Difference between revisions of "MiniTioune"

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The MiniTioune USB receiver project consists of software (MiniTioune )and hardware (MiniTiouner) and is developed by Jean-Pierre F6DZP for receiving digital TV transmissions.   
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The MiniTioune receiver project, developed by Jean-Pierre F6DZP, consists of the home constructed MiniTiouner hardware which interfaces via a standard USB 2.0 port to a Windows PC running the MiniTioune software.   
  
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It can be used to receive DVB-S QPSK and DVB-S2 QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32 APSK from broadcast and amateur TV transmissions with symbol rates (SR) from 30 Msymbols down to 120 Ksymbols per second enabling it to receive satellite broadcasts,  "normal" DATV signals and Reduced Bandwidth (RB-TV) transmissions.  
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The MiniTiouner hardware can also be used with the BATC [[Ryde Introduction|Ryde set-top box receiver]] running on a Raspberry Pi4 or the Portsdown DATV transceiver, the Portsdwon receiver or OpenTuner software.
  
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===Definitions===
 
  
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The following terms should be used when describing this project - note "MiniTiouner" is the French project name but maybe pronounced "Minituner" in English.
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[[File:Serit complete.jpg|300px]]
  
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* '''MiniTioune''' = PC software
 
  
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* '''MiniTiouner''' = The complete project hardware with USB interface - this can be prefixed with the type of tuner eg "Sharp Minitiouner"
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It will receive DVB-S QPSK and DVB-S2 QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32 APSK from broadcast and amateur TV transmissions with symbol rates (SR) from 30 Msymbols down to 66Ks Ksymbols per second. 
  
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* '''Serit FTS4335 NIM''' = Current version of NIM sold by the BATC shop. Note the project also worked with an earlier Serit tuner (SP2246) but none were sold by the BATC
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It can be used to receive satellite broadcasts, "normal" DATV signals and is the ONLY system capable of receiving [[Reduced bandwidth TV|Reduced Bandwidth (RB-TV)]] transmissions making it ideal for use on Es'hail-2 without any external frequency converters.
  
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* '''NIM''' = '''Network Interface Module'''. A little metal box that we can find inside most of Satellite Receivers. We can find 2 chips : the Zero Tuner and the Demodulator. RF Signal is sent to the antenna connector "RF input", it is amplified by a transistor "booster", the zero tuner selects the frequency asked and the demodulator extracts the data (Transport Stream) that goes outside the NIM on a digital parallel output.
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===Definitions===
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[[File:NIM open info .jpg|thumbnail|inside a NIM]]
 
  
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=== Hardware ===
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The following terms should be used when describing this project - note "MiniTiouner" is the French project name but maybe pronounced "Minituner" in English.
  
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[[File:minituner.JPG|400px]]
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* '''MiniTioune''' = PC software
  
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The Minitiouner hardware is designed for home construction and consists of 3 major components – the Tuner or NIM, the USB interface and power supply components. 
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* '''MiniTiouner''' = The complete project hardware with USB interface - this can be prefixed with the type of tuner eg "Sharp Minitiouner"
  
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When used with the Sharp, Samsung or Serit SP2246 NIM component, frequency coverage is from 650 MHz through to 2600 MHz. (DVB-S and DVB-S2 QPSK and 8PSK).
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The BATC Portsdown DATV transceiver and BATC Ryde Set top Box Receiver also use the MiniTiouner hardware - more information on the BATC Ryde Receiver can be found here [[Ryde Introduction]]
  
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When used with the Serit FTS4335 NIM component, frequency coverage is from 143.75 MHz through to 2450 MHz. (DVB-S and DVB-S2 QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK and 32APSK)  This extended frequency coverage gives greater flexibility when working with up converters from the VHF bands and enables the 10 GHz band, including Es'HailSat-2 down link, to be received on a standard domestic PLL LNB.
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===Specifications===
  
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The tuner (NIM), pre-programmed USB interface module and a blank PCB are available from the BATC on line shop https://batc.org.uk/shop/hardware-and-kits  – all other components are available from normal suppliers. 
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* Frequency coverage = 143 > 2450MHz (covers amateurs bands and extended sateliite band without external converters)
  
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Full details on how the build the MiniTiouner including a "how to video" and a zip file containing circuit diagram, layout and build instructions can be found on [[Minitiouner Hardware|the MiniTiouner hardware wiki page.]]  Please note the “full kit” mentioned in documentation is no longer available.
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* Symbol rate = 66ks > 30 Msymbols (suitable for RB-TV and satellite reception).
  
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===Serit FTS4335 NIM tuner===
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* Transmission modes = DVBS and DVBS2 all modulations from QPSK to 32 APSK
  
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As of February 2017 the Sharp, Samsung and Serit SP2246 tuners are no longer available and the project will use a NIM tuner from Serit FTS4335 which cover from 143.75 MHz right through to 2450 MHz without the need for any upconverters.
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====Signal input level====
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The Serit 4334 NIM or tuner is designed to be used in a satellite receive system fed by an LNB on the dish with ~55dB of gain To compensate for this, MiniTiouner must always be used with external preamp followed by a satellite line amplifier when used to receive terrestrial signals.  
  
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This makes building a receiver for 146 or 437 much easier, although you will need a pre-amp followed by lots of filtering for each band, just like the Sharp did, and probably followed by a Satellite line amp from ebay as the Serit has less gain than the Sharp.
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For more details see [[MiniTiouner Power Level Indication|this wiki page]]
  
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However, due to a different pinouts from the Sharp NIM, the Serit FTS4335 NIM tuner will also need a simple adapter board to enable it to be plugged in to the MiniTiouner standard hardware - Brian G4EWJ has designed a board and they are currently being made in China. 
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=== Hardware overview ===
  
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The board and a full set of components plus the Serit FTS4335 NIM tuner are available from the BATC shop.  [[serit tuner| Full details of this board and using the tuner are available here.]]
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The MiniTiouner hardware has no surface mount components and requires medium level constructional skills.  BATC sells the hard to get components and the rest are available from normal suppliers.   
  
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===Band Pass filters===
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Full details of the current version 2 MiniTiouner hardware and build information are [[MiniTiouner_hardware_Version_2|available here]] - new builders should start on this page.
  
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Details of the previous hardware versions [V1 using the Sharp and Eardtek NIMs and V1.2 using the adaptor board are [[Minitiouner Hardware|available here.]].
  
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=== Receive upconverters ===
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In CQ-TV269, Dave G8GKQ wrote Replacing a Sharp Tuner with a Serit' - which upgrades a V1 to a V2 Minitiouner with a flat form factor. This uses the schematic of the  [[MiniTiouner_hardware_Version_1|NIM adaptor board for reference.]]
  
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The new Serit NIM FTS4335 covers 143.75 - 2450 MHz and does not require any external frequency converters.
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=== Software ===
  
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As mentioned above, the Sharp tuner component (also called NIM) used in a MiniTiouner covers a maximum of 650 to 2600 MHz. 
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Full details of the MiniTioune software which is free to download and designed to be used with the MiniTiouner hardware are available here [[MiniTioune software]].
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Whilst this is fine for the 23cms (1.3 GHz) and 13cms (2.3 GHz) amateur bands it does not provide coverage of 146 (2mts) and 437 MHz (70cms) where the majority of ATV operation takes place.  Therefore we need to use an upconverter in front of the tuner which converts 146 MHz and 437 MHz up to an L band frequency that the MiniTiouner will receive.
 
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[[Receiver upconverters|A separate section on the wiki gives details of these upconverters.]]
 
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=== Software ===
 
  
 
[[File:20160507 Walbury GW8VPG.jpg|400px]]
 
[[File:20160507 Walbury GW8VPG.jpg|400px]]
  
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The system uses free to download DVB-S receive and analysis software called "Minitioune" written by F6DZP. The Software is hosted on the VivaDATV forum.  You need a log-in to download, but here are the links:
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ZR6TG has developed Windows software to run on the same hardware as the MiniTiouner software.  See this wiki page for more details [[OpenTuner]]
  
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The latest (28 February 2017) version of MiniTioune V0.6d: [http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=416 Minitioune v0.6d download]
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===Band Pass filters===
  
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Noise Power Measurement Software: ( included in the Minitioune software package)
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There is a whole section of the wiki dedicated to this most important part of your system - [[Filters|take a look at the pictures on the top of this page]] to see why you must use filters before your MiniTiouner!
  
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=== Software Installation ===
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=== Receive upconverters ===
  
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  There is a "readme.pdf" in the Minitioune software package that gives the latest information and a step by step guide
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The Serit tuner currently on sale in the shop covers 143 - 2450 MHz and does not require any external frequency converters.
  
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For a step by step guide on how to do this, see the paper written by W6HHC - http://www.w6ze.org/DATV/InstallingMiniTiouner_onWin10.pdf
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However, the original Sharp and Eardatek tuner components (also called NIM) used in MiniTiouner cover a maximum of 650 to 2600 MHz.  This covers the 23cms (1.3 GHz) and 13cms (2.3 GHz) amateur bands it does not provide coverage of 146 (2mts) and 437 MHz (70cms) where the majority of ATV operation takes place. Therefore we need to use an upconverter in front of the tuner which converts 146 MHz and 437 MHz up to an L band frequency that the MiniTiouner will receive.
  
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* Install the D2XX drivers 2.12.24 found at http://ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm. There's a link in the right column for a setup executable. This stage is missing from W6HHC notes.
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[[Receiver upconverters|A separate section on the wiki gives details of these upconverters.]]
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* Install the FT2232H USB driver for the MiniTiouner board
 
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* Inspect the FT2232H USB-controller module (preprogramed by BATC for NIMtuner) for correct internal memory programming
 
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* Install LAVfilters CODECs and test the HW board and test the DirectShow filters
 
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* Look in the Minitiouner folder that you've just copied to C:\ for the small program "Install_usrc_ax_winXP" and run this to install the link with the decoder.
 
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* Run the MiniTiouner_v0.6d executable & perhaps adjust the decoder filters being used.
 

Latest revision as of 14:42, 12 March 2024

The MiniTioune receiver project, developed by Jean-Pierre F6DZP, consists of the home constructed MiniTiouner hardware which interfaces via a standard USB 2.0 port to a Windows PC running the MiniTioune software.

The MiniTiouner hardware can also be used with the BATC Ryde set-top box receiver running on a Raspberry Pi4 or the Portsdown DATV transceiver, the Portsdwon receiver or OpenTuner software.


Serit complete.jpg


It will receive DVB-S QPSK and DVB-S2 QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32 APSK from broadcast and amateur TV transmissions with symbol rates (SR) from 30 Msymbols down to 66Ks Ksymbols per second.

It can be used to receive satellite broadcasts, "normal" DATV signals and is the ONLY system capable of receiving Reduced Bandwidth (RB-TV) transmissions making it ideal for use on Es'hail-2 without any external frequency converters.

Definitions

The following terms should be used when describing this project - note "MiniTiouner" is the French project name but maybe pronounced "Minituner" in English.

  • MiniTioune = PC software
  • MiniTiouner = The complete project hardware with USB interface - this can be prefixed with the type of tuner eg "Sharp Minitiouner"

The BATC Portsdown DATV transceiver and BATC Ryde Set top Box Receiver also use the MiniTiouner hardware - more information on the BATC Ryde Receiver can be found here Ryde Introduction

Specifications

  • Frequency coverage = 143 > 2450MHz (covers amateurs bands and extended sateliite band without external converters)
  • Symbol rate = 66ks > 30 Msymbols (suitable for RB-TV and satellite reception).
  • Transmission modes = DVBS and DVBS2 all modulations from QPSK to 32 APSK

Signal input level

The Serit 4334 NIM or tuner is designed to be used in a satellite receive system fed by an LNB on the dish with ~55dB of gain To compensate for this, MiniTiouner must always be used with external preamp followed by a satellite line amplifier when used to receive terrestrial signals.

For more details see this wiki page

Hardware overview

The MiniTiouner hardware has no surface mount components and requires medium level constructional skills. BATC sells the hard to get components and the rest are available from normal suppliers.

Full details of the current version 2 MiniTiouner hardware and build information are available here - new builders should start on this page.

Details of the previous hardware versions [V1 using the Sharp and Eardtek NIMs and V1.2 using the adaptor board are available here..

In CQ-TV269, Dave G8GKQ wrote Replacing a Sharp Tuner with a Serit' - which upgrades a V1 to a V2 Minitiouner with a flat form factor. This uses the schematic of the NIM adaptor board for reference.

Software

Full details of the MiniTioune software which is free to download and designed to be used with the MiniTiouner hardware are available here MiniTioune software.

20160507 Walbury GW8VPG.jpg

ZR6TG has developed Windows software to run on the same hardware as the MiniTiouner software. See this wiki page for more details OpenTuner

Band Pass filters

There is a whole section of the wiki dedicated to this most important part of your system - take a look at the pictures on the top of this page to see why you must use filters before your MiniTiouner!

Receive upconverters

The Serit tuner currently on sale in the shop covers 143 - 2450 MHz and does not require any external frequency converters.

However, the original Sharp and Eardatek tuner components (also called NIM) used in MiniTiouner cover a maximum of 650 to 2600 MHz. This covers the 23cms (1.3 GHz) and 13cms (2.3 GHz) amateur bands it does not provide coverage of 146 (2mts) and 437 MHz (70cms) where the majority of ATV operation takes place. Therefore we need to use an upconverter in front of the tuner which converts 146 MHz and 437 MHz up to an L band frequency that the MiniTiouner will receive.

A separate section on the wiki gives details of these upconverters.

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