need help slaving an S2-FTA (TBS6925) to 4DTV (DSR-922)

[KC9TIK]

I have the TBS6981 in a Windows machine. Never had a problem except that I shorted out and fried one of the ports. The 6925 is going to be my next purchase. I hope you can figure Linux out because I'd like to try that sometime.

 

[updatelee]

updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$ ls -la /dev/dvb/adapter0
total 0
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root     120 Feb 18 18:54 .
drwxrwxrwx  9 root root     180 Feb 18 18:54 ..
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 0 Feb 18 18:54 demux0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 1 Feb 18 18:54 dvr0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 3 Feb 18 18:54 frontend0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 2 Feb 18 18:54 net0
updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$

no frontend0 ?

unplug the 5925, then run

tail -f /var/log/kern.log

and plug it in, paste everything that outputs to here

UDL

 

[two4two]

updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$ ls -la /dev/dvb/adapter0
total 0
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root     120 Feb 18 18:54 .
drwxrwxrwx  9 root root     180 Feb 18 18:54 ..
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 0 Feb 18 18:54 demux0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 1 Feb 18 18:54 dvr0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 3 Feb 18 18:54 frontend0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 2 Feb 18 18:54 net0
updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$

no frontend0 ?

unplug the 5925, then run

tail -f /var/log/kern.log

and plug it in, paste everything that outputs to here

UDL

Thanks updatelee. Nope, no frontend0. It is a TBS6925, so it's not a quick unplug/replug. I booted to windows and it says it can't initialize the card. It knows it's there, but it can't initialize it. When I get re-booted into Ubuntu I'll post the results you told me to do. I do think it must be dead. BuyDVB and TBS say to pack it up and ship it to China declaring worth of $10 and simply calling it a PCB board. Their shipping address is hard to understand since I'm not Chinese and I don't know the correct way to address something to China. The address they provided is this:

Hongkong Tenow International Ltd

Receiver: Zhang Lifang

Address: 202, Block B, Unis Inforport,Langshan Rd, Hi-Tech Industrial Park(north),Nanshan District, 518057,Shenzhen, China

Zip: 518057


Now how exactly would one put that on a shipping label????? I'm going to assume our post office knows how to do it.



Wow, this card is so much trouble. Any comparable ones out there that are easy and "just work" -- especially on my Linux/Ubuntu machine?




Just a little aside note, I heard about a Ranier/Cisco C-Band FTA/Subscription receiver. Comcast is gouging the daylights out of us and maybe we can use our big dish and tell Comcast to suck eggs. And if you get HughsNet, then Netflix and any and all Internet-related stuff would come down from satellite and maybe not be subject to the slowdowns Netflix and all those services have been inflicting on us lately.

 

[two4two]

updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$ ls -la /dev/dvb/adapter0
total 0
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root     120 Feb 18 18:54 .
drwxrwxrwx  9 root root     180 Feb 18 18:54 ..
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 0 Feb 18 18:54 demux0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 1 Feb 18 18:54 dvr0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 3 Feb 18 18:54 frontend0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 2 Feb 18 18:54 net0
updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$

no frontend0 ?

unplug the 5925, then run

tail -f /var/log/kern.log

and plug it in, paste everything that outputs to here

UDL

Thanks updatelee. Nope, no frontend0. It is a TBS6925, so it's not a quick unplug/replug. I booted to windows and it says it can't initialize the card. It knows it's there, but it can't initialize it. When I get re-booted into Ubuntu I'll post the results you told me to do. I do think it must be dead. BuyDVB and TBS say to pack it up and ship it to China declaring worth of $10 and simply calling it a PCB board. Their shipping address is hard to understand since I'm not Chinese and I don't know the correct way to address something to China. The address they provided is this:

Hongkong Tenow International Ltd

Receiver: Zhang Lifang

Address: 202, Block B, Unis Inforport,Langshan Rd, Hi-Tech Industrial Park(north),Nanshan District, 518057,Shenzhen, China

Zip: 518057


Now how exactly would one put that on a shipping label????? I'm going to assume our post office knows how to do it.



Wow, this card is so much trouble. Any comparable ones out there that are easy and "just work" -- especially on my Linux/Ubuntu machine?




Just a little aside note, I heard about a Ranier/Cisco C-Band FTA/Subscription receiver. Comcast is gouging the daylights out of us and maybe we can use our big dish and tell Comcast to suck eggs. And if you get HughsNet, then Netflix and any and all Internet-related stuff would come down from satellite and maybe not be subject to the slowdowns Netflix and all those services have been inflicting on us lately.

 

[FaT Air]

Ranier/Cisco C-Band FTA/Subscription

scam by glen, C band forever. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/301843-The-end-of-Glenn?highlight=band+forever

my guess:
Hongkong Tenow International Ltd

C/O: Zhang Lifang

202, Block B, Unis Inforport, Langshan Rd,
Hi-Tech Industrial Park(north),Nanshan District,
518057,Shenzhen, China

 

[two4two]

updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$ ls -la /dev/dvb/adapter0
total 0
drwxrwxrwx  2 root root     120 Feb 18 18:54 .
drwxrwxrwx  9 root root     180 Feb 18 18:54 ..
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 0 Feb 18 18:54 demux0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 1 Feb 18 18:54 dvr0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 3 Feb 18 18:54 frontend0
crwxrw-rwx+ 1 root video 212, 2 Feb 18 18:54 net0
updatelee@DVB:~/src/UDL/imx_usb_loader$

no frontend0 ?

unplug the 5925, then run

tail -f /var/log/kern.log

and plug it in, paste everything that outputs to here

UDL

Finally gave up on taxes and I'm back in Linux. Still haven't removed it, so here is the only thing in the log that refers to the TBS6925:

Feb 24 18:46:44 abcdefubuntu kernel: [ 42.348619] SAA716x TBS 0000:06:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
Feb 24 18:46:44 abcdefubuntu kernel: [ 42.348625] SAA716x TBS 0000:06:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
Feb 24 18:46:44 abcdefubuntu kernel: [ 42.420123] input: saa716x IR (TurboSight TBS 6925) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:15.1/0000:06:00.0/rc/rc0/input4
Feb 24 18:46:44 abcdefubuntu kernel: [ 42.420183] rc0: saa716x IR (TurboSight TBS 6925) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:15.1/0000:06:00.0/rc/rc0
Feb 24 18:46:44 abcdefubuntu kernel: [ 42.420214] DVB: registering new adapter (SAA716x dvb adapter)
Feb 24 18:46:44 abcdefubuntu kernel: [ 42.616038] TurboSight TBS 6925: frontend initialization failed

It says frontend initialization failed, but certainly I wouldn't know why. And there is no frontend0 in /dev/dvb/adapter0. I don't know if that's a cause or a result of the frontend initialization failure mantioned in the log.


Maybe re-install the driver and see if that helps? And if not, time to return for replacement.

 

[two4two]

They replaced the card!

I sent the card to the specified address. They sent me a new one (or repaired mine?). So now I guess I'm experiencing the problems many have complained about that the TBS-6925 has trouble controling a DiSeqC switch. As I mentioned, all I have is two LNBs: one C-Band and the other Ku-band. I can only tune C-band. I use Linux. I use Kaffiene. It scans C-band and finds channels to view. But I can't get Kaffiene to find anything on Ku-band. I'm thinking of not even using the DeSecQ switch and simply using a manual A/B switch. I want to keep my Hi-freq splitters because there are some clear FTA digital and analog channels on 4DTV that help me to verify my satellite positions and tweak the position and polarity to get best signal strength. Anyone know how to make Kaffiene (or other Linux software) to be able to control the DiSeqC switch before I change it out to a manual one?

 

[updatelee]

I don't use kaffine but linux defn has the ability to control diseqc switches, along with the 6925.

I use my own software and others do as well and it works fine with diseqc.

UDL

 

[kb6luy]

similar setup..

Using a GI 920 4dtv box for position & polarity, slaved FTA box is a Viewsat 2000 Ultra (or Pansat 2500, Vistar2000 or Fortec Lifetime) The C & Ku lnb's go to a set of hi-freq splitters, one leg has DC pass from the 920, the others have connections to a 22KHz switch and off to the slave receiver(s). Seems to work fine. The polarity switching is kinda funky but no big deal. I'm
thinking that since I have a 10', 7.5' and a 6' BUD I might use an IRD w/slave FTA box in the Living room, bedroom and ham shack just because I can. 73!

 

[two4two]

I don't use kaffine but linux defn has the ability to control diseqc switches, along with the 6925.

I use my own software and others do as well and it works fine with diseqc.

UDL

I have tried to install your software. I ran the gui and tried to specify the desired config. It generated a new kernel and updated the GRUB2. It did keep my original kernel and it actually put the new on in a multi-level GRUB2 menu. But the new kernel won't boot. (Posted on a different forum.) I haven't yet tried to re-run the config gui. I'm not a Linux guru (yet) and have to be careful to not kill my current setup.

The replacement card does tune C-band (although I'm not yet sure if it's tuning S2), but I have not yet gotten it to tune Ku-band. I've read on the TBS forum where people describe that the TBS6925 has trouble controlling the DiSeqC switch because it sends the voltage and doesn't STOP sending it and therefore can't undo the command to select C-Band (or some explanation along this line). That's why I thought to simply install a manual A/B switch so I could be sure I was, in fact, selecting the Ku lnb. Kaffiene has no dialog to configure the DiSeqC control whether you are using the voltage or the 22Khz control. I assume it uses voltage. I saw MythTV has the ability to configure the DiSeqC control, but didn't want to install it -- yet.

So, if I could get some help with your software -- I'd really LOVE to use the scanning tools -- I'd appreciate some help with the gui menu so I could generate a kernel that will boot.

Or I'll try the manual switch. In any event I can not yet get the replacement card to tune Ku-band, and haven't seen it. for a fact, tune S2.

Also, I use Lyngsat to configure my channels.dvb file. Has anyone had success tuning SES 2 at 87.0°W TP 15 DVB-S2 4000 H 29125-5/6 8PSK? If so, what do you find there? This is why I'd like to use Updatelee's S2 blindscan and tuning software.

 

[two4two]

I verified S2 does work on C-bnad on the new card. But still no luck with Ku on any Sat or TP. I have a Sat finder signal strength meter that I'm going to hook up to my Ku feed. Maybe my Ku LNB is dead? I haven't tried sending the Ku feed directly to the card yet, so that is also on my list of things to do.

Is it possible the DC from the DSR-922 for the Ku-band feed is blown and not powering the LNB? I guess my signal strength meter will tell. It is definitely working for the C-band feed, so I wonder if the DSR-922 has two separate DC feeds for the C and Ku or if they share the same DC feed. In other words is it possible for it to work for one but not the other?

Once I hook up the signal strength meter I will post results.

 

[two4two]

Th results

I connected my Ku-band lnb thru my signal strength meter directly to the TBS6925; no C-band or DiSecQ switch. Results the same. Meter and software both show good signal strength coming from KU lnb, but SNR is always 0%. Why would I always get 0% SNR on my Ku-band lnb? When I connect C-band lnb IT gives good SNR and can tune channels. But Ku gets 0% SNR. It shows some good signal strength, just NO quality. If anyone knows tha answer I'd really appreciate it.

 

[updatelee]

Sure you got the lof right? Is it a universal? They require 22khz to access the high band

UDL

 

[two4two]

KU-LNB

Sure you got the lof right? Is it a universal? They require 22khz to access the high band

UDL

It is a legacy lnb, not lnbf. It shares the feedhorn with the c-band lnb. It has its own coax coming into the house, so there are TWO coax coming in from the dish. I will go to the dish, remove the feedhorn cover, (hopefully no wasps in there!!!) and double-check the specs. But I believe I always used to set it up as LOF 10750. Right now I have only that Ku lnb connected to the TBS-6925 with no DiSecQ switch and the only thing is I have inserted the Signal strength meter in between the lnb and the card's input. So I am using input 1 and it doesn't send the 22 khz for input 1. When I set it up as input 2 it sends the 22 khz signal and my meter shows that. (But since there's no switch, input vs input 2 doesn't matter.) The meter and the software show good strength but 0% SNR (no quality).

 

[KE4EST]

Are you putting valid active transponders in your meter?

 

[two4two]

ke4est, Please explain

Are you putting valid active transponders in your meter?

I don't understand your question. I have a coax from a KU-band lnb plugged into a signal strength meter, and from there I have a coax connecting the meter to the TBS6925. The meter shows a very good signal from the lnb. Software shows a signal from the lnb. Software shows SNR of 0%. And no channels can be tuned. I will go to the feedhorn, remove the cover and double-check the specks so I can be sure I have the correct LOF. I thought it was 10750. I realize there are other LNBs that use different LOF. I tried 10500 just to see if maybe I was wrong and this would help. Nope. That's why I'm going to go to the dish and check.

 

[KE4EST]

Opps sorry I read it wrong, I thought you were the one that was asking questions about a meter in another thread. If this is just one of those low-cost in-line meters, disregard the above post.

 

[two4two]

Yes, a low-cost in-line meter

The meter is low cost and in-line. It beeps when a scan is in process, and a red light comes on when the card sends the 22khz.

If I've got the right LOF (10750) and I get a signal but no SNR > 0%, but the card can tune my C-band LNB OK, does that mean the KU-band lnb is bad? It gives signal but apparently not a meaningful one.

 

[KE4EST]

Yeah those meters will read on any GHz signal or interference that is not a valid signal.

 

[two4two]

Running wscan-s2 gives confusing results. Remember, I am using the DSR-922 to control the polarator. I ran this and see why I get confused?

dad@Dad-Stubuntu:~$/home/dad/Downloads/blindscan-s2-master/blindscan-s2 -b -s 11737 -e 11737 -r 8333 -V -d 5 -l 10750 -v
Tuning LBAND: 987
11737 V 8333 SIG 55% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
11737 V 8333 SIG 55% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
11737 V 8333 SIG 55% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
dad@Dad-Stubuntu:~$/home/dad/Downloads/blindscan-s2-master/blindscan-s2 -b -c 2 -2 -s 11737 -e 11737 -r 8333 -V -d 5 -l 10750 -v
DiSEqC: e0 10 38 f4 00 00 length: 4
Tuning LBAND: 987
11737 V 8333 SIG 49% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
11737 V 8333 SIG 49% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
11737 V 8333 SIG 49% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
dad@Dad-Stubuntu:~$/home/dad/Downloads/blindscan-s2-master/blindscan-s2 -b -2 -s 11737 -e 11737 -r 8333 -V -d 5 -l 10750 -v
Tuning LBAND: 987
11737 V 8333 SIG 54% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
11737 V 8333 SIG 54% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
11737 V 8333 SIG 54% SNR 0% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
dad@Dad-Stubuntu:~$/home/dad/Downloads/blindscan-s2-master/blindscan-s2 -b -c 2 -2 -s 4000 -e 4000 -r 29125 -H -d 6 -l 5150 -v
DiSEqC: e0 10 38 f4 00 00 length: 4
Tuning LBAND: 1150
4000 H 29125 SIG 45% SNR 21% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
4000 H 29125 SIG 45% SNR 21% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
4000 H 29125 SIG 45% SNR 20% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
dad@Dad-Stubuntu:~$/home/dad/Downloads/blindscan-s2-master/blindscan-s2 -b -c 1 -2 -s 4000 -e 4000 -r 29125 -H -d 6 -l 5150 -v
DiSEqC: e0 10 38 f0 00 00 length: 4
Tuning LBAND: 1150
4000 H 29125 SIG 57% SNR 73% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
4000 H 29125 SIG 57% SNR 73% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
4000 H 29125 SIG 57% SNR 73% DVB-S QPSK FEC_AUTO INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35
dad@Dad-Stubuntu:~$




On the DSR-922 I went to a TP that is marked V and thus changed the polarity to V for the Ku scans. For C scans it was tuned to an H TP. Yet, it shows a signal for the c-band even when I specified a KU-band LOF and start/end freq. Also it gives the same results for both switch settings. In other words, setting switch 1 vs switch 2 makes no difference. And it gives a signal for c-band no matter which switch position I specify. It reports a signal for C-band even when I choose switch position 2 -- which is where I have the KU-band lnb attached.


Anyway, if anyone can analyze this and explain it to me I'd really appreciate it.


Also, looks like my version of wscan-s2 is obsolete or simply reports in error. It always says DVB-S even when it is an S2 signal. And it always reports QPSK even when it is an 8PSK. I don't know what "INVAUTO PIL_ON ROL_35" means. Looks like inversion auto and PIL and ROL are set to default.