Setting-up USB DVB-S receiver

m1024 · 14-10-2009

Hi;

I have bought a USB DVB-S receiver that came with BlazeDTV on the driver CD.

I installed the driver and the software, but when I try to find channels in BlazeDTV it always shows the signal strength as 0% and quality between 5-10%, even with the LNB cable disconnected. It doesn't find any channels when scanning Astra 2D and won't lock to any satellite.

I then tried ProgDVB; it finds my tuner OK and this shows the signal strength as 70-90% and quality between 5-10%. However, it still won't find any channels when I search.

I'm hoping to be able to watch the FTA channels on Freesat, could anyone help me with this?

Thanks.

**Topper** · 14-10-2009

Welcome to the forum m1024

I think we will need a bit more background information regarding what dish setup you have and if you know it is already working using standard stb.

I suspect you are just not setting the parameters up correctly for the lnb but them I am just guessing at this stage but it is a common mistake.

m1024 · 14-10-2009

Originally Posted by Topper

Welcome to the forum m1024

I think we will need a bit more background information regarding what dish setup you have and if you know it is already working using standard stb.

I suspect you are just not setting the parameters up correctly for the lnb but them I am just guessing at this stage but it is a common mistake.

Hi, you're probably right regarding the parameters, I don't have much experience with DVB-S so I have probably got something wrong.

I'm actually staying in privately-owned University hall of residence at the moment, and there are satellite TV wall sockets in every room. I can see the dish on the side of the wall outside, and it seems to be a just a basic single dish, single LNB setup, though there seems to be a few different cables coming out of the LNB.

I've tried a number of different LNB settings, but I think the right one is 9750/10600. I used the preset settings for the Astra 2D satellite in both programs.

**Topper** · 14-10-2009

Originally Posted by m1024

I've tried a number of different LNB settings, but I think the right one is 9750/10600. I used the preset settings for the Astra 2D satellite in both programs.

No I do not think you are correct, is there not a universal option you can select?.

You see now that we know more about what it is you have got there it could be a smatv system it could be multiple dish and you can only physically see one dish, the other being on the other side of a parapet the possiblities are endless, does the dish work with a standard stb or have you never tried it? how do you know it is connected up behind the wall plate? Also how do you know it is pointing at Astra 2? you are being very economical with information which makes it difficult to give concise answers.

The way you describe the lnb, it could just be a simple octo with eight feeds from lnb going to 8 different rooms.

m1024 · 14-10-2009

Originally Posted by Topper

No I do not think you are correct, is there not a universal option you can select?.

You see now that we know more about what it is you have got there it could be a smatv system it could be multiple dish and you can only physically see one dish, the other being on the other side of a parapet the possiblities are endless, does the dish work with a standard stb or have you never tried it? how do you know it is connected up behind the wall plate? Also how do you know it is pointing at Astra 2? you are being very economical with information which makes it difficult to give concise answers.

The way you describe the lnb, it could just be a simple octo with eight feeds from lnb going to 8 different rooms.

I can't see a universal option in the BlazeDTV settings, there is just Ku-L, Ku-C, and custom. I haven't tried it with a standard receiver box yet, either. The dish appears to be pointing in an east-west direction.

I am pretty sure that it is connected to something, because I once connected my DVB-T USB tuner to the Satellite socket with an adaptor and it found 51 channels; normally I get around 80 channels when connected to the aerial socket.

It's a three-way wall panel with sockets for DAB, Freeview (DVB-T) and Satellite.

The place was advertised as having satellite TV in the contract aswell.

I honestly cannot say exactly how it is wired up between the wall socket and the dish though. I might ask the management and see if they know anything about it.

Sorry I couldn't provide more info, but I only know about what I can actually see at the moment.

**Topper** · 15-10-2009

Originally Posted by m1024

I can't see a universal option in the BlazeDTV settings, there is just Ku-L, Ku-C, and custom.

I have never heard of sub-divisions of Ku band like that, I have heard of C-band and L band but they are separate to Ku band

See this _http://www.jneuhaus.com/fccindex/letter.html

I would tend to set it for custom 10,700 - 12,750 then do a scan

Originally Posted by m1024

The dish appears to be pointing in an east-west direction.

I take it you mean the face is pointing south and the edges are aligned East - West

Originally Posted by m1024

I am pretty sure that it is connected to something, because I once connected my DVB-T USB tuner to the Satellite socket with an adaptor and it found 51 channels; normally I get around 80 channels when connected to the aerial socket.

Seems like it has a terrestrial signal multiplexed with the sat signal

I would certainly contact management first since if you damage their setup in any way they will no doubt make you liable.

Anyhow students should not have time for TV they should be studying shouldn't they

***Tivù*** · 15-10-2009

I suspect Ku-L means Ku Band detection and L Band IF ...... which is what DVB-S equipment is looking for. So that's the setting you want.

When I was at Uni, I was the only kid on the block with a Telly (Black and White .............). I also had a small Cocktail Cabinet.

Thanks to Marconi (Remember them?) for paying my Bursary ............ and making me temporarily quite popular!

**Topper** · 15-10-2009

Originally Posted by Tivù

I suspect Ku-L means Ku Band detection and L Band IF ...... which is what DVB-S equipment is looking for. So that's the setting you want.

When I was at Uni, I was the only kid on the block with a Telly (Black and White .............). I also had a small Cocktail Cabinet.

Thanks to Marconi (Remember them?) for paying my Bursary ............ and making me temporarily quite popular!

I bow to your superior knowledge, so you are suggesting Ku-L is the correct setting then?

***Tivù*** · 15-10-2009

Originally Posted by Topper

I bow to your superior knowledge, so you are suggesting Ku-L is the correct setting then?

I don't know about that! Just educated guesswork

More puzzling is the apparent direction of the Dish.

Also, I wonder if there is a proven connection between his room's socket and the Dish?

***Tivù*** · 15-10-2009

Having got little else to do owing to a stinking Cold, I've

Here's the relevant Text:

" .......then choose your LNB type. You may need to check your LNB LOF frequencies ...........

1. Choose "Ku-L Band" will set your LOF1 Frequency as 9750MHz and LOF2 Frequency as 10600MHz

2. Choose "Ku-C Band" will set your LOF1 Frequency as 10750MHz and your LOF2 Frequency as 0MHz

3. Choose "C Band" will set your LOF1 Frequency as 5150MHz an LOF2 Frequency as 0MHz

4. .......... Custom ............"

Link to Manual:

_http://www.matchboxpro.com/docs/Match%20Box%20Manual.pdf

I'm not sure if the quoted text clarifies, or confuses! Too busy sneeeeezing

m1024 · 15-10-2009

Sorry, I seem to have got the dish direction wrong; I meant to say it is pointing South-East.

I tried using 10700-12750 as suggested but that didn't work either.

***Tivù*** · 15-10-2009

Originally Posted by m1024

Sorry, I seem to have got the dish direction wrong; I meant to say it is pointing South-East.

I tried using 10700-12750 as suggested but that didn't work either.

South East by eye? Seems ok.

See last few Posts: Looks like "Ku-L" is the correct setting as this makes your LNB Local Oscillator Frequencies correct for a Universal LNB. But I note you used 9750/10600 early on and it didn't work.

Are you positive that your room is actually connected for Satellite? There being an appropriate socket and an appropriate Dish isn't enough: The Distribution system needs to be identified and checked ...

Edit: Do you have a neighbour with a known working Sky or Freesat Box you could attach, just to prove the rest of the system?

m1024 · 15-10-2009

Originally Posted by Tivù

South East by eye? Seems ok.

See last few Posts: Looks like "Ku-L" is the correct setting as this makes your LNB Local Oscillator Frequencies correct for a Universal LNB. But I note you used 9750/10600 early on and it didn't work.

Are you positive that your room is actually connected for Satellite? There being an appropriate socket and an appropriate Dish isn't enough: The Distribution system needs to be identified and checked ...

Edit: Do you have a neighbour with a known working Sky or Freesat Box you could attach, just to prove the rest of the system?

I used the compass in Google Earth and zoomed in on the building, the wall that the dish is mounted on points south-east.

Using a normal box would be tricky as I don't actually have a proper TV with me, just a 19" LCD Monitor with D-Sub and DVI inputs, and 2 laptops, I don't know anyone else that has tried it either.

As I said, ProgDVB manages to get a 70-90% signal strength so I'm quite sure that it's connected somehow.

**Topper** · 15-10-2009

Originally Posted by Topper

I would certainly contact management first since if you damage their setup in any way they will no doubt make you liable.

To move on

***Tivù*** · 15-10-2009

Originally Posted by m1024

As I said, ProgDVB manages to get a 70-90% signal strength so I'm quite sure that it's connected somehow.

Don't attach much significance to a "Signal Strength" reading in the absence of a meaningful Quality Reading.

Just as a matter of interest, what readings (if any) are showm if you disconnect the Satellite cable?

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Setting-up USB DVB-S receiver Discussion on systems using a DVB satellite receiver card SD or DH in a pc.

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