Tuning issues with certain frequencies

[lay-z]

I keep getting continuity errors with certain frequencies but not with others, I can't find any pattern for this.

e.g

/opt/bin/mediaclient -m DVBS2 -f 12343500 -M QPSK -S 29500000 -V H -E 3/4
Using device: /dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0
Setting DVB-S/S2 tune Parameters
using HI/LO Band frequency: 12343500
Modulation: QPSK (DVB-S)
Symbolrate: 29500000
Voltage: 18 Volt (Horizontal)
FEC: 3/4
Tone ON
Frequency: 1743500
Syntax OK
Checking for lock:
..........

gives an readout of this


== reading digital TV signal ==
SIGNAL: [                                 ] (  0%)  BER:      0 FREQ: 12343500   Hz LOCKED:  NO SYS: DVB-S2 SYM: 29500000 FEC: FEC_3_4 MOD: QPSK VOLTAGE: H(18V) TONE: ON
SIGNAL: [                                 ] (  0%)  BER:      0 FREQ: 12343500   Hz LOCKED:  NO SYS: DVB-S2 SYM: 29500000 FEC: FEC_3_4 MOD: QPSK VOLTAGE: H(18V) TONE: ON
SIGNAL: [                                 ] (  0%)  BER:      0 FREQ: 12343500   Hz LOCKED:  NO SYS: DVB-S2 SYM: 29500000 FEC: FEC_3_4 MOD: QPSK VOLTAGE: H(18V) TONE: ON

But sometimes this works fine. I don't believe it is a cable / LNB issue since I can tune into other frequencies fine and it is a communal dish.

I tried tweaking the frequency slightly but this did not help.

When I tune to other frequencies it works fine and is stable.

e.g
/opt/bin/mediaclient -m DVBS2 -f 10847000 -M QPSK -S 23000000 -V V -E 2/3
Using device: /dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0
Setting DVB-S/S2 tune Parameters
using HI/LO Band frequency: 10847000
Modulation: QPSK (DVB-S)
Symbolrate: 23000000
Voltage: 13 Volt (Vertical)
FEC: 2/3
Tone OFF
Frequency: 1097000
Syntax OK
Checking for lock:
. [LOCKED]

Have you got any suggestions I can try to resolve this?

Thanks

[Sundtek]

Hi,

which transponder do you try to use? And which satellite does the dish point to?

Also what does /opt/bin/mediaclient -e show up?

[lay-z]

/opt/bin/mediaclient -e
**** List of Media Hardware Devices ****
device 0: [Sundtek SkyTV Ultimate III (USB 2.0)]  DVB-S/S2, REMOTE-CONTROL
  [BUS]:
     ID: 1-5
  [SERIAL]:
     ID: U120411141350
  [DVB-S/S2]:
     FRONTEND: /dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0
     DVR: /dev/dvb/adapter0/dvr0
     DMX: /dev/dvb/adapter0/demux0
  [REMOTECONTROL]:
     INPUT0: /dev/mediainput0

The dish is pointing at Astra 2A, transponder 33

[Sundtek]

Did you try to scan for 12344 MHz?

http://www.lyngsat.com/Astra-2A.html

[lay-z]

/opt/bin/mediaclient -m DVBS2 -f 12344000 -M QPSK -S 29500000 -V H -E 3/4

Using device: /dev/dvb/adapter0/frontend0
Setting DVB-S/S2 tune Parameters
using HI/LO Band frequency: 12344000
Modulation: QPSK (DVB-S)
Symbolrate: 29500000
Voltage: 18 Volt (Horizontal)
FEC: 3/4
Tone ON
Frequency: 1744000
Syntax OK
Checking for lock:
..........

I get the same result when trying to tune, I tried 1000 hz intervals between what the auto detect muxes suggests, but still no luck.

Sometimes it works for a while then starts throwing errors

[Sundtek]

What kind of errors?

Replug the stick and also run "dmesg" if you run into errors.

The given Frequency is not out of Spec, the tuner supports up to Symbolrates up to 45ksym.
Is there any chance you can test it with another dish?

Seems like the Signal might be to low, there are inline amplifiers available (however the stick already has a small amplifier included)

[lay-z]

output from dmesg

[575953.393098] mediaclient[338]: segfault at 15f2ff8 ip 00007fb7948ac1b8 sp 00007fffde250568 error 6 in libc-2.15.so[7fb79481a000+1b5000]
[575962.874223] mediaclient[343]: segfault at 1180ff8 ip 00007ff2bc8a819f sp 00007fff40e4e808 error 6 in libc-2.15.so[7ff2bc816000+1b5000]
[684190.153817] usb 1-5: USB disconnect, device number 3
[684190.154389] usb 1-5: usbfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed cmd mediasrv rqt 192 rq 0 len 1 ret -108
[684191.607371] usb 1-5: new high-speed USB device number 5 using ehci_hcd
[684191.742587] usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=2659, idProduct=1208
[684191.742600] usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=3, SerialNumber=2
[684191.742608] usb 1-5: Product: SkyTV Ultimate III
[684191.742614] usb 1-5: Manufacturer: Sundtek
[684191.742619] usb 1-5: SerialNumber: U120411141350
[684196.576530] input: Sundtek Ltd. Remote Control as /devices/virtual/input/input7
[780504.667645] usb 1-5: USB disconnect, device number 5
[780507.830055] usb 1-5: new high-speed USB device number 6 using ehci_hcd
[780507.964336] usb 1-5: New USB device found, idVendor=2659, idProduct=1208
[780507.964348] usb 1-5: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=3, SerialNumber=2
[780507.964356] usb 1-5: Product: SkyTV Ultimate III
[780507.964362] usb 1-5: Manufacturer: Sundtek
[780507.964368] usb 1-5: SerialNumber: U120411141350
[780512.740491] input: Sundtek Ltd. Remote Control as /devices/virtual/input/input8


When trying to tune to the frequency now

SIGNAL: [............................     ] ( 85%)  BER:      0 FREQ: 12343500   Hz LOCKED: YES SYS: DVB-S2 SYM: 29500000 FEC: FEC_3_4 MOD: QPSK VOLTAGE: H(18V) TONE: ON

But after a while it goes back to no signal

[Sundtek]

Is the LED permanently green?

[lay-z]

The light is always green

its not been 5 mins and now it is already showing

SIGNAL: [                                 ] (  0%)  BER:      1 FREQ: 12343500             Hz LOCKED:  NO SYS: DVB-S2 SYM: 29500000 FEC: FEC_3_4 MOD: QPSK VOLTAGE: H(18V)           TONE: ON

[Sundtek]

Send an email to kontakt at sundtek de with your order information.

Obviously something like that should not happen.

[lay-z]

I have a friend with the same device, should I try that one? If it was a faulty device would it not cause a problem on other frequencies?

[Sundtek]

Maybe some slight Frequency drift happens at the LNB when it becomes warmer, however without having those things in our hands it's difficult to do some analysis what could be wrong.

[lay-z]

I live in a flat and its a communal dish with distribution boxes, I have had the connection examined by an engineer and it was fine. I would think the LNB is always on so I ruled out drift from heat.