What Is A good Positioner.

[TJExcalibur]

I have had loads of hassle with my EZ 6000 positioner and my DM 8000. It flashes to say its saved a position when it hasn't. It doesent switch on or move the dish. Maybe its because the remote is screwed up and I can't reset it and they want £20 plus post for a new one. So whats a good make? Thanks

 

[CROSSBONES]

The Gbox vbox worked great with my 800, but didnt last long died just after a year Using a superjack vbox now, its ok but has no remote.

 

[wod]

i've had no probs with the superjack vbox 2 positioner, only thing i noticed was no reset on the remote but when i took it apart, the reset button was present on the pcb so modded the remote to include it

is the ez6000 only manual positioner and wont work with diseqc 1.2 maybe this is the problem ?

 

[TJExcalibur]

Mine used to work on the TM 6800 Hd but its not on the DM 8000. It may simply need resetting but without a handset it doesen't seem possible. I would buy a new handset but its a waste of £20+ if its still not working.

 

[TJExcalibur]

I got a G-Box V500 but everything is the same. Stores positions but stays put when its supposed to move to another sat. Works if you key in the position number. I will mail Dreambox and see if they have an answer. Even thinking of going back to my TM 6800 HD and flogging the DM at a loss.
Both positioners work fine on the Technomate so its a DM problem.

 

[wod]

has the gbox v500 stopped being made, my superjack vbox 2 has started to give me hassle today and just going to replace it and I cant seem to see any where selling them.

has anyone experience of the technomate/moteck vboxes as they look same in the pictures, do these have a good build quality, reliable ?

just a shame nobody puts hardware positioners in receivers or at least offer it as an extra add on anymore

 

[Sandybob]

TJexcalibur, Are you setting the vbox up via box/remote then trying the dm8000, or are you setting it all up via the Dm8000, I have read someone had a problem by setting up the vbox as a standalone positioner, then trying their reciever, I think it should all be set up with the reciever if you want it to work automatically, mine wont move if there is no position stored, sorry if you already knew this.

Wod, I am playing with a technomate "vbox2 superbox3" they are about £40 new, I have set it up working with a channel master polar mount (but no dish) and it seems to work fine, all functions go to reference, saving sat positions, soft limits etc seem to work well with a TM-5400. I have had a look inside and the f-connection sockets look solid (I have seen some pictures of these only conected by small wires on some boxes) I cant say how accurately it stores, counts and returns to satellite positions as it's not fully setup yet. It does give off a small buzzing sound but when you touch the backplate this goes, so a small run of silicone should sort this out. It pulls 16w on standby (same as a $ly digibox) which I am not happy about, but not sure how this compares to other vboxes. Hope this helps.

 

[wod]

sandybob, you must be using diseqc 1.2 then as i'm not aware of usals working with 36volt motors. my superjack vbox 2 has been throwing up e-2 errors so i need something more reliable, i have a list of the number of counts for each satellite so its easy to restore once i get the new vbox

 

[Sandybob]

Wod, I set the TM-5400 in diseq 1.2 while I was playing with the vbox, then changed back to usals to connect back up to my diseq motor.
E2 errors are usually a "no count" so perhaps the read switch is playing up in the 1224 motor, but not sure what they use to count.

 

[wod]

Wod, I set the TM-5400 in diseq 1.2 while I was playing with the vbox, then changed back to usals to connect back up to my diseq motor.
E2 errors are usually a "no count" so perhaps the read switch is playing up in the 1224 motor, but not sure what they use to count.

the reedswitch is fine as once the vbox was reset and unplugged for a few minutes i was able to move the dish back to 0 without any problems.

its done it a few times as i was using it in manual mode

 

[Sandybob]

Sounds like the vbox then, if its easy/safe access it could still be worth checking the terminal box for a corroded/loose wire perhaps? as for which one to try I cant realy say, many years ago I had an old standalone pace positioner and that was nowhere near as accurate at stopping on a certain count as the vbox I have now. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[wod]

well the dish is just above the gutter so would be hard to check if it is damaged.

the vbox i've had to reset a few times before so i think this is due to be replaced it was only 29 euro when i got the 1224 motor from germany.

going to give it another go with the positioner mode on my vantage x221ci as this worked well before.

 

[Huevos]

going to give it another go with the positioner mode on my vantage x221ci as this worked well before.

Wod, I've never figured out the difference between "DiSEqC 1.2" and "Positioner" mode with the Vantage box. What is it? Is it time delay, or something like that?

 

[TJExcalibur]

TJexcalibur, Are you setting the vbox up via box/remote then trying the dm8000, or are you setting it all up via the Dm8000, I have read someone had a problem by setting up the vbox as a standalone positioner, then trying their reciever, I think it should all be set up with the reciever if you want it to work automatically, mine wont move if there is no position stored, sorry if you already knew this.

Thanks but I sold the DM because I simply did not have the hours required master it all. At present I spend a little time ( renovating a house takes hours) with my TM6800 but there is not much doing with that. Having an extension to the house soon so I may have to sell my Andrews 1.2 dish and motor. Planning are none to happy because its above their allowed size and a neighbour has already complained. Planning were not to concerned but now I want planning permission they are saying I need to reduce the dish to a 0.9 m. That way I can raise it above the roof ridge and get a wider arc. I did put it on EB but no onme wants to pay a fair price for the whole lot so I may simply buy a smaller dish.

 

[Channel Hopper]

the vbox i've had to reset a few times before so i think this is due to be replaced it was only 29 euro when i got the 1224 motor from germany.

going to give it another go with the positioner mode on my vantage x221ci as this worked well before.

I always take the lid off the V box lid and redo the two (unshielded) cables that run to the rear panel by covering them in foil and some plastic sleeve.

Additionally the counts can be improved by cutting off some of the small PCB with the f-plugs and then installing upside down. Don't ask me why.

 

[Sandybob]

Here's a picture of the gubbings of my "Technomate v-box II superbox III"
if anyone would care to comment about f-connector sheilding, etc it would be greatly appreciated. To me the inside looks better than other pictures of vbox's I have found on the net, but I gave up electronics too many years ago to fully understand this modern stuff!

 

[wod]

I always take the lid off the V box lid and redo the two (unshielded) cables that run to the rear panel by covering them in foil and some plastic sleeve.

Additionally the counts can be improved by cutting off some of the small PCB with the f-plugs and then installing upside down. Don't ask me why.

is the 2 unshielded cables you talking about the ones that come from the psu in the vbox ? we are talking about the jaeger superjack vbox 2 ?

some kitchen foil and some heatshrink to cover them would work ok ?

 

[wod]

Wod, I've never figured out the difference between "DiSEqC 1.2" and "Positioner" mode with the Vantage box. What is it? Is it time delay, or something like that?

had some time to look at this today and not found what the difference is with the positioner mode. in the manual is says in the positioner mode this function is used when receiving diseqc 1.2 commands with the adapter that controls positioner antenna.