Freesat (UK) questions relating to multiple tuners, multiplexes, dishes, etc

[Schmich]

Firstly no I dont use with a Quattro and multiswitch. But from what I know that shouldnt make any difference to your setup as a multi switch simply gives you lots of outputs.

It's the DISEqC that needs to be configured differently. I'm gonna try to make another card tomorrow and if that doesn't work I'll start a new thread not to pollute this one. Gl with your setup!

[toppot]

Fibres, you wouldn't happen to use a Quattro LNB combined with a multiswitch? I just can't get it to work even tough (after a lot of trial and error) I did manage back on 8.10. Like an idiot I never wrote it down how I did it.

Not to be a grumpy old man Schmich, but when I suggested to Matt that he, for the sake of simplicity and flattening the learning curve, should just buy Quad or Octo LNB you where the first one to shoot at me for suggesting such foolishness...

Can we, as a closure on this thread conclude that:

a. You need to learn a bit more sat basics before speaking as an expert ;-)
b. Matt should keep it simple
c. Quattro LNBs is the scalable solution, but for a novice going simple is the key to success.

And to answer your question, if your DISEqC control is working (from Myth or whatever), and your multiswitch is not defect, AND everything is connected properly (easier to mistake than you might imagine) - then it WILL work. May I suggest than you run through you physical installation once again. If the same install is working for all users with regular sat boxes, then there's only 2 options. Either a faulty port in the switch (easily tested with a working sat box normally attached to another port), or incorrect DISEqC settings in Myth. Please be aware of the distinction between committed and uncommitted switches!

Would be glad to help if still needed :-)


-Tony

[Schmich]

I have re-read the whole thread because I got confused as I never took a shot at anyone. I'm sorry if did seem that I did.Your very first post I just skimmed through because it was basics and you seemed to know what you were talking about. Then I read Posde's reply and saw the recommendation of a Multiswitch combined with a Quattro. I immediately though "oh I have that and I'm super happy with it! I'll give a thumbs up for this setup". It's not every day where I'm not the one asking questions. The reason why I mentioned getting a Quattro and Quad was because that was one thing that got me confused at the very start. Quad and Quattro sound very similar so if you don't pay attention you can end up buying the wrong one. Or what I did in the very beginning assumed they were the same thing (just like you can call a motherboard a mainboard). All guides assume from the start that you know the difference. Do note that I tried explaining the difference, I didn't say Quads are bad. I hadn't even read that you recommended a Quad.

I never tried to talk like an expert. I have let OP know that I'm an amateur twice and as well as an idiot. All I did was to share my experience and given recommendation based upon that.

I'm quite the amateur

if you're an amateur like me

Like an idiot I

Yes I am having issues with my Quattro + Multiswitch setup but, as I stated. It's the MythTV part that's tricky not the rest.

The annoying part is setting it up in MythTV though

The 7 TVs that are out of my LinuxMCE system, with normal receivers, work flawlessly. If you have problems setting it up why are you recommending it?
I put all the cards on the table. I did say that MythTV is tricky. BUT not impossible for a beginner like if you have to compile your own drivers. It's just one page of MythTV's setup that just seems to be above me: the DISEqC page or whatever it's called. Where you have to specify if there's a DISEqC switch, how many ports, or a Tone Switch or LNBs etc. At least I think that's what's wrong. I have tried so many things (some that seemed logical to me) with that page that I did go back to see if the issue is somewhere else. I have

I checked the cable by using a standard box and it gets the image. I have tried with another card (I have 2x Hauppauge HVR-4000) but no luck there. It doesn't help that I'm not sure what I should put in the configuration I mentioned above so for each card I have to get my trial and error going. But maybe it's the card that doesn't like 10.04, or just my stupidity. The 4000 has always caused a bit of problems. The DVB-T part of the cards doesn't work for example. I have another DVB-T only card that gets channels no problem but the 4000 doesn't want to cooperate. Do keep in mind that if it's the card then it wouldn't matter if I have a Quad

For some reason there just isn't any guide on the net on how to configure that DISEqC page. There's one guide for a mulitswitch but the guy doesn't use quattros and it doesn't help to understand the logics of the configuration when he has to use a "hack" as he calls it: http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/MultiLNB_Switch_Setup I will open up a new thread to not spam this thread with my problems even more.

[toppot]

Not to be a grumpy old man Schmich,

Well I managed to come out that way fine...
Hope there's no hard feelings - we all try to help each other, and one thing sure: Your intentions where as good as mine :-)

Hope to solve this issue, which can be followed in the other thread:
http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php/topic,12308.msg86784.html

-Tony

[Schmich]

I'm sorry, it's precisely that: I don't want to seem like I attack anyone. There are enough wars on this forum ^^

[purps]

Fibres, any news on your FreeSat setup? You are using a quad right?

My house move is complete, we have been in for a month now, have nearly finished sorting burst heating pipes and dodgy electrics, so starting to think about the FreeSat setup once again :-)

I did not bring the oval Sky minidish with me, so that is no longer a factor; I will be buying a new dish.

Cheers,
Matt.

[totallymaxed]

Thank you for the replies gentlemen, very helpful indeed.

1. OK, so I understand now that there even more MUXs to contend with when dealing with satellite.

2. Hopefully Andrew will stumble across this thread and let me know his opinion on cards.

3. I appreciate the advantage of a quattro/multiswitch approach. However, am I right in saying that the little oval sky minidish (which I intend on thieving from my current abode) isn't suitable for this? You need a circular one? Plus, will you not see additional losses by running the signal through another box? My motherboard only has x2 PCI slots and x2 PCIe slots available, so I'm assuming I can only install a maximum x4 dual tuners in my core; I would have thought I'd be safe with an OCTO, unless there's something I'm missing?

I will never have DVB-T at the new place as it will be a PITA (I noticed that all the aerials are on very tall masts, and there isn't one currently on the property), and I have no interest in sky or any paid services. I watch too much tele as it is :-)

Cheers,
Matt.

The DVB S2 cards supported are the ones supported by the Ubuntu version - simple as that. Generally speaking you can assume that 10.04 will support fewer cards 'out of the box' than 10.10 and that 11.10 will support more cards than any previous release. A good place to look for information about which S2 tuners/cards have Linux support is here;

http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-S2_PCIe_Cards

We currently use the http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVBWorld_DVB-S2_PCIE2005 card in our hardware products that have on-board DVB's.

All the best

Andrew