Advice Needed Receivers with the lowest Symbol Rate?

[satesco]

Looks like it was indeed the beacon..
Double clicked on the A71A decoder disabled image and got it to open with TSreader/VLC ...but sadly this version of TSreader is limited and cuts off after 1 minute.
I guess I need a different version ?

You may need to update your TSReader DLL sources. You can find them here.

 

[Vipersan]

You may need to update your TSReader DLL sources. You can find them here.

Followed the link and downloaded
tsreader-bdasource_-20210701.zip
Extracted what I assume are the correct dll files
TSReader_BDASource_TBS6983A.dll
and
TSReader_BDASource_TBS6983B.dll

Then scanned my entire C: drive for previous examples of these 2 files..
Nothing found.
So maybe it isn't as straightforward as swapping out .dll files.
Maybe I need to install a different and more recent version of TSReader ?

 

[satesco]

I notice in #556 that you’re using the old version of TSReader Lite, 2.8.47c. Try version TSR 2.8.53a
However, following the passing of the late @Rod Hewitt, TSReader Pro is now free.

 

[Vipersan]

I did not know that ..
a belated RIP to Rod and his freinds and family.

 

[Channel Hopper]

btw CH ...not too old to climb ladders...but the MS makes for a very unbalanced/unstable Evan once up there.
I took a huge tree down earlier this year with a 12 inch blade chinesium chainsaw.
It involved much roping of tree ladders and me ...the job took about 2 months and the stump is now a seat..
see picture
you can tell how wide and tall it was by the fact it can support a seat
I called it Ents Rest...and the seat took another 2 months to complete.

Evan



Trees and chainsaws are a whole different matter when it comes to ladder work. I stopped on the sycamores here four months ago, leaving the uppermost canopy since the ladder would only reach the second floor and there were no proper footholds on the branches above. They have again spread out to the original size.

Don't overdo it, please

 

[Vipersan]

Evan



Trees and chainsaws are a whole different matter when it comes to ladder work. I stopped on the sycamores here four months ago, leaving the uppermost canopy since the ladder would only reach the second floor and there were no proper footholds on the branches above. They have again spread out to the original size.

Don't overdo it, please

Yep it was a tricky thing for an old man with MS to attempt...but I had no choice.
following a particularly heavy wind/storm session in Feb I got a knock at my door from a neighbour concerned that a large branch had sheared off ...smashed up my keter shed and was hanging over the fence into his garden.
I rang three tree surgeons and none of them wanted the job.
The tree was rotten and had died...making it unstable going forward.
I had no choice but tackle it myself.
It was as high as the apex of my terraced house...and scared the shyte out of me.
got a friend to help me for a couple of hours each sunday...but 90% of the work fell to me.
I still havent replaced the shed yet ...more expense...so will likely spend all winter under a tarp.
still ....better a shed than a person imo
There were still 3 branches to the trunk left one of which was fairly central....so I scienced the crap out of it ..using the central trunk as a fulcrum to lower sections of the left and right trunks as I cut them..
I used a wheelie bin half full of bricks as a counter weight....but you can imaginr the shear terror on my face when the bin started to ascend as a large piece of trunk descended..
Obviously more ballast got added after that....and the piece of trunk came down at speed under _some_ sort of control.

 

[Vipersan]

Finally got to see the entire Eshail2 launch on the beacon channel without TSreader crashing out after a minute.
Installed TSReader v2.7.0.0
So relative to the beacon frequency where do Hams Generally broadcast ?
and will I need any other software to receive these broadcasts ?
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

So I'm guessing this signal to the right of the beacon (No locked) is an actual Ham user on qo100.
?
If this is the case I obviously cannot lock onto it at 2.2db.
Is this a typical signal level seen on qo-100.
If so then my1.8 PF may not be adequate in its current configuration.
Do remember the bullseye LNB in use was designed to be mounted on an offset dish not a PF ..
This may well be my issue.
If so maybe it is time to get a second bullseye lnb ...hack off the offset feedhorn and modify it ?
Is anyone aware of this process being done ?
perhaps there is a video out there somewhere ?
More to the point ...do you think this is a problem I can resolve ?

Assuming I am on the right track getting hold of a ku scalar ring feed that would illuminate a 1.8 PF dish could be tricky these days..
perhaps someone in the UK has such a thing they might want to sell ?
C120 style I suppose with or without lnb collar ..roughly 22mm diameter waveguide.
rgds
VS

 

[s-band]

If so maybe it is time to get a second bullseye lnb ...hack off the offset feedhorn and modify it ?
Is anyone aware of this process being done ?

It's good to see you back.

I use a Bullseye on an ex-Invacom C120 flange on an old 1.8m Precision PF. It needed a bit of persuasion (filing etc) to make it fit and it's secured using silver epoxy. It works very well, slightly better than SMW Q-PLL LNBs. I also modified it to use an external 25MHz reference input.

 

[Vipersan]

Basically what I had in mind SB
Dont suppose you kept any photos during construction ?
after some searching I found the

PrimeSat C120 LNB Feedhorn with Fixings Satellite Dish Adapter​

is still available new ..but very pricey ...I may be forced to go down this route...if no-one has anything used to sell.

though not sure if this would illuminate a 1.8m dish

any details re the 25mhz modding would also be useful.

I know the bullseye already has a second port for 25mhz ...but not sure if that is output or input.
or what it would be used with ?
gps maybe ?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Assuming I am on the right track getting hold of a ku scalar ring feed that would illuminate a 1.8 PF dish could be tricky these days..
perhaps someone in the UK has such a thing they might want to sell ?
C120 style I suppose with or without lnb collar ..roughly 22mm diameter waveguide.
rgds
VS

I have just the thing here, though it will require fitting to the Alcoa feedarms and I cannot recall what clamping system they used despite installing a few in the early 90's. The feed is tuned for 9.75 GHz single band LNBs , so it will easily work down to the QO-100 band.

Can you send some close ups of your bits and bobs (oooerr!) ?

 

[Vipersan]

No probs CH ..I'm due a cuppa...so will nip ouside whilst the kettle bois and get some close pix of the bullseye mounted at the apex of the homebrew tripod.

 

[s-band]

Dont suppose you kept any photos during construction ?

This is the only one I can find:

https://satellites.co.uk/forums/attachments/bullseye-pre-assembly1-jpg.157104/

any details re the 25mhz modding would also be useful.

The 25MHz port is an output normally. I wouldn't make it an input the same way again as it's very picky regarding the 25MHz level. I'm not happy with the phase noise despite using a 25MHz OCXO locked to a good reference. I can't remember where I saw it but there have been detailed mods published showing how to do it properly . However, that may require removal and re-fitting of the PCB. Unless you really want precise frequency accuracy, the stock version is good enough for SSB & CW. You might have to re-tune if the Sun hits the LNB as there is still some temperature sensitivity.

<edit> I found the link to the mods

 

[Vipersan]

Ok ..sorry for the delay..I had to persuade my cat to let me use the ladder..
The spider at the apex originally held a C band LNB ....so I retrofitted a ku lnb holder using a 40mm plastic pipe hanger ....used sideways instead of its original hanger function.
The tripod legs are 15mm copper pipe wrapped with electrical tape and cut to equal length to achieve the sweet spot which in this case is 31.5 inches from dish to feed.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Ok ..sorry for the delay..I had to persuade my cat to let me use the ladder..
The spider at the apex originally held a C band LNB ....so I retrofitted a ku lnb holder using a 40mm plastic pipe hanger ....used sideways instead of its original hanger function.
The tripod legs are 15mm copper pipe wrapped with electrical tape and cut to equal length to achieve the sweet spot which in this case is 31.5 inches from dish to feed.

OK, I will send pictures of the feed tomorrow along with dimensions

I am assuming it will slot nicely down the gap between the two feed arms, is it 40mm for the Bullseye LNB or modified to something else such as C band (60mm) ?

 

[Vipersan]

The aluminium spider originally accomodated a C band LNB so 60mm ....the bullseye drops nicely into the pipe hanger down that slot and a hinged clamp at the top of the hanger can then be closed with a nut and bolt to grip the body of the 40mm lnb body.
The pipe hanger is suspended in the centre of that 60mm U shaped slot.

 

[scopus]

Basically what I had in mind SB
Dont suppose you kept any photos during construction ?
after some searching I found the

PrimeSat C120 LNB Feedhorn with Fixings Satellite Dish Adapter​

is still available new ..but very pricey ...I may be forced to go down this route...if no-one has anything used to sell.

though not sure if this would illuminate a 1.8m dish

any details re the 25mhz modding would also be useful.

I know the bullseye already has a second port for 25mhz ...but not sure if that is output or input.
or what it would be used with ?
gps maybe ?

VS, Dave from SSS has retired and closed the online store. Some of their products are sold at Pulsat now, you might be lucky

 

[Vipersan]

Hmm ...I have watched a few youtube vids about receiving DATV ...and most Hams use dedicated hardware and software
The hardware being

MiniTiounerPro v2​

I assume or at least hope that I can receive and decode these transmissions with my TBS6983 card...
afterall a tuner is just a tuner unless one of you guys know different.
..but maybe its the very low SR and signal levels that will present me with problems.
It's not like you can just buy one of these minitiouners ...you have to be a BATC member presumably have a call sign ..
very 'in-house' I guess.
However I console myself for now that I have locked and decoded the beacon...and have seen other frquencies in use but could not lock them.
Does the minitioner software work with the TBS6983 card perhaps...and if so where would I get a copy ?
as one door opens another just seems to slam shut..
for now I shall just keep trying to get higher signal levels that _may_ just lock crazyscan if they are around more than a few seconds at a time.
lol

 

[stephan94]

Minitoune doesn’t work with the 6983 – they have their own ‘BATC MiniTiouner’

With a TBS 6983 board, you can still successfully tune down to very low frequencies

I’ve already managed to receive radio signals with an SR of 132

 

[Vipersan]

Minitoune doesn’t work with the 6983 – they have their own ‘BATC MiniTiouner’

With a TBS 6983 board, you can still successfully tune down to very low frequencies

I’ve already managed to receive radio signals with an SR of 132

Thanx stephan.
Good to know I'm not wasting my time trying to achieve the impossible..
So...TBS6983 > crazyscan > TSreader > VLC is sufficient ?
If you have recommendations for other software I should try..???
I'm listening.

What caught my interest on the BATC software was the compact almost bar graph display of who was online..
see pic attached ringed in yellow.
it did look incredibly useful..

cheers