Dish pointing with GBPVR scan in config?

[dennit]

I've got a Twinhan 1020a and a Dish 500 with a LNBF Dish Pro Plus that I'd like to play around with. The line of sight to the 110 sat is clear, but the 119 is marginal (may hit the edge of a tree that's losing its leaves). I've tried to point the dish using config - while scanning on the converted ini file (all Verticals) posted here, but without luck. I've also got a couple of old DirectTv receivers that I've tried to use, partly to supply extra power to the Plus LNBF and partly to see if they will tell me when I'm pointed right.

I'm floundering a bit, and would appreciate some tips. I've read lots of guides, but have never seen any suggestions here on pointing the dish using config and scanning. Will this work? I'm not sure how fast the scan will respond, even if everytihng is set up correctly. I'm not sure I've got the parameters right for scanning. I'm not sure the LNBF I was given is good. I'm not sure the 1020a card is good. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

[johnsonx42]

My experience with this is limited to pointing a dish with a directv receiver, which is fairly easy using their dish pointing menu.

Maybe try to get it working with Twinhan's software?

http://www.twinhan.com/download_driver&software.asp

[observer_11]

Your best bet is to use an old dishpro receiver for pointing. Try and borrow one or you can probably buy an old receiver for next to nothing.

[dennit]

My experience with this is limited to pointing a dish with a directv receiver, which is fairly easy using their dish pointing menu.

I've looked at the pointing menu on the DirecTV receivers, and tried pointing with it a couple of times, but I'm not sure what should happen when it's connected to my DishPro Plus Twin LNBF. I have extensively researched the LNBF, and I'm pretty sure I've given it enough power, but I can't be certain what the legacy DirecTv receivers are sending it in the way of tones.

Maybe try to get it working with Twinhan's software?

Do you know if they have any specific pointing aids in their software? I've only installed the BDA drivers so far, but may end up installing all of the package to help with pointing. I was sort of hoping someone here had seen how quickly the scan recognizes a sat when readjusting the pointing angles. Can I move the dish every 3 seconds, every 10 seconds? etc.

I built a special ini file that scans the same transponder (I chose 12) instead of scanning 29 different ones, as I've seen some pointing guides that recommended pointing on transponder 12. This failed too.

[dennit]

Your best bet is to use an old dishpro receiver for pointing. Try and borrow one or you can probably buy an old receiver for next to nothing.

Thanks for commenting Observer_11. I almost put your name in the title to draw a response from you as I've read many of your posts prior to getting this far.

I'm leaning towards trying to get an old DN receiver, but haven't found one yet. I need a dishpro plus receiver to supply enough power, and they seem to be harder to find. I've got a regulated power supply I could set to 18 volts, but I'm not sure if it's safe to feed DC power on the second input to feed the LNBF (basically, I need the circuit diagram of a power inserter). Do you have any idea if the DirectTV units will receive signal on 110 or 119 from a DishProPlus Twin LNBF? They have a tuning mode that lets me select 110 or 119 and some transponders on those sats, and I understand it's circular polarized, switched by voltage, so I think I should see something, but so far haven't seen anything.

[observer_11]

I'm leaning towards trying to get an old DN receiver, but haven't found one yet. I need a dishpro plus receiver to supply enough power, and they seem to be harder to find. I've got a regulated power supply I could set to 18 volts, but I'm not sure if it's safe to feed DC power on the second input to feed the LNBF (basically, I need the circuit diagram of a power inserter). Do you have any idea if the DirectTV units will receive signal on 110 or 119 from a DishProPlus Twin LNBF? They have a tuning mode that lets me select 110 or 119 and some transponders on those sats, and I understand it's circular polarized, switched by voltage, so I think I should see something, but so far haven't seen anything.

Sorry but I have no knowledge of DirectTV units combined with a Dishpro Plus LNB. The combination of your Twinhan 1020a and any regular Bev/Dish receiver should be enough power for your DishProPlus Twin LNBF I would think. I recall getting a used 3100 for $20 CAD (and then later selling for $20) just for aiming my dish.

Although I've never used the dpp LNBs, I have read they can be problematic with the 1020a (e.g. the combination make not work properly - especially when it comes to switching between sats).

[dennit]

Although I've never used the dpp LNBs, I have read they can be problematic with the 1020a (e.g. the combination make not work properly - especially when it comes to switching between sats).

I've read a lot about the dpp, and yes, there are several people who have had trouble, and others who have not. It seems the trouble comes from two areas, lack of power is the first. It takes about 650 milliamps to properly power it, while the 1020a puts out only about 400 ma. I've run some tests, and only see a 400 ma draw by the DPP LNBF, but perhaps it needs more to switch LNBF's correctly. The power problem I planned to solve with the extra DirectTV tuner or my extra power supply with a power inserter.

The second problem is apparently related to sending 22khz continuous tone switching commands instead of diseqc.

A legacy DN LNBF sends either polarization of one LNBF on the cable and switches between the two polarities with voltage changes. You get access to only one polarity of one satellite at a time on a single cable.

A DishPro Twin LNBF sends both polarities of either LNBF bandstacked on the same cable. You get access to both polarities, but only one satellite at a time on a single cable. As I understand it, by converting the frequencies in the GBPVR sat ini files and specifying only V polarity for both polarities, and by choosing switch = 0 and the same oscillator LOF, you can get the DP Twin to work with GBPVR. It sends diseqc commands to switch between the sats and uses the converted frequencies to access the bandstacked polarities.

The DPP can send either polarity of either satellite bandstacked on a single cable. You get access to either polarity of either satellite at the same time on a single cable. All available polarities of two satellites (actually three if you count the built in switch) can be accessed through a single cable by two receivers. However, there's another mode this DPP LNBF can enter in which it sends both polarities of only one sat bandstacked on one cable and both polarities of the other sat bandstacked on the other output. This mode is used when connected to a switch (and disables the built in input for the third satellite when this mode is entered). It appears that the DPP Twin enters this mode when it receives continuous 22khz tone. If that continuous tone is inadvertently sent, then the LNBF locks into that mode and ignore diseqc commands to switch. You only get one sat until you remove power for a few minutes.

AFAI can tell, if you are careful to not send anything but diseqc switch commands and give it enough power, it works like a DP Twin.

I'm willing to buy a DP Twin later, if the DPP gives me problems, but I wanted to do some testing with what I've got. I should be able to point it and at least get some transponders from one satellite. Of course what I think I should be able to do and what I can do seem to differ

[observer_11]

Please keep us posted with what you discover.

[zehd]

I think it's time to write a wiki page, walkthough for start to finish...

I'll start by writing the wiki page with tons of questions we can all fill in as we get this sorted...

[soccerdad]

To help sort your stuff out, I strongly suggest installing dvbdream and aiming using their aiming utility. It is also a little easier to pick the lnb settings. It is free. Then, once you are aimed, you can easily set up gbpvr. A good compass is a big help too. I use legacy lnbs without issue and no extra power. How many transponders are you trying to look at at one time?