looking for Directv LNB hardware info

[PE2BZ]

Hi, I am Ben, Dutch radioamateur going by callsign PE2BZ, and I have this hobby to identify (orbiting) satellite signals by matching their transmission doppler with known Norad ID doppler curves ( with use of tools like GitHub - cbassa/strf: Radio Frequency Satellite Tracking and the help of members of the Satnogs community.

So far I succesfully identified hundreds of S-band signals, and a number of UHF satellites. One satellite on 3400 MHz range and now I would like to extend this to Ka band, which appears to be also used by amazon / kuipers satellites.

So, with some googling and some well meant Copilot advise I bought an Directv LNB, model 3d2LNBR0-02 which is supposed to support 18.2 GHz KA band, rhcp, on the center part of the LNB. Problem is, I have to find out how to enable this RX range and polarity to appear on the IF output on the LNB, because after receiving the LNB I got aware this is some SWM model LNB which can create an IF output for 21 receivers to watch the channels from the different satellite positions in diferent polarities.

The chip inside the LNB is the MXL865 and there is only a product brief with 2 pages available, I have to register as business user if I wantto access the datasheet and my tries with my personal mail addresses are bounced.

from satelliteguys.us I was pointed to this forum because there could be a lot of knowledge about the SWM control over here.

So if anyone has a way to control the output :-)

 

[Terryl]

Well the SWM (single wire multi switch) LNB will not work correctly by it's self, you need the other part that goes on the end feed of the down link coax, and this is the SWM multi switch it's self, this switch decodes the incoming signals from the LNB and with the software in the DTV receivers assigns these signals to the respective receivers.

This LNB and it's switch needs from 21 to 29 volts DC at 1 amp (or more) to run correctly, either the OEM receiver or an inline power supply provides this voltage, the power inserter should be one from DTV.

Like this setup, DIRECTV 26 Tuner Satellite Multiswitch with SWM-8/16 Power Inserter (DSWM30-PI29Z)

Also I don't think this setup would run correctly without an OEM receiver from DTV and a subscription from them to activate the receiver, after system insulation a switch check is performed at the receiver this goes out and looks for the attached switch and what type of LNB is attached, appropriate codes are then sent from the receiver telling the switch how to do it's job.

So after all this if I were you I would look into using a different LNB then the one you have now, some members of this forum should be able to help you with this.

 

[Miika]

@PE2BZ, try to dig deeper. I think that there is possibility to leave this PCB with MLX865 complitely out of equation and use the Ka-band LNB directly as per your needs.