No signal/mux after upgrade to DVB-T2 standard in Denmark

Peter Andersen

Hi all

June 2nd here in Denmark we moved from DVB-T to DVB-T2 standard and also rearranged some frequencies.

I have had a working TVheadend systems for several years with two Realtek RTL2832 USB tuners. No problems, and with latest stable tvheadend version for Ubuntu.

But now - nothing is working. After the changes, I can't find any muxes nor any services. Tvheadend can tune, but it can't find anything.

Is it really so that my USB tunes can't accept DVB-T2?? I don't understand it since this is just SDR, all decoding done by software - but maybe it can't support the lager bandwidth of something??? It is listed as just a DVB-T dongle.

Peter

Nils Rasmussen

Hi,

I have the same problem here. My USB-tuner is a Hauppauge WinTV-dualHD, and according to the labels on the device it supports DVB-T and T2. TVheadend reports the device as "Silicon Labs Si2168 #0 : DVB-T", but I don't know if this means only DVB-T and not DVB-T2.

TVheadend is running on a RPI3 with LibreELEC.

/Nils

Peter Andersen

Hi Niels!

Great, glad to hear that!

What have you tried? you can change the mux to DVB-T2 from DVB-T. There is a scroll down menu. I have tried everything, setting everything to auto and tuning the to the 626MHz from Hove (i live very close to the Hove antenna). It can tune, but it can't find any muxes or services.

Just to do something, I have ordered two new USB DVB-T2 receivers from dx.com but there are 14days deliverytime on them. I just don't understand it!!!!

Peter

Peter Maersk-Moller

Had the same issue. What you need to do is to create a new file with the right muxes and place it in /usr/share/tvheadend/data/dvb-scan/dvb-t

Attached is the one I have created. I only added 3 frequencies. I only need the one from the Gladsaxe transmitter.
In the file is a link to where to find the other transmitters and frequencies and you can edit the file and add more as you need.

The link is here http://www.digi-tv.dk/Indhold_og_tilbud/frekvenser.asp but I am not sure it is actually fully updated for the whole country. Maybe it is.

With this file, you can re-run the wizard and scan/add the muxes that way.

In my case a have a dual DVB-T tuner I use for the swedish channels (there are two muxes) and a Raspberry Pi DVB TV hat (DVB-T2) for the danish DVB-T2 free channels.

That way I have all the free channels in greater Copenhagen area. With the described setup, I created two networks named "DVB-T2 DK" and "DVB-T SE". Then the dual DVB-T receivers (seen as two different TV adapters in the tvheadend web gui) are assigned to the "DVB-T SE" network and the Rappberry Pi TV HAT DVB-T2 capable TV adapter is assigned to the "DVB-T2 DK" network. With that I ran wizard scanning first with the attached dk-t2-all file I created and then I elected a swedish one afterwards (it was the malmo-j-something)

I had some problems with mapping afterwards. Maybe I forgot mapping the channels or maybe iscanned channel 41 using the mux settings for Malmo and forgot some mapping. Anyway, mapped them and now it works, also from my tvheadendclient on my Mac.

Best regards
Peter Maersk-Moller

Peter Maersk-Moller

Hi.

Well, my answer was probably better working for what Nils was describing than for what Peter Andersen was describing.

@Peter Andersen, the RTL2832U can not support DVB-T2 as far as I know. QAM256 and 32k mode requires a lot more.

See https://www.realtek.com/en/products/communications-network-ics/item/rtl2832u

Some links via Google suggests the RTL2832p may support DVB-T2 but see https://tvheadend.org/d/5891-astrometa-dvb-t2-installation-issue This OLD link says no http://blog.palosaari.fi/2014/09/naked-hardware-18-astrometa-amdvb-t2-v2.html

But I think with a newer kernel things may work. See https://tvheadend.org/d/6837-astrometa-dvb-t2-stick?r=39613

Anyway, when all is cleared for your hardware, you still need to scan with a correct mux file as suggested in my previous mail.

Best regards
Peter Maersk-Moller

Peter Andersen

Hi Peter

Thank you for the info. But the file is just the same as adding the MUX manually with the same settings.

What I can find out now is, that if the MUX is set to DVB-T2 I get a tuning error here:
2020-06-04 21:08:57.568 mpegts: 626MHz in Hove - tuning on Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #0 : DVB-T #0

2020-06-04 21:08:57.568 linuxdvb: Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #0 : DVB-T #0 - failed to tune [e=Invalid argument]

But if set it to the old DVB-T it can tune with no problems, but can't find the DVB-T2 mux:
2020-06-04 21:09:20.193 mpegts: 626MHz in Hove - tuning on Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #1 : DVB-T #1
2020-06-04 21:09:20.193 epggrab: 626MHz in Hove - registering mux for OTA EPG
2020-06-04 21:09:20.194 subscription: 001C: "scan" subscribing to mux "626MHz", weight: 6, adapter: "Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #1 : DVB-T #1", network: "Hove", service: "Raw PID Subscription"
2020-06-04 21:09:25.701 mpegts: 626MHz in Hove - scan no data, failed

2020-06-04 21:09:25.702 subscription: 001C: "scan" unsubscribing

So a conclusion for this must bee, that my DVB-T tuner can't handle the argument it gets when tuning a DVB-T2 signal....!

Still pretty strange since there should not be an argument for tuning DVB-T2...! I have tried lots of settings within the Mux, but nothing is working.

Peter

Peter Andersen

Hi Peter

Oh, I didn't see your 2nd reply.

Yes, I am also 100% sure now it is the hardware (my USB receivers). But not much info about it online. But the transmission mode is only limited to 8K not 32k. So that is the main problem.

I am waiting for some new USB receivers from dx.com. But don't know what chipset they are.

Thank you.

Peter

Peter Maersk-Moller

Hi Peter A.

True. I assume you set the DVB-T2 for the mux before tuning and now you get the error.

I think it is safe to say the RTL2832-U can't do DVB-T2.

Peter Andersen wrote:
> Hi Peter
>
> Thank you for the info. But the file is just the same as adding the MUX manually with the same settings.
>
> What I can find out now is, that if the MUX is set to DVB-T2 I get a tuning error here:
> 2020-06-04 21:08:57.568 mpegts: 626MHz in Hove - tuning on Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #0 : DVB-T #0
> 2020-06-04 21:08:57.568 linuxdvb: Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #0 : DVB-T #0 - failed to tune [e=Invalid argument]
>
> But if set it to the old DVB-T it can tune with no problems, but can't find the DVB-T2 mux:
> 2020-06-04 21:09:20.193 mpegts: 626MHz in Hove - tuning on Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #1 : DVB-T #1
> 2020-06-04 21:09:20.193 epggrab: 626MHz in Hove - registering mux for OTA EPG
> 2020-06-04 21:09:20.194 subscription: 001C: "scan" subscribing to mux "626MHz", weight: 6, adapter: "Realtek RTL2832 (DVB-T) #1 : DVB-T #1", network: "Hove", service: "Raw PID Subscription"
> 2020-06-04 21:09:25.701 mpegts: 626MHz in Hove - scan no data, failed
> 2020-06-04 21:09:25.702 subscription: 001C: "scan" unsubscribing
>
> So a conclusion for this must bee, that my DVB-T tuner can't handle the argument it gets when tuning a DVB-T2 signal....!
> Still pretty strange since there should not be an argument for tuning DVB-T2...! I have tried lots of settings within the Mux, but nothing is working.
>

> Peter

Peter Maersk-Moller

Hi Peter A.

No problem. I went for the DVB-T2 capable Raspberry Pi TV Hat. It only costed 199,- Dkk and I had the Raspberry Pi 3 as a spare. My main reason for this is I want to use as little power as possible as it will run 24x7 since everybody in the house use it at various times during a full day and due to the ability of recording. Any real PC would cost way to much in power running 24x7. And unless you need descrambling, you only need one DVB-T2 in Dk. Do you do descrambling?
'

My current setup I created yesterday is this:

- 1 Raspberry Pi 3 with 1 GB RAM and 16 GB disk - retired
- 1 DVB-T2 TV Hat receiver - new
- 1 dual DVB-T receiver (retired leftover from my PS3 TV setup - the original OS3 DVB-T receiver)

- 1 1TB disk via external USB/SATA I had spare for rare large file transfers

I am thinking of adding one or two of these http://www.pctvsystems.com/Products/ProductsEuropeAsia/Satelliteproducts/PCTVDVBS2Stick/tabid/236/language/en-GB/Default.aspx to add a large number of free UK and German channels.

But mostly I stopped watching flowtv and went for streaming or reading as a spare activity ... so ....

Peter Andersen wrote:
> Hi Peter
>
> Oh, I didn't see your 2nd reply.
>
> Yes, I am also 100% sure now it is the hardware (my USB receivers). But not much info about it online. But the transmission mode is only limited to 8K not 32k. So that is the main problem.
>
> I am waiting for some new USB receivers from dx.com. But don't know what chipset they are.
>
> Thank you.
>

> Peter

Peter Andersen

I have been using Tvheadend for many years now. I am running a low-power server with 16TB storage, and I only use Tvheadend for recording. Specially the auto-recording feature. Then I can watch the things when (if) I have time later. And save the recordings I want to save, like movies, docs, etc. I am (was) running two DVB-T receivers for both DR mux's.

These are the ones I have ordered:
https://www.dx.com/p/digital-satellite-dvb-t2-usb-tv-stick-tuner-with-antenna-remote-white-2007443.html

Much cheaper. And with the Panasonic MN88473 chipset.

Descrambling - no never got into it, is it possible in Denmark!?!!?? Would love to learn more about it

Peter

Peter Maersk-Moller

Seems you have a cool setup.

With the danish migration to DVB-T2, DR TV now only have one MUX. https://digitalt.tv/tv-frekvenser-dvbt-nettet-danmark/

I went for the Pi solution with the TV Hat as only one DVB-T2 was needed for DK and I could pick it up in ProShop same day. Sweden is still DVB-T. And I can add USB sticks later.

Ever checked your power usage on your server? 10W/year costs 200-220dkk and my Pi is only using a few watts.

Descrambling, well you can get a Boxer subscription, but you will need a receiver that can talk to CI. I have seen solutions that can share a USB CI to several DVB receivers, but it's been 10 years since I experimented with that. A CI USB could be this https://www.electrola.dk/dvbsky or similar. And Linux can be setup to do USB sharing and remote sharing :-) So many possibilities.

Good luck with your receiver. Yes the tuner should be working under Linux (assuming your are using Linux). Aren't you risking having to pay PostDanmark/PostNord "dummebøde" plus VAT when buying from DX.COM? Assuming the mailing from US or China outside EU.

Regards
Peter MM
Peter Andersen wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have been using Tvheadend for many years now. I am running a low-power server with 16TB storage, and I only use Tvheadend for recording. Specially the auto-recording feature. Then I can watch the things when (if) I have time later. And save the recordings I want to save, like movies, docs, etc. I am (was) running two DVB-T receivers for both DR mux's.
>
> These are the ones I have ordered:
> https://www.dx.com/p/digital-satellite-dvb-t2-usb-tv-stick-tuner-with-antenna-remote-white-2007443.html > Much cheaper. And with the Panasonic MN88473 chipset.
>
> Descrambling - no never got into it, is it possible in Denmark!?!!?? Would love to learn more about it
>

> Peter

Nils Rasmussen

Hi Peter,

After adding Peters MUX-file for Danish DVB-T2 I successfully recsanned, and found all the expected DR-channals. Thanks a lot for the advise.

For those using LibreELEC, and assumeably other distributions where tvheadend is a plugin for KODI, please note that the MUX-file shall be placed in ~/.kodi/addons/service.tvheadend42/dvb-scan/dvb-t

Thanks /Nils