Zgemma star2s help

[williamtell]

Hi folks, have dusted off the cobwebs & decided to have a play with the old 1999 system / having aquired the above I still have 36v motor so obviously receiver won't drive dish/ I purchased a vbox300
off ******* & surprisingly heavy good piece of kit/ connected motor & pulses etc & all good dish moves east west correctly I found 28.2 & stored/ however I'm a little stumped now as I can't progress as not sure which setting on tuner is for next step I have looped to zgemma from vbox to tuner A & in set up have inserted long & lat for my area/ in a nutshell I'm asking which setting to configure I'm using one lnb cable into vbox then looped to zg I've downloaded bouquets but only UK/roi ones have come in despite ticking all sats I want on the arc/ any dummy guide would be grateful tia

[JOE.MADDISON]

may be wrong but you can not use usals with v box ,only dieq and have to drive dish east/west to each sat and lock ln,keep a note of each sat position indicated on the v box incase you have to redo the positions in the future......no auto find of sats. :respect-055:can take a long time so write down all the sat positions/pulses as you wont want to do it all again in the future

[Mickha]

joe is correct, you need to use Diseqc 1.2, on your receiver, to manually store the satellite positions.
You should have a motor set up option, in your receivers menu, which will allow you to move your dish, then store your satellite positions, or you can set up all your satellites, using your V-Box, and then use the same numbers for corresponding satellites, in your receivers set up menu.

[echelon]

should be some guides on this in places like our dreambox forum

[williamtell]

Cheers lads I've found a vix manual which is pretty detailed
I've got to get right setting on tunerA first simple/ single/ position/ advanced ? not sure will try tomorrow👍

[Mickha]

You probably need to use the advanced option.
If it's anything like my receiver, VU+ Duo2, you need to select each satellite, you want to move to, in advanced mode, e.g Astra 1, 19.2E, select the Diseqc 1.2 option, set No, to the use USALS option, and assign a number, to store the satellite to, this needs to match the positions stored on your V-Box, 001.
Save that one, then go back into the tuner setup menu, select another satellite, Hotbird 13E, select Diseqc 1.2, No to USALS, and store this on 002.
You can use any numbers, but they must match the same satellite positions on your V-Box.
It takes a little time, I'm that used to it I can do it in a few minutes, but once set up, it works perfectly.

[williamtell]

decided to use an echostar 3600 receiver in mint condition as i have 36 volt motor & loathe to change as its been very good over the years so just use as a positioner/ ive managed to pull in 3 sats on echo then obviously change input on tv to zgemma/ i have p***f*** through internet/but i,m after ordinary satellite channels with dish/ having read the guides
i managed 19.2 & 28.2 also downloaded thor with a few fta channels but no go on open/i kept changing tunerA B configs & nearly achieved!! alas not! think i need to start again? used to use topfield5000cip with no problem/ can i just ask if the one lnb lead goes into echo then out to tuner A or B on echo with made up piece or do i really need lnb in echo as only a positioner[maybe could go straight into zgemma] also noticed echo is only diseqe 1.0? bit flustered after being so close obviously not too bright with linux & much preferred the softcam & cas days, tia

[Mickha]

You don't need a LNB in the Echostar 3600, just the 4 wires, from your 36v motor, once it's set up.
At the start ignore your zgemma receiver and concentrate on using the Echostar 3600 to locate, and store, the satellites.
Once complete switch the LNB cable to your zgemma and use the echostar as a positioner only, I did the same thing with my Echostar 3600 and Spiderbox 9000 HD, even setting the timer, in the Echostar 3600, to correspond with timers set in my Spiderbox 9000 HD.
This was before I got a V-BoxII, and now a VU+ Duo2, so my Echostar 3600 is now in storage, along with all my old cams, cards, programmers, and even the D2 Mac decoder, which I came across last week, when cleaning out the attic.

Why not get a V-BoxII, it would make things a lot easier.

[williamtell]

I do have vbox Mickha but can't suss it! It's this tuner configure on zgemma that's bugging me/ yes I have 12 cams/ 3 programmers & about a dozen different receivers along with Goldstein blue titanium & funcards looking back quite an expensive hobby lol

[Mickha]

Can you pleasxe post details, of your V-Box, make/model, as they should be very easy to use, and set up.
Once the V-Box is set up, for all the satellites you want to receive, then you can quickly set up your receiver, to match your V-Box.
Can you please post a list of the main satellites you want to receive, and we'll tyr to help you get it all working.

[williamtell]

Thank you for your help which is appreciated its a vbox 500 with 99 memories/ I wish to set 39e/ to 30w with 0.8w centre adding 19.2e 13e 16e 5e 1w & any others more popular these days i.e 23.5?/ I'm on auto atm with echostar but not picking anything up on its search ( hope arc ok?) I've had trouble when manual only picking up credo/rom on Thor/ & missing stuff on astra2 although I did have stuff on zgemma after download astra1
Thor& astra2/ thanx again

[JOE.MADDISON]

you should connect the z/star to v-box, ....manualy find and lock in each sat position ,keep a note of each sat position (number on front of v- box,)for future use............remember you can NOT use. usals to auto scan ..... usals does not work with v-box........the echostar should not be connected to the systemat all.

[williamtell]

Cheers I'll have a crack/ found a few on echostar so at least dish on a Sat to start with

[Mickha]

I can't find the V-Box 500, but it's probably similar to others.
Do you have a remote control, for it, to allow you to move the dish, independently of the receiver, and store the satellite positions?

[williamtell]

Yes it's the al*** one they have different guises but same item just pulled all channels in on 28.2 so I'll start there tia

[Mickha]

The strongest transponders thread should help, at least in finding all the satellites:
https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?173344-Strongest-TV-Transponders&highlight=william-1

It is easiest if you hve the channels already loaded, or a sat finder option, as then you can use the channels/transponder data, to help find the satellite.
One easy method is to use the positioner, and the note the movements, so if you have 19.2E, located, and stored, then you move the dish west to 16E, making a note of how far you've moved it, by the numbers, then move it west, by a similar amount, to find 13E, then do small increments, East/West, to peak the signal, you should then be able to get 10|E, 9E, 7E, 5E, 0.8W, etc.. by gently moving the dish, using your V-Box, peaking the signal, and storing the satellites, while viewing your receiver, to see if you get a picture.
Once completed write down all your satellites, and their stored positions.
e.g. I have:
Astra 1, 19.2E position 01
16E position 02
Hotbird 13E position 03 etc.

[williamtell]

Cheers

[williamtell]

Quick update/disconnected Echostar & set up vbox set E/W limits although west is not far enough for 30°w/ reset erased limits but still won't go that far?anyway got the gist/ started clicking back east but obviously lost sats/now I have separate piece of coax from vbox to zgemma this is where I faulter there's A/B tuner & LNB which one into please ? I am going to print manual from openworld to step by step because I obviously need disqc1.2 command/ cheers

[echelon]

on the zgemma star 2s use the TUNER A IN which is on its own next to the HDMI socket

and use the image posted on here a few years ago by hda5

https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?171834-hda5-s-OpenATV-4-2-Backup-Image-for-ZGemma-Star-2S

instructions manual is here

https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?174183-ZGemma-Star-2s-User-Manual&p=949807#post949807

and use a catseyes settings file for E2 boxes from that section here

https://www.satpimps.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?724-Enigma-2-Settings

[williamtell]

i have image on receiver already [ i dont want to erase my p***f**x sub running vix] would starting afresh do this? i would imagine it would? just looked at catseyes winrar which i,m familar with so assuming sats are in that file ?

[Mickha]

If you load a new image you will have to set everything up again.
You could back up some things but if you're happy with the image, you already have installed, then keep it.
Have you got an upto date motorized channel list, to aid you locate, and store the satellites?
You should be able to update your channel list, without affecting everything else.

[williamtell]

the sat lists are in there & i have ticked ones required/ i have menu with tuner config, auto bouqets, signal finder , positioner, etc this as mentioned is where i come unstuck although i did get astra 1 thro tuner A or B/ out today but will be having another go over Easter tia

[Mickha]

Check on lyngsat, and William-1's strongest transponder list:
https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread...ight=william-1 (https://www.satpimps.co.uk/showthread.php?173344-Strongest-TV-Transponders&highlight=william-1)

I would use your v-box, to move the dish, find a satellite, then store it, on your v-box, writing down which number, you've stored the satellite on, as this is required to match in your receivers tuner configuration, if you decide to use your receiver to move your dish.
Take your time, finding the satellites, and peaking the signal, then storing them, on your V-Box, as this only needs to be done once.

[williamtell]

So I'm clicking vbox but where are sats on zgemma? What do I display?& where 😏

[Mickha]

You select a channel, on the zgemma, preferably a FTA channel, with a strong signal, e.g. Fashion Television Europe, 13E, 10815 H 27500, you then use your V-Box remote control top move the dish slowly West, if it's currently on 19.2E, and wait until you get a picture.
An easier method is to use the Satellite Option finder, available in some images.
I'm running Open Black Hole 4.1, and this option is located in the menu, Setup, Tuner Config, Signal Finder.
Here I have the options to select a satellite, choose a predefined transponder, or alter this to User Defined Transponder, and manually enter the details. It also provides a signal quality bar which makes it easier when moving the dish.

Check on lyngsat for suitable transponders, or use willim-1's guide.