DiSEqc problem with Windows 7 Media Centre

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blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#49260 18-Nov-2009 12:06

Hi guys - I have a problem that I need some input into. I'd really appreciate if you could help me out here.

I'd like to install another LNB onto my existing dish, or possibly install another dish. This will obviously require the installation of a DiSEqC switch.

I have been through the installation of Windows 7 Media Centre and it doesn't ask me if I receive programs from multiple staellites like suggested in this blog:

http://thegreenbutton.com/blogs/rathe_media_center_blog/archive/2009/05/01/355919.aspx

I honestly have exhausted all my resources as there is very little on the subject.

Do any of you guys have any suggestions?

My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64

mcraenz

1140 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 222

#274420 19-Nov-2009 09:50

What sort of DVB-S card do you have? And what driver are you using. DiSEqC support has been a bit iffy depending on the card and the driver. If you're using the manufacturer's WDM driver and their software then it will probably work but BDA drivers don't really have a standard way of implementing it from what I understand.

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blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#274450 19-Nov-2009 11:57

Ah, right... that is a good point.

I actually have two cards in the system. One is a Hauppauge Nova-S-Plus and the other is a TeVii 470 PCIe card. I have checked and it seems that they both suppost DiSEqC.

In terms of the drivers, for the Hauppauge I think that I used the driver that was contained within Windows 7 - perhaps I should try and change it to the Hauppauge supplied driver?

rvangelder

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#274473 19-Nov-2009 13:32

I recently fresh installed Windows 7 on a computer with two Nova-S-Plus cards.
I had problems with the Hauppauge drivers that came with Windows 7.
The ones from the Hauppauge website worked.

mcraenz

1140 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 222

#274476 19-Nov-2009 13:34

One thing you may be able to try with the NOVA-S because I think it's the same as the Technotrend S1500, is to put it in to pseudo DVB-T mode. That's what I did when I was in DiSEqC hell a while ago. I even documented it the MediaPortal wiki here:

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/troubleshooting-workarounds/tt_s1500_diseqc_issue

What's the second dish/LNB for? How are you going to handle 2 sat cards with a DiSEqC switch? What I did was split Optus D1 - Power pass side of splitter goes to a card dedicated to Freeview, other splitter side goes to input 1 on the DiSEqC switch.
Optus C1 goes to input 2 on the DiSEqC switch.
Oputput of switch goes to DVB-S card2 which can tune either Freeview or optus C1 via the DiSEqC switch.

But maybe you don't need all this and you can just run one LNB/dish off each card?

Help me build a better way of doing politics in Aotearoa New Zealand

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blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#274477 19-Nov-2009 13:36

Thanks for your reply rvangelder - can you remember when you setup Media Centre for the first time if it asked you if you received TV from more than one satellite???

blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#274483 19-Nov-2009 13:48

Hi mcraenz - thanks for your help. I've had a look at your wiki and I think I know that the utility that you speak of does. I have used a registry hack to acheive a similar result to get the Nova-S-Plus card running under MCE 2005. This tricks MCE into thinking that the card is a DVB-T card. I will try and report back.

With regard to why I am wanting to do this, I currently have a Sky dish on my roof pointing to Optus D1 for Freeview. I'd like to start receiving BBC World off Intelsat 5 and am told that the best way would be to install a 90cm dish for this. To get Optus D2 I am told that I need another LNB and a bracket for my existing Sky dish.

All of these LNB's are tied into a DiSEqC switch which I will then split off into my two DVB-S cards. Will this work? Or is my thinking flawed???

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mcraenz

1140 posts

Uber Geek
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#274496 19-Nov-2009 14:33

You won't really be able to use the switch with 2 cards because the software won't know what LNB is selected. so if you schedule 2 programs to record at 8PM one is on LNB1 the other is on LNB2, the software looks at the situation and says "yep, I've got 2 cards so I can record both programs" but actaully there is a conflict because the switch can only use one LNB at a time. You can do this though, excuse the drawing! Then the only thing you have to worry about is polarity since the LNB can't be on vertical and horizontal at the same time.

Help me build a better way of doing politics in Aotearoa New Zealand

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rvangelder

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#274510 19-Nov-2009 15:47

blur: Thanks for your reply rvangelder - can you remember when you setup Media Centre for the first time if it asked you if you received TV from more than one satellite???

Absolutely, as the setup was performed on Saturday! It definitely asked me whether I was using more than one satellite.

rvangelder

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#274511 19-Nov-2009 15:51

You can do this though, excuse the drawing!

I think it's a pretty good drawing! I like how you even put the little metal lip on the cards where you screw them onto the case.

blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#274512 19-Nov-2009 15:53

Hi rvangelder - thanks for confirmation of that. Now that I cast my mind back, I think it did ask me that also. It's just that now that I have a DiSEqC installed, I am not sure how to get that install wizzard back.

blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#274513 19-Nov-2009 15:56

mcraenz - you are a star, thanks for the clarification. I think that your picture is brilliant! I must admit - I knew that my logic was flawed when I was trying my description of what I was trying to do. If I had the DiSEqC after the splitter it would mean that two cards would be trying to use the switch.

I like your solution.

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mcraenz

1140 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 222

#274514 19-Nov-2009 16:01

Yeah you can still have a problem with polarity though, these things are never simple! If all the transponders you want to tune are horizontal then you're home and hosed.

Help me build a better way of doing politics in Aotearoa New Zealand

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