What is 8PSK-to-USB2?

My original design is a USB 2.0 adapter for 8PSK module (the module, which dishnetwork uses in their 6000 HDTV receivers).

"Why does anyone want to have this thing" you may ask.
Well, as name of the module implies, it could tune and decode various formats of Satellite signal modulations. Including QPSK (any DVB-s card in the world could do the same), Digicipher II, DSS and 8PSK.


Supported modulations:

DVB-S (QPSK)
Turbo-coded QPSK
Turbo-coded 8PSK
Turbo-coded 16QAM
Digicipher II Combo
Digicipher II Split (I/Q)
Digicipher II Offset QPSK
DSS (QPSK)


DVB-S2 standard is not supported (incompatible FEC) :(

If you want to read more about DVB modulation/transmission go read official DVB documents (just google them).
If you want to start from something easier to underspend try to find "reviews for dummies".
If you already know basic stuff (or think that you know) try to read very good reviews at COOL.STF

Back to business!
How does this interface work? And why use interface to the module, but not a single board card?
First of all, DN 8PSK module has very good tuner on board (about 2dB higher sensitivity then average PCI DVB-s card). Why not use it?
Second, if you have DN 8PSK module collecting dust in your garage you can find a better use for it. Since you already have the tuner, you can save some $$ by buying adapter only (single board all-in-one solution is more expensive).
Attach 8PSK module from one side,  USB cable and power from other side, and here we go:



Little bit crude :)
Black tape (the saver of all electricians) holds module firmly to the same aluminum plate where my adapter is mounted. This buys me some piece of mind (and insurance) that I would not trip over one of the cable and kill the damn thing (have you ever seen sparks yet?).

Note how secure the PCB is on the aluminum plate (no wobble -> no intermittent connection -> no signal loss):

I used nuts which allow me fast board replacement. You could use whatever is on your shelf.

Handy man could do a better job, though :)
I'm just a Design Engineer, not a machine shop operator.

But what could you do with this piece of junk without proper software (without software it would still be a junk)?
Here you go.
The same site you saw above, COOL.STF , offers a remarkable software - TSReader.
I would not describe all its advantages here, just go to that side and read about it.
It's amazing program.
This Software allows you to make a software interface to your own card (if you know how it works, and since I'm a designer I sure do).
Program even comes with a sample framework explaining how to do it.
Did I mention that this software is THE only software which could handle so many different Modulation Modes of DVB signal?

After several weeks of learning C programming (come on, I'm old, a bit baldy guy. I used to Pascal and Assembler) here is the happiest result.
It works! :



And if you already saw how this progam works you would grasp the concept of this snapshot very quickly.

Example of tuning to DSS (QPSK) transponder:





Here how the card looks like (power is supplied through the Hard Disk style connector):

 

You can use your own power supply which is able to provide 1.5A at 12V, and 2A at 5V. For prototyping, I used power supply from my external USB hard drive.

Initially I was selling board for $300 (including power supply). I can not find these Power Supplies at old price anymore.
Thus, to avoid price increase I decided to have optional Power Supply.
New price of the board is lower - $290.


And this is what you can get if you decide to buy it WITH power supply (extra $20.00):

 

Note, that power supply and board come with either matching DIN-8 or Molex 4-pin connectors.
Adapter would always have Molex 4-pin (Hard Drive style) power connector.

Optioanal power supply which comes with a board is able to power average LNBF (up to 500mA). Though, you have to provide additional power if you want to drive a motor.
You have to use your own 8PSK module, the one from your subscribed receiver, for instance.
TSReader Lite version would be provided (with COOL.STF permission).
You have to buy a full version if you did not do it already.
Don't ask me for software discounts. It's not my software. I just wrote an interface to it.

If you have multi-Sat system and you need to switch between LNBs you can do it ether with the help of DISEqC switches or legacy DishNet switches. TSReader (and my interface board) supports both types. You can even use a 22kHz tone to control some switches/LNBs (if you have such types).

Questions are welcome. Just drop me a note

If for any reason you don't like TSReader (I simply can not find any reason at all), you could use DVB Dream (freeware at this moment) or MyTheatre.

DSS is supported by TSReader only (at the moment) - you have to use DSStoDVB module (freeware).

This hardware/software/firmware does NOT do any decryption. It's for clear/unencrypted signal ONLY.