Will this work ?

[Vipersan]

Hi m8's ...
I'm putting up a diagram of my 'proposed' entire setup..
Its complicated because I can only run 1 cable to dish B ..but I need motor control from 2 locations
..The shack and the TV room ..
I can control dish A directly from the TV room ...and by network /web interface from the PC in the shack.
I can control the C band dish 'C' directly form the shack ...or by a remote extender from the TV room ..
control of dish C has another option directly from the Humax HDCI set top box ...but not explored this yet.
Dish B is the problem ..
As you can see control of the motor and lnb is assigned by priority switch ..and works well..
If the IPbox is powered down control is directed to the shack..
The problem is that I then want to be able to 'steer' it using one of the 2 pci cards in the pc ...
so ..my questions are ..
Can either the SS2 card or the S2-3200 card control the motor ...or would there be current issues (the pc has an oversized psu).
If not I would have to introduce a 3rd receiver to steer it ..and loop through for the signal to the pc
..or possibly just to steer the dish and a 'tap' for the signal to the pc.
..however my main worry is that the 4way diseqc switch may not pass the motor control commands ...even though I've assigned it to port 1 (AA) of the switch which is default and technically requires no command to operate it ..
I know its a complicated request ..but any advice would be appreciated
rgds
VS

[Vipersan]

Hmm ...
I think I had an epiphany during the night ...
I woke up this morning with a half baked solution in my head ..
...which does appear to work ..
Less is more ..and I've been trying to overcomplicate it.

I switched inputs on the priority switch controling dish B motor B ..so that the IP9000 no longer has priority ..
Ipbox now on slave B
The PC cards now have master control A

The control/signal out from the priority switch goes to the AA position 1 port of the diseqc 4 way switch ..

I then created a dummy satellite position in dvbviewer whose function is to switch the diseqc 4way switch to port BB (input 4)..
This has nothing connected so when selected removes control voltage to the priority switch and thus releases contol to the slave input B ..
I can now use the web interface of the IP9000 to steer dish B to the required sat position.
Once it arrives ...I simply switch diseqc selection of the 4 way switch to AA (port 1) ...and the pc card and dvbviewer once again take over control of the priority switch allowing channel scanning etc
I've tested it and it works ..
Pro's ...can now control all three dishes from the shack ..
1)Con's...each switch introduces losses which can be seen on weaker channels.
2) I have no idea when the dish has arrived at its destination ..as there is no feedback from the web IP9000 interface.
Not a problem once channels are scanned in ..as obviously a picture will appear on screen ...but tricky if scanning or feed hunting.
Best solution is to just wait longer than I think I need.


It does mean that in order to watch TV from dish B in the TV room ...I have to power down the pc in the shack ...or fit a switch to disconnect the control line ..
..but a amall price to pay ..
..and turning something off occasionally would make me greener

This also applies to dish A of course ..as it too provides no feedback.

My next quest is to replace my old switches with spaun units since these claim to produce less signal loss ..
question is tho' ..do spaun make a smart priority switch ?

I'm just annoyed I was too stupid to see it earlier


rgds
VS

[Tivù]

I'm just annoyed I was too stupid to see it earlier

Shhh............... Nobody else did, either

[nelson_b]

cant realy offer any suggestions here --"Vipersan"
but its nice to know i,m not alone in running a quite complex and unorthodox setup -

regards- nelson.b.

[Vipersan]

Thanks Nelson ..

I pretty much have it working now ..
..and am currently completing my scans of the Eastern sats (dish B)
..but you could or anyone else reading ..maybe answer me a quick question ..
Expess AM1 @40 E
Can you pull the RSS channels on 10967V
and 10995V ?
I get absolutely nothing from these ..even though lyngsat claims maximum signal over the UK..
rgds
VS

[nelson_b]

hi --
my technomate cannot resolve the transponders that you mention - as they are m.peg 4 - channels - and will not show any signal quality on that reciever ---
cant try using the vantage at the moment as its in use on the C band l.n.b. -- but i dont think it will see them either --
can try tonight if your still wanting to know

i dont have a hi def reciever yet --i,v been thinking of a getting a skystar 2 high defcard sometime but will require a more powerfull computer -

but its showing a stong signal from
11159 V
DVB-S/MPEG-2 3333 3/4 Space TV
using the 1.8 channelmaster dish and technomate 1500CIsuper

which according to flysat is on the same beam

cheers nelson .b.

ps--
just wondering what size dish - is (dish B)
i,v just tried space tv on my 1 metre channel master --0n echostar 3000ip and i get a unbroken picture with that setup --
but its not much above its threshold --
hope this helps ---

[Vipersan]

Many thanks for checking m8 ...
Dish B is only 80cm but should at least get something from these transponders..
I'm definately on target as I can get MTV russia 11600v without any probs ...and at a good signal level ..
..but nothing at all from RSCC ...not even a hint of a signal..
I realised the broadcast was in mpeg4 ...but expected I would be able to resolve this with either the IP9000 or the s2-3200 pci card..
..of course I need to get a signal first..
most odd
rgds
VS

[nelson_b]

hi -- just had another look using the technomate -- with 1.8cm
i,m getting a signal now on 10 967 V and downloaded some radio channels---from it --

but if i plug the 1.00 metre dish into the technomate there is only a hint of signal on the quality bar -- and no chance it will lock

looking at those results i would think you need a 1.2 dish minimum to get those transponders

cheers nelson.b .

1.8 c.m.

1.00 metre.

[Vipersan]

Thanks Nelson ..that explains a lot ..
Looks like Lyngsats footprint information is inaccurate regarding the mix of transponders on 40E

Sadly ..I can't even get the 1.1 any further East than 33 deg ...and as you know ..the 1.8 is dedicated to C band and again has Eastward restrictions..
The broadcast content of RSCC @40E will just have to remain a mystery.
rgds
VS

[sonnetpete]

Hi Vipersan,

I've often wondered myself why I couldn't get a dickie bird out of those transponders on 40°E. I just ran a quick scan and still nothing, but am now conducting a software blind scan of all transponders. The Vantage insists on checking 4,112 of them so it might be tomorrow when (or if) I get any results!!!

Pete

[Vipersan]

Thanks for the info Pete ..
Your results should be interesting..
rgds
VS

[sonnetpete]

Hi VS,

Despite a software blind scan, 'tweaking' the elevation, and another quick scan those transponders remain bereft of life.

Annoying as I can get a really strong signal on others which seem to be within the same footprint. Guess those are just weak, unless someone else knows a tweak we can try??

Pete

[Vipersan]

Hi Pete ..
there has been a lot of talk recently about satellites with ajustable spot beam facillities ..
such as the recent TVP thread on Astra 19.
Is it possible our Russian friends have kitted this bird with such an ability...?
Maybe they have and maybe the spot footprint has been tweaked to keep us nosey foreigners out
oh well ..thanks to you and Nelson for trying..
rgds
VS

[sonnetpete]

Hi VS,

Just to give this slightly OT subject some closure, I've located a reception report from a person near Liege, Belgium, picking up 10995V on a 1.2M dish.

I guess there's no hope of me getting it on a 1M !

Pete

[Vipersan]

Thanks for that Pete ..
please let me know if you have any luck..
rgds