Documentation on DVB-S configuration files

[stuckless]

Well.... I've come full circle.... Once of my first posts on the sagetv forum was about how to configure DVB-s with SageTV... that was Oct 2007.... And now, I'm back to where it all started

I'm looking for any information on the following....

1. What is PredefinedScanSat.frq used for? Is this where I can manually configure channels? I know that the PredefinedDVBS.frq file is used to list the transponders, but I'm sure if I need anything in the other file as well.

2. What is the channel file format for dvb-s? For example, I have a FTA channel

#chan:transponder:pol:sr:vpid:apid:sid
CH198:12297:h:1:20000:4898:4899:198

But what is the sagetv format for storing this channel? What is the file that needs to be updated?

I'm having issues with SageTV in that it will not scan my dvb card, so I'm trying to manually build up the channel files. I already have the card working and configured using other tools, so this isn't a hardware issue. It's a lack of understanding/documentation issue.

Thanks to anyone that can describe the channel file format for me.

Also, do anyone know how to enable verbose logging for dvb? I used to know (back in 2007) but I can't seem to find that information. I know have to enable basic debugging, but i remember that there was a "trick" to enable verbose logging of dvb.

[49studebaker]

Originally Posted by stuckless

1. What is PredefinedScanSat.frq used for? Is this where I can manually configure channels? I know that the PredefinedDVBS.frq file is used to list the transponders, but I'm sure if I need anything in the other file as well.

I use a DVB-s/s2 card with SageTV and I do not have the file "PredefinedScanSat.frq". I could have accidentally deleted it. I am not sure what it does.

Originally Posted by stuckless

2. What is the channel file format for dvb-s? For example, I have a FTA channel

#chan:transponder:pol:sr:vpid:apid:sid
CH198:12297:h:1:20000:4898:4899:198

But what is the sagetv format for storing this channel? What is the file that needs to be updated?

When you do a DVB channel scan SageTV will create a file like "PCIE DW2005 DVB-S2 Capture-0-DVB-S.frq" or "TBS 6920 Video Capture-0-DVB-S.frq". The name of the file depends on your tuner name. This file contains the channel data detected during the channel scan. Also during the channel scan SageTV will add the channel info(Station name, logical channel number, physical channel number) to the Sage.properties file.

If you want to manually add a DVB channel first put the channel data in the "your_tuner-DVB-S.frq" file. Second, manually add the channel using the "Add to Channel Lineup". The "Physical (Tuning) Channel Number" must be: onid-tsid-sid

It is also important to note that if you do a "Full Channel Scan" or a "Update Channel Scan" SageTV will overwrite the "your_tuner-DVB-S.frq" file. Any manually added channel data will be lost.

In the attached zip file is my "TBS 6920 Video Capture-0-DVB-S.frq" after scanning satellite Intelsat 9.

Originally Posted by stuckless

I'm having issues with SageTV in that it will not scan my dvb card...

Have you tried the latest Native Recording Patch? What DVB card are you using? Are you able to scan your channels with a DVB program like DVBdream, myTheater, DVBViewer or any other DVB viewing software?

Originally Posted by stuckless

Also, do anyone know how to enable verbose logging for dvb? I used to know (back in 2007) but I can't seem to find that information. I know have to enable basic debugging, but i remember that there was a "trick" to enable verbose logging of dvb.

Create a file called "NATIVE_LOG.ENABLE" in your "C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV" directory. It will create a Native.log file.

[stuckless]

@3doptics - thanks for the reply/info.

I am able to scan using other tools outside of sagetv. I'm in linux, and I can use the standard dvb tools in linux to scan, tune, etc.

The card that i;m using is a technotrend budget/wintv nova dvb-s card. A couple years back, i actually had this card working in sagetv.... but it didn't quite work the way that I wanted.

Sage does recognize the card, and it will select it, and allow me to select a satellite to configure. I think part of my issue is not knowing what information to put in for the satelite stuff... ie, I know how to configure the card using the dvb tools in linux, but sagetv uses a completely different lingo in their configuration.

previously, i used a file, linke adapter1.cfg to configure the lnb setting, etc. but for the LNB type I only had to specify DBS. I don't see where I can do that in sagetv, it appears that it wants to me to configure LOF settings, and I'm not sure how to specify a diseq port, etc. I think alot has changed in the 2 years since I last tried this (which is good).

Again, thanks for the info, at least now I know how to enable the native.log.

[49studebaker]

LOF1: Lo MHz for LNB
LOF2: Hi MHz for LNB
LOF SW: 0 for 22KHz tone off(uses LOF1), 11700 for 22KHz tone on(uses LOF2)


Diseqc switch port 1:
TOS1:A
TOS2:A
Diseqc switch port 2:
TOS1:A
TOS2:B
Diseqc switch port 3:
TOS1:B
TOS2:A
Diseqc switch port 4:
TOS1:B
TOS2:B


Is the satellite you are trying to scan C-band, Ku-band Linear, or Ku-band Circular? My advice would be to connect the coax cable directly from the LNB to the DVB card.

For C-band:
LOF1: 5150
LOF2:
LOF SW:
TOS1:
TOS2:

For Ku-band linear:
LOF1: 10750
LOF2:
LOF SW:
TOS1:
TOS2:

I am not sure what LOF1 frequency is used for Ku-band circular.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by stuckless

1. What is PredefinedScanSat.frq used for? Is this where I can manually configure channels? I know that the PredefinedDVBS.frq file is used to list the transponders, but I'm sure if I need anything in the other file as well.

PredefinedScanSat.frq is not used. I think it was the old version of PredefinedDVBS.frq.

PredefinedDVBS.frq contains the transponders which SageTV will scan first and from which it will get the list of the remaining transponders to scan.
This means that "independent" channels which are not listed in the "PMT" will not be found. I have added the full list of frequencies that I want SageTV to scan in any case.

If you do alter this file, make sure you back it up because the sagetv installer overwrites it with every new install.

Originally Posted by stuckless

2. What is the channel file format for dvb-s? For example, I have a FTA channel

#chan:transponder:pol:sr:vpid:apid:sid
CH198:12297:h:1:20000:4898:4899:198

But what is the sagetv format for storing this channel? What is the file that needs to be updated?

I'm having issues with SageTV in that it will not scan my dvb card, so I'm trying to manually build up the channel files. I already have the card working and configured using other tools, so this isn't a hardware issue. It's a lack of understanding/documentation issue.

The current channel format is stored in a distinct xxx DVB Capture-n-DVB-S.frq file where xxx is the name of the tuner in SageTV and "n" is 0, 1, 2 depending on how many tuners of the same type you have installed.

Inside, SageTV stores the info from the channel scan.

CH:25 onid:2 tsid:2038 sid:6880 frq:12441000 rate:27500 pol:2 fec_rate_in:2 sat:0 ctrl:1 #:BBCi0

Note that there is not VPID or APID info. Just ONID, TSID and SID.
You can get this info from lyngsat. ONID and TSID is the full transponder identifier and SID is the identifier of the channel within the transponder.

Rather that get sagetv to scan every time there are new channels, I get the info from lyngsat or elsewhere and define the channel here.

frq, rate, pol and fec_rate are self explanatory.

sat: is the sat number if you have a DiSeQc switch.
ctrl:1 is for FTA channels and ctrl:3 is for encrypted channels for which sagetv must use the CAM to decode.


Usually what I do when adding a new source or removing an existing and redefining, is to.

1. Close SageTV and Backup my existing sagetv directory.
2. Start SageTV and remove source/define source
3. Do full channels scan.
4. Remove source and Close SageTV
5. Edit xxx DVB Capture-n-DVB-S.frq so it only has channels I am interested in and changing the order as I like.
6. Add additional channels, not found by scan.
7. Start Sagetv and add source but with no channel scan but use XMLTV source. Now the source has only the channels listed in the XMLTV file.
8. Use sagetv add channel functionality to remap the order of the channels pointing to the physical channel number as defined in the xxx DVB Capture-n-DVB-S.frq file.

[stuckless]

@3doptics - thanks for explaining the diseqc and lof stuff. I did find LOF settings for my sat, but still no go.

@Lucus - thanks for the info on the channel format. I'll try to manually craft the FTA channel that i'm trying to test with, and see how it goes.

I enabled the native.log and it doesn't look good... For some reason, it seems that Sage is trying to use my dvb card as a cable tuner?? (I think).

Here's my native.log output..

12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB: create Encoder (Native log:ON EPG log:OFF.)
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB: devices /dev/dvb/adapter1/frontend0 /dev/dvb/adapter1/demux0 /dev/dvb/adapter1/dvr0.
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DeviceCfg' adapter1.cfg' file is found
12/12/2009 23:32:25  hard_demulex:1
12/12/2009 23:32:25  LNB swich 'DBS' found.
12/12/2009 23:32:25  LNB 'DBS' OK.
12/12/2009 23:32:25  sat_no:1
12/12/2009 23:32:25  TSSplitter ver 1.71
12/12/2009 23:32:25  ptsfix is enabled by default.
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB: encoder is created CDev: 0xa945d28, 0xaa2af60
12/12/2009 23:32:25  QAM Cache is disabled
12/12/2009 23:32:25  Channel is open (ver 3.0.1)
12/12/2009 23:32:25  debugserver.ini is not exist 
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB:Open device /dev/dvb/adapter1/frontend0 (ver 1.0.08)
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB: SetInput (Cable) on /dev/dvb/adapter1/frontend0, country:1 file format:PS (1)
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB:tuner name:ST STV0299 DVB-S
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB:Tuner type:DVB-S
12/12/2009 23:32:25  Can't open 'adapter1-DVB-S.frq' to load scan data for tuner.
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB-S Frequency initialize :0
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB: Load tuning frequency data failed (-1)
12/12/2009 23:32:25  DVB: SourceType:DVB-S
12/12/2009 23:32:26  DVB set channel () 0--1--1 'adapter1'. <<=======
12/12/2009 23:32:26  crash trace 10
12/12/2009 23:32:26  Parser stopped, processed pkt:0 
12/12/2009 23:32:26  DVB:Get tuning Entry :(type:1) major:-1  minor:-1  physical:0 (index:-1)
12/12/2009 23:32:26  DVB: DVB-S Tuning Entry not found.
12/12/2009 23:32:26  Invalid tuning for Tuning DVB-S tune '0'.
12/12/2009 23:32:26  SetEncoding
12/12/2009 23:32:26  DVB: open file:/var/media/tv/adapter1DigitalTVTuner-0.mpgbuf  0xa9490f0.
12/12/2009 23:32:26  GetBroadcastStandard DVB-S 
12/12/2009 23:32:36  DVB: close file:0xa9490f0.
12/12/2009 23:34:40  DVB set channel () 0--1--1 'adapter1'. <<=======
12/12/2009 23:34:40  crash trace 10
12/12/2009 23:34:40  Parser stopped, processed pkt:0 
12/12/2009 23:34:40  DVB:Get tuning Entry :(type:1) major:-1  minor:-1  physical:0 (index:-1)
12/12/2009 23:34:40  DVB: DVB-S Tuning Entry not found.
12/12/2009 23:34:40  Invalid tuning for Tuning DVB-S tune '0'.
12/12/2009 23:34:40  SetEncoding
12/12/2009 23:34:40  DVB: open file:/var/media/tv/adapter1DigitalTVTuner-0.mpgbuf  0x6cadd2e0.
12/12/2009 23:34:40  GetBroadcastStandard DVB-S 
12/12/2009 23:34:40  Scan Channel:0,  contry:, type:DVB-S...
12/12/2009 23:34:40  Loading prdefined freq table PredefinedDVBS.frq for DVB-S in 'Canada-'.
12/12/2009 23:34:40     country region/provider (sat_no):'Canada' '' ''.
12/12/2009 23:34:40  loaded predined scan freq data 0 entry (0).
12/12/2009 23:34:40  Can't open 'adapter1-DVB-S.scn' to load scan data for tuner.
12/12/2009 23:34:40  failed to remove 'adapter1-DVB-S frq.bak' (error:2)
12/12/2009 23:34:40  failed to backup file 'adapter1-DVB-S.frq' to 'adapter1-DVB-S frq.bak' (error:2)
12/12/2009 23:34:40  Scan returns (null)

I'm basically trying to connect to Nimiq1, which I can do using the commandline tools. But I don't think that sage is even attempting to load the transponders for Nimiq1, (at least I can't see where it's doing it i the native.log)

I did use lyngsat to originally get all the transponders, and I used lyngsat to hand craft the channel 198 (which is the only FTA channel on nimiq1).

Lucas, nimiq1 on lyngsat doesn't actually list any onid or tsid values So, I guess my only option to try and figure out why sage is not scanning, and hope that it can build the entries for me

[davenlr]

Hi guys...

I have a Technotrend TT3200-S2 card. I am trying to add the channels on AMC26, the PBS satellite. It scanned in the two channels I want, PBSHD east and west, however, when it tunes them, its using some secondary audio, with some lady describing the show for blind people. The APID I need is 52. How, and what file do I edit to change the APID to 52 from whatever its set to now?

[zamar45]

Originally Posted by Lucas

sat: is the sat number if you have a DiSeQc switch.

Could you explain that in more detail? For example, what sat:24 means? As far as I understand, SageTV is able to tune only 4 source sats, leaving us with 0, 1, 2, 3 numbers for this property? Or, if several sats are positioned in the same orbital location, and linked to the same DiSEqC switch port & LNB, these sats are numbered sequentially in the Sat Tuner .frq file channels list, so total number of scanned sats can exceed 4? Or it also exceeds 4, if SageTV works with a sat tuner indirectly via a Sat Viewer app like DVBDream & DVBLogic middleman?

Another question: can someone explain current DVB-S channel format in Sage.properties file? For example, what does it mean:

xAddedChannel,1,1,1-101-1-1,1,1-101-1-1;24