Advice Needed Sat tuner card replacement?

jeallen01

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Update :(

Well, I finally did get a TBS 6902 card in the middle of last week and (certainly not "helped" by the totally crap current version of ProgDVB Pro s/w I'm using - bought it some yrs ago, and so I thought I'd try what I already had before getting anything else!), I've finally got it running "half-decently" - but am now very under-impressed by this card because the sensitivity is much, much. poorer than the SX88 which locks weaker channels on 52E that the 6902 can't even get any SQ at all on.

OK, I do know that "you get what you pay for" (and I paid around a hundred quid for this one), and also that if I had paid two hundred quid plus then I would probably have got something considerably better overall.

Therefore, I'm thinking of sending this one back with the 14 day "period of grace", and getting "something better" - so is there anything "better" between £100 & £200??

PS:
As above, I have ProDVB Pro (as well as DVBViewer) on the PC in question but I intend to try Crazyscan if and when I get a sat card that can "deliver" - but I'm in the very early stages of exploring this sort of stuff and so I think that the latter is probably a "bridge too far" for me (especially as some LINUX solutions are currently also a "bridge too far" for me ATM - AND considerable very serious "brother-in-law" issues continue to "intrude" on a daily basis, and those won't go away any time soon :angry:).

Thus, does anyone have suggestions for suitable "user friendly" PC WIN 10-compatible s/w for the same type of use???

Thx in advance.
 

moonbase

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Get shot of that TBS6902 and replace it with a TBS6903.
The TBS6902 is a reasonable card for the money but it is nowhere near as good as a TBS6903, personal opinion of course.
If you ever come across a second hand TBS6983 grab it. Again, in my personal opinion this was one of the best cards made by TBS for the enthusiast market.

Get shot of that ProgDVB and install CrazyScan, DVB Dream, EBS Pro and TransEdit. all Windows 10 functional.
DVB Dream is cranky and prone to crashes but in my personal opinion it is still better than ProgDVB, DVB Viewer and other DVB apps..

DVB Dream is subscription for the full pro version, same as DVB Viewer.
CrazyScan and EBS Pro are free.

TransEdit can be downloaded as one of the components in a DVB Viewer install but should be available as a standalone product.
 
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jeallen01

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@moonbase

Many thx - will take a close look at your recommendations tomorrow :D
 

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Update :(

Well, I finally did get a TBS 6902 card in the middle of last week and (certainly not "helped" by the totally crap current version of ProgDVB Pro s/w I'm using - bought it some yrs ago, and so I thought I'd try what I already had before getting anything else!), I've finally got it running "half-decently" - but am now very under-impressed by this card because the sensitivity is much, much. poorer than the SX88 which locks weaker channels on 52E that the 6902 can't even get any SQ at all on.

OK, I do know that "you get what you pay for" (and I paid around a hundred quid for this one), and also that if I had paid two hundred quid plus then I would probably have got something considerably better overall.

Therefore, I'm thinking of sending this one back with the 14 day "period of grace", and getting "something better" - so is there anything "better" between £100 & £200??

PS:
As above, I have ProDVB Pro (as well as DVBViewer) on the PC in question but I intend to try Crazyscan if and when I get a sat card that can "deliver" - but I'm in the very early stages of exploring this sort of stuff and so I think that the latter is probably a "bridge too far" for me (especially as some LINUX solutions are currently also a "bridge too far" for me ATM - AND considerable very serious "brother-in-law" issues continue to "intrude" on a daily basis, and those won't go away any time soon :angry:).

Thus, does anyone have suggestions for suitable "user friendly" PC WIN 10-compatible s/w for the same type of use???

Thx in advance.
I did mention there was something strange about the sensitivity figures for the 6902. Perhaps a representative from TBS can respond.
 

moonbase

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but am now very under-impressed by this card because the sensitivity is much, much. poorer than the SX88 which locks weaker channels on 52E that the 6902 can't even get any SQ at all on.


Afterthought from my reply in post 22, before you return the TBS6902 why not try EBS Pro and CrazyScan with it, they are both free to download the full versions?

You could compare the results from BlindScan modes 1 and 2 in both EBS Pro and CrazyScan with your SX88 scan result.
These scans will give you an idea of the sensitivity or lack of sensitivity with the TBS 6902 tuner compared to your SX88.

Also, decrease the scan step size down to 1MHz or 2MHz in EBS Pro or CrazyScan, if the step size is too large and the frequency bandwith is narrow the signals could be missed.
If you are still not happy with the sensitivity of the TBS6902 card after the above tests then at least you have given the card every opportunity before returning it.
 

jeallen01

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@moonbase
Thanks again, and will aim to do the latter sometime today (depends on when my wife wants to go shopping!)

I've got until around next Monday before I have send the 6902 back within the 14 day "window" - so will need to act fairly quickly.

OTOH, CH has a 6991SE that he's prepared to lend me - does anyone know if that card is substantially "different" in performance to the 6902 (OK, I know it has CI slots but that's doesn't concern me ATM)?

Edited: if not then I think I'll have to shell out for a 6903 (probably new as "used" ones seem like hens't teeth).
 
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@moonbase
Thanks again, and will aim to do the latter sometime today (depends on when my wife wants to go shopping!)

I've got until around next Monday before I have send the 6902 back within the 14 day "window" - so will need to act fairly quickly.

OTOH, CH has a 6991SE that he's prepared to lend me - does anyone know if that card is substantially "different" in performance to the 6902 (OK, I know it has CI slots but that's doesn't concern me ATM)?
It's better built.

But yes, it has no 16/32APSK capability.
 

jeallen01

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Morning again

Re Crazyscan from a total newbie with that s/w: when I looked for that on sourceforge, all I can find is a BDA streamreader rar file which extracts to .dll and .ini files - is that all there is because I was expecting some form of .exe installation file to be involved?

Thx in advance
 

moonbase

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Morning again

Re Crazyscan from a total newbie with that s/w: when I looked for that on sourceforge, all I can find is a BDA streamreader rar file which extracts to .dll and .ini files - is that all there is because I was expecting some form of .exe installation file to be involved?

Thx in advance


There is no exe installation file for CrazyScan, there is an exe installation file for EBS Pro.

You need to load the CrazyScan main folder, the Required Libraries folder and the Streamreader folder.
Place all the guff in one folder as presented in the picture below, click the CrazyScan exe file and it opens up the app.

The files and sub folders can be placed in any folder location on the PC, there is no requirement for a specific location provided the structure is as illustrated below.
There might be no Streamreader.log file in the downloads, it might be created once CrazyScan has been opened up and a scan done?

.
CrazyScan Folders Setup.jpg
 

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Update :(

Well, I finally did get a TBS 6902 card in the middle of last week and (certainly not "helped" by the totally crap current version of ProgDVB Pro s/w I'm using - bought it some yrs ago, and so I thought I'd try what I already had before getting anything else!), I've finally got it running "half-decently" - but am now very under-impressed by this card because the sensitivity is much, much. poorer than the SX88 which locks weaker channels on 52E that the 6902 can't even get any SQ at all on.

OK, I do know that "you get what you pay for" (and I paid around a hundred quid for this one), and also that if I had paid two hundred quid plus then I would probably have got something considerably better overall.

Therefore, I'm thinking of sending this one back with the 14 day "period of grace", and getting "something better" - so is there anything "better" between £100 & £200??

PS:
As above, I have ProDVB Pro (as well as DVBViewer) on the PC in question but I intend to try Crazyscan if and when I get a sat card that can "deliver" - but I'm in the very early stages of exploring this sort of stuff and so I think that the latter is probably a "bridge too far" for me (especially as some LINUX solutions are currently also a "bridge too far" for me ATM - AND considerable very serious "brother-in-law" issues continue to "intrude" on a daily basis, and those won't go away any time soon :angry:).

Thus, does anyone have suggestions for suitable "user friendly" PC WIN 10-compatible s/w for the same type of use???

Thx in advance.
I agree with @moonbase that tbs6903 is the best card at the moment for an amateur.You have to know that tbs6903 has no S2X extension.
But I recommend that,before ordering another card,consult CrazyCar's list of cards that have full support,from here.In fact,this recommendation applies to all those who wish to buy a dvb card,of course depending on what they wish to receive.
The problem with dvb apps and players only arises to the extent that their developers have not updated them to new technologies,because many of them,for various reasons,have not dealt with their own applications or do not have the latest cards appearing on the market.
With ProgDVB is a problem,in my opinion,wrong, namely,the Russian developer in the desire to integrate as many media functions has loaded so much the player that the reception part seems to be his last concern.In other words,he builds more floors than the foundation can stand.If you have more dvb cards,then surely after more time there will be problems with the player.
DVBDream is best to manage the drivers cards installed. It has flexibility and adapts easily to different situations.Unfortunately the Turk developer no longer finds personal reasons to invest more time for his player.
But of all applications,the AltDVB player is the best for the average user. With the latest version to appear, I think it will be updated with all the functions that a user needs.Maybe less,(I'm not sure)subtitle.It's going to be implemented with blindscan(apud Crazyscan).
DVB Viewer is the best thought player and works flawlessly.Unfortunately the scan is not integrated into the player as such,but must be done with a utility(TransEdit).It's the only objection I have about this player.
As for using dvb cards on Linux,I could make some observations.But I don't think that's the case now.Maybe another time.
 

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Thanks guys

Well, I have downloaded installation files for DVB Dream (trial), EBS Pro & Transedit - and have got a basic DVB Dream installation running the USALS motor, found out how to add multiple sats, and have scanned 3E & & 9E & now scanning 13E (with the rest to follow).

OTOH, still have to work out how to add more "European" sats as the current sat database is US-biased, and out of date!

Trying out the other s/w will have to follow in "good time" as I have other important things to do over the next few days.
 

moonbase

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Thanks guys

Well, I have downloaded installation files for DVB Dream (trial), EBS Pro & Transedit - and have got a basic DVB Dream installation running the USALS motor, found out how to add multiple sats, and have scanned 3E & & 9E & now scanning 13E (with the rest to follow).

OTOH, still have to work out how to add more "European" sats as the current sat database is US-biased, and out of date!

Trying out the other s/w will have to follow in "good time" as I have other important things to do over the next few days.


You can create or download new transponder ini files to add to the list of those shipped with the install of DVB Dream.
Both CrazyScan and EBS Pro let you save their blind scan results as a transponder ini file. Alternatively, there are sites online where you can download transponder ini files for geographic regions.

For TransEdit, you can place its files in the root folder of your DVB Viewer install, changes made in TransEdit/DVB Viewer should then cascade into one another.


'ere, cop for this transponder file set for Ku Linear, attached below.
.
 

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jeallen01

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@moonbase

Many Thanks again - having unzipped that file, I can see the structure of those ini files and some of them will definitely be use, and that would also
allow me to create new ones if required.

However, when I looked at the the root of the DVB Dream folder, I couldn't see any .ini files already there - so do I simply drop the files in there, or do I now need to do "something" with Transedit before or after I do that?

PS: Got to log off now - probably back in a few hours!
 

moonbase

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@moonbase

Many Thanks again - having unzipped that file, I can see the structure of those ini files and some of them will definitely be use, and that would also
allow me to create new ones if required.

However, when I looked at the the root of the DVB Dream folder, I couldn't see any .ini files already there - so do I simply drop the files in there, or do I now need to do "something" with Transedit before or after I do that?

PS: Got to log off now - probably back in a few hours!


In the root folder of your DVB Dream installation there should be a sub folder named "Transponders" which should contain all the ini files referenced by DVB Dream
Drop any new or updated ini files in this sub folder, overwriting old versions if prompted.

For updates to the transponder ini files to be available to DVB Dream you may need to close down the app then re-open it so that it reads the new/updated contents of the "Transponders" sub folder.
 

jeallen01

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@moonbase

Thanks again - couldn't get to do that today because my workarea IKEA "anglepoise"-type lamp just fell apart, and it's a pig to fix! - see this video I just found after more than an hour of unsuccessfully trying to put the damned thing back together (and I still haven't fixed mine - but I've had "enough" for today)!
 

jeallen01

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Thx but I I already have "enough" external "boxes" hanging off that PC (and a very confined space) and don't want another one - so I need an internal PC card for which there is plenty of space inside the m/c.
 

jeallen01

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Not an update"!

Decided to return the 6902 and get a 6903 which may be here on Friday - at which time I will send the 6902 off to Pulsat.

Not going to be able to do much more anyway until the weekend because of "more pressing local issues" - but I will "return".
 

jeallen01

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Well, the 6903 card arrived a couple of hours ago, and is now plugged into the same m/b PCI-E slot in which the 6902 was working before I sent it back, and I haven't altered anything in the s/w of DVB Dream, EPS Pro or ProgDVB Pro - but:

- it's not showing up anywhere in Device Manager (ISTR the 6902 showed up in the "Sound, Video and Game Controller" group, but I can't be absolutely sure), and scanning for hardware changes made no difference.

- DVB Dream doesn't appear to show it in the "Devices" section (the only device showing is a "Realtek DTV Filter")

- When ProgDVB is started, it reports "[bda.6ea4 device not started] & "[bda.6ea3 device not started]" and then, in the Settings" it is still showing the 2 tuners on the 6902 and their associated sats under USALS or DiSEqC 1.1 ports

- When EBSPro is started it reports "We haven't found any compatible device Do you want to see our compatible catalogue?"

- Can't get any of the above Apps to actually tune & display channels on a sat (notably 9E, 13E or 28E) at which I know the dish was definitely pointed because I had done that using the SX88 a couple of minutes beforehand.

FWIW, nothing like any of the above messages/lack of messages occured after I removed the DVB Sky card and replaced it with the 6902!

After the first time I saw the above, I reseated the card in the m/b slot but that made no difference, and my initial reaction was (is?) to think that the card is faulty, but obviously I can't be sure.

Thus, maybe someone could suggest answers to the following questions to help me try to pin down the problem:

- Did I forget to "do something" before I installed the 6903 - such as uninstalling all the above s/w and then reinstalling it after the card was installed and the m/c was turned ON?

- Are there any "tests"/checks I could try to see if the PC can recognise that 6903 is actually "present" or to "wake it up"

- Does all the above actually mean that the card really IS faulty?

Thanks in advance.
 
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