VLC with DVB-S + SkyStar2 + 36E + Windows 2003

[Lorni]

Windows 2003 sp2
SkyStar2 BDA driver 4.5.0.0 (16.09.2008)
vlc-0.9.7-git-win32

Channel parameters (It works with any DVB-Player, i.e. DVBDream):
Sat: Eutelsat Sesat 36E (QPSK)
Name: BRIDGE TV (is FREE)
Freq: 12303000 H 27500 3/4
audio pid=256
video pid=308 (Mpeg-2)
pcr=308
pmt=944
sid=59
tid=310
nid=112

Does anybody know, how to run VLC to view this channel from SkyStar-2 directly like this?

vlc.exe dvb-s:// :dvb-frequency=12303000 :dvb-polarisation="H" :dvb-srate=27500000

main error: cannot pre fill buffer

[VLC_help]

You get any other errors if you open VLC, then Tools -> Messages... (set Verbosity to 2) and Media -> Open Capture device... ?

[Lorni]

Additional info:
1) I use Circular LNB.
2) I use 2-ports DiSeqC (This sat is in LNB1 port of DiSeqC)
3) LNB2 in DiSeqC is HotBird Ku-linear LNB



Here is Verbosity Level=2:

main info: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
main error: cannot pre fill buffer
main debug: starting new item
main debug: processing request item dvb-s:// node Playlist skip 0
main debug: resyncing on dvb-s://
main debug: dvb-s:// is at 0
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'dvb-s://'
main debug: waiting for thread initialization
main debug: thread started
main debug: thread 5284 (input) created at priority 1 (input/input.c:370)
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 3
main debug: `dvb-s://' gives access `dvb-s' demux `' path `'
main debug: creating demux: access='dvb-s' demux='' path=''
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates
main warning: no access_demux module matched "dvb-s"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: creating access 'dvb-s' path=''
main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate
bda debug: FindFilter: Connected TechniSat BDA Digital Tuner
bda debug: FindFilter: Connected TechniSat BDA Digital Capture
bda debug: FindFilter: Connected BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter
bda debug: Register: registered Graph: VLC BDA Graph 00d66d60 Pid 00000ed4
main debug: using access module "bda"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 94.000 ms - Total 94.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 94.000 ms)
qt4 debug: New Event: type 1103
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 2
main debug: Using AStream*Block
main debug: pre buffering
bda warning: BDA GetBufferSize: Timed Out waiting for sample
main error: cannot pre fill buffer
main warning: cannot create a stream_t from access
main debug: finished input
main debug: dying input
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 8
main debug: dying input
main debug: dying input
main debug: removing module "bda"
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread times: real 0m2.359375s, kernel 0m0.046875s, user 0m0.062500s
main debug: thread 5284 joined (playlist/engine.c:244)
main debug: TIMER input launching for 'dvb-s://' : 2411.000 ms - Total 2411.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2411.000 ms)
main debug: starting new item
main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play

if i use Hotbird with Ku-Linear LNB directly without DiSeqC

vlc.exe dvb-s:// :dvb-frequency=10719000 :dvb-polarisation="V" :dvb-srate=27500

and select then "Program". It works, about minute, then windows asks me to debug the VLC.

[flanagann]

Same here

If you finally solve the problem let me know, please!

[Lorni]

Same here

If you finally solve the problem let me know, please!

1) Name(s) of your Sat?
2) Do you use DiSeqC?
3) Ku-Linear, Ku-Circular or C ?

[Lorni]

Wow. I get BSOD with ks.sys if trying to re-start any BDA-supported DVB player (DVBDream, VLC). First run is OK. Second - BSOD. Damn SkyStar2!

[VLC_help]

Lorni: you use latest BDA drivers?

[Lorni]

Yes. 4.5.0.0 is the latest drivers on technisat.com
As I said, I can view Hotbird's free channels (Ku-linear LNB) without DiSeqC.
Can't view 36E Eutelsat (Ku-Circular) with or without DiSeqC. :dvb-polarisation keys "L" "R" doesn't help.

[flanagann]

Same here

If you finally solve the problem let me know, please!

1) Name(s) of your Sat?
2) Do you use DiSeqC?
3) Ku-Linear, Ku-Circular or C ?

1) Astra
2 and 3) My Sat knowledge is not enough to answer both issues

[Lorni]

So. How to view a sat-channel with circular polarisation?
L R doesn't help

[KenS]

Back in 2007 we never really got to the bottom of how to get DVB-S working. It wasn't even clear if the problem was just for one person or affected all users. Now looks like its a general problem.
If you look at this post EarthwormJeff got DVB-S to work with a code change that made no sense whatever. I don't have DVB-S myself so there's no way I can test and debug this module myself. All I can suggest is for someone with DVB-S to make the code change and see if it works for them too. If it does then post the fix and maybe one day we'll work out why it works.

[Lorni]

KenS, I'm a programmer. Can I help? Just explain me what to do.

[flanagann]

So to sum up... is it a general problem??

If it is I think I'll stop worrying about the issue.

[KenS]

KenS, I'm a programmer. Can I help? Just explain me what to do.

Lorni - check your PM

So to sum up... is it a general problem??

If it is I think I'll stop worrying about the issue.

Not sure. The DVB-S module has never been adequately tested because I don't have a DVB-S setup myself. So its been coded by the book but I think maybe the book was missing some pages.
So far I think I've heard of only three people using DVB-S: EarthwormJeff managed to make it work with a bizarre code change but I haven't heard from him in a long while. Lorni got it working a little before it bombs in one example and can't get it working at all in another. Then there's yourself, flanagann.

I've got a few clues as to what the problem is and I'm motivated enough to work on the problem but need help from others who can test. I'm not quite motivated enough to install satellite myself as I have perfectly good cable. A warning - debugging is nothing but hard slog.

[flanagann]

Not sure. The DVB-S module has never been adequately tested because I don't have a DVB-S setup myself. So its been coded by the book but I think maybe the book was missing some pages.
So far I think I've heard of only three people using DVB-S: EarthwormJeff managed to make it work with a bizarre code change but I haven't heard from him in a long while. Lorni got it working a little before it bombs in one example and can't get it working at all in another. Then there's yourself, flanagann.

I've got a few clues as to what the problem is and I'm motivated enough to work on the problem but need help from others who can test. I'm not quite motivated enough to install satellite myself as I have perfectly good cable. A warning - debugging is nothing but hard slog.

I'm a little bit busy this time of my life ... but I'm motivated enough to perform some tests if you want. Just send me a PM or write in this topic.

I'm a using Windows XP and I'm not a very experimented DVB-S user.

[KenS]

Please read this post