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tbnz

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#16706 24-Oct-2007 11:15
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I just got a Dreambox 500 and am trying to set it up for NZ, i've managed to get the Optus D1 and transponder list ok and when I scan I see all the signal strengths, but none of them lock.

From what I read I need to get at least 65% to lock and it's something to do with LNB??

Can anyone help?

I'm going to flash with Gemini 4 tonight so that may make it easier for me??

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cyril7
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  #92206 24-Oct-2007 12:56
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I guess obvious details are, have you entred the correct LNB LO frequency, typically 11300MHz or 10750MHz. Have you selected the correct transponders for FreeView, ie 12483MHz and 12456MHz, both with symbol rates 22500ksym/sec, FEC 3/4 or Auto.

Cyril



BarTender
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  #92240 24-Oct-2007 15:57
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I would expect the problem is with the Transponder setup.  By default the "Single Satellite" is configured for a Universal LNB, but in NZ Universal LNB's are the exception (IE you did the install yourself and baught your own LNB), rather than the rule (what sky installed when they came around and installed your sky dish).

You need to go into the Satellite configuration and select "advanced satellite configuration" then in the LNB 0 specify the LOF/L LOF/H and Threashold to all be either 10750 (if you have a new LNB) or 11300 (if you have an older one).

Enjoy the dream trip... many hours of fun has been enjoyed (wasted in my wifes opnion) on getting my dream up and going.

Also good luck with streaming over the network / recording to the harddisk.  I have been struggling with that one for the last few weeks but I think I might be getting somewhere......  Seems to be a dodgy version of the dreambox that I ordered.

If you are prepared to do it could you open the box and tell me what the "Main Board Revision is"... it's up the top right next to the ethernet port.  Should say something like Rev 5, Rev 7 or similar.

hads
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  #92243 24-Oct-2007 16:22
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tbnz: I just got a Dreambox 500 and am trying to set it up for NZ, i've managed to get the Optus D1 and transponder list ok and when I scan I see all the signal strengths, but none of them lock.


The firmware on the one I bought had an outdated transponder list for D1 so I went through and changed them all and then the automatic scan worked fine (after you setup your LNB LOF settings etc., which BarTender gave good tips on.

BarTender: What firmware were you using in the other thread to get Sky going with a Sky card? Did you have to do anything special to get it going?

hads






BarTender
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  #92250 24-Oct-2007 17:07
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Easist way is to download an updated version of the satellite.xml from the internet and update it in the /var/etc/satellite.xml, reboot the box and you are done.

I am planning to build a NZ Custom Gemini build with all of the hard work done for you, especially only including the satellites that can be see in the NZ sky, not the majority of ones for NA / Europe that can't be seen here.

I found a great site that exported everything out of Lyngsat on a semi-frequent basis into a satellite.xml, just can't find the site right now... when I find it I will post it.

Also going to start a blog on this.

tbnz

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  #92251 24-Oct-2007 17:08
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Thanks will try this tonight. I'm just using the sky dish as I actually subscribe to sky.

Which brings me to another question(s):

Can I have both decoders (sky and dreambox) hooked to the one line?

I notice that the Dreambox has a line out, can I just hook the main sat line into the Dreambox and connect the sky decoder to the line out of the Dreambox? Or do I need to split the cable?

Also read that sky use a different polarity that was due to be fixed a few months back, is this still an issue?

cyril7
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  #92258 24-Oct-2007 17:24
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You can use both at the same time, and yes you can either use a seperate splitter, or just loop through the Dreambox. But be aware that you cannot watch Vpol transmissions is other is watching Hpol. All the FreeView and Sky muxs are now all on Hpol so not a problem unless you want to watch some the SCTV feed or NITV or Imparja.

Cyril

tbnz

67 posts

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  #92276 24-Oct-2007 19:05
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cyril7: You can use both at the same time, and yes you can either use a seperate splitter, or just loop through the Dreambox. But be aware that you cannot watch Vpol transmissions is other is watching Hpol. All the FreeView and Sky muxs are now all on Hpol so not a problem unless you want to watch some the SCTV feed or NITV or Imparja.

Cyril


Awesome thanks!! :-)

 
 
 

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tbnz

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  #92277 24-Oct-2007 19:08
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BarTender:

I am planning to build a NZ Custom Gemini build with all of the hard work done for you, especially only including the satellites that can be see in the NZ sky, not the majority of ones for NA / Europe that can't be seen here.

I found a great site that exported everything out of Lyngsat on a semi-frequent basis into a satellite.xml, just can't find the site right now... when I find it I will post it.

Also going to start a blog on this.


Yea! you should definatley do that, it would be good to have a base for NZ information on the Dreambox.

tbnz

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  #92311 24-Oct-2007 22:10
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Ok, so i'm still having some issues, it dosn't seem to matter what i put in for the settings, and which transponder is selected the SNR is around 58.

Just out of interest i moved back to the sky box and the Signal Level is around 68 and the Quality is around 80, is this very low? seems low to me, could this be my problem?

When we brought this house we had to call a sky tech out because the decoder wouldn't work on the existing dish.

BarTender
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  #92333 25-Oct-2007 06:51
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tbnz: Ok, so i'm still having some issues, it dosn't seem to matter what i put in for the settings, and which transponder is selected the SNR is around 58.


If the dreambox only says 58% then your LNB isn't correctly setup as it's not seeing anything...   I would also only use the Horizontal frequencies as they are much stronger than the Vertical ones in NZ...

tbnz: Just out of interest i moved back to the sky box and the Signal Level is around 68 and the Quality is around 80, is this very low? seems low to me, could this be my problem?

When we brought this house we had to call a sky tech out because the decoder wouldn't work on the existing dish.


depending how long ago (ie within the last year) he should have replaced the LNB with a dual throat one (looks like a oval box inseat of a circle) and  the LOF number you should put in is 10750 if the did his job you would need to make sure that the 22HZ tone is OFF, otherwise the LNB may be talking out the other throat and trying to talk to C1 isntead of D1...

Go back into the LNB setup and under the custom setup it should say

Optus D1   - LNB 0  - 22Hz Off (not high/lo) - Lnb Power 18/14V

Then in the LNB0 settings they should all be set to 10750, don't have the DB plugging in atm, but will take screenshots of what the settings should be for you and put it on my blog...

Me.

tbnz

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  #92344 25-Oct-2007 09:23
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Ok, thanks, I will try tonight, and also take a peek at the dish.

A couple of screen shots of those settings screens would be awesome.

My settings were definatley set to High/Low and voltage set to H/V, so i'll need to change those.

Also, my satellites.xml file might not be correct?

I got my list from:

http://joshyfun.peque.org/transponders/dreambox.html

1600.xml Optus B1,D1 (160.0E)

And renamed the file from 1600.xml to satellites.xml

BarTender
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  #92359 25-Oct-2007 10:54
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Found my link to the updated satellite.xml:

http://www.jsat.tv/files/satellites.zip

Seems to be a complete list from what I have seen.

Also done a blog entry talking about how to setup your Dreambox Satellite config, with Screenshots....

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/BarTender/3970

Enjoy

tbnz

67 posts

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  #92437 25-Oct-2007 18:22
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Now we are rockin! Awesome! Thanks BarTender, you rule!

Turns out we have the dual, after following your setup in your blog, worked sweet as!

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