Advice Needed Receivers with the lowest Symbol Rate?

[Flippi]

These days, there’s quite a lot of software available for TBS hardware. In particular, the development of VMA tools and the Pantasat software has been moving at a steady pace lately.

Software - Satellites Community

www.satellitescommunity.de

 

[Channel Hopper]

Unless the card can search outside the 950-2150 IF band, perhaps with non official software then you will need a modified LNB and set the LO accordingly (or an inline downconverter).

 

[Vipersan]

Unless the card can search outside the 950-2150 IF band, perhaps with non official software then you will need a modified LNB and set the LO accordingly (or an inline downconverter).

Thanx CH ..any recommendations for an in line downconverter easily obtainable ?
Presumably such a device could expand useage to many other receivers ?

 

[ozumo]

Thanx CH ..any recommendations for an in line downconverter easily obtainable ?
Presumably such a device could expand useage to many other receivers ?

It might be possible to extend the tuning range of the 5927, see this post from s-band:

S

Post in thread 'Bullseye 10 Khz'

Oct 14, 2023

I think that the 5927 has an STV6120 front end. Assuming you are using Crazyscan or EBSPro, modify streamreader.ini to extend the frequency range:

;! Change IF range (default 950-2150MHz)
IFStart=250
IFStop=2350

I don't know how to do that on software that does not use streamreader.

• s-band

• 

 

[Butacas]

So I obviously have much reading to do on this subject...which is going to take some time for me particularly as my eyesight aint what it was.
I have however managed to find the last TBS unit I bought before I closed a chapter on the hobby.
Does anyone think this will be suitable ..and if so which software (preferably windows) would be best for reception of QO-100.
gotta start somewhere.
The unit is a TBS5927 professional grade usb single tuner input.
I await replies with interest.
rgds

The link provided by Flippi contains information about various (very valuable) applications in development that you can start using with your TBS 5927.

To watch TV channels without complications: (With the option to add plugins).

Alt DVB: Free

For easy scanning:

EBSpro: Free

Or:

CrazyScan: Free.

For external video players, VLC or PotPlayer are both free to use.

For codecs:

K-Lite Codec Pack; Recommended for the Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC) video player, although it also works independently with other players compatible with DirectShow codecs.

Note: The MPC-HC media player hasn't been updated since 2017 and probably won't be updated again. It was discontinued in the summer of that year after its last update.

That's all you need to get started, and if you want to delve deeper, for example, to analyze flows and more, you have the VMA tools.

VMA: Some of its tools are free, others offer free trial periods.

FeedScanner Suite:

All the tools developed (in Python) by (PantaSat) are free. It has several applications for performing blind searches, among many other things, throughout the suite.

Other interesting tools:

skyscraper8 (command-based). The latest versions include another tool called Voile, which is GUI-based.

IQmonitor is free to use (for more advanced use). The latest Pro versions require a key from the developer to unlock some features.

More (utilities): excellent tools for analysis and more:

TSReaderPro (now free to use).

TSDuck: (Command-based) is free. It includes many tools for tuning, analyzing, and more, using plugins.

TransEdit works in conjunction with the TV channel player and viewer (DVB Viewer is a paid program) and can also be used independently.

All of this and more can be installed on Windows.

I haven't forgotten about neumoDVB (free), but it's for Linux.

There are other tools (for analysis, among other things) and software (which I haven't mentioned) for watching satellite channels.

 

[John]

Possible cheap lnbf used with Crazyscan option for cheap reception of 10.492 GHz Ham stuff ....
VS, i bought a cheap Fracarro UX-S LTE lnbf a few weeks ago to test on local 4 & 5G interference problems - just knocked up a quick simple ball park test in the shack with the lnbf pointing skywards out of the shack window using the said lnbf to run on Crazyscan on the PC..... ran a 10.492GHz signal from a cheap £35 Chinese signal generator placed nearly two metres away and not pointing towards the lnbf and was quite pleased to see very little drop off below 10.7GHz on the scan plot and also a nice strong signal being received on CS. Iv'e used this method with CS in the past with lnbf mounted on the dish , it worked ok but this Fracarro lnbf looks like it will be better.

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[satesco]

Everyone has their own preferences and recommendations for these low-symbol-rate transponders at 25.5E, and I do, too.
Insofar as Qatar-OSCAR 100 has rekindled a passion that, for personal reasons, you’d put on hold for a long time, it means that such a challenge is truly a way of relapsing into an ‘illness’ that has given you meaning and satisfaction for many years.
For this, I’d recommend a DVB card that can do more than just receive the sub-band muxes from 25.5E; it should also handle many other muxes with challenging parameters that other devices can't receive.
Who knows, perhaps a few screenshots of these Radio Amateur muxes might inspire you to work with such devices.
DVB cards capable of handling such sub-band muxes at low symbol rates include the TBS6983, 6903, and Tuner 5927, and many applications now let you work with them without any problems.
Kind regards

 

[Vipersan]

So ..I have strange request...
I have a license for progdvb pro...but The compter I use for SDR and Satellite is running the venerable old wi7 ...I never took to win10 or win11 (Spit)...and for many of the hardware devices I use win7 is perfik.
This presents me with a problem in that later revisions of progdvb pro will not install on win7.
I found this out today when I downloaded the latest version of pro and was kicked out of the installation with a wrong DLL error.
Older legay versions have links on the progdvb web page...but sadly all dead links..
I wondered if perhaps one of you guys has th install for
ProgDVB 7.35.9 x32 Pro Last version for XP and Vista
or
ProgDVB 6.61.1 x32 Pro Last version using ProgDVB Engine 4.x. Support hardmode and some other oldest functions

or indeed any version of progdvb pro that will install on a win7 machine.

I do have some good news tho' ...I did find my TBS6983 card and have a spare pcie slot I can fit it in.
I still have my TBS6925 ...errr...somewhere though finding it could be an issue...and if memory serves it is a base PCI card anyhoo.
can anyone help ?
I really dont want to move all my SDR and sat apps over to win10...or god forbid win11 ...
rgds

 

[Vipersan]

Ok I havent a clue how to set up Crazyscan with my TBS6983 ...
I might have done once upon a time many years ago...but it does appear that it requires inclusion of many files I haven't got as yet.
like streamreader etc...and isn't as simple as clicking an install.exe.
Another big ask Satesco ..
do you think it might be possible to zip up the entire contents of your crazyscan folder and give me a copy ?
otherwise I might be forced to abandon all hope.
I assume you are also useing the TBS6983 card ..so theoretically it should just work ?
cheers.

 

[satesco]

It’s great that you’ve found the TBS6983. As many users have confirmed, it’s the best-performing and most successful DVB-S card on the market, both as a demodulator and in terms of software support.
And so you don’t have to struggle with compiling its library; here’s a link where you can download a Crazyscan version that has everything you need to get it up and running.
I hope you achieve what you set out to do, and that this card satisfies you.

 

[Vipersan]

Thanx for the link buddy..
I grabbed a copy of the rar and unpacked it to a folder in the root of my C: drive.
Is it possibly critical where I unpck it to as I get an error when starting crazyscan see image.
My coordinates are entered device selected TBS6983 ..no disqc switching or motor.
RFscan/FFTscan not supported ?
StartDVBEx failed
Scan and Blindscan greyed out..
It looks like My TBS card isn't recognised...but is physically installed and recognised in Control Panel.
My limited understanding ..either crazyscan is in the wrong location ..or once again I am working with software that doesn't function in win7 perhaps ?

 

[Llew]

Ok I havent a clue how to set up Crazyscan with my TBS6983 ...
I might have done once upon a time many years ago...but it does appear that it requires inclusion of many files I haven't got as yet.
like streamreader etc...and isn't as simple as clicking an install.exe.
Another big ask Satesco ..
do you think it might be possible to zip up the entire contents of your crazyscan folder and give me a copy ?
otherwise I might be forced to abandon all hope.
I assume you are also useing the TBS6983 card ..so theoretically it should just work ?
cheers.

Didn't know you were back VS. A belated welcome

 

[satesco]

Have you installed the driver v.1.0.0.7? Check Device Manager to see if the driver is installed. It should look like the screenshot. If it's installed, connect the cable to tuner A.
You can also use tuner B if you want to receive signals from two satellites/positions at the same time.

 

[Vipersan]

Thanx Llew nice 2b back ..but have forgotten so very much..
It is going to take time ..but folk are very patient so thats good.
Indeed Satesco.. Driver is installed..
but it doesn't matter which tuner input I choose A or B..
The result is the same.
No ability to initiate any kind of scan.
It feels like the hardware isn't being recognised by crazyscan.
In desperation I'm going to remove and reinstall the driver.

 

[Vipersan]

Looks like that achieved something in that TBS blindscan is picking up stuff on tuner B which is where my dish is hooked up to..
A start I guess.

 

[Vipersan]

Ok..My eyes are tired ..I'll persue this tomorrow..
looks like crazyscan is working
see pix
ignore that it says Astra 19.2..was just default as I have no sat or transponder details in there.
but it IS working.
Now I have to work out how to scan those lower frequencies used by QO-100
catch u guys later.
old farts like me need their sleep.
lol

 

[John]

I can recommend the mid afternoon Power nap as well VS ...
Re: CS
In the CS file location, scroll down the list and locate the Streamreader Configuration Settings, remove the semicolons that are in front of the IF Start & Stop lines, type in the new figures as seen in the attached pic and remember to 'Save' what you have just altered

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[Channel Hopper]

Ok..My eyes are tired ..I'll persue this tomorrow..
looks like crazyscan is working
see pix
ignore that it says Astra 19.2..was just default as I have no sat or transponder details in there.
but it IS working.
Now I have to work out how to scan those lower frequencies used by QO-100
catch u guys later.
old farts like me need their sleep.
lol

If you find the plug in card option too much then SDR devices such as the NooElectric NESDRs are around £50 delivered, version 5 in standard form, or the nano 2 (which I have not tried. You will need an adapter to convert from CT100 sized cable.

 

[stephan94]

With a modified LNB and the UCLAN Ustym 4K Pro, you can receive amateur radio signals on QO-100 without any issues.

 

[Vipersan]

I must be doing something right ..
I changed the streamreader config settings as John suggested..
a scan about 5 minutes ago showed this :-
Now..how do I get it to show the constellation...or better still a picture of some sort.
the 10491H signal is presumably the beacon..