Cards for feed hunting :)

[nikione]

Hi,

I read a few of the articles and I can understand that Hauppages and SkyStar cards seem to be the best.

However I am curious if someone has knows of cheap/simpler cards which are compatible with the linux modules (to use dvb* tools). I am only interested on the technical side of it and I don't really care having a good quality feed displayed (I.e. HD). However I wouldn't like to be limited by the card on decoding and other hw features.

I have seen on Ebay cards from HK for about 20£. What's your thoughts ?

P.S.= I am just starting and I want to keep a VERY low budget as I have already wasted money on so many hobbies which I didn't eventually pursue, so I am aware that eventually there will be a "minimum" of equipment quality required. At present I am only interested in a "taster".

THANK YOU !

[Llew]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Best to check over at

_www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-S_PCI_Cards

for cards with drivers supported in Linux.

Skystar 2 Rev 2.6 and earlier OK. Don't get Rev 2.7 as I found it doesn't work, although some development is in progress.

Llew

[BombedOne]

SkyStar 2 rev 2.3 is the best one, since it has auto SR feature, and also software exists for blind scan (don't know any other pc card capable of blind scan).

[nikione]

Thanks a lot guys ! That's exactly the info I was looking for.

The blind scan is a particularly important aspect, especially if I get more handy and I get a motorised dish.

I had already a look at that website, however I was hoping there was some more resources around, maybe showing all the cards name and their chipset (might be that some of the cheap ones have the same chipset as skystar ??).

Finally, any thoughts on Hauppage cards (WinTV Nova/Nexus) or VideoMate ?

Thanks again !!

[BombedOne]

SkyStars2 use chipset developed solely for them, so there are no clones or cheap alternatives to SkyStar 2 series. And rev. 2.3i is very hard to get...

[dvmedia]

Just my two cents.. I'd never ever get one of those el-cheapo Hong Kong £20 cards from fleabay. Too many things could potentially not be up to scratch with them.

[nikione]

Hence I really hope that a card such as this:

Technisat Skystar 2 rev. 2.6b

Is one of the "good" ones.

[Low Profile]

Skystars are good, but seriously, it's worth waiting for a V2.3 to come up (on Ebay for example).
I "upgraded" from a 2.6 to a 2.3 - which has the auto symbol rate IC.

[BombedOne]

I have modified several SkyStar 2.3i -s:

1. BSS138 problem removed. (stronger FET fitted)
2. Overheating problem fixed. (fan with bracket)
3. LNB load capacity increased to 1A (new voltage formation circuitry installed)

Now I'm thinking, maybe I start commercial offering of such modded cards? Price I'm planning is around US$100...

any ideas?

[nikione]

Too late.

Tomorrow morning I'm receiving the newly bought SkyStar 2 v2.6b

Paid it 28£ .. hope it's not too much.

It's ok if it has some limitations, as I'm a newbie I don't think I'm gonna be doing too many things right now. Also because I still have only 2 dishes with univeral LNB available (" Sky type dish" .. but one is 96cm)
One is to Astra 19E and the other one will be pointed to HotBird 9 (13E ?)

Question ... Do you know if the 2.6b is able to do blind scanning ?
I tried to read most material on LinuxTV.org but didn't really say. Any good resource, apart from forums, that you know on Feed Hunting techniques and best practices ?

Also .. generally speaking do these DVB-S card also pick up analogic satellite transmissions or it requires (I suppose) a separate/different tuner silicon onboard ?

Thank you again for your precious help.

[Llew]

The 2.6b won't do blind scanning. The only option would be the tiresome one of entering in popular feed frequencies/SRs/FECs into a transponder file of those satellites most used for feeds.

For example, if you are using a Linux distro such as Ubuntu with the Kaffeine player, in its DVB-S folder you can add/modify transponders to include the most-used feeds, which you can find here -

_www.satelliweb.com/index.php?section=listingsf

Recent feeds can be found here -

_www.satelliweb.com/index.php?section=livef

Skystar 2 pci cards are DVB only, they don't do analogue.

Llew

[BombedOne]

There DO EXIST software for 2.6b, to allow blind scanning, but it has two limitations:

1. Only available for windows
2. Requires specific version of drivers

It's called BxS transponder finder....

[starman345]

There DO EXIST software for 2.6b, to allow blind scanning, but it has two limitations:

1. Only available for windows
2. Requires specific version of drivers

It's called BxS transponder finder....

Software blindscan? As far as I know the 2.3 version is the only one with autosymbolrate detect.

[Low Profile]

BXS allows pseudo blind scanning (ie. you list the S/R that you want to scan).

[Llew]

Certainly not true blind scan, as you say. I found it useless for low SR's, as many feeds are.

Llew

[Low Profile]

Agreed, with a 2.6 you're probably best off with a comprehensive transponder list - with a fast scanning engine (such as Alt DVB under windows). You will also want a 4:2:2 codec (such as Nero, Bitcontrol or elecard).
The 2.6 is a decent introduction though and will allow decryption emulation and card sharing if needs be - at a reasonable price.

[kamaleon]

BxS program is SOFTWARE blind scanner. It was written for the 2.6 card because he didn't have a 2.3 card. It's reeeeeeeaaaaaaallly slow, obvioulsy. The whole point of the blind scanning to find feeds is completely lost.

Altxro's program is HARDWARE blind scanner. It only works with the 2.3 card, obviously.

Bombed one, your offer is nice, but quite honestly, I don't think anyone will pay your 100 bucks for a good old rev 2.3 card...