[mythtvnz] Broken DVB-S setup

[Nick & Ann Read]

On 8/05/2011 11:00 p.m., Noel & Diane <noel at igrin.co.nz> wrote:
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 08 May 2011 10:55:03 +1200
> From: Noel&  Diane<noel at igrin.co.nz>
> Subject: Re: [mythtvnz] Broken DVB-S setup
> To: MythTV in NZ<mythtvnz at lists.linuxnut.co.nz>
> Message-ID:<1304808903.4711.21.camel at U4-office>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Start at the dish&  follow the signal path!
> Verify your dish/LNB are good, and if so then proceed to investigate
> your card.
> Either use a known-good freeview box to see if you get a signal or If
> you cant do that (or if the box fails to acquire a signal) then;
> First, use a "cheapie" satellite squealer ($15 off TM) on your coax, set
> it to just start to make a noise then move your hand in front of the LNB
> - if there is not a LARGE increase in noise (reflected of your hand)
> from the squealer, then your LNB is kaput.
> Second, Deflect the rim of the dish by 5mm or so (a gentle push with a
> fingertip) and you should note a  drop of signal on the meter.  do this
> for left/right and up/down deflections.  (your LNB coax exit point
> should be roughly at the 8-O'clock position when viewed from the front
> of the dish) This step will prove if your dish is correctly aligned.
> I would expect a relatively greater signal from Freeview transponder
> compared to the SBS transponder.
> Thirdly, if the dish proves OK, use a command-line dvbtune -like command
> (sorry not too sure on the syntax off the top of my head) to verify the
> card responds correctly.
>
> Good luck!!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick&  Ann Read<nick.read at engineer.com>
> Reply-to: MythTV in NZ<mythtvnz at lists.linuxnut.co.nz>
> To: mythtvnz at lists.linuxnut.co.nz
> Subject: Re: [mythtvnz] Broken DVB-S setup
> Date: Thu, 05 May 2011 23:26:46 +1200
>
>
> OK did some more testing. If I 'Watch TV' on the Satellite input, if
> shows 71% signal strength with SBS (Vertical?) and 53% with Freeview
> channels (Horizontal I think). But S/N of 4.5 dB in all cases. BE was
> originally zero, but after playing with LNB settings to try and wake
> something up, I am now getting BE of 3k-40k reported (after restoring
> the LNB settings). If I remove the cable from the LNB to the DVB card,
> signal strength drops to 0% but S/N stays at 4.4dB.
>
> So, anyone want to guess if its the card or the LNB that's broken? I'm
> tempted to get a new DVB-S2 card cause that's easiest, but its $100 that
> I don't want to spend if the problem is the LNB...
>
> Nick
>
> On 5/05/2011 8:40 p.m., Nick&  Ann Read wrote:
>> Should have mentioned that the DVB-S card is a SkyStar 2.6D from memory.
>>
>> On 5/05/2011 8:38 p.m., Nick&  Ann Read wrote:
>>> Hi all
>>>
>>> We had a power cut yesterday afternoon, and since then the DVB-S card
>>> on my mythtv setup has not successfully recorded anything. Only found
>>> out this morning when my son sat down to watch the Man U vs Schalke
>>> match on SBS1.
>>>
>>> As far as I can tell there are no software issues. There is nothing
>>> in the logs, and the system all behaves normally, apart from not
>>> getting a lock on any satellite channels and not being able to scan
>>> transports for channels. My old PVR-350 is still working away. So I'm
>>> guessing a hardware problem.
>>>
>>> I don't have any other satellite cards(boxes) or LNB/dishes easily
>>> available, and I'm guessing its one of those two at fault? So, my
>>> question is, what is the easiest way to troubleshoot with a
>>> multimeter and a screwdriver? :-)
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Nick
>>>
Thanks Noel. Got hold of a satellite signal tester and proved to my 
satisfaction that the LNB was OK. So ordered a Technotrend S-1401 
(thanks Hads) which was a drop-in replacement for my Technisat SkyStar 
2.6D and everything is now A-OK. All sorted in plenty of time to catch 
the UEFA Champions League Final (hopefully restored my son's faith in 
Dad after missing the Man U Semi!).