[mythtv-users] DVBSky S952 or TBS 6902 or neither

[Paul Gardiner]

On 15/01/2020 08:21, John wrote:
> On 14/01/2020 23:02, Paul Gardiner wrote:
>> On 14/01/2020 16:26, John wrote:
>>> On 14/01/2020 13:04, Paul Gardiner wrote:
>>>> On 14/01/2020 12:36, John wrote:
>>>>> On 14/01/2020 10:31, Paul Gardiner wrote:
>>>>>> John, with the S952v3, are you saying, it sometimes doesn't power 
>>>>>> up in a working state, but if it does it remains stable?
>>>>>
>>>>> I never got to the bottom of why the dual card was unreliable. 
>>>>> Possibly just a faulty card. Worked 95% of the time so could never 
>>>>> track the issue down.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks. That's warned me off the S952. My current card does much better
>>>> than 95%. The failures are fairly rare.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Note I currently use a TBS6950 in conjunction with a WinTV-dualHD 
>>>>> both of which are rock solid.
>>>>
>>>> Can't find that card. Not TBS6590? In any case, I suppose you're 
>>>> building the drivers each time you change kernels with that?
>>>
>>> Sorry got that wrong, using a DVBSky S950v3 in conjunction with 
>>> WinTV-dualHD
>>
>> Ah, those are difficult to get now. It seems once there are stable 
>> linux drivers, the cards get discontinued.
>>
>> With the S952, did you connect the optional second power source?
> 
> Yes did connect the second power source.
> 
> I suspect that the dual card is just two singles. I never tried it but 
> if its unreliable as a dual it may be ok as a single ie only initialize 
> one tuner in mythtv.

John, your advice was spot on... which I know from not initially taking 
it. :-) I bought an S952, hoping my experience would differ from yours 
or at least that it would work okay with only one input connected. No. 
It was every bit as unreliable as you described. Still, bought from 
Amazon so sent it back, and cost me nothing but the time.

Then some S950v3 cards became available, bought one of those, and it 
does seem to be rock solid.

Thanks again for the advice.

Cheers,
	Paul.