Tuner A not honouring manual UB and frequency?

[something_fishy]

Hi
I'm new to Enigma2/Openvix and also to full band capture and dSCR/unicable technology.

I have just set up a Gigablue Quad 4K box with Unitron dSCR-54 (which I think is an old model dedicated to Sky)

After setting up how I thought correctly I have been getting failed tunes.

The entry for Tuner A appear not to be respected, rather a preset Johannson dSCR switch is being reported (I think its the last one played with before I switched to userdefined). The tuner setup screen is set like this:
61420

but running cat /etc/enigma2/settings... ...
produces this


config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.bootuptime=0
config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.format=jess
config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.lof=unicable
config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.powerinserter=True
config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.scrList=3
config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.unicable=unicable_mat rix
config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.unicableManufacturer= Johansson
config.Nims.0.advanced.lnb.1.unicableProduct=9750I
config.Nims.0.advanced.sat.282.lnb=1
config.Nims.0.advanced.sats=282
config.Nims.0.configMode=advanced
config.Nims.0.diseqcA=282
config.Nims.0.diseqcB=3601
config.Nims.0.diseqcC=3601
config.Nims.0.diseqcD=3601
config.Nims.0.powerMeasurement=False
config.Nims.1.advanced.lnb.1.format=jess
config.Nims.1.advanced.lnb.1.lof=unicable
config.Nims.1.advanced.lnb.1.scrfrequency=1280
config.Nims.1.advanced.lnb.1.scrList=9
config.Nims.1.advanced.sat.282.lnb=1
config.Nims.1.advanced.sats=282
config.Nims.1.advanced.unicableconnected=True
config.Nims.1.advanced.unicableconnectedTo=0
config.Nims.1.configMode=advanced
config.Nims.1.diseqcA=3601
config.Nims.1.diseqcB=3601
config.Nims.1.diseqcC=3601
config.Nims.1.diseqcD=3601
config.Nims.1.powerMeasurement=False

...
... etc

As shown above, Tuners B ~ H which are slaved off A are respecting manual instructions.
I'm hoping that my workaround - choosing one of the preset switches that has the same Userband and frequency as I need for the dSCR-54 will work but am I doing something wrong or is this a bug?

Also do I need to do anything else?

[twol]

Seem to remember that on these Sky LNB,s there are dedicated bands for Sky and the rest for user - you need to look at the specs

[something_fishy]

@Twol
Yes you are correct.
They are not using standard UB numbers or frequencies. However they can be tuned by the box when the settings are correctly configured as a user defined Unicable switch.
My problem is that the userdefined settings are not sticking for one tuner. I would assume that the GUI simply writes to the /etc/enigma2/settings file, in my case it seems to for tuners B~H (which are all driven by the connection to Tuner A) but not Tuner A itself.

[twol]

The other issue is that is better to add to the Unicable.xml in usr/share/enigma2 if my memory is correct (I am not near any boxes) .. copy to PC ,edit and under a unique LNB name add the information and copy back. You should be able to see the requirements from the olther definitions. Then system reset the box and reset up the Gigablue . Once it starts picking up LNB‘s & switches that are not correct you can get issues.

[something_fishy]

Thank you
Is there a primer on the syntax. I've just taken a quick look and I can see the frequencies but not the UB numbers.
The dSCR-54 has UB numbers 3 (1680), 9 (1280), 11 (1380) and then 14 (1480) ~ 26 (1930).
Is it a matter of inputting an array of frequencies (1~n). In which case should I just put nonsense frequencies for the unused UB numbers or is there an #N/A equivalent.

[abu baniaz]

This is the entry at the moment.



<manufacturer name="Unitron-Johansson">
<product name="9732" format="dSCR" scrs="1210,1420,1680,2040,985,1050,1115,1275,1340,1485,1 550,1615,1745,1810,1875,1940"/>
</manufacturer>

Dcss-422 has same frequencies

Adjust it to match your frequencies. It is just a list of frequencies.

[abu baniaz]

I think that the Sky UK frequencies will not work with Enigma2. You will need to use the frequencies in the right hand side column, labelled as EN50494 and EN50607. Can you post a picture showing the frequencies please?

[something_fishy]

@abu baniaz
The dSCR-54 offers only the sky frequencies (which is why I guess it was 30 quid off ebay).
When I mismatched the UB numbers (wrong) and frequencies (right) I don't think it tuned, I presume that the UB number is how it instructs the switch (??? I don't know much about dSCR).
Manually setting them in the userdefined options it appears to work. If the user defined instruction had stuck for tuner A I would no issue (I think).

I will have a play around with the xml file and report back

[abu baniaz]

I found a clear picture which says refer to manual for EN50494 and EN50607. These are the Unicable/Jess standards.

[something_fishy]

@abu baniaz
I am using the dCSR-54 not the dcss-422. The dSCR-54 only has Sky frequencies (but was easier to install in my setup).

However I have been able to get this work by selecting userbands and frequencies from the dSCR-54 that the Gigablue box likes.

In my case I added a line for the dSCR-54 to unicable.xml as suggested by twol. So the Unitron-Johnson entry now reads:

<manufacturer name="Unitron-Johansson">
<product name="9732" format="dSCR" scrs="1210,1420,1680,2040,985,1050,1115,1275,1340,1485,1 550,1615,1745,1810,1875,1940"/>
<product name="dSCR-54" format="dSCR" scrs="0000,0000,1680,0000,0000,0000,0000,0000,1280,0000, 1380,0000,0000,1480,980,1030,1080,1130,1530,1580,1 630,1730,1780,1830,1880,1930"/>
</manufacturer>

(the 0000 entries are to pad out the frequency array for userbands that the dSCR-65 doesn't offer).

However it is not necessary to do this. Add Tuner A using UB 3 from the 9732 Unitron-Johansson switch (per my original post), all subsequent tuners can be set up using:

(Unicable/JESS) type = SCR (Unicable/JESS) User defined
which allows the Channel/userband and frequencies to be defined manually.

The frequencies which worked for me are:
Tuner A UB=3 Freq=1680
Tuner B UB=22 Freq=1730
Tuner C UB=24 Freq=1830
Tuner D UB=26 Freq=1930
Tuner E UB=25 Freq=1880
Tuner F UB=16 Freq=1030
Tuner G UB=19 Freq=1530
Tuner H UB=18 Freq=1130
I did a full scan of 28.2 frequencies after adding each tuner to verify. It can be terminated after a few seconds as it's obvious which frequencies work and which don't.

I don't know if other UBs/freqs will work. For "bad" UBs/frequencies I was getting tune failed which writes a zero duration file. With these settings I can get 8 simultaneous good recordings.

I've been stress testing over the last couple of days and this works reliably over multiple reboots and multiple timer records torture tests.

I thought this might be useful given that these switches are pretty ubiquitous and cheaply available on ebay. You will probably need to budget for a power supply. Mine would work powered from the quattro LNB inputs of my multiswitch, but I had the feeling it was on the edge (20v PSU fashioned from old lenovo PSU).

[twol]

@abu baniaz
I am using the dCSR-54 not the dcss-422. The dSCR-54 only has Sky frequencies (but was easier to install in my setup).

However I have been able to get this work by selecting userbands and frequencies from the dSCR-54 that the Gigablue box likes.

In my case I added a line for the dSCR-54 to unicable.xml as suggested by twol. So the Unitron-Johnson entry now reads:

<manufacturer name="Unitron-Johansson">
<product name="9732" format="dSCR" scrs="1210,1420,1680,2040,985,1050,1115,1275,1340,1485,1 550,1615,1745,1810,1875,1940"/>
<product name="dSCR-54" format="dSCR" scrs="0000,0000,1680,0000,0000,0000,0000,0000,1280,0000, 1380,0000,0000,1480,980,1030,1080,1130,1530,1580,1 630,1730,1780,1830,1880,1930"/>
</manufacturer>

(the 0000 entries are to pad out the frequency array for userbands that the dSCR-65 doesn't offer).

However it is not necessary to do this. Add Tuner A using UB 3 from the 9732 Unitron-Johansson switch (per my original post), all subsequent tuners can be set up using:

(Unicable/JESS) type = SCR (Unicable/JESS) User defined
which allows the Channel/userband and frequencies to be defined manually.

The frequencies which worked for me are:
Tuner A UB=3 Freq=1680
Tuner B UB=22 Freq=1730
Tuner C UB=24 Freq=1830
Tuner D UB=26 Freq=1930
Tuner E UB=25 Freq=1880
Tuner F UB=16 Freq=1030
Tuner G UB=19 Freq=1530
Tuner H UB=18 Freq=1130
I did a full scan of 28.2 frequencies after adding each tuner to verify. It can be terminated after a few seconds as it's obvious which frequencies work and which don't.

I don't know if other UBs/freqs will work. For "bad" UBs/frequencies I was getting tune failed which writes a zero duration file. With these settings I can get 8 simultaneous good recordings.

I've been stress testing over the last couple of days and this works reliably over multiple reboots and multiple timer records torture tests.

I thought this might be useful given that these switches are pretty ubiquitous and cheaply available on ebay. You will probably need to budget for a power supply. Mine would work powered from the quattro LNB inputs of my multiswitch, but I had the feeling it was on the edge (20v PSU fashioned from old lenovo PSU).
Nice documentation - and good to see that it all works. Judging by some recent issues a power supply should always be used for this type of LNB.
I did wonder about adding the 0‘s padding.
Perhaps Abu will add it into the Git, if not I will issue a pull when I am back and able to do this stuff (about another week)

[abu baniaz]

I won't add the Sky userbands to the file on GIT, especially as the unit supports the industry standard values. Possibly why the comment was made about frequencies that the receiver likes. Someone is likely to select the wrong ones (000). I couldn't find the user guide referred to on the device.


I have the dCSS-422. I'll try it some time.

[abu baniaz]

Pictures of the dcss-422 as well as Triax units attached. They have identical bands.

[abu baniaz]

Sky documentation added

[something_fishy]

@ Abu Baniaz

I couldn't find the user guide referred to on the device.

Nor could I. The only documentation I could find was a Sky installation guide which makes no mention of dSCR modes for either the dSCR-54 or the dCSS-422.

The form factor of the dSCR-54 is identical to the Unisat 9744. This is available in a sky version that will also work in EN50494 and EN50607 modes. The manual makes no reference to how you switch between the two, the brochure suggests that it automatic. I don't know what needs to be sent to the switch to flip between the two modes. Both documents are available here:

https://unitrongroup.com/en/products/CAT/MUL/DSCR/9744.html#downloads

With my dSCR-54 if I simply input UB=1 and freq=1210 in user-defined mode I get nothing.

I've just tried selecting one of the null UBs (ie one with frequency=0000). Obviously a channel scan yields nothing, but at least it doesn't crash the box...

[something_fishy]

A little more experimentation produces some oddities.

If I leave my tuners A~G as is then I get successful channel scans on all of the dSCR-54's UB's other than 9(1280), 11(1380) and 14(1480). I was surprised by 9(1280) as this frequency appears in other produces in unicables.xml. This implied that UB=3 and UB=16~26 (as per the table on the dSCR-54's cover). However setting the tuners to a contiguous range in the 16-26 block and most fail with tuning errors/no duration recordings.

I've gone back to the channel selections I referenced above and everything is rock solid again

[something_fishy]

One more thing, any non-numeric entries in the frequency array in unicable.xml:

<product name="dSCR-54" format="dSCR" scrs="0000,0000,1680,0000,0000,0000,0000,0000,1280,0000, 1380,0000,0000,1480,980,1030,1080,1130,1530,1580,1 630,1730,1780,1830,1880,1930"/>
causes the box to reboot (complaining about non-base 10 values, nice!) when it tries to load the switch configuration in the tuner setup screen. IMO 0000 is the best that can be got if Openvix is expecting a contiguous array of UBs 1~n.