DvbDream Community

Folks,

First of all hello! New user to these forums and come with a weirdest problem.

I've got 4 dual LNB's connected to 2 dishes. I'm picking up 61.5, 110, 119, and 129 satellites. I'm using Skywalker-1 (latest firmware), DVBDream (latest version) and Windows 7 Universal.

One of my computers (HTPC) was connected a few weeks ago. I've scanned all the satellites, configured my DVBDream to perfection. Got all my signal strengths in perfect harmony with the universe. Basically, got everything perfect.

Decided, it was time to configure my 2nd HTPC in the bedroom with the similar setup:
Purchased identical motherboard, CPU, and RAM for the bedroom HTPC. Purchased a new Skywalker-1, ran the new cable from the second IDENTICAL (and high quality) Diseq switch up to the bedroom. Made sure to ground the cable.
Installed DVBDream on the bedroom computer. And afterwards, just copied the DVBDream folder from the first HTPC to the bedroom HTPC. This has retained my settings and channels and diseq's, and everything.
Now, here is the kicker:
Channels from 61.5 and 129 satellites work no problems. Channels from 110 and 119 satellites fail to tune!

"
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610869] >>>>: ---SetCh(chid:1221)--------------------------------
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610869] SetCh(): BeforeChChange:1
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610869] SetCh(): BeforeChChange:2
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610869] SetCh(): Start (chid:1221)
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610900] SetCh(): Channel: 12457,V,20000 @ 119.0° W "DHLTH"
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610900] SetCh(): Refresh ECM pids and PIP channels...
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610900] SetCh(): Creating new thread...
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610916] SetCh: Setting Diseqc...
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610916] LOF1/LOFSW/LOF2:11250000/18000000/14350000 b22Khz:00
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 610916] SetDiseqc() Sw-Port:1 SwUncommitted:-1 DiseqcType:2
[4/15/2010 9:25:23 AM : 611056] TVMouseUp() n^.ChId: 1221
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] [TimeProfiler] SetDiseqc: 1154 ms
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] >>>>: TDS.StopGraph()
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] <<<<: TDS.StopGraph()
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] SetCh: DeleteAllFilters()
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] SetCh: Setting tuner...
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] SetCh: Setting tuner, resume thread...
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] <<<<: SetCh Finish (12457,V,20000 - "DHLTH")
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612070] SetChThread: Start
[4/15/2010 9:25:24 AM : 612164] Tuning 12457, V, 20000...
[4/15/2010 9:25:30 AM : 618326] Result of Tune() = 1 (FAILED!! in 6162 ms )
[4/15/2010 9:25:30 AM : 618326] [TimeProfiler] AfterChChange: 0 ms
[4/15/2010 9:25:30 AM : 618326] WARNING: Lock-Timeout (6256 ms elapsed)
[4/15/2010 9:25:30 AM : 618326] SetChThread: Finish
"

Here is what I tried to trouble-shoot the issue:
Tried switching Skywalkers between HTPC's, no effect. Tried switching the cables coming from the dishes from one Diseq to another. First HTPC works fine, bedroom HTPC does not work. Basically, I've tried swapping everything.

My only guess is that copying DVBDream folder from one computer to another, has caused an issue with the bedroom HTPC? Or perhaps something else is up? I'm at a total loss.

Help?!?

mostly likely cables & diseqc ports misconfigured ?

From log file, I understand that it is looking for 119w on the port 1 of the diseqc switch, for DHLTH.
Maybe actually it is on one of other ports. In that case , you can try all ports one by one until you find the actual port.

You said you tried swapping everything, but I wonder if also tried swapping diseqc switches.

If you copied DD folder completely, shouldn't be any problem related to DD settings.

Both diseqc switches are the same brand / model ?

Thank you for your reply. Yesterday night I finally managed to solve this problem.

I have in total three Chieta diseqc switches. One has been in use for a while. Two others were brand new. I installed the 2nd for bedroom HTPC and when things were not working, I've swapped it out for third (also brand new) and things were similarly not working. Apparently I have TWO bad brand new Chieta 2041 switches! The first one I had has ports 1 and 2 bad, the 2nd one has port 1 bad only. So, when I was swapping the switches I never saw improvement thus leading me to believe that the problem was not with the switch. Wow. What are the chances?
Anyway, I'm now using 3rd switch and getting 110, 129, and 61.5 and have placed an order for 2 more Chieta 2041 switches - thankfully they're cheap and supposedly high quality (I hope my batch was a fluke).

Anyway, lesson for others

what do you expect from plastic switch?!
imho, Chieta 2041 is a junk switch.
For starters, it does not have metal enclosure. I'm not even talking about oversized thread: I was not able to make more then one turn when trying to attach the RF connector (thus, don't hope you would have a good electrical contact with the shielding of coax cable because cable is hanging loose).
If you drop this switch in the water, it floats.
And we all well know what usually never drowns

Since the switch does not provide good electrical contact through coax-cable shielding, one has to use a dedicated ground wire (messenger ground wire - wire attached to the side of coax cable). Without it, your diseqc commands would be highly distorted, and as a result switch would not function properly.
Do you have such wire in your system?

PS: "Insertion loss -1.5dB" written on a switch is a plain lie. According to my measurements, it's in the range of -3.5dB (worst among several different brands I tried).

what do you expect from plastic switch?!
imho, Chieta 2041 is a junk switch.
For starters, it does not have metal enclosure. I'm not even talking about oversized thread: I was not able to make more then one turn when trying to attach the RF connector (thus, don't hope you would have a good electrical contact with the shielding of coax cable because cable is hanging loose).
If you drop this switch in the water, it floats.
And we all well know what usually never drowns

Since the switch does not provide good electrical contact through coax-cable shielding, one has to use a dedicated ground wire (messenger ground wire - wire attached to the side of coax cable). Without it, your diseqc commands would be highly distorted, and as a result switch would not function properly.
Do you have such wire in your system?

PS: "Insertion loss -1.5dB" written on a switch is a plain lie. According to my measurements, it's in the range of -3.5dB (worst among several different brands I tried).

Which switches do you recommend?

I have only one cable out of 4 that uses such wire for my install. Is that enough?

each switch should be grounded (and preferably, without ground loops).

try "DMS International".
It's even cheaper diseqc switch, but to my surprise it has very good quality (unexpected for that price).

see my posts in this thread:
h++p://dvbn.happysat.org/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=52549
some of them related to diseqc switches

added:
keep in mind, my "DMS International" diseqc switches are few years old. I can't guarantee that brand new badges are as good as my samples.