Let's start with:
What is a VBOX DP710?
Basically, it is a translator between DiSEqC 1.2 commands and a 36v linear actuator.
Why would anyone need that?
So you can operate a polar mount with your DiSEqC receiver! Many of the 1M and larger dish owners are turning to polar mounts for more reliable / robust motoring of these heavier dishes. It also lets a person move a BUD via a DiSEqC receiver.
From the DMS site:
Features:
Compatible with DiSEqC 1.2 Receivers
Control with your DiSEqC 1.2 Receiver Remote
Front Panel Control
Easy Operation
Quick Installation
Fine-tune Function for better Reception
Sort Circuit and Overload Protection
Anti-Noise Circuit to avoid miscounting
Software Limits Protection
Re-Synchronize Function
180 H-H Mount Compatible
Specifications:
Input Voltage 110VAC, 60Hz
13/18VDC (via Coax Cable)
Output Voltage 13/18VDC
36VDC
Output Power 60 W
Maximum Current 3 Amp
Power Consumption 5W (Standby)
90W (Maximum)
Position Memories 28
Protocol DiSEqC 1.2
Operating Temperature 5ºC to 40ºC (41ºF to 104ºF)
Storage Temperature -20ºC to 60ºC (-40ºF to 140ºF)
Dimensions (WxHxD) 1.6Kg (Net), 1.8Kg (Gross)
What's in the box?
Surprisingly, not much. You get the VBOX itself and a manual. This unit does not have a remote. Everything* happens via your DiSEqC 1.2 capable receiver.
*I say 'everything' but there are manual controls on the VBOX to move the dish E and W as well as a power switch.
Hooking it up
The VBOX itself sits right at your receiver. If connects to the receiver just like a DiSEqC motor (SG2100, HH90, etc) would, between the receiver and LNB. You only you need it indoors so that you can plug it into AC power.
Aside from the Coax connection, on the back of the VBOX there are 4 spring terminals for the actuator wiring. The connections are + & - for the actuator and + & - for the sensor.
This does mean that you need to run wires for the actuator from the dish to the receiver. In my case I bought a length of 'Satellite Ribbon Cable' which also includes the wiring to control the skew servo on my C/Ku feedhorn.
Using it
My receiver is a Pansat 3500s. The dish is a Winegard 5' mesh on a polar mount. I have an 18" actuator moving the dish.
Moving the dish East and West with 1.2 commands via the receiver has proven to be fairly useless. If I command the dish West it just keeps swinging until another command is issued or it hits a limit. I'm not sure if this is what the Pansat is commanding or just how the VBOX responds to it's inputs. What I ended up doing was assigning a position number on the Pansat and then moving the dish via the controls on the VBOX. With the E/W arrows on the VBOX I found it easier to nudge the dish around to get it peaked. Once peaked I could save the position on the Pansat and the VBOX will acknowledge this by displaying the position number that was just saved. Position 27 will show as 'P27' on the VBOX.
I saved several positions and the dish promptly swings between sats just as you'd expect it to. Very slick! It also moves VERY fast as compared to my Primestar / SG2100 combo.
What could be Improved?
1. I don't like the spring clips on the back of the unit. I managed to break one of them mine the first time I set it up. I was able to snap it back together but it comes apart pretty easy.
2. What would be REAL nice is if a new version of the VBOX was available that would mount out at the dish. This may be too specialized to the FTA / Baby BUD market but not having to string ribbon cable back into the house would be a BIG plus for 1.2M dish guys or even BUD owners using voltage switched LNBs.
3. More positions. This is probably more a limitation of the DiSEqC standard than the VBOX but 27-49 isn't quite enough for me to store a position for every sat I can see. I'm hoping that I can re-map 1-26 via software as was suggested in the forums here.
More Pics to come.
<edit>
As many here have reported, mine also seems to have the dreaded 'losing positions' problem. It's too bad. It started after I started assigning DiSEqC 1.2 positions to numbers 1-27. I noticed it losing positions as I stared at 121W and headed East through 72W.
The problem may be related to the dish hitting the east limit and or the fully retracted position on the actuator.
As soon as I'd tune to a satellite that I had set to positions 1 -27, the dish would go full east (fully retracted). My guess is that maybe the VBOX stops counting at some point close to fully retracted.
To fight this off I would tune to the sat and 'catch' the actuator by hitting the 'move West' button on the VBOX. I will be experimenting some more to see if keeping the positioner off the limits helps the VBOX keep it's memory.
</edit>
What is a VBOX DP710?
Basically, it is a translator between DiSEqC 1.2 commands and a 36v linear actuator.
Why would anyone need that?
So you can operate a polar mount with your DiSEqC receiver! Many of the 1M and larger dish owners are turning to polar mounts for more reliable / robust motoring of these heavier dishes. It also lets a person move a BUD via a DiSEqC receiver.
From the DMS site:
Features:
Compatible with DiSEqC 1.2 Receivers
Control with your DiSEqC 1.2 Receiver Remote
Front Panel Control
Easy Operation
Quick Installation
Fine-tune Function for better Reception
Sort Circuit and Overload Protection
Anti-Noise Circuit to avoid miscounting
Software Limits Protection
Re-Synchronize Function
180 H-H Mount Compatible
Specifications:
Input Voltage 110VAC, 60Hz
13/18VDC (via Coax Cable)
Output Voltage 13/18VDC
36VDC
Output Power 60 W
Maximum Current 3 Amp
Power Consumption 5W (Standby)
90W (Maximum)
Position Memories 28
Protocol DiSEqC 1.2
Operating Temperature 5ºC to 40ºC (41ºF to 104ºF)
Storage Temperature -20ºC to 60ºC (-40ºF to 140ºF)
Dimensions (WxHxD) 1.6Kg (Net), 1.8Kg (Gross)
What's in the box?
Surprisingly, not much. You get the VBOX itself and a manual. This unit does not have a remote. Everything* happens via your DiSEqC 1.2 capable receiver.
*I say 'everything' but there are manual controls on the VBOX to move the dish E and W as well as a power switch.
Hooking it up
The VBOX itself sits right at your receiver. If connects to the receiver just like a DiSEqC motor (SG2100, HH90, etc) would, between the receiver and LNB. You only you need it indoors so that you can plug it into AC power.
Aside from the Coax connection, on the back of the VBOX there are 4 spring terminals for the actuator wiring. The connections are + & - for the actuator and + & - for the sensor.
This does mean that you need to run wires for the actuator from the dish to the receiver. In my case I bought a length of 'Satellite Ribbon Cable' which also includes the wiring to control the skew servo on my C/Ku feedhorn.
Using it
My receiver is a Pansat 3500s. The dish is a Winegard 5' mesh on a polar mount. I have an 18" actuator moving the dish.
Moving the dish East and West with 1.2 commands via the receiver has proven to be fairly useless. If I command the dish West it just keeps swinging until another command is issued or it hits a limit. I'm not sure if this is what the Pansat is commanding or just how the VBOX responds to it's inputs. What I ended up doing was assigning a position number on the Pansat and then moving the dish via the controls on the VBOX. With the E/W arrows on the VBOX I found it easier to nudge the dish around to get it peaked. Once peaked I could save the position on the Pansat and the VBOX will acknowledge this by displaying the position number that was just saved. Position 27 will show as 'P27' on the VBOX.
I saved several positions and the dish promptly swings between sats just as you'd expect it to. Very slick! It also moves VERY fast as compared to my Primestar / SG2100 combo.
What could be Improved?
1. I don't like the spring clips on the back of the unit. I managed to break one of them mine the first time I set it up. I was able to snap it back together but it comes apart pretty easy.
2. What would be REAL nice is if a new version of the VBOX was available that would mount out at the dish. This may be too specialized to the FTA / Baby BUD market but not having to string ribbon cable back into the house would be a BIG plus for 1.2M dish guys or even BUD owners using voltage switched LNBs.
3. More positions. This is probably more a limitation of the DiSEqC standard than the VBOX but 27-49 isn't quite enough for me to store a position for every sat I can see. I'm hoping that I can re-map 1-26 via software as was suggested in the forums here.
More Pics to come.
<edit>
As many here have reported, mine also seems to have the dreaded 'losing positions' problem. It's too bad. It started after I started assigning DiSEqC 1.2 positions to numbers 1-27. I noticed it losing positions as I stared at 121W and headed East through 72W.
The problem may be related to the dish hitting the east limit and or the fully retracted position on the actuator.
As soon as I'd tune to a satellite that I had set to positions 1 -27, the dish would go full east (fully retracted). My guess is that maybe the VBOX stops counting at some point close to fully retracted.
To fight this off I would tune to the sat and 'catch' the actuator by hitting the 'move West' button on the VBOX. I will be experimenting some more to see if keeping the positioner off the limits helps the VBOX keep it's memory.
</edit>
Last edited:
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