Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] 4DTV? Michael David Sun, 17 Oct 1999 20:54:26 -0400

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Hi Mark!

Here's what I have been pondering on the satellite thing:  connect the coils
of a relay to the to lines going to the motor on the dish.  This relay
should present a small enough load so as not to interfere with the operation
of the motor.  Then I can use a digital input so that ECS can know when the
dish has stopped moving, and has therefore landed.  Then the logic would go
something like this:

Do 	Current Satellite 	Set 	New Satellite
Do 	Waiting for Dish Flag 	Set 	True

If 	Waiting for Dish Flag 	is 	True
And 	Satellite Dish		Is Now 	Not Moving
Then 	Current Transponder 	Set 	New Transponder
Then 	Waiting For Dish Flag 	Set 	False

I think this might work, and it would allow me to the opportunity to define
another custom item type.  :)

The only thing I haven't figured out is how to deal with the changing
polarity on those two wires going to the dish motor.

Anybody have any ideas on how to energize a DC coil on the relay, even
though the polarity of the DC supply will, about half the time, invert?
(depending on which way the dish is moving)

On the subject f the Ultimeter, I have it installed, but am having a problem
with the wind sensor.  I am pretty sure it's a wiring or connector problem,
but couldn't get on the roof today t9o troubleshoot because of the rain.
Soon as I have that worked out, I am good to go.


Cheers!

Michael David
michael@michaeldavid.com





-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Gilmore [mailto:omnip@usit.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 1999 6:30 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
Subject: Re: [ECS] 4DTV?

Michael,
If your sat box cannot "save" the entered transponder until
the dish is positioned, then you will have to use the CBand
logic in EXAMPLE.CFG: It re-selects the desired transponder
every 7 seconds for 90 seconds or so (e.g. until we KNOW that
the dish has been positioned). YES, this can be a pain, but
you can minimize it by clearing the 90 second timer if a
channel-change signal/request is detected (which lets your
Event know that you are now in control).

EXAMPLE.CFG describes how to filter out unwanted channels
via TVLDEL.CHN.

btw, when can we test the ULTIMETER ???
--
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
http://www.usit.com/omnip
423-745-0026


Michael David wrote:
>
> Hi Folks!
>
> Any of you have a 4DTV satellite receiver?  I just installed one, after my
> trusty Drake receiver bit the dust after 7 years.  Although there are some
> features in this new receiver I like, there are a few things I don't like
at
> all.  I was wondering if any of you had found work-arounds to the
following:
>
> Issue 1:
>
> I need ECS to be able to enter a specific set of button pushes to move the
> dish to a particular satellite and transponder.  Relative moves, like
> arrowing left and right to select a satellite won't cut it.  On my Drake,
to
> get to SciFi channel, I would have ECS send the following I/R buttons:
>
> 0,4,SAT,G,5,ENTER.
>
> That would take me right where I wanted to go.  However, on the 4DTV, if I
> set the transponder first, and then select the target satellite, the
> receiver changes the transponder to whatever was selected when last on the
> satellite.   Now, I could just set a timer to allow the dish time to move
to
> the target satellite, and then, when the timer expires, change the
> transponder.  However, that invariable means that I'll be waiting, perhaps
> as much as 30 seconds for the transponder to change.
>
> Alternatively, I could just keep repeatedly sending the transponder after
> send the buttons to move the dish.  The receiver will ignore those
commands
> until it lands, then change the transponder.  The problem here is, besides
> it's just damn inefficient, it is possible that the dish will land
quickly,
> and ECS will keep selecting the channel.  On the 4DTV receiver, this
causes
> the program to temporarily mute each time.  That'll be way annoying.  Any
> ideas?
>
> Issue 2:
>
> There's no "Priorities."   On my Drake, I could assign a number to my
> favorite satellites/transponders, and easily go right to them by hitting
the
> Priority button, and then the priority number(s).  In addition solving my
> earlier problem, I just plain miss this functionality.  Or, do the 4dTV
> receiver do this, and I have just missed it?
>
> Issue 3:
>
> The guide shows EVERYTHING, even stuff I am not subscribed to.  Is there
> some way to limit the guide to just those channels I am subscribed to (ala
> DSS), and those in the clear?  I do see that I can go through and select
> each and every satellite/transponder as a favorite, and then only use the
> favorite guide.  But, it's a bit of a pain.
>
> That's it for now.  I'm sure I'll have other questions as I get to know
this
> receiver better.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Michael David
> michael@michaeldavid.com

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