n00b question: common setups

[nedge2k]

Hi guys,

Just bought a USB DVB-S tuner for my HTPC as my flat has a (single) "sat" coax connector on the wall.

Now, I know sod all about satellite stuff so I'm wondering if anyone would be kind enough to offer an opinion as to what my building's setup might be? We have no building manager, our letting agent is useless and I've been round the building trying to find where the dish feed comes in to no avail so it's all guesswork at the mo!

I'm assuming the dish will be pointed at 28.2 for sky? (building was all refurb'd in 2000)
I'm assuming there will be some kinda switch/diseqc? (there are 12 flats)
Which KU band is most likely for the LNB(s)?

I've tried hooking the tuner up to Prog DVB but it always says no signal/quality. Been at this for a few days now and it's driving me nuts. I don't know whether the tuner is duff, the dish is duff or I'm just telling the software the wrong stuff!

TIA!

 

[rolfw]

Well if you're getting signal strength and no quality, it may be that the dish isn't pointing at Astra 28.2, but perhaps Hotbird, it depends on what your fellow residents watch, may be worth asking them.

 

[nedge2k]

why was my post moved? im asking about dish setup primarily?

 

[nedge2k]

Well if you're getting signal strength and no quality, it may be that the dish isn't pointing at Astra 28.2, but perhaps Hotbird, it depends on what your fellow residents watch, may be worth asking them.

yeah i've been in this building for 4 years and still don't know any of my neighbours - it's not that kinda building i really don't think anyone else uses the communal dish.

 

[rolfw]

I moved the thread because it has little to do with dish setup, as you have no control over the pointing of the dish. It is possibly more to do with setup of your PC card.

Have you used the PC card on another known working system? Are you showing signal strength?

 

[nedge2k]

beg to differ there mate, i'm asking about common communal dish setups - where the dish is usually pointed, what types of switches and lnbs are usually used so i can try and get my card working

don't know anyone local with satellite so can't test the card on a known good setup

 

[rolfw]

Well firstly if you are asking about communal systems, then it doesn't go in the dish setup section, it goes in the Multi receiver/TV systems section.

But you firstly need to know whether your receiver works and has the correct settings and as it is a PC card, this is the section for it.

Most communal systems in the UK point towards Astra 28.2 East and use a multiswitch which acts as a normal LNB to each individual point, if it is a multisat system (which is unlikely) you may need to add a DiSEqC switching port.

You haven't answerred my question though, which is very relevant, did you show any signal strength?

 

[nedge2k]

sorry, no, not showing any signal strength in blaze dtv or prog dvb.

so, when i'm setting this up, i should set it as just 1 lnb? not any kind of switch? i've tried all the astra sats with various combos of switch/lnb type and nowt is working

are there any apps that can troubleshoot stuff?

 

[rolfw]

DVBS cards can be tricky to set up, can you take some screen grabs of the setup menus and upload them here?

 

[portly]

You might have to reinstall yer drivers , as i had a problem with my card when first installed, it didnt show any signal. go to device manager and look under sound/video ect controllers , i right clicked the device for my card and then updated the driver, it worked,also make sure your card is seated ok in its socket and cable + plugs are correctly put together. Gaz