Home made diseqc positioner

[ozumo]

I still have components to build 2 positioners, but 1 that I could sell, if you're interested? try private mail again.

New Members like long_hair are not able to start PM conversations but he will be able to reply if you send the first message.

 

[dreambox1959]

I still have a positioner (actuator + polar mount model) for sale, it will be the last one I build, there are not very many people interested these days. contact me by PM.

 

[ArloG]

You know. Besides V-Boxes. There aren't many. If any other diseqc positioners out there. But people. At least in the US. Are diving into the FTA world more and more.
I would like to spark a concept. I use a Titanium Satellite ASC-1. I love it. I've also acquired a few others not working. Slowly R.E. the circuits.
NXP is just impossible to work with. The owner of Titanium has assisted me a little. And offered to send the programming firmware when I'm ready.
The BDM programming interfaces, NXP programming jigs. Support software Ccodewarrior. Just too darned expensive to justify purchasing for my needs. Sending repaired boards in for programming and testing is an open option.

I have been looking at the assortment of Research Concepts dish controllers on eBay for quite awhile. They document their items. Unlike the ASC=1 which has a nondisclosure agreement from the third party programmer. No schematics. No theory of operation. Bummer.

The RC units have the usual front panel controls and tons of features. Memory slots, naming of them. Ramp up/Ramp down of the actuators.
Az only. Az-El models. And quite robust. With a full serial communication protocol manual.
I called them to find out if one of the third party software vendors supported the diseqc protocol. They are commercial units and no was the answer.

So. With full documentation of programming. The serial packet info. Which somewhat resembles diseqc.
What would it take to program a 'transcoder' with something like an Arduino? Since PIC and Arduino positioner projects are out there.
Both have go-to position commands. Memories. 2 way comms if desired (or not). The data packets look so similar.
But I'm not a programmer. I'd go blind getting started. I use an Arduino for firmware flashes and small serial projects.

With an end user interface and IR. Or as I've seen. Phone app to control the interface. A lot easier than building the controller you have.

There are quite a few using the RC movers. But tied to pushing buttons every time they want to move their dish.
On a difficulty level. Any input? I have all of the command reverence manuals with every detail.

 

[andyzop]

I still have a positioner (actuator + polar mount model) for sale, it will be the last one I build, there are not very many people interested these days. contact me by PM.
View attachment 156441

View attachment 156442

How can I send a private message?

 

[dreambox1959]

A few years ago, I did a lot of "reverse enginering" on many devices where it was impossible to have documentation.
I like that !
Maybe you can lend me a Titanium asc1 card so I can try my techniques?
I also developed a card which extracts the diseqc code and could transmit it in a different form (to control an RC positioner)?

 

[ArloG]

A few years ago, I did a lot of "reverse enginering" on many devices where it was impossible to have documentation.
I like that !
Maybe you can lend me a Titanium asc1 card so I can try my techniques?
I also developed a card which extracts the diseqc code and could transmit it in a different form (to control an RC positioner)?

Sorry for the book. The concept seems easy enough. Even shipping an ASC-1 in the US is around $50 USD. Crazy.
Checking for shorted caps, open resistors, and either way with diodes. Easy. Comparators and line drivers. Okay. Datasheets for pinouts.
The values. Especially with SMD. Like zeners, caps. Nothing like pulling a lead like in the old days. Hot air time. And hopefully you have a donor board with a good, same component to get the value from. Melf diodes with red and blue and green bands could be anything. Same with caps.
The only plus I have with the ASC-1 is I was afforded with a prototype schematic with component values. Close, but no cigar.
On the final release board some MCU pins don't match. Comparator components and component arrangement is different.
There is a mosfet on the motor h-bridge that was supposed to be used to PWM the motor ramp-up and ramp-down speed. The software never used it.
The arduino interface. it really puzzles me. Serial in. Wait for a diseqc signal from the master (receiver) and wake up from sleep.
Read the packet. Parse only the go-to positional data. And perform a lookup from a table that can be then be constructed into a RS422 packet.
Send that packet serial out. The RC mover detects the packet coming in. Wakes up. And does its thing.
The RC programming manual states the go-to could be the stored position name. And if that's not present. Just the stored memory slot.

A nice thing of the ASC-1 is that there is a Windows interface that allows you to program satellite names in the stored slots. Set soft limits.
Read and write. For an arduino or like interface I'm sure some manual edits in the IDE would be needed. So, it (in the prototype) would require a bit of geekery.
I looked through the ASC-1 application installer code and found hints of the actual software that is used to write the program. And looking into the company that has it. Their specialty is software that performs user interface functions.

 

[dreambox1959]

I spoke with BRIAN, the boss of TITANIUM, several times.
I presented my positioner to him, I talked technical with him but he always refused to send diagrams!!
even now that the ASC1 is no longer sold.
I don't know the arduino assembly you are talking about: send me links.
Is this an RC2000 that you have?

 

[suedschwede]

I am very happy with the JPC positioner.
Still have a few V-Boxes and an RC2000 lying around unused.

 

[ArloG]

I spoke with BRIAN, the boss of TITANIUM, several times.
I presented my positioner to him, I talked technical with him but he always refused to send diagrams!!
even now that the ASC1 is no longer sold.
I don't know the arduino assembly you are talking about: send me links.
Is this an RC2000 that you have?

I am not sure of the selling price of your positioner. As for the non-interest comment. it may be just the fact that not many know that you even have it. It looks very nicely constructed and robust.
The different flavors of V-Boxes are all over Aliexpress.Cheap ones, expensive ones. Are the guts different? Maypop caps? Version III. But in the fine print there is no difference in ver.II & III. But the reality i that they are THE only kid in town now. And I really wish the ASC-1 was still in production.
With SSR's instead of relays. A switching supply. Better surge protection.
To cut to the chase. I do not have any RC movers. The RC1000 or RC1500 catches my interest though. They pop up frequently at an affordable price.
Yes. "He" has his days. I do know that the ASC-1 is based entirely off of an NXP developer board for automotive uses and tailored for diseqc instead of canbus. And very highly likely he had a 3rd party programmer involved. Hence the non-disclosure agreement.
Codewarrior is expensive. The programming interfaces are expensive. USBDM programmers will program the MCU...with Codewarrior.
NXP telephone contacts are impossible to find. TEch support responses take days, if ever.
Therefore releasing just the schematic and parts list is understandable. A kit for the advanced electronics geek was a question I passed on.

When I can compose myself and settle down, perhaps it would be okay to message you with a link to a zipped package of everything I have here.
There is an Arduino diseqc library. To control an H-bridge. As far as the other particulars such as how memory positional memory slots are managed and such. I'm not a programmer.
Such a non-programmer it took me days to come up with "transcoder". Going nuts searching for info. pertaining to the likes of serial in/out translator. Things like that.

If I could give you some things to look over. I know for simple things that confuse and frustrate people I know. Sometimes you look over their shoulders and say....Oh, that! You know what I mean. Everyone has their skill sets.

 

[dreambox1959]

at the beginning of the design of my device I imitated the design of a VBOX (relay + transformer) then I added a switching power supply and a module with a PWM with a MOSFET.
It is simpler than the bridge system, moreover I designed this device so that the components used are very common and easily replaceable.
I admire the ASC1 titanium, that’s why I put a large display and some details but the ASC1 only manages one AXIS (AZ).
Thanks to the various hobbyists who contacted me I added the management of the "LNB-CHANGER" and that of the mechanical polarotor.
I have built around 30 positioners, it is nothing compared to the TITANIUM products but there are around twenty amateurs who are happy to have it and for me it is very satisfying.

 

[yoghy67]

at the beginning of the design of my device I imitated the design of a VBOX (relay + transformer) then I added a switching power supply and a module with a PWM with a MOSFET.
It is simpler than the bridge system, moreover I designed this device so that the components used are very common and easily replaceable.
I admire the ASC1 titanium, that’s why I put a large display and some details but the ASC1 only manages one AXIS (AZ).
Thanks to the various hobbyists who contacted me I added the management of the "LNB-CHANGER" and that of the mechanical polarotor.
I have built around 30 positioners, it is nothing compared to the TITANIUM products but there are around twenty amateurs who are happy to have it and for me it is very satisfying.

I’m proud to have one. Dreambox1959 your device changed my sat experience.

 

[dreambox1959]

thank you !