No Signal - revisited (2 Viewers)

[Phaedra]

After a succesful period of testing (and a holiday), I am thrown back to square one it seems.
When I try to do a channel scan, I get the same phenomenon as I got after the reinstall of MP some weeks ago :
- on the first diseqc port, everything works perfectly normal
- on the other positions, I only get "no signal", whatever I try

I did change something, however, and I wonder if that could be of the origin of my renewed problems : I installed the MDAPI filter, because I need it do view the Belgian (TVV) channels, for which I bought and activated my smartcard yesterday.

Logs attached, but I can't seem to find anything out of the ordinary in there...
Considering a complete clean reinstall (again), but doubtful if it would solve anything...

Phaedra

 

[Phaedra]

I think this satellite stuff is not good for my mental health.
Today I spent the best part of the day trying to figure out what is wrong with my installation.
I only got more questions and mystery...

I did a complete uninstall of everything related to DVB, including databases and registry settings.
Did a clean install of MP TV server 1.1.3

When I do a channel scan, I only get signal on my first diseqc port.
When I eliminate the diseqc switch, and attach the cable from my tuner card directly to the second LNB (on which I got no signal via the switch), I do get signal, but I get far less channels than before. Worst thing is, I don't get any channels from my provider (TV Vlaanderen) in the list.
When I verified the dish alignment, the simple satfinder tool I have is supposed to produce a beeping sound when the tuner is active, regardless of the received signal strength. Sometimes it would stop beeping for a while, and resume from time to time.
Same results with DVBdream....
In DVBdream, when I switch channels, it locks up on me, I have to restart it to get a signal again.

This leaves several possibilities :

- both diseqc switches are defective : highly unlikely
- my DVB card is defective
- my dish is not aligned correctly
- my satfinder is defective

I don't even know how likely the latter three options are, and I have no other means to my disposal to verify.
Considering I have just committed my subscription for a year to the provider, the situation is desperate beyond imagination.

 

[Phaedra]

I think I have a defective DVB-S2 card.
Indication that support this theory :
- on one tuner I get no signal, even when connected directly to an LNB (no diseqc inbetween). When I swap LB's, I get the same result. The meter on my stafinder tool should indicate a value of at least 1 whenever the tuner is active. On this tuner it barely reaches 0.5.
- connecting the LNB to the other tuner, I suddenly do get signal on several frequencies, but the channels detected are all channels from a different satellite (Astra 28.2), whatever satellite I select for the channel scan.
- when I scan for a specific transponder from the desired satellite (23.5), I get no signal, whereas the selected transponder should contain several channels.
- however I align or realign the dish, I get the same results

I tried these experiments with DVBdream too, with exactly the same results.

My plan is to buy another dual-tuner card (considering the Tevii S480), because I intended to buy a second card anyway, plus it will alow me to test my theory. If my theory proves right, I should be able to find the channels with the new card.
If my card is defective, I will request an RMA for it.