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DVB
Adapters and Channels

Adapters and Channels

Configure the tuner and transponder, confirm signal lock, then create Streams from the discovered services. Configure a SoftCAM only for authorized encrypted services.

Main Actions

ActionWhat to Do
Manage AdaptersOpen DVB → Manage Adapters and select the intended server and device.
Add AdapterOpen DVB → Add Adapter, select the server, device, delivery system, and tuning values, then save and start it.

Engine supports DVB-S/S2, DVB-T/T2, DVB-C Annex A/B, ATSC, and ISDB-T.

Tune an Adapter

Changed in Engine 1.0+

Starting or restarting an Adapter waits and retries when its Engine server is under resource pressure. The Adapter log records the reason; running Adapters and explicit Stop actions are unaffected.

  1. Select the server and an unused frontend device.
  2. Select the delivery system.
  3. Enter the broadcaster’s verified frequency, symbol rate or bandwidth, modulation, and FEC values.
  4. Add satellite, PLP, Multistream, or PLS values only when the transponder requires them.
  5. Save, start, and wait for carrier and lock.

Enter frequencies in MHz. Use the transponder frequency for Frequency and the LNB’s printed oscillator frequency for LNB LOF. For example, enter 12500 and 11300 for a 12500 MHz transponder and 11300 MHz LNB. Leave LOF empty only if automatic LNB handling suits your hardware; Auto cannot detect the LNB model.

For satellite also verify voltage/polarization, tone, DiSEqC, pilot, rolloff, inversion, and Unicable settings. In the UI, 13V is vertical and 18V is horizontal.

Multistream and PLS

DVB-S/S2 may require a Multistream ID and ROOT, GOLD, or COMBO PLS mode/code. Leave these fields disabled for ordinary transponders. Incorrect values prevent lock even when frequency and symbol rate are correct.

Check Signal and Services

After start, confirm lock, signal strength, SNR, frequency, symbol rate, and errors. Some drivers report strength or SNR as zero even when the other value and lock are valid.

If lock fails, check in this order:

  1. server, frontend, and device ownership;
  2. delivery system, frequency units, symbol rate, bandwidth, and modulation;
  3. LOF, voltage, tone, DiSEqC, cabling, and Unicable;
  4. FEC, pilot, rolloff, PLP, Multistream, and PLS;
  5. kernel driver and firmware.

After lock, check service names, SID, PAT/PMT, PIDs, and CA information. Select services, choose Create Streams, and test each Stream.

Streams wait until the selected Adapter channel is ready. Check the Stream log for delays. Stop cancels the wait; restart after changing the input.

Changed in Engine 1.0+

A DVB input can use its own bisskey (biss_key), constcw (const_cw), or softcam once the channel is discovered, even if the Adapter’s default decryption fails. Static keys override network SoftCAM for that Stream only.

Set UDP Output Address only for raw MPEG-TS delivery to a receiver. Use a dedicated address and verify routing, ports, service tables, and continuity.

Warning

Lock Is Only the First Check: RF lock does not prove that service tables, PIDs, CA descriptors, or the selected program are valid.

SoftCAM

Changed in Engine 1.0+

Engine supports NEWCAMD and CS378X connections. Configure the endpoint, credentials, CAID, and DES key under CAM → SoftCAMs, then assign it only to the intended Adapter or services. Enter CAID in hexadecimal 0x0001–0xffff notation, such as 0x0604. The Adapter Auto option compares this CAID with the channel’s PMT CA descriptors and selects matching SoftCAM connections.

Saved SoftCAM changes are applied to active Adapter outputs on every connected Engine server. A SoftCAM cannot be deleted while an Adapter is assigned to it. If decryption fails, check SID/PIDs and PMT CA descriptors before credentials and ECM timing.

Use conditional-access features only for services you are authorized to receive. Never expose CAM credentials or keys in logs, screenshots, or support messages.