[vlc] KNC-1 Astra 19.2 tuning problem

[Zoilo Gomez]

I have a very strange problem ...

Using vlc (0.8.6c) with a KNC1 TV-Star DVB-S card on Astra1 (19E2) , I 
cannot lock to any channels in the lower band (below 11.700 GHz), and 
also not to any channel above 12.500 GHz (approximately). All 
transponders in between are fine. Also all transponders on Hotbird, 
Astra2 and Astra3 are without problem. Only the lower band, and the 
upper half of the upper band on Astra1 are giving me problems.

However szap has no problem to lock to any of these channels on Astra 1 !

Even more strange: whenever I use szap to lock to the channel, then quit 
and quickly (within a few seconds) start vlc on the same channel, then 
it works fine !

Does anyone have an idea what could possibly be causing this ?? Why is 
vlc having locking problems, where szap does not?

Example log file (-vvv) of a failed vlc locking attempt on 12.574 GHz / 
Astra1:

> [00000256] dvb access debug: Opening device /dev/dvb/adapter1/frontend0
> [00000256] dvb access debug: Frontend Info:
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   name = ST STV0299 DVB-S
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   type = QPSK (DVB-S)
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   frequency_min = 950000 (kHz)
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   frequency_max = 2150000 (kHz)
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   frequency_stepsize = 125
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   frequency_tolerance = 0
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   symbol_rate_min = 1000000 (kHz)
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   symbol_rate_max = 45000000 (kHz)
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   symbol_rate_tolerance (ppm) = 500
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   notifier_delay (ms) = 0
> [00000256] dvb access debug: Frontend Info capability list:
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   inversion auto
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   forward error correction 1/2
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   forward error correction 2/3
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   forward error correction 3/4
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   forward error correction 5/6
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   forward error correction 7/8
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   forward error correction auto
> [00000256] dvb access debug:   card can do QPSK
> [00000256] dvb access debug: End of capability list
> [00000256] dvb access debug: trying to tune the frontend...
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frequency 12574000 is in Ku-band
> [00000256] dvb access debug: using inversion=2
> [00000256] dvb access debug: using fec=9
> [00000256] dvb access debug: using voltage=18
> [00000256] dvb access debug: using tone=1
> status change: ( new input: dvb:// )
>
> status change: ( audio volume: 256 )
>
> status change: ( play state: 1 )
>
> [00000256] dvb access debug: Opening device /dev/dvb/adapter1/dvr0
> [00000256] dvb access debug: setting filter on PAT
> [00000256] dvb access debug: Opening device /dev/dvb/adapter1/demux0
> [00000256] dvb access debug: DMXSetFilter: DMX_PES_OTHER for PID 0
> [00000256] dvb access debug: Opening device /dev/dvb/adapter1/ca0
> [00000256] dvb access debug: CAMInit: CA interface with 1 slot
> [00000256] dvb access debug: CAMInit: CI link layer level interface type
> [00000256] dvb access debug: CAMInit: 0 available descramblers (keys)
> [00000256] main access debug: using access2 module "dvb"
> [00000257] main private debug: pre buffering
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has acquired signal
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has acquired carrier
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has acquired stable FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has lost FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has acquired stable FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has lost FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has acquired stable FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has lost FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has acquired stable FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has lost FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has acquired stable FEC
> [00000256] dvb access debug: frontend has lost FEC

TIA,

Z.