Hi all,

I have just bought a Technisat SkyStar HD2 card, which is connected to maximum S168 switch, which controls 8 LNBs.

The 8 to 1 switch supports diseqc 1.0, 1.1 & 1.2. But the skystar card supports only 1.0 & 1.2 (I think it does not support 1.1).

I have install the driver from Technisat (Technisat Mantis BDA HID Device version 1.0.1.5, Technisat Mantis BDA Receiver 1.1.0.402, all date 25/1/2008).

In the device list I have selected {BDA} Technisat Mantis DVBS BDA Receiver - BDA.Device, Version 1.55, API version 1.33.
In the properties dialog I have selected "AzureWave (TwinHan).

In the Diseq settings I have selected Positioner, and I have added only one satellite, connected to input 2 of the switch.

When adding the satellite, I have selected "List", I clicked the checkbox of the satellite, and added next to the checkbox the position (I have tried both 1 & 2). But ProgDVB is not able to tune into the satellite, and keeps getting channels from the satellite connected to input 1.

How can I convince ProgDVD to see all 8 LNBs;

If I use switch with 4 ports (diseq 1.0) I can see only the first 4 of them...

You can try diseq 1.1 .

I have tried. I added a 1.1 switch in the Diseq settings (which has 16 positions). I have added the satellite in the second switch input (HellasSat 39E) and tune to it. The channels were ok and playing.
Then I added the satellite in the 5th input (EutelSat W2 16E).
I also was able to tune the channels. But switching back to 39E: no picture and no signal!

You should read the manual for your switch very carefully, to find out, which controlling methods it supports, exactly.
To change the method used, it may be necessary, to power down the switch completely once. Again, RTFM.

BTW, does that switch have it's own power supply?
Else a computer DVB device might run into power related switching trouble easily...
Do you have a receiver, to compare with?
Or could you borrow one?

If I remember well, DiSEqC 1.2 means, to control as a positioner only, not switch. Positions programming may be necessary, but if so, I could not help on this.

And 1.1 basically means, to (even internally) use cascaded 1.0 switches. Having eight positions may mean, to either have one 4 port switch followed by four 2 port switches, or one 2 ports switch followed by two 4 port switches.

Actually the switch claims to support everything: Diseqc 1.0, 1.1 & 1.2. The manual states:

http://www.ellogon.org/~petasis/nova/Di ... nglish.png

Also an image of the switch is here:

http://www.ellogon.org/~petasis/nova/Di ... -front.png

The switch does not require any additional power supply. Also, I have left it unconnected last night.
The only receiver I have is not so "advanced": it supports only diseqc 1.0, and it can switch the first 4 ports. I can do the same with progdvb.

Regarding diseqc 1.2, I tried to "move" the "motor", but I couldn't tune anything for about 140 steps I have done in both directions

Not much info in there...

Anyway, at least we get to know, which way the 1.1 / cascaded structure is meant to be set up.
Seen from the tuner, first comes a two port uncommitted switch, then two 4 port committed switches, on those the LNBs are attached.

Regarding 1.2 controls, I am missing any important details, like on step width vs. (virtual) positions, east or west from reference, which one to be reference, starting from center or any limit.

And absolutely no details on what happens if DiSEqC controls are changed
from 1.1 to 1.2 or back, if and how the device is supposed to react and behave then, including saving or removing any positions stored.

So from my point of view, that sheet looks pretty useless for the common user...

Yes, I know. As for a starting point, I have found the manufacturer home page: http://www.kjaerulff1.com/catid.216/pid.796/82.aspx
Unfortunately, no info also there, but at least I will try to post some questions.

I have also done some other tests: using dvbviewer pro I can access all 8 positions, as follows:

• The 4 first positions as a witch
  The 4 last positions as a positioner, using positions 4-7. It seems that the inputs are "prestored" in these positions.

But trying positions 0-3 with the positioner I usually get the sat of input 1

And with dvbviewer I have to restart the app to see the 4 first inputs or the last 4 inputs. I cannot see both groups without restarting it...

I've just found your posting on the Maximum support forum:
h**p://www.maximum-support.de/viewtopic.php?t=503
Hope you will get a helpful answer there...

BTW, to avoid possible misunderstandings, please notice, some would cont 8 DiSEqC ports up from zero to seven, others start at one and go to eight...

Anyway, it seems, in any case, you had to switch between two groups of four ports by an uncommitted first switch stage, which should NOT be necessary when using positioner controls for such a device.

Perhaps give AltDVB a try, as it comes with very detailed DiSEqC settings, including specifying 'uncommitted' / 'committed', allowing to define three switch stages, one behind the other, and even sending RAW commands.
Maybe this allows you to find out which way that device would really work.

In any case, please have us informed in full detail

Yes, I will keep the forum informed.
For the time being, I am exploring another possibility: I want to write a plugin for progdvd that will scan all the ports of a switch and identify the satellite name that is in each port. It shouldn't be difficult
I looked the functions in the plugins API (they look enough for what I want to do). The only problem that remains is how to make a dll a progdvb plugin. I suspect that you need some functions exported or a specific dll init function. I am searching for a plugin sample code (without much success).
I thought that this "MD API" was something easy to be found, but no luck until now

BTW, is anywhere a progdvd "sample" plugin that I am not aware of?

For plugin creation issues, you should contact Prog directly, as he's the programmer.

Anyway, there are two possible ways of such DiSEqC array scanning.

Best would surely be, to use DiSEqC 2.x plug and play controls, but computer DVB devices still don't have 2.x response reading hardware. So no way for this...

Second way may be, to use a working DVB application, to automatically switch DiSEqC stages according to some initial settings selected and each time scan a typical (seed) transponder to verify by reading TID and NIT for this. Perhaps all this controlled by a list, that should be possible to update occasionally.

In fact this would not harmonize with normal behaviour of a DVB application, neither from command line, nor from normal GUI controls.
And this may be a good reason for a dedicated (or general MD_API) plugin.
And, application specific, perhaps even introducing auto DiSEqC setting this way. Possibly also including a LOF detection, or LOF offset compensation by reading AFC...

Of course, this may work with a not to complicated DiSEqC switch array, but probably not that easy with a positioner or positioner style multi port DiSEqC switch control.

Good luck!

Regards

Jürgen