Skylark 5.3 for Dreamcatcher 3

maxboysdad · 2018-10-17T17:24:13.230Z

@kenbarbi
@ac8dg
In contrast with Ken and Jim’s results, when I first opened the news section at around 12:15 EDT on 10/16, there were no files there at all. I first tried logging in again, but received the “bug report screen”, then the news screen. I rebooted, logged in and tried to get the news screen and again got the “bug report screen”, followed by a blank news screen. About an hour later when I looked, it had begun downloading the files for 10/16, and has progressed normally from that point. This morning, I have a full menu of 10/16 and 10/17 news files. The audio was playing throughout all the above on my unit (3.02Q). Jerry

kenbarbi · 2018-10-18T12:53:33.111Z

I am now getting good SNR, Rssi, and showing downloads of files/audio after I rebooted my Dreamctcher at 0849 EDT Oct 18. Prior to this reboot, my latest news was from Oct 12 on all RSS feeds. Ken

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donde · 2018-10-18T15:18:09.198Z

Today, I opened News and got this bug report and no News. I re-booted Skylark. Same bug. What should I do?

kenbarbi · 2018-10-18T16:16:15.394Z

My Rssi always runs in the -100s due to my LNB being 500 feet away in my antenna farm. At the base of the antenna, I get Rssis in the - 70s. Ken

donde · 2018-10-18T21:34:24.767Z

All OK now. Thanks to whoever fixed it.

donde · 2018-10-18T23:46:43.685Z

Could you invest in a RG-6 cable low noise repeater/amplifier to make that 500’ look much shorter to the input of the DC?

kenbarbi · 2018-10-19T11:20:24.382Z

donde:

RG-6 cable low noise repeater/amplifier

Don, I am using low noise cable now without an in line amp. I tried the in line amp awhile ago and it worked fine boosting the Rssi signal, but it had no effect on the SNR. Since I have been virtually 100% on my packets, I left it out.

I have noted since Syed’s modem replacement, SNRs running between -2 and 0 this week. This is about 6 to 9 dB better than before. Have you noticed that in your gear? Ken

kenbarbi · 2018-10-19T12:42:44.401Z

By the way, the audio feeds of “old time radio” are great fun. I set my Alsamixer to a gain of -19 (just at the top of the green area). Higher than that causes some audio breakup. The mix of old time radio and VOA news is great.

Abhishek @Abhishek , would it be possible to get a broadcast schedule posted somewhere? They don’t need to list shows, just general block times. Ken

donde · 2018-10-19T14:53:03.721Z

Ken, yes sir. I now see peaks of +7 SNR. And RSSI arround -68. The new modem now is the way to go.

I assume the cable amplifier was right at the LNBF output. And the amp could handle 1450 MHz, the IF maximum of the Maverick LNBF.

Anyhoo, upward and onward for the Othernet! I saw the movie, First Man. See it. A good one.

kenbarbi · 2018-10-19T16:10:02.144Z

Actually, the inserted the cable amplifier at the half way point.

Ken

donde · 2018-10-19T18:33:28.243Z

I can understand the hassle of trying again with the amp. Get a few inline attenuators, like 2 or 3 dB each. And put the amp maybe a foot after the LNBF output. If the amp has adjustable input gain you don’t need the attenuators. Remotely look at the Skylark Tuner near the dish. That way you may see a loose connector, adjust the amp or whatever to improve the signal.

FYI: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/LMR-400-75.pdf

From the chart, 500’ of this LMR400-75 low loss coax without an amplifier could be at least 20 dB at 1.2 GHz

kenbarbi · 2018-10-19T19:53:25.114Z

I’ll try it again. My satellite amplifier designed for FTA usage - - quite adequate for Othernet

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If all goes well, I should get another 20 - 30 dB of Rssi. I don’t expect any SNR improvement because the last time I tried it I got the signal increase but no change in SNR. But we’ll see. Ken

donde · 2018-10-19T21:39:08.087Z

Looks like an amp with good specs. Be interested to hear about results.
Good weekend to you Ken

ac8dg · 2018-10-19T21:40:08.731Z

Ken, My words of caution…
while those in-line amps (typical cost $5 to $20) state they boost the signal… their specs say they have a noise factor of 5. The result… yes stronger rf signals, but also stronger rf noise. Since you are decoding 100% of the packets, I think you are asking for problems putting something else in the coax line.

@donde has a better idea for anyone with signal problems… i.e…using very high quality coax. although not inexpensive.

maxboysdad · 2018-10-22T17:42:36.991Z

@kenbarbi
@ac8dg
@donde
@Abhishek
@Syed
Good morning. This is information only and probably only is useful pertaining to experience. The past three days, I could not keep my DC 3.02Q connected with the satellite. I suspected the router, but it proved to not be the case. I could boot the DC and get logged in, then within a few minutes, both the twinkling LEDs went bright and not twinkling. The screen on the DC indicated that there was a wifi connection with the correct address, but it would not work. This morning when I had more time to investigate, I substituted a new 3A 5v identical adapter for the unit that had been providing power to the DC, and was able to log in and stay connected. It appears that the adapter had suddenly become weak and failed to provide just enough current that if the load changed, it crashed the DC, as when a call for an app on the DC was made, or if the washing machine kicked in (slight dip in the line voltage), the DC crashed. So far on the new adapter, the unit is up and serving the news and audio as it normally had in the past, and I can see my balloons both green on the status page again.
One note however, @Abhishek, the news has not been upgraded to 10-22 today. Last it is showing is 10-18. The “What’s New” is reporting 10-22 APRS and Weather data updates only.
Jerry

ac8dg · 2018-10-22T18:22:46.786Z

Jerry, Good to know on troubleshooting lock ups of the DC being related to power supply.

I checked my logs here and news pack seems to be arriving at 44 minutes past the hour (usually).

I’m making a mental list of how the carousel sequences the downloads. (I probably spelled it wrong)

kenbarbi · 2018-10-23T02:06:38.568Z

Interesting - - my last News now at 10:01 pm 22 Oct was awhile ago at 7:43:31 pm, and I have not received any new traffic either since 8:03 pm 22 Oct

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Yesterday, I lost 12 hours of content although my DC was apparently on line and reporting in. A reboot fixed that. Ken

maxboysdad · 2018-10-23T22:55:55.040Z

I checked, and all the feeds are up to date so far with mine since the power supply change. I missed all the feeds from 10-19 to 10-21, but I believe that was due to not actually being in operation from the low voltage.

Abhishek · 2018-10-25T14:19:44.424Z

The next version of Skylark, 5.4 is now released. Please see this post:

https://forums.othernet.is/t/skylark-5-4-for-dreamcatcher-3/5547

Syed · 2018-10-25T16:32:30.769Z