standalone receiver, there's no trouble with the same cable.
>>  >>>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>>> Now Spaun is a really expensive and respected brand. So their
>>  >>>>>>>> switches possibly work in a different way, because a cheap
>>  >>>>>>>> Maximum 4/1 switch works perfectly with the S-1500. Position 1,
>>  >>>>>>>> 2, 3 and 4 all work perfectly. I also did some "dry testing"
>>  >>>>>>>> indoors and it looks like a 7 euro Satconn 4/1 switch would also
>>  >>>>>>>> work fine, but a 17 euro Axing SPU 41-02 probably won't.
>>  >>>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>>> I'm guessing this could be solved in stv0299.c but I'm not much
>>  >>>>>>>> of an expert. I took a look at the code but I'm not really sure
>>  >>>>>>>> what to do.
>>  >>>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>  >>>>>>>> linux-dvb mailing list
>>  >>>>>>>> linux-dvb at linuxtv.org
>>  >>>>>>>> http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linux-dvb
>>  >>>>>>>>
>>  >>>>>> I select them with Kaffeine. Hi/low and H/V doesn't matter. I
>>  >>>>>> tried upgrading to Kaffeine 0.8.5 but that doesn't make a
>>  >>>>>> difference. The "scan" application has the same issues.
>>  >>>>>>
>>  >>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>  >>>>>> linux-dvb mailing list
>>  >>>>>> linux-dvb at linuxtv.org
>>  >>>>>> http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linux-dvb
>>  >>>>>>
>>  >>>>>>
>>  >>>>> Nobody any ideas? If not, does anybody have some idea what the
>>  >>>>> difference between position 1+2, pos 3 and pos 4 could be? I was
>>  >>>>> thinking 1 and 2 might be working because of toneburst, but I don't
>>  >>>>> think Kaffeine uses such a signal and that doesn't explain why pos
>>  >>>>> 3 works if first tuning to 1 or 2 and 4 doesn't work at all.
>>  >>>>>
>>  >>>>>
>>  >>>> I've figured out a bit more. If I tune directly to postion 3, I get pos
>>  >>>> 1. Whenever I tune to pos 4, I get pos 2.
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> I'll also ask people from Kaffeine as I'm not sure if the problem is
>>  >>>> in the application, driver or somewhere else.
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> _______________________________________________
>>  >>>> linux-dvb mailing list
>>  >>>> linux-dvb at linuxtv.org
>>  >>>> http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linux-dvb
>>  >>>>
>>  >>> Hi,
>>  >>>
>>  >>> Strange scenario. You're not saying anything about input types and
>>  >>> the switch type. Are you sure that are properly connected ? How the
>>  >>> switch inputs are marked and from where you got the input signals ?
>>  >>> Please elaborate, if you want a proper answer.
>>  >>> I suggest to play with 'scandvb' from dvb-apps package instead of
>>  >>> Kaffeine. Look into scanning results if the scanned channels match
>>  >>> with what you wished to have on those positions.
>>  >>>
>>  >>>
>>  >> Hi,
>>  >>
>>  >> What do you mean with input type?
>>  >>
>>  >> Anyway, this is my config:
>>  >>
>>  >> Visiosat Bisat G3C for 19.2/28.2/23.5 + Triax 54cm for Hotbird
>>  >> 4 quad LNBs
>>  >>
>>  >> Spaun SAR 411F:
>>  >> A = Astra 19.2
>>  >> B = Astra 28.2/Eurobird1
>>  >> C = Astra 23.5
>>  >> D = Hotbird
>>  >>
>>  >> Maximum 4/1:
>>  >> A = Astra 19.2
>>  >> B = Astra 28.2/Eurobird1
>>  >> C = Astra 23.5
>>  >> D = Hotbird
>>  >>
>>  >> All works fine on a standalone so it is connected correctly.
>>  >>
>>  >> _______________________________________________
>>  >> linux-dvb mailing list
>>  >> linux-dvb at linuxtv.org
>>  >> http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linux-dvb
>>  >>
>>  > Hi,
>>  >
>>  > Ok, If I understood you correctly, you're talking about only plain
>>  > DiSEqC switch, with no polarity/tone management. Polarity and tone
>>  > switching are done by LNB's.
>>  > Recently, I found a branded switch, which was unable to decode a DiSEqC
>>  > commands while polarity was on horizontal (18V).
>>  > Maybe is the same situation, maybe not. That's why I asked you to check
>>  > the polarity/tone settings of the channels while switching to a
>>  > different channel on a different satellite.
>>  >
>>
>>
>> That's right, no multiswitches or something like that. The last time I
>>  checked (a while ago), the Spaun was still completely working on my
>>  standalones. But as I figured out yesterday, something is wrong with
>>  that now. The standalones don't see D (Hotbird) anymore either. So I'm
>>  first going to fix that.
>>
>>  Trying to switch from Flaunt (V) to 4fun.tv (V) doesn't work either, so
>>  it's not the same problem I guess.
>>
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
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>>  linux-dvb at linuxtv.org
>>  http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linux-dvb
>>
> 

I've been on the roof. The cable from the Spaun switch to the Hotbird 
LNB was a mess. I've fixed it and now everything works.

Do note though, that Kaffeine 0.8.6 that sends diseqc commands twice is 
required for the Spaun/Axing switches to work correctly.

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