How do I tell my software which LNB it will use (sky dual lnb)

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › How do I tell my software which LNB it will use (sky dual lnb)

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#104725 20-Jun-2012 21:33

I'm talking about the Sky LNB pictured above.

Currently I have:
LOF1: 10750
LOF2: 10750
LNBSW: 12900
22k: off

While I do seem to receive channels, I feel I am sometimes missing some. (I'm not just after freeview channels)

I have no switches or anything between the LNB and the usb receiver.

I would like to be able to tell the dual LNB which LNB to use, to see which gives a better signal.

The more verbose/detailed/technical the answer the better, I'm here to learn, not just to get the correct numbers and say yay.

injuised

256 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644067 20-Jun-2012 22:40

The other LNB is pointed at C1 , theres nothing on it except optus aurora and thats getting switched of end of next year

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#644070 20-Jun-2012 22:53

I had a poke around on the NANZ beam of Optus C1 a few months back and found pretty much as Injuised said: mostly encrypted Aurora channels, a Test channel and a couple of SNG feeds which come and go at no particular times. Really not worth the bother, so when my dual-throat LNB died, I replaced it with a more sensitive single-throat to pretty much eliminate any possibility of rain fade.

hdinsider

552 posts

Ultimate Geek

#644265 21-Jun-2012 13:55

To access the "C1" LNB, turn on 22kHz. This switches to the other side of the LNB.

don't mess with me.... i'm the hd insider....

silverlake

142 posts

Master Geek

#644314 21-Jun-2012 15:30

injuised: The other LNB is pointed at C1 , theres nothing on it except optus aurora and thats getting switched of end of next year

It is true that the other LNB is pointed at C1/D3 and the only channels that you can receive in NZ using a Sky dish/LNB are the Optus Aurora encrypted channels SBS and Central 7. SBS is arguably the best channel that you can access in NZ with a regular satellite dish. Wimbledon should be on Channel 7 over the next couple of weeks.
The Aurora service will cease at the end of next year as it is being replaced with the more comprehensive VAST service. Although VAST is also broadcast from C1/D3 none of the transponders used by VAST have a footprint that covers NZ.
Turn 22Khz on to switch your LNB to C1.
You might be able to get an STB and/or Aurora Irdeto card that will decode Aurora channels if you search TradeMe.

TechnoGuy001

853 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#644473 21-Jun-2012 21:39

Thanks guys.
Will give turning on the 22kHz a try and see what happens.

I'v kinda moved the LNB a bit, so it might not be tuned to C1 anymore.
Was thinking that maybe I could get it to receive D1 and D2, but it seems they are to far apart.

grant_k, You said something about getting a new more sensitive single-throat LNB, what kind of specs should I look for to get one of these?

I read that universal LNBs are worse, so a standard LNB, single-throat to start with I guess.

I got a usb TBS5922 so I can do blind scans with my computer, which seems to be working out quite well.
It's interesting to see whats all hidden up there, I'v come across one or two mysterious transponders which don't seem to have any channels on them... maybe an ISP transponder... Or maybe my signal was too week... My dish is a bit misaligned at the moment.
Will have to fix that on the next clear day.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#644508 21-Jun-2012 23:22

TechnoGuy001: grant_k, You said something about getting a new more sensitive single-throat LNB, what kind of specs should I look for to get one of these?

I read that universal LNBs are worse, so a standard LNB, single-throat to start with I guess.

I ordered one of these @ $40:

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/02db-noise-figure-11300-band-p-627.html

For my dish, I also needed one of these brackets @ $16:

http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/replacement-bracket-p-620.html

It wasn't quite the dead right thing, but a hole drilled right in the centre between the other two holes fixed that. Then I selected it to V-pol on my receiver, and tweaked the skew for best signal on the Test channel as seen on the receiver. Signal Strength on V-Pol is quite a bit lower than the H-Pol signals which are intended for NZ viewers, so if you optimise the performance on V-Pol, you will have a more sensitive indication of correct alignment than simply optimising H-Pol by itself.

silverlake

142 posts

Master Geek

#644542 22-Jun-2012 08:25

TechnoGuy001: Thanks guys.
Will give turning on the 22kHz a try and see what happens.

I'v kinda moved the LNB a bit, so it might not be tuned to C1 anymore.
Was thinking that maybe I could get it to receive D1 and D2, but it seems they are to far apart.

grant_k, You said something about getting a new more sensitive single-throat LNB, what kind of specs should I look for to get one of these?

I read that universal LNBs are worse, so a standard LNB, single-throat to start with I guess.

I got a usb TBS5922 so I can do blind scans with my computer, which seems to be working out quite well.
It's interesting to see whats all hidden up there, I'v come across one or two mysterious transponders which don't seem to have any channels on them... maybe an ISP transponder... Or maybe my signal was too week... My dish is a bit misaligned at the moment.
Will have to fix that on the next clear day.

D1 is 37,000 kilometers above the equator at 160 East, C1 is at 156 East, D2 is at 152 East, so the satellites are 4 degrees longitude apart..
If you were to point your Sky dish 4 degrees further west so that it was pointing at C1 rather than D1, then the secondary LNB which is offset by 4 degrees on a standard dish would then receive signals from Optus D2.
Whether or not you think there is anything of interest on D2 will depend upon your religious beliefs and ethnic background.
There is a package available where you can install an 85cm dish with 3 LNB's to receive D1 C1 and D2 http://www.jayx.co.nz/Package4.html
If I were going to install a bigger dish I would go for a 90cm dish and C band LNB so that I could receive from Intelsat 5, with a Ku band LNB offset to receive from D1.