Beginner's software for DVB PCIe or USB receiver?

[Cham]

Just had delivered a TBS 5980 USB receiver. Got it working fairly quickly but I find the software in the package rather dysfunctional; either you have to purchase a license to get functionality or it's designed primarily for the European or Asian markets, or both. The TBS blind-scanner seems to work good though but I have not figured out how to save the data once the scan is finished.

I'm using a desktop windows 8.1 OS and I have a laptop with windows 7, both run the software and drivers seem to work.

Tried TSReader this am but it seems to crash when receiving 4:2:2 feeds on 97W/C, but otherwise it works. I have not tried CrazyScan and UpdateDVB, the latter would be Linux if I had the proper OS. Don't currently have a Linux system running here other than the web server that runs Red Hat 5 (ancient).

I need diseqc and 22KHz switch control which seems lacking in the TBS offerings (except the blind-scanner), and would be nice to have diseqc motor control eventually but not needed at this time.

So... what do you guys recommend for software?

-C.

 

[kittyhas1000legs]

I've been using MediaPortal 1 with my card, a Hauppauge WinTV Nova S2. I'm not sure if it's the software or card (probably card), but it'll only see the first two ports of my diseqc 1.0 4x1 switch. The software doesn't do blind scan, but you can manually enter the TPs you want (one at a time, with symbol rate and FEC). It's the only decent thing I've found so far for Windows 7 to watch DVB-S2 channels. I even found an EPG for NHK in the plugins section.

I've played a little with DVB Dream (30 day trial), EBSPro (card doesn't support blindscan), and SmartDVB (card can't initialize). I'd say since you have a better device you might have better luck with one of those programs.

 

[DVB-S2]

After spending a lot of time wrestling with various software packages for my TBS6982 card, I've settled on SmartDVB. It's free, and has a versatile interface for switches and motors. It's not to difficult to set up if you read the help file first (which I didn't). One caveat, it won't display Montana PBS (but will all the others on AMC21).

The other app I found really easy to set up and use is EBSPro (I paid for a licence). I installed it and it just worked immediately - I wish all DVB software were that easy to set up!

 

[Titanium]

99% of the time I use EBSPro. Like DVBS-S2says... It just works! It does some pretty neat diagnostics and cool features!

 

[KE4EST]

I agree EBSPro is pretty nice.....when I have time to mess with it.

 

[Cham]

Some great advise here! Thanks all!
Will try out these recommendations.

Played with Crazyscan last night, it seems to work well for blind scanning and has good switch and motor control. Nice to see the spectrum graph.

Noticed a problem though. After scanning a couple of sats the 5980 will "disconnect". If I try to un-mount the USB device it crashes the computer, but unplugging the p/s and plugging it in again 15 seconds later it comes back on-line without un/re-mounting. Might have something to do with a digital VHF beacon I send out occasionally (APRS) and some RF might be affecting the circuit. I would suspect the card version doesn't have this problem when connected to the computer via PCIe, but the USB version might be a bit more finicky. Will definitely unplug the unit before using my KW amp on 80m... in fact any HF transmission, it might be sensitive to RF etc.

I tried a different USB cable and that seems to help. The shielding on the supplied cable might not be up to par.

These units are certainly not Plug-N-Play. But that's all right... all part of the fun!

 

[KE4EST]

I have my 440 repeater is in beacon mode. It sends out a CW ID every 10 mins and I have never noticed any effect from that.
I have never had it running while on HF, that I can remember.

 

[Cham]

Works much better with the different cable, even though it is much longer (10' I think). Maybe was bad? Might order another USB3 compatible cable just for this unit so I am sure it is set up right.

Installed SmartDVB, was playing the 4:2:2 mux on 97W/C for about an hour this morning, not a hickup. Noticed the light on the front of the (dongle) is blue when receiving a signal now, not seen that before. Will have to play some more later today.

I set the repeater IDs for every 1/2 hour when not in use (maximum length legally up here) and 5 min when in use. Local VHF repeater is a few miles away on a local grain terminal with the antenna at 300' haat and about 25w, shouldn't affect anything here! You have different regulations in the US...

 

[Cham]

Can't seem to get diseqc or 22KHz switching to work on SmartDVB now. Can scan in C-band sats if I move the dish around but no Ku, even on the stationary dishes. Setup seems easy but I might be missing something somewhere.

Might try SBSPro later on.

 

[Cham]

Now I can't seem to get any of the software packages to work. They crash after opening, won't close, and task manager can't close them either. After a couple of minutes I get a blue screen of death (microsoft thing) and have to re-boot. Not sure where this project is going. Not so much fun now...
Sure wish I had a Linux box set up...

 

[Cham]

Seems there was an issue with windoze update. re-installed dvbBream and SmartDVB, I think in doing that the original video and audio LAV codecs were re-installed and it all works again now.
Will have to find a video card though for proper playback of 4k video. See the thread in the main FTA area about NASA UHD, some good info there.

Now to get the diseqc switching to work!

 

[Cham]

So far I have found SmartDVB to be the most intuitive software to use, and seems to work for the most part. I have had to reinstall it twice, I suspect this is due to windows updates that re-configure something somewhere that messes up the app. I'll rate them as I have experienced so far. Remember I am using a Windows 8.1OS, not Linux:

SmartDVB
-fairly easy to configure, plays most video and has functional codecs, good blind scan
-poor diseqc switch control, works intermittently regardless of settings. 22KHz works fine.
-good blind-scan

DVBDream
-comes with driver package from TBS.
-more difficult to configure, many options open a dead web page that likely asks you to purchase a license key
-does not appear to have diseqc switch control (maybe in licensed version?)
-was not able to get it to blind scan although the option seems available
-was not able to get the app to actually work; that is scan and play a TV channel either DVB or DVB-S

TBS Viewer
-comes with the package
-works but crashes during blind scan
-have to re-connect to device (USB issue?) every few minutes
-will play video intermittently. Sometimes required a re-boot. Finicky

CrazyScan
-easy to work with and configure.
-blind scans well, not super quick but thorough (depends on settings of course)
-good diseqc and 22KHz control
-like the rf scan interface (gui)
-uses VLC which renders most video/audio, but sometimes VLC won't activate when it is supposed to (Windoze issue I suspect)
-did crash a couple if times, might be USB issue.

EBS Pro
-simple interface, settings easy to configure
-quick blind scan, seems thorough
-no diseqc functionality (requires licensing key for many essential functions)
-Interfaces with VLC but only did this initially, suspect something to do with registering the software

Program DVB and ProgTV
-came with the default software disc
-have not been able to get either package to work.

In all I found it frustrating to find most of the software that came with the install disk to require purchasing to activate or not work at all. Luckily there is freeware available that works so one can get their feet wet with using a computer/receiver without having to spend $$ before knowing what they might really want in software. Would be nice if the paid software would operate for a limited time instead of limited use, so the user can actually see how well the software works or IF it actually works first. Also the device drivers on the disk were out of date by a year or so, so I downloaded the newer drivers and installed from the TBS website.

One observation,
The TBS 5980 actually gets very hot when blind-scanning. It also can be (unstable) when using a longer USB cable, or a poor quality cable. I set a large copper heatsink (about the size of the top surface of the TBS 5980 device) on top of the unit which seems to have helped keep it cooler and more stable (crashing during blind-scans). (see attachment).




Just some of my experience with this unit. Your milage may vary!

 

[Cham]

Update...
Having trouble keeping the 5980 running (or software issue) for more than a few minutes at a time. Using SmartDVB I can tune into a channel and watch for a few minutes and then something crashes/freezes. Have to use control-alt-delete to stop the software, and disconnect the power to the 5980 before the software will actually close. To me this seemed like a driver issue so I changed to the original driver supplied on the disk with the Q-box, but this has made no difference. Also tried other software but as before non seems stable enough to actually render video or blind-scan other than Crazyscan, where the software/device crashes after a minute or two well before actually completing a scan.

Beginning to think this may be a hardware issue with the 5980. Will be contacting the vender to see if they have a solution.

Seems to be a lot of trouble to go to for watching satellite TV when you can purchase a complete receiver for the same or less $$ that accomplishes the same thing.

-C.

 

[Magic Static]

I've been playing with computer based satellite viewing for a long time and it's been my experience that the biggest cause of software instability is signal strength and quality issues. When you start losing lock and FEC can't correct it then the software gets lost and..crash! One of the reasons I still use MyTheatre is the stability of that program But it will be obsolete soon with out some updating.

 

[waylew]

eems to be a lot of trouble to go to for watching satellite TV when you can purchase a complete receiver for the same or less $$ that accomplishes the same thing.

If you want to play with sat tv,buy a card,if you want to watch,just buy a box.

 

[Cham]

[QUOTE=" signal strength and quality issues.[/QUOTE]
Been using the 10' dish for C-band which gets good signals usually... however I do sometimes get TPs showing up below 10dB/m. Doesn't seem to make a difference if the signal is weak or strong (12dB/m+). Not sure how much more signal I can get unless I go to a 12-15' dish which would give me another 3-4dB/m?
Could still be a signal problem, not saying it isn't, other receiver boxes read good signals but maybe there is a noise source that can affect this particular device s/n such as the USB input or power supply. I did have problems at the very start using the included USB cable. I rectified this by using a much shorter cable that came with a USB hub. This initally seemed to help but maybe there is still some intermittant noise causing issues. I have not looked at the power supply as a noise source yet which is a possibility. Will check it shortly, I believe I have a 5v source kicking around on the bench somewhere.

And yes Waylew, this is definately a project well beyond just watching!

edit:
Been running a different p/s for about 3 hrs. Not a glitch so far. Interesting...

 

[DVB-S2]

I recently got a TBS 5980 and have used it a lot with SmartDVB and EBSPro. I haven't experienced any crashes. I use a mini-bud, so some of the signal strengths are very weak, and the picture will disappear, but still no crashes.

Yesterday it was doing a detailed blindscan for nearly an hour (EBSPro), and was only moderately warm to the touch at the end. It seems you might have a hardware issue if yours gets hot enough to warrant a heat sink.

 

[LocutusOfBorg]

If you want to play with sat tv,buy a card,if you want to watch,just buy a box.

You might have much longer support for the pcie card. I'm still grumbling because there are no more updates for the Azbox, looks like there won't be anymore updates for the MicroHD either - turns me off to buying another STB.

 

[waylew]

I haven't updated my AZ Ultra since right after I bought it,5/6 ? years ago.In fact I pretty much haven't touched it since then,no resets,nothing.Still running 5020 and it works fine for me,use it every day.

 

[Cham]

I have two Ax Ultras. Just use them to watch TV. They work(.)!
Updates are over rated. Hardware has limitations that can't ever be delt with by changing software. Usually the hardware is getting close to being out-dated by the time updates stop anyway.

Back to topic...
Measured the power supply voltage, says 7.5 on the p/s case, voltmeter says 8.9V (open circuit), likely within tolerance.
But... checked for A/C voltage and I get 2V A/C!
Set up a bench supply for 7.5 volts DC (no A/C) and the device seems to run fine and a lot cooler??? Had it receiving one of the 24hr TPs on G19C all night an was still going strong in the morning.
I could not reproduce the 2vAC from the factory p/s on the bench though. Tried on the UPS again and it's gone there now too! Just for xxxxx and giggles I inverted the a/c plug (non polarized) and I get 2V of AC again!
Either it is something with my UPS or the p/s is sensitive to how it's plugged in (polarity). At least I think I have found the problem.

DVB-S2, if you have a chance maybe check your p/s for ac voltage. Maybe I just got a bad p/s.