DVB Dream v1.3 does not work fine with Pinnacle PCTV Sat Pro

[t_sobko]

I've reinstall Windows & drivers for Pinnacle PCTV Sat Pro 450i. But DVB Dream v.13c can't find any channels from all over satellites. I've report earlier about problems with DVB Dream, Pinnacles & DISEqC. But then the program worked only with 2 of 4 satellites, but now don't works with any satellite. Firmsoftware works with my tuner correctly, but have small list of preferences (I can't put frequences manually) and low quality of picture during record. That's why I'd like to use alternative software with flexible preferences.
I've attached an archive (WinRAR v.3.62) with log files and all drivers for Pinnacle PCTV SAT devices. Maybe this could help an author to solve the problem with DVB Dream, Pinnacles & DISEqC switches...

[FredB]

It seems that DD DVB-S Tuning Space is not created in registry

Code: Select all

Extract from BDA.LOG

[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'Cable' NetworkType: {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'Antenna' NetworkType: {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'ATSC' NetworkType: {0DAD2FDD-5FD7-11D3-8F50-00C04F7971E2}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'Digital Cable' NetworkType: {143827AB-F77B-498D-81CA-5A007AEC28BF}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'AuxIn1' NetworkType: {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'FM Radio' NetworkType: {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'DVB-T' NetworkType: {216C62DF-6D7F-4E9A-8571-05F14EDB766A}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 829] TuningSpace Name: 'DD DVB-C' NetworkType: {DC0C0FE7-0485-4266-B93F-68FBF80ED834}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 844] TuningSpace Name: 'DD DVB-T' NetworkType: {FA4B375A-45B4-4D45-8440-263957B11623}
[03/25/07 12:55:11 : 860] Enumeration found 9 tuning spaces

Are you sure, you have selected BDA Satellite in DD devices selection window ?

About DiseqC, the only way to get a newer version of DD to support this feature with Pinnacle PCTV Sat Pro is to obtain informations from Pinnacle to know exactly how to implement this for alternative softwares. But it seems that Pinnacle does not answer to this kind of question.

[rel]

try alternative BDA_ALL device (by ScanMan)

[t_sobko]

I've tried BDA_ALL device (by ScanMan). Don't works correctly with my card too

[rel]

I need that card to test with and the SDKs / documents related to the card to be able to fix it.

[FredB]

I've ran tests with this card :

1/ DD BDA Native :
- LNB A = Astra : Very few channels - Only few TPs are scanned correctly
- LNB B = Hotbird : Seems OK

2/ ScanMan's BDA Device :
No channel at all is found nor on LNB A nor on LNB B, but fair signal reception is reported ?!?

For both BDA interface, I've tried different DiseqC repeat option and different scanning timeout, but always the same result.

I've also ran tests with other softwares :

1/ DVBViewer : Only the latest release 3.9.0.0 (new scanning method) works fine, older releases does not report any channel. Scanning on my two LNBs and zapping from one LNB to other is OK.

2/ Winclip : Automatic scan find only few channels on both LNBs. I've succeeded in scanning all TPs by performing 2 consecutive manual scan on each TP that does not report any channel during automatic scan (first scan = bad / second scan = OK). So it seems to be related to commutation handling.

I need that card to test with and the SDKs / documents related to the card to be able to fix it

Pinnacle does not provide any SDK... When you ask them about technical informations they answer that their products works fine with their software and that's all !!!

NB : I've just bought this PCTV 450i at a low price in order to run test because many people report issue with it. Old Pinnacle DVB-S products where reliables (PCTV Sat, PCTV 400i or PCTV 400e) but newer products seems very crappy !!!

[rel]

Pinnacle does not provide any SDK... When you ask them about technical informations they answer that their products works fine with their software and that's all !!!

how sad for a company! If they don't care 3rd party developers, say "suit themselves"

[FredB]

how sad for a company! If they don't care 3rd party developers, say "suit themselves"

I agree with you, that's the reason why I don't recommend Pinnacle's products, even on Forum PCTVSat which was previously a board dedicated to Pinnacle product's owner.

So I will shout it one more time ...

DON'T BUY PINNACLE PRODUCTS !!!

There's no insurance about compatibility with 3rd party softwares and the software provided with those products (Pinnacle MediaCenter) is a real crap (lot of bugs, very slow and using a lot of system resources).

NB : SDK for the old PCTV Sat (which has WDM drivers only) was not an official SDK, it has been created by reverse engineering.