Replacement DM800 tuner

[xavk]

Guys,

I regularly get "Tune Failed" errors when changing from any channel on V transponder to a H. Some rapid changing between channels can fix it but its certainly not a user friendly solution (ie the other half isn't happy!). My DM800 is one of the first released originals and I've tried many software options and am currently running the latest Nabilo image, bootloader and drivers so I am pretty sure that it is a hardware issue.

I'm seriously considering a replacement tuner from what I can tell, this is the root cause of the issues I am experiencing but I have a few questions I thought I would check with you guys first as you always seem to have very good advise for me :


- Can anyone recommend a good, cheap source for an original replacement tuner. I can see them for £79 at ************ but am hoping there is cheaper out there!
- Am I right in thinking that I shouldn't use a clone tuner (available for around $50) in an original DM800. Given the price, if it may work, I'm tempted to try it before investing in an original.
- Are there any other suggestions I should try before I go for the replacement tuner option?

Thanks,

Xav

 

[JanH]

For me it is sounds like bad dish signal.
I had similar problems with old original tuner drivers, DM show small dish signal and make problems.

 

[JanH]

Once more, sorry. Sometimes settings from other machine not working quite well. Try to scan satelite yourself on your machine.

 

[B16MCC]

satstore £40. but i doubt its a tuner problem.

 

[wallycharlo]

There is a known problem with DM800 tuners. My new box gives me this error when trying to swtich betwwen different sats on Diseqc. Dream have sent me a replacement tuner, I'm going to install it at the weekend.

-Wally

 

[xavk]

I've been reading quite a bit more and think some additional information might help pinpoint my issue / validate my reasoning.

The DM800 is connected to an EMP Centauri 8x1 Disecq switch. Feeding this are 2x Alp narrow feedhorn LNBs feeding 13E & 19E, a Titanium twin LNB for 16E and 28E via an octo-LNB on the Sly minidish. I experience the Tune Failed error across all of these sats so I dont believe it is a faulty LNB (unless they are all faulty!).

I know this would lead many to believe the culprit it is the EMP (which I havent yet ruled out) but I have also experienced a very similar issue with my second set up which was a DM500 (when tuning to the same channels, I would get a black screen but no error message. I could solve this by switching to another channel and then switching back (sometimes would have to do this a few times, but I alway eventually got the channel to display). This DM500 was fed with 28E from the octo-LNB and the other connection from the Titanium LNB for 16E (both connected to a cheap 4x1 disecq switch). I have recently replaced the DM500 with a TM500 and all of the issues have disappeared. This lead me to conclude (perhaps incorrectly!) that the issue is common to weak DM tuners.

I've ordered a replacement tuner from supersatshop.eu for £29 so that I can test my theory and if it doesn't help, I will stick it on fleabay. After that, I think my next port of call will be to look at a Spaun disecq solution. Though I am currently only using 4 ports, I have an installer coming this weekend to try and add some more sats and a rotor to the EMP, so I will know on Monday how many ports I really need.

 

[xavk]

There is a known problem with DM800 tuners. My new box gives me this error when trying to swtich betwwen different sats on Diseqc. Dream have sent me a replacement tuner, I'm going to install it at the weekend.

-Wally

Sorry - missed this reply whilst composing the last update. Will add contacting Dream to the list of actions (though the DM800 is 18 months old so they may not be too helpful).

 

[xavk]

New tuner just arrived from supersatshop and the great news is that it sems to have resolved the issue

The original tuner in the box was revision J and the new one is revision K but given the price, strongly suspect its a clone, but given the result, I dont mind that. Am in discussions with dream who also offered to send me a new tuner, but I need to find my receipt first.

 

[xavk]

Just to keep you all updated, Dream have agreed to send me a new tuner and will only charge me the postage costs from Germany. I know I already got a replacement from supersatshop but I would rather have a confirmed original than a suspected clone (and fleabay should mean I don't make a huge loss). The postage from Dream is 17.85Eur and I had to pay £9 in bank charges to send the money to Germany from my UK bank, so just about £25 in total.

 

[xavk]

Further update - received a replacement tuner from dream and it was a Revision K which was the same as the one I originally had. That had the same "Tune Failed" error as my original tuner. I told Dream and mentioned that a Rev J I had access to had fixed the issue and they sent me another Rev J. I've just tested that tonight and it also has the "Tune Failed" error. Visually it is not the same as the one from Supersatstore which reinforces my opinion that the one I bought is a clone. Despite this, only the clone has actually removed the "Tune Failed" issue which is most strange but I am pleased I have found a solution even if I cant explain why it works.

For the record, I have to say that Dream's support has been very good - responsive and willing to send out parts quickly, trusting that I will return the unused ones (which I will of course). Also, I did ask Dream about the differences between Rev J & K and they said "Basically there aren't any big differences, like other capacitors or s.th. like this".

 

[griff78]

i keep getting tune failed aswell on a real dm tuner bought 2 months ago and keep getting glitches aswell as high def stuff not working well. how is the high def stuff with the clone ??

 

[shumifan50]

When using a diseqc switch with multi-lnbs, it can cause this style of problem because of the way power is distributed in multi-lnbs (as opposd to mutiple lnbs). As understand it, one of the lnbs in a multi-lnb is the 'main' provider of power and if it is not powered by the STB can cause intermittent behaviour on the second LNB. This problem is most likely to happen when the STB connected to the 'main' lnb in the set is switched off. I have never had any channel switching problems with any of my dreamboxes (all genuine), but I did experiment quite a bit with my dish setup to eliminate known possible configuration errors.

 

[xavk]

how is the high def stuff with the clone ??

It all seems to be working well - I dont get any "tune failed" issues and to my eyes the picture quality seems the same.

With regards the possibly disecq issue, I am using an eight way EMP switch (7 ports in use) and that is located halfway up the outside of the house so its not an easy one for me to test. If the weather is good this weekend I want to try and fill the 8th port with 23E. If I manage to get that done quickly I will try and test using a 4x1 technomate diseqc switch I have lying around to see if that fixes the problem (after switching tuners back). A lot of "ifs" there though, so it may take a while.