DVB-S/S2 Card for a linux-based dish pointer

DVB-S/S2 Card for a linux-based dish pointer

[Joao S Veiga]

Hello guys,

We're developing an automatic satellite dish pointer controller (for Satellite News Gathering vehicles and other
applications), and it will be based on a mini-itx Atom motherboard running debian.

I'm looking for options for measuring the received signal strength and quality for the auto-track and signal lock
confirmation, and would like to use an off-the-shelf dvb-s card, supported by a vanilla kernel if possible.

I've looked at this list's archive, and found good recommendations for the Technotrend TT-S3200 and TT-S1600.

Remote control and hardware mpeg2 decoding are not needed; the 2Ux19" dish pointer controller will have no display
(other than a 480x220 touchscreen which cannot show video, and a web user interface). Eventually we'll allow the
connection of a monitor if the 1.6GHz fanless single-core Atom can handle the decoding, but that would be just a
interesting feature, not a must.

The card can be PCI or USB2 (the mini-itx board also has a very useful mini-pcie).

I've never used a DVB card, so I'd like to please ask you guys if the dvb-s support under linux can be used in this
situation:

- no X running
- send tuning/cps/etc configuration/commands via command line
- get signal strength (dBm?) and quality (BER?), signal lock, and other sat info via command line or api or somewhere in
/proc/ for example

Considering that this is all I need (and users-do-not-need-to-know-this-is-a-computer stability), are the Technotrend
TT-S3200 and TT-S1600 still good bets? Any less featured but still good quality cheaper option?

Thank you!

Joao S Veiga

Re: DVB-S/S2 Card for a linux-based dish pointer

[Joao S Veiga]

Thank you Jason,

I had stumbled on the TBS website while looking for receiver cards, but had not considered them because I was looking
for something supported by the mainstream kernel.

We expect a low volume for the positioner controllers (at least in the beginning), so we want to use as much
off-the-shelf (COTS) parts as possible to reduce sw&hw development to a minimum. Also, I believe that if we use only
what is supported by the mainstream kernel, we would not be tied to a single dvb card model/supplier/version/special driver.

Can the linux dvb support be used in the situation I mentioned?
(- no X running
- send tuning/cps/etc configuration/commands via command line
- get signal strength (dBm?) and quality (BER?), signal lock, and other sat info via command line or api or somewhere in
/proc/ for example)

Best regards,

Joao S Veiga




---------- Original Message -----------
 From: jason duhamell 

> You guys will want to contact http://tbsdtv.com/ for help. I my self make embedded electronics. right now out of arm
and mips based soc's if you want to cut out intel. tbs is an oem that makes the cards that other companies buy. they
also make their own linux drivers. 
> 
> On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 2:34 AM, Joao S Veiga  wrote:
>  Hello guys,
> 
> We're developing an automatic satellite dish pointer controller (for Satellite News Gathering vehicles and other
> applications), and it will be based on a mini-itx Atom motherboard running debian.
>