My C band install

[Llew]

The card is a TBS 6925 I believe, but I'm not certain. I don't know what software comes bundled but I am guessing the constellation diagram is part of BLscan. Maybe we should start a new thread on this because I'm pretty interested in the card and I'd like Llew and Aceb to expand on what software they are using, whether it is open source, is there any charge, and what tasks each piece of software can do.

Yes, the card is I understand the only one at present that will resolve ACM as well as 16/32PSK feeds/channels.

You get BLScan and Crazyscan software bundled, along with DVBDream (registered), and TBS's own DVB viewer, which I haven't bothered with, as it's based on DVBViewer and I already have the Pro version.

They also pack in a Smargo card reader for some reason.

 

[aceb]

That software looks pretty interesting. I'd love to see more shots, including the spectrum. How do you rate the card for tuner sensitivity, and what are you comparing to.

I'm using the Prof Tuners 7301, sensitivity is very good as far as I can tell, it copes with weak signals well, the only comparisons I've been able to make are against my Skystar 2 V2.3 and and even older Nokia 9500 so not exactly a real test. It was recommended as being sensitive and is marketed as such but I've no way of confirming just how sensitive. The best place to read about the card and LOTS of information on Crazy cats blindscan and spectrum sweep (crazyscan) software is on Ricks Wildfeed and backhaul forum. There's also a nice front end app for CCs software now but I'm kinda used to the DOS box BS screen. The software only supports these cards due to the type of demod chip used on them.
Omicom S2 PCI rev.3 (all demod versions), Prof 7301, Prof 8000, Prof 7500, TechnoTrend S2-1600, TBS6925 v1 & 2.

aceb, how do you get the TCP ip streaming address to show in Constellation Monitoring? Don't have that section in mine.

I just downloaded the latest version from CCs website, not really noticed it TBH.

nice one aceb your get hooked on c-band,does your dish reach 40W,if so you should pick up south american channels.

It does, it was the last thing I scanned before I had to tear myself away to deal with more mundane issues like cooking dinner. I've given a brief break down below of what I've managed so far.

VS, did the solar noon set up as advised and double checked the pole was vertical so that much is done, I think I'm going to invest in a Ku LNB and set the arc up with that, lots more targets at the edges and less tolerance means I can really fine tune it.

So far I've managed to get (TV stations) 32 stations/11transponders on 5W, 2 stations/1 transponder on 11W, 17 stations/2 transponders on 22W, 17 stations/4 transponders on 27.5W and 46 stations/22 transponders on 40W plus one mystery. It must be around 18-20W and has two transponders 3647 4123 1/2 and 3806 13000 4/5, both appear to be either data or empty. There maybe satellites in between that will produce some results but I've not had chance to go looking yet, nor have I tried anything east. It looks like the weather is going to be beat me this weekend so I'll order the V box ready for another go next week.

 

[Llew]

I just downloaded the latest version from CCs website, not really noticed it TBH.

OK, don't really need it anyway, just that I noticed your source in TSReader was the local host (127.0.0.1). Presumably the source is sent via the Blind Scan Monitor.

Yes, CrazyCat has a good and helpful presence over at that site.

 

[dx qwer]

...plus one mystery. It must be around 18-20W and has two transponders 3647 4123 1/2 and 3806 13000 4/5, both appear to be either data or empty...

Hello aceb,

these datatransmissions are from Intelsat 901 @18.0°W. I can confirm with bandscan on rightcircular polarization.

Best Regards
qwer.

 

[A nonymous]

I was wondering what all this C band lark was all about so i've ordered a C band lnb to have a play with

I think i may have to order another receiver though as i don't think the Vu+ Duo does c band

 

[sonnetpete]

I was wondering what all this C band lark was all about so i've ordered a C band lnb to have a play with

I think i may have to order another receiver though as i don't think the Vu+ Duo does c band

Are all of us bored with Ku band or just admirers of Vipersan who seems to have inspired this current surge of interest? I have succumbed as well and hope to have a C band LNB here next week.

I'm sure the VU+ does do C band, as it seems to list the C band sats and display the relevant polarities when you access the channel search menu's. However, I've decided to use a different receiver for the motorised dish and am waiting for a friend who has a renovation project ongoing here to arrive next week with a Dr HD F15. Credit card limit? Dunno!!!

 

[A nonymous]

Can anyone recommend a good receiver which will do C-Band and is fairly cheap. Its just so i can have a play so i dont want to spend mega bucks on a receiver that probably won't get a huge amount of use

Nano

 

[Vipersan]

Hi Nano ..
Not sure how much you want to spend ..
But once again ..I can thoroughly recommend the DrHd F15

around the 140 >150 squid mark ..

but maybe you want to spend less ?

It excells in both C and ku bands.
rgds
VS

 

[Huevos]

Can anyone recommend a good receiver which will do C-Band and is fairly cheap.

Just use the Vu+ Duo. You'll need a special satellites.xml file with double blocks but apart from that it'll work just fine.

Here are a few screenshots from my Duo.

 

[A nonymous]

Nice one

I didn't think the Vu would do c band.

 

[doktorofsat]

Execelent job @ aceb!

Everytime somebody ask me about C band , 5w is the way to go .I recomand you my dielectric plate http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/c-band-reception-uk-europe/156485-dielectric-plate.html in order to improve the reception of L/R ch. in C band

If you can receive KTN Kenya from 5w it's da sign that you have a good dish and a good setup 4 a 120 pf of course!Let us know your results with my dielectric plate !Check also 3630 R 3255 that sometimes is FTA and transmitiong some french channels

Just check 5w and I NOTICE THAT Sierra Leone is gone and the AFNEX ch switched 2 mpeg-4

you can watch fooball there CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE and CAF CONFEDERATION CUP
Aceb

Check with your dish the 30,5E and 49E (3982 L the strongest tp)

Best Regards
DoktorOfSat

 

[A nonymous]

I was wondering what all this C band lark was all about so i've ordered a C band lnb to have a play with

I think i may have to order another receiver though as i don't think the Vu+ Duo does c band

Ooops, the wifes found out and shes not happy

Just also purchased a Scalar ring so i can use it on the old 1.2m offset to start with.

Both c band lnb (260816431813) & scalar ring (200565297380) off ebay for under £28. Result. Can't see them being the best quality, but i'm only playing for now. Its just like being a satellite virgin all over again, except this time i've got a meter

Just need to make one of those dielectric plates that Doktorofsat has kindly shown us for the L & R circular polarities.

And just when i was starting to get bored you throw the c band stuff at me, Damn you

 

[Lazarus]

Even more disconcerting is the fact that you have started quoting yourself.................. !!

 

[A nonymous]

The signature says it all

Thats what putting satellite dishes up in London for 18 months does to you

 

[aceb]

This weather is playing havoc with my C banding )(-red I've ordered the Gbox Vbox badged Clarke Tech thing, whatever it really is so hopefully have that mid week. For now, position memories are small blobs of nail varnish on the actuator arm, it's a good job it's not for Ku, I'd loose count of the spots. lol

VS old chap, could you prune your in-box please, just tried sending you a PM but "Vipersan has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."

 

[Vipersan]

..sorry 'bout that ...
been getting a lot of PMs just lately..
Sorted now
;)
rgds
VS

 

[sonnetpete]

VS old chap, could you prune your in-box please, just tried sending you a PM but "Vipersan has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."

It's the price you pay for fame LOL

 

[aceb]

I seem to have hit the point already of being frustrated with the small dish lol I'm using Crazyscan as a very convenient spectrum scope and can see quite a few transponders at what I think is 55.5W that just won't lock during a blindscan. As I'm currently waiting for the positioner I'm still using the 12v supply to move the dish and best guessing it's position, at least now I can do it from the comfort of my chair and not the garden.

S/N ratios of received signals, should they be comparable no matter what the receiver or are there different methods of calculating it? The weakest signal I've watched so far on 40.5W is 3670L 2960 3/4 with a 3.9dB S/N but that's meaningless if it's as varied as the S/Q readings of different receivers. Is there anywhere on the net/this forum that shows strongest transponders in the UK for each satellite, I can think of some for Ku but I doubt there's much chance of one for C band? I've been trawling the theads here to find what is being reported as strong etc.

Forecast for tomorrow is a lot better so hopefully I can finish fine tuning the alignment and squeezing a bit more from the LNB, for today I've spent the morning successfully parting the two halves of the Precision Ku feed, 20 years of living by the sea had taken its toll and it was siezed solid. Some WD40, a lot of heat and some brute force with a hammer has sorted it and now, cleaned up is as good as new. Will now start looking for a suitable Ku C120 LNB, is the Inverto as good as the Black Ultra?

 

[wod]

its interesting reading this, I have a channel master 1.2m offset dish in the shed and wonder if I would receive anything in cband if i got a suitable lnb for it ?

 

[doktorofsat]

@wod

As I wrote it so many times if you have a 120cm offset/pf the best way to go is 5w or 83e!Of course in England you can't receive 83E but this is an another problemo )

So fix your CM 120 at 5W using a Ku band LNB .After that you should change it with a C band one .You also need a dielectric plate and a scalar ring for offset(both of the improves much the reception quality

Let us know your results