Tech Support for Linkstar, iDirect, Comtech 570L

Dear All;

Are you facing one of these problems:

1) Installing and pointing the Antenna.
2) Configuring Linkstar, Idirect, Comtech 570L modems.
3) Troubleshooting exisitng sites.
4) Problem with Modem Passwords/ and PIN locks.

Please drop me a mail if you need help.

Regards;
vsatspecialist

yes could u pls send me answers of those questions i  need them.best regard vsatexpert

Hi,
I tried upgrading the firmware of the comtech 570 modem. While doing so, the vipersat function in the modem got wiped out. Now i cannot use vload to upgrade/downgrade the modem. The modem cannot talk to the hub as well.

I tried to upload the firmware for the base modem and the ip module using the console. I am however, not able to retrieve the vipersat module.

is there any backdoor entry to install the vipersat configuration in the modem?

Your answers are highly appreciated

Hi Eric,
Thanks for your prompt response.
Quoting you,
"Base modem firmware can only be loaded via the Ethernet M&C port. Do not use Ethernet traffic port.

IP module software can only be loaded via the Ethernet Traffic port. Do not use Ethernet M&C port.
"
I have been using a GUI software(called vload) provided by vendor  that allows you to choose the base modem and IP bulk, the rate of upload/download for the firmware, application, configurations.

Any Help or insights?

Kind regards and thanks in advance

Hi,

As far as I know, indeed you must be physically connected to the modem in order to upgrade the version...I dont think you can do so using the GUI.

But the best idea would be to contact Comtech helpdesk, they are very very helpful and service oriented.

Hi Eric

Do you possibly have the pinouts for an interface cable between the comtech 570 25pin and a digital V.11 NTU?

I.e 15pin V.11 to 25 pin RS.422

Regards
Jan

Eric please kindly help me out of this situation.
(am sorry for the lengthy message)

Am a new client with an ISP and am not a vsat engineer, am only a user so i may not know all the technicalities.

MY modem Linkster S1 modem was very difficult to get a lock on the satellite W3A after the tracking is done and the config parameters seems accurate (Barr 0.0007etc; tx -30). After several calls to my ISP, they seems lost on what to do abt the situation cause they keep telling me they will report the issue to their NOC. in the process, the satellite technician tracking the site burnt the s1 modem. i ended up buying a Linkster S2A modem. The same problem persisted for more than 3-days until we finally got a lock on the satellite.

The main problem is, the terminal keep logging out after browsing for a period of 2 hours or 4hours.  and when it logs out, it will take ages to lock (say like 5 hours). We re-tracked the dish several times improving on the signal we receive but yet the problem persisted. this has been on for like 2 weeks now. I have changed my LNB thinking its the cause of the problem but to no avail. Av even bought a new 3-watts BUC that i intend to use and replace the current 2-watts BUC tomorrow.

Fortunately today (15/12/2010), the modem did not rebooth and it took less time to lock (like 30 mins) It browsed very fast in the morning but towards 12noon till 10pm our closing time, the internet was too slow that it cant even brows on 2 systems (the subscription was for 13-systems).

All the Satellite techs i called are tired of my site situation am sure even my ISP (B.Walker) are tired of my calls and to be honest to them, they have been  quite attentive to me.

Please what do you think is the problem with my site. Help me before i go gagas (my internet subscription is already counting and am not enjoying the service)
here is my email in case you may wish to contact me emekachukwuma1@yahoo.com.

First two warnings: Always power off at the mains wall switch before working on the coax cables.  Never get the two cables crossed over - it will burn out the modem.

The Linkstar modem should lock to the receive carrier within a few seconds and stay locked all the time, except during the heaviest of rainfall.  By locked, I mean that the RX LED has gone green and the bit error rate is low, say 0.0005 to 0.00001.   If the bit error rate is high, say 0.01 to 0.001 then you have a poor receive quality and will lose lock intermittently and during the slightest rain.

You say the BER is 0.0007
You say it takes 30 minutes to 5 hours to lock.

These two symptoms don't make sense to me.  
You say the BER is 0.0007 : I would expect immediate lock even as the BER is not particularly good.
You say it takes 30 minutes to 5 hours to lock. : I would expect the BER to be very poor 0.01 and intermittent.

Faulty connections on the LNB cable should be checked first.  Does any waggling of the LNB cable at either end cause loss of lock.  If so, fix the connector.

Does pushing on the dish in any direction cause loss of lock ?  If pushing it in any direction causes the BER to improve (i.e. reduce to say 0.00001), your pointing needs improving, to make the improvement permanent. Take between 10 and 100 BER readings as you adjust the antenna. Typing "repeat tcmp" will save your fingers!

I suspect the LNB frequency stability coupled with the tuning frequency. If the LNB drifts too far in frequency error due to temperature change the modem may loose lock.  Please check your configuration string that you type in to set up the tuning etc. Make sure that the frequency has been typed in exactly correct. pconf will show what is actually in the modem. e.g. TDMCarrierFreq     1485375    
You could try setting the tuning either high or low, e.g 1485675 or 1485075  This would test for 300 kHz up and down.  Does one of these make the modem lock up instantly and the other not at all ?

Please tell me what is your configuration etc. Example below:

pconf
   termid   0x3119e    popid       0x11e0003
   ctlPID    0x1029    pcrPID     0x365
   TDMCarrierFreq     1485375    SymbolRate    2500000
   MaritimeEnabled     0    Latitude       0
   Longitude      0    TxPower      -30
   ODUStatus    INTERNAL    VCXOPar1     0x0
   VCXOPar2     0x0    TimingLoopBW      0x0
   Signature    0x0    isEncryptionEnabled      0
   isRnccKeyValid      0    isRcstKeyValid      0
   PointingTool   0    LNBVoltage    18
   LNBVoltageIncrease  0    LNBToneOn      0
   DVBMode    DVBS2    vcoplan        0

tcmp
   Standard       DVB-S2    Synced    1
   BCHCorrectedErrCount    7833154    BCHUncorrectedErrCount     1222
   UncodedBER    0.0006137625    I2CErrorCount       0
   LostSyncCount       0    TimeSynced       1747
   TimeUnSynced   0    MaxTimeSynced    1747
   CarrDeviation       0    NCODeviation   0
   LdpcBch   LOCKED    CarrierPhase   LOCKED
   frequency   1485    ModCode      8PSK 3/4
   Rs      2.500000    Fs      100
   RxPower     -39.13000    EsNo     16
   Pilot    On    FrameLength     64800

I've spoken with Bentley Walker for you and they are doing what they can to help.  It is possible that there is a transmit issue - it depends on what is meant by "loss of lock".  If the RX LED goes out you have lost lock on the receive carrier and there is a receive problem.  If you lose connectivity (unable to browse) with the internet, but the RX LED remains on (i.e. the RX remains locked), then the problem may be on the transmit side.

Best regards, Eric.

I try to add a new RCST to an established network but it disconnects after 1 minute exactly with an error. The rcst boots fine and BER is low until it loses Rx sync. Below is what shows on the terminal.

TERMEXEC   Dec  8 13:52:40 :886 2011 NCR Sync message received from TCL module
TERMEXEC   Dec  8 13:52:46 :534 2011 Rx Sync Lost
TERMEXEC   Dec  8 13:52:46 :534 2011 RCST is either unable to RX synchronize,
TERMEXEC   Dec  8 13:52:46 :534 2011 Or has not been validated by the RNCC.
TERMEXEC   Dec  8 13:52:46 :534 2011 Trying the next Network Boot Config ...
TERMEXEC   Dec  8 13:52:46 :534 2011 Installed filter for PID 869 (0x365)
TERMEXEC   Dec  8 13:52:46 :534 2011 Installed filter for PID 4137 (0x1029)
TCM        Dec  8 13:52:46 :546 2011 Using VCO PLAN 0
TCL        Dec  8 13:53:17 :764 2011 Terminal's lost Rx Sync
TCM        Dec  8 13:53:46 :774 2011 Using VCO PLAN 2

I really would appreciate any help I can get from you please.