Zero Level Zero Quality

[dardruba]

When starting DVBDream (or ProgDVB) from cold I frequently find it wont startup. I get Zero in Level and Quality and a CPU of 3% max.

I start on Eurosport on 19.2E and when I get this failure vpl** shows Timeout -This PID is empty-Rescan.
Sometimes I have to switch off everything and go downstairs to watch it on my TM1500, but sometimes I can pick a popular channel nearby in the CH list, like DW-TV, click on that and the program runs, although I can lose it when I switch back to another channel later.

Do you recognise this fault and what can I do to correct it?

I was advised on another forum to remake all the connections back to the
3 lnb's and that improved the strength and quality levels slightly.
I'd hoped that re downloading and re installing DVBDream, to allow ddsource.ax to register, might have repaird this problem but it hasnt.

[jerryt]

Repeat the diseqc commands more then once, or use raw diseqc commands (if supported) and enter the commands twice.

[dardruba]

]Repeat the diseqc commands more then once,

Could you explain what you mean by that phrase please.

When the screen displays its usually Eurosport thats highlighted from the last time it was on view. If theres no picture and sound I click on the Eurosport name to try and make it go. If that fails I click on another popular channel in the displayed channel list.

[jerryt]

Options tab, select Preferences, under General, select Performance, Check Alway retune, check Always force to resend diseqc commands, and then set Diseqc repeat count to 2.

[dardruba]

Thanks Jerryt, it seems to have worked.

I'd seen the words in the Preferences but like most of the stuff in there I didnt know what it meant. I'd presumed it was to set the diseqc for a moving dish.
I'd better read it all again now I've got some experience, I may have missed other topics.

[dardruba]

Morning after - doesn't work.
I've tried it several times since breakfast and each try it stays at 0 0
I go back to trying popular stations and finally one works.
I then go back to Eurosport or any of the other Favourites and they work.

So its no change. Is there anything else I should be checking?

[jerryt]

Change the diseqc switch to the Skystar with the one from the TM1500.

Is the dish, and the diseqc switch grounded properly?

New compression style cable connectors?

[dardruba]

In the last of the warmer weather I went thru the system from box to lnb remaking all the Fconnectors and taping them.

I didnt get round to taking the output from 19E bypassing the diseqc and connecting it direct to SS2 or to TM 1500, BUT the outputs from both diseqcs were tried on the cable to the TM1500 and both gave a strength of 72-75% and when tried on the SS2 cable both gave a strength between 55 and 60% .
Those readings to the SS2 were a slight improvement as a result of me remaking the connections.

I dont understand about grounding, what would I have to do please?

[jerryt]

Grounding;
h**p://www.dbsinstall.com/whatis/Whatisgood-5.asp

h**p://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarchive/GB-HTM ... 020303.htm

You might have LOF drift, where the LOF of the LNB is off freq. So if your LOF freq is 10750, try these modified LOF numbers; 10748, 10746, 10752, and 10754. Do scans with each of the modified LOF's and if one of those LOF's numbers scans in more channels, then try channel switching with that one.

LOF drift will act like a faulty diseqc switch, but in fact it is the card not being able to lock the channel (Off freq).