Category Archives: Hardware

New GNC-A Station: Hidromet – Mexico (Station n° 101)

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Arturo Uriel, from Hidromet – Mexico, kindly shared some pictures of their new GNC-A station. They are using a NOVRA 300D receiver and a NORSAT 3100F-BPF-6 C-Band LNB with 5G Rejection.

Please note the smaller antennas receiving the GOES-R HRIT/EMWIN signal:

Thanks for sharing Arturo and the Hidromet team!

Do you have a newly installed GNC-A instation that hasn’t been shown in the Blog? Please send us a photo to [email protected].

“New GNC-A Station” Series:

Configuring the AYECKA SR1 Receiver for DVB-S2

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Ayecka SR1 - Receiver.png

The AYECKA SR1 is one of the DVB-S2 receivers used by the GNC-A community. In this blog post we’re going to show how to configure it. The example below shows the configuration made with a Windows client (PuTTY), but it may be done with any client with serial interface in any Operational System. Once the configuration is done, you may use the SR1 with the FAZZT Client on both Windows or Linux (CentOS / Ubuntu).

1-) The SR1 has a “Control” USB Port, that should be used for the configuration, as seen below.

Ayecka Command Port.jpg

Before connecting it to your PC with a USB cable, you need to install the “USB to UART” driver found at this link. After the installation, connect the SR1 Control Port to the PC and you should see a new COM Port in the Device Manager (in our case, “COM5”):

Tut_Ayecka_1

2-) Make a serial connection (115200, 8, N, 1, N) to the COM Port using a client, like PuTTY.

Tut_Ayecka_1c

3-) Open the connection and enter zero “0” to see the SR1 main menu (whenever you want to go back to this first menu, you should click “Esc”):

Tut_Ayecka_4

4-) Insert “1” (Configuration), then “1” (Config RX Channel 1). In “Configuration Set 1”, for GEONETCast-Americas, you have to change the following:

1. Tuner Frequency
1070

3. Standard
2. DVB-S2

5. Symbol Rate
30.00

F. LNB Power
2. 13V (Vertical)

J. Profile Name (Optional)
GEONETCast-Americas

After the setting these options, the configuration should be like this:

5-) Then, choose the option “E” (Filters Table), and choose the following:

Slot
1.

1. PID
4201
3. Status
Enabled
4. IP Multicast
Pass

For all other blocks, you should disable and block:

3. Status
Disabled
4. IP Multicast
Block

After the setting these options, the Filters Table should be like this:

Tut_Ayecka_10

6-) If you have your antenna properly pointed and the right LNB Skew, back to the first screen, in option “2” (Status), and “1” (RX Channel 1)…

Tut_Ayecka_11

…you should see the “Tuner Status”, “Demodulator Status” and “Transport Status” as “Locked”.

This means that the GNC-A signal is locked! The “LOCK” LED should be green:

Ayecka Lock LED Green.jpg

7-) Back to the main menu (ESC), choose option “3” (Network), and configure the LAN according to your needs (in our case, 192.168.0.11):

Tut_Ayecka_13

And thats it! Your SR1 is ready to communicate with the FAZZT Professional Client! Just connect the “TRAFFIC” port with an Ethernet cable to your Network card.

20160913_153809

You may remove the USB Cable from the “CONTROL” Port if you want!

Please check our other posts about GNC-A Ingestion Hardware / Software:

NOVRA S300D Configuration for DVB-S2

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DVB-S2.png

Hi GEONETCasters,

The DVB-S2 signal for GEONETCast-Americas is active since May 1st 2020. You may find more information on the official announcements. Dual illumination on transponder 7D (current) and 19C (new) started on 1 May, 2020. It will run through 30 June, 2020 for 2 months. This gives all users two months to reprogram existing receivers or install new receiver.

Please find below the procedure to configure the NOVRA S300D, one of the most used receivers, using the CMCS command line utility:

DOWNLOADING THE CMCS UTILITY AND THE CMCS MANUAL

  • Download the CMCS utility for Linux here: Link
  • Download the CMCS utility for Windows here: Link
  • For your reference, the CMCS manual may be downloaded here: Link

CONFIGURING THE NOVRA S300D

Connect the receiver in your configured Ethernet interface (same IP family), connect the coaxial cable from the antenna, and turn on the device. The red “POWER” light should light up.

After unpacking the CMCS utility, execute the following commands in your terminal / prompt.

Enter the CMCS interface, and log on the S300D using the receiver’s IP, as shown in the example below (the IP below is the one from an example receiver. Please confirm the IP of your receiver before trying to connect):

$ cmcs
CMCS> login 192.168.0.11

The interface will ask for a password. If you haven’t changed the S300D factory settings, insert the default password: Novra-S2

After that, please execute the following commands:

Note: The “frequency” number on the S300D configuration is the LNB oscilator frequency (5150 MHz) minus the downlink frequency (4080 MHz for the new DVB-S2 signal). That’s why the configuration is 1070.

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME CONFIGURING THE S300D

CMCS> mode DVBS2
CMCS> frequency 1070
CMCS> symbolrate 30.00
CMCS> lnb polarization vertical
CMCS> add pid mpe 4201

IF YOU ARE ALREADY RECEIVING THE GNC-A DVB-S SIGNAL AND WILL JUST CHANGE IT TO DVB-S2

CMCS> mode DVBS2
CMCS> frequency 1070
CMCS> symbolrate 30.00

The “LOCK” light should turn on if the antenna is correctly pointed towards the satellite and the “SIGNAL” light should blink when the ingestion begins.

blinking.png

In the case anything goes wrong and you want to return to the DVB-S confguration, please find below the DVB-S configuration:

CMCS> mode DVBS
CMCS> frequency 1310
CMCS> symbolrate 27.69
CMCS> lnb polarization vertical
CMCS> add pid mpe 4201

UPDATE #5: GEONETCast-Americas Transition to DVB-S2

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DVB-S2.png

united_states_of_america_round_icon_640

Update #5: Dual illumination on transponder 7D (current) and 19C (new) will start on 1 May, 2020. It will run through 30 June, 2020 for 2 months. The center frequency is 4080.0 MHz, the symbol rate is 30.0 Msps and the space factor/roll-off is 1.20 / 20%, DVB-S2 format. Polarization is same as current (vertical). PID won’t change (4201).

brazil_640

Atualização #5: A transmissão dupla pelo transponder 7D (atual) e 19C (novo) será iniciada em 1° de maio de 2020. Será realizada até 30 de junho, por 2 meses. A frequência central será 4080.0 MHz, a taxa de símbolos será 30.0 Msps e o fator de roll-off será 1.20 / 20%, no formato DVB-S2. A polarização será a mesma (vertical). O PID não mudará (4201).

spain_640

Actualización #5: La transmisión dual a través del transponder 7D (actual) y 19C (nuevo) comenzará el 1 de mayo de 2020. Funcionará hasta el 30 de junio, durante 2 meses. La frecuencia central será de 4080.0 MHz, la tasa de símbolos será de 30.0 Msps y el factor de roll-off será 1.20 / 20%, en el formato DVB-S2. La polarización será la misma (vertical). El PID no cambiará (4201).

For previous notifications on the DVB-S2 transition, please access the links below:

  1. First: Link
  2. Second: Link
  3. Update #1: Link
  4. Update #2: Link
  5. Update #3: Link
  6. Update #4: Link

Receiving GNC-A Data With a TBS 6522 Tuner

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Tbs6522-DVB-S2X-s2-s-t2-t-c2-c-ISDB-T-duplo-sintonizador-pci-e-suporte

Gustavo Rodriguez, from the Uruguayan Air Force, kindly shared information on the successful tests he did with the TBS 6522 receiver.

This tuner supports DVB-S2 and costs $ 150,00 at the TBS official webpage.

Gustavo used the BDADataEx graphical interface to configure the tuner with the GNC-A downlink characteristics (Note: the GNC-A downlink specs will change on the transition to DVB-S2).

92fc8826-9c01-4fbf-b169-231c1839b6dc

After setting te correct downlink specs, the GNC-A channels started to appear on the FAZZT Professional Client:

0910d360-cf35-4550-a2f6-5d14c3bbf3e6

Thanks Gustavo!

This is the fourth DVB-S2 receiver tested by the community that would be able to receive the DVB-S2 signal after the transistion (the cheap receiver from TECHNISAT needs more testing in terms of performance!).

Here they are:

s300d

  • Manufacturer: NOVRA
  • Model: S300D
  • Supported technology: DVB-S and DVB-S2
  • Webpage: Link
  • Cost: $ 599,00
  • Contact: [email protected] (Lowis K. Wu)
  • Tutorial from this Blog: Link

 

sr1

  • Manufacturer: AYECKA
  • Model: SR1
  • Supported technology: DVB-S and DVB-S2
  • Webpage: Link
  • Cost: $ 599,00
  • Contact: [email protected] (Baruch Kagan)
  • Tutorial from this Blog: Link

 

 

SkyStar.png

  • Manufacturer: Technisat
  • Model: SkyStar S2 PCI
  • Interface: PCI / PCI-Express
  • Cost: $ 10,00
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux
  • Webpage: Link
  • Note: THIS NEEDS MORE PERFORMANCE TESTS!

 

Tbs6522-DVB-S2X-s2-s-t2-t-c2-c-ISDB-T-duplo-sintonizador-pci-e-suporte

  • Manufacturer: TBS
  • Model: TBS 6533
  • Interface: PCI-Express
  • Cost: $ 149,99
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux
  • Webpage: Link

 

UPDATE #3: GEONETCast-Americas Transition to DVB-S2

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DVB-S2.png

united_states_of_america_round_icon_640

Update #3: Intelsat now has firm dates for transition to DVB-S2 on IS-21. The dates are: 1 May – 1 June, 2020. During this time they will have dual illumination on transponder 7D (current) and 19C (new), meaning our signal will be broadcast simultaneously on both channels. After 1 June, it will only be on 19C. This gives all users a month to reprogram existing receivers or install new receiver.

brazil_640

Atualização #3: : A INTELSAT agora tem as datas confirmadas para a transição do INTELSAT-21 para DVB-S2. As datas são: 1° de maio a 1° de junho de 2020. Durante esse período o satélite terá transmissão dupla, nos transponders 7D (atual) e 19C (novo), o que significa que nosso sinal será transmitido simultaneamente nos dois canais. Após 1° de junho, será transmitido apenas no 19C. Isso dará a todos os usuários um mês para reprogramar os receptores existentes ou instalar um novo receptor.

spain_640

Actualización #3: INTELSAT ahora tiene fechas confirmadas para la transición del INTELSAT-21 a DVB-S2. Las fechas son: del 1 de mayo al 1 de junio de 2020. Durante este período, el satélite tendrá doble transmisión, en los transponders 7D (actual) y 19C (nuevo), lo que significa que nuestra señal se transmitirá simultáneamente en ambos canales. Después del 1 de junio, se transmitirá solo en 19C. Esto les dará a todos los usuarios un mes para reprogramar los receptores existentes o instalar un nuevo receptor.

For previous notifications on the DVB-S2 transition, please access the links below:

  1. First: Link
  2. Second: Link
  3. Update #1: Link
  4. Update #2: Link

UPDATE #2: GEONETCast-Americas Transition to DVB-S2

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DVB-S2.png

united_states_of_america_round_icon_640

Update #2: INTELSAT reports that the transition to DVB-S2 will be delayed until Q2 2020 (~ June, 2020).

brazil_640

Atualização #2: A INTELSAT informa que a transição para DVB-S2 será adiada até o segundo trimestre de 2020 (~ junho de 2020).

spain_640

Actualización #2: INTELSAT informa que la transición a DVB-S2 se retrasará hasta el segundo trimestre de 2020 (~ junio de 2020).

For previous notifications on the DVB-S2 transition, please access the links below:

  1. First: Link
  2. Second: Link
  3. Update #1: Link

Operational GNC-A Station: Peruvian Navy (Station n° 84!) [Using an Old GVAR Dish]

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20180302_130337b.jpg

Recycled GVAR dish antenna used to receive the GNC-A broadcast

Hi GEONETCasters,

The Peruvian Navy kindly shared photos of their GEONETCast-Americas station.

According the MORCOM (the Turn Key solution provider that made the installation):

“Their old GVAR dish antenna was recycled using a non-standard mounting bracket to fix the feedhor and LNB at the focal point. The antenna is surrounded by nearby sources of interference but the noise floor level is not that bad with a signal level of -43 dB. We supplied a small workstation and yet with good computing power using SSD drives in RAID1 working as a file server. It’s been working for more than a year now.” 

The adaptation may be seen at the picture below:

20180308_154355 - Copia.jpg

As for the DVB-S2 Receiver, they are using the NOVRA S300D:

s300d

And the LNB is a NORSAT 3120:

lnb

Thanks for the information, MORCOM!

20180307_135808b.jpg

Do you have a newly installed GNC-A instation that hasn’t been shown in the Blog? Please send us a photo to [email protected].

“New Operational GNC-A Station” Series:

IMPORTANT: GEONETCast-Americas Transition to DVB-S2

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DVB-S2.png

Dear GEONETCasters,

On 4/10/19 NOAA’s vendor learned from Intelsat General that they intend to convert the existing DVB-S transmission channel on INTELSAT-21 to the DVB-S2 (Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite – Second Generation) format sometime in the next few months.

This change will require all users with DVB-S receivers to upgrade to DVB-S2 receivers. All users should check if their existing device is a DVB-S2 device. The reception will NOT work with a DVB-S device. If your device is compatible with DVB-S2 and you are successfully receiving the current service, then it will also work under DVB-S2.

The following DVB-S receivers (known to be used by some GNC-A users) WILL NOT WORK when the transition is done:

s75

  • Manufacturer: NOVRA
  • Model: S75+
  • Supported technology: DVB-S
  • Tutorial from this Blog: Link

 

 

20171109_140700.jpg

  • Manufacturer: Technisat
  • Model: SkyStar 2
  • Supported technology: DVB-S
  • Tutorial from this Blog: Link

 

 

 

The following DVB-S2 receivers (known to be used by some GNC-A users) WILL WORK when the transition is done:

s300d

  • Manufacturer: NOVRA
  • Model: S300D
  • Supported technology: DVB-S and DVB-S2
  • Webpage: Link
  • Contact: [email protected] (Lowis K. Wu)
  • Tutorial from this Blog: Link

sr1

  • Manufacturer: AYECKA
  • Model: SR1
  • Supported technology: DVB-S and DVB-S2
  • Webpage: Link
  • Contact: [email protected] (Baruch Kagan)
  • Tutorial from this Blog: Link

 

 

Please find below a list of other DVB-S2 receivers that should work when the transition is done (Note: Unlike the two models above, these have not been tested by this Blog):

Omnicom.png

  • Manufacturer: Omicom
  • Model: Pro Omicom 16/32 PSK
  • Interface: PCI
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux
  • Webpage: Link

 

 

TBS-1

  • Manufacturer: TBS
  • Model: TBS 6903
  • Interface: PCI-Express
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux
  • Webpage: Link

 

 

 

TBS-2.png

 

  • Manufacturer: TBS
  • Model: TBS 5927
  • Interface: USB
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux
  • Webpage: Link

 

 

 

TBS-3.png

  • Manufacturer: TBS
  • Model: TBS 5980 and TBS 5990
  • Interface: USB
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux
  • Webpage: Link and Link

 

 

 

Technotrend1.png

 

  • Manufacturer: Technotrend
  • Model: S2-4100 and S2-4200
  • Interface: PCI-Express
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux
  • Webpage: Link

 

SkyStar.png

 

  • Manufacturer: Technisat
  • Model: SkyStar S2 PCI
  • Interface: PCI
  • OS Support: Windows / Linux

 

The change will not require re-pointing of antennas. Also, the same linear polarization will be kept as in the current technology. Therefore, the existing feed and LNB can be used.

We will keep users informed as the timeline for this becomes firmer.