the dvb2000 SCSI INFO

1. Introduction
The SCSI port tests were provided with the Adaptec SCSI controller AHA-2940UW and the harddisk Seagate ST-34520W - 4,5GB. SCSI CD ROM drives were not tested.
Before you begin with any tests with SCSI port and DVB9600, it is necessary to properly install the SCSI controller in PC and SCSI HDD (FAT16 or FAT32 but the SCSI DVB2000 software "can see" only discs up to 2,1GB. I have not tested FAT32 HDD formatting - it may not work with DVB9600 functions (DVB2000 may show error 1).

2. HDD Installation
The HDD installation - format the HDD and test if the HDD is installed in your system (win 95/98/2000/XP). Each SCSI device has its own ID (0-15), some devices enable to set the ID by hardware jumpers (see manual to SCSI HDD, CD etc.). Generally with the DVB2000 - the HDD uses ID-4, CD drives use ID-5. The SCSI controller uses ID-7 as default value. Default setting of HDD IDs are usually ID-0 set from manufacturers (ID-0 is used for boot drives with OS Win95/98/2000/NT/XP). The DVB9600 has ID-3. the SCSI HDD to work with the DVB9600 should be the "second HDD", it is not recommended to use the same drive on which the OS is installed (the HDD with OS - Windows can be IDE or SCSI).
After the second HDD is installed assign logical drive letters D,E,F (for HDD 4,5GB, i.e. 2,1+2,1+0,3GB) if they are not assigned automatically.
In DVB9600 SCSI menu (menu-8-4-3) set the "SCSI detect" to ON. Check the right termination of SCSI devices.
Switch-off your PC and connect the cable between the PC and the DVB9600 (use PC 50 or 68pin MiniCanon connector - depends on the type of your SCSI controller in PC and 50pin MiniCanon connector for DVB2000, both connectors are "male" type). The length of the cable should not be longer than 2 meters but it is said that it is also functional with 5 meters long cables. With a cable of 2 meters length everything works OK, longer cables could cause problem with DVB/PC communication (communication stops working, PC will not load the OS, it "freezes" or the OS is loaded very slowly). When you have the PC switched on, switch on the DVB9600. After the DVB9600 initialization check whether the PC "can see" the new SCSI port with ID-3 (Windows 95/98 - system folder or execute the Vgrabber software - the DVB9600 should be visible at port ID-3 - the prompt "DVB2000 Nokia rulez"). Then test the connection between the DVB and PC in DVB9600 menu "menu-8-4-1" - there should be a prompt with HDD on ID-4 on one line and the type of HDD on the next line, e.g. Seagate ST34520W. You can also test HDD connection in "menu-4-4" - you should see the HDD parameters.
If all is OK you can start with DVB2000 SCSI testing.

3. Tests with a single HDD without computer connected
In this case you will connect the SCSI HDD to the DVB9600 rear panel SCSI connector, the power supply for the HDD must be from some external source (e.g. from another PC) and then you can switch the DVB9600 on.
With this direct connection DVB9600 - HDD it is possible to use only these functions:
a) erase files on connected HDD (FAT16 formatting)
b) save audio files in internal MPEG-2 format (there is some internal information for the DVB9600 in the saved files, so it is usually impossible to replay these files with MPEG-2 players in PC, you can replay them only over the DVB9600)
c) audio files replaying, temporary stop of replaying
d) selection of replayed files out from the list
e) option to set replaying of one or all saved files
You can also save video files but the replaying is impossible with this setting. Video replaying is possible only with SCSI CD (DVD player).

4. Tests with HDD and connected computer
Connect the cable between the DVB9600 and PC. Switch the DVB9600 on. After its initialization switch on the computer. When it is ready, check whether the PC "can see" the DVB9600 (see function menu-4-4).
You can make the tests with Vgrabber software and/or DVBEDIT.

In this case it is possible to use the following functions:
a) channel list download (to download 600 channels takes less than 1 sec.)
b) upload channel list to the DVB9600
c) upload new firmware version (takes about 5 secs.)
d) download one 1 screenshot from the screen (.jpg, .bmp formats), download of one snap in high quality takes about 2 secs. (Vgrabber)
e) recording and replaying of audio data
f) recording of video data (replaying is possible only under specific conditions*1)
g) other DVB9600 setting (menu colours, etc.)
h) displaying of downloaded pictures from PC on TV screen (.jpg, .bmp)

*1) MPEG video data replaying on PC is possible only in case of having "good PC hardware". You need at least PC Pentium 300 MHZ, 32MB RAM, better graphic card (I tested ATI Rage 128/16MB RAM with ATI DVD Player). With common graphic cards the replaying of video sequencies is very difficult, it works only with some files and the quality of video is not very good.
Data was recorded with the help of VGRABBER software, then the stored data had to be processed through the "multiplex A/V Streams" function (VGRABBER). After this operation the data was possible to replay at PC. Without data compiling it was possible to watch only video, without audio. The video quality was quite good at smaller picture screen size even with the above-mentioned "slow" PC, only the audio and video synchronization was a bit corrupted. It works very well with fast PC.
There is a very interesting software DVB Explorer which can download teletext data over the SCSI port and display them to a PC monitor.

It is impossible to replay the recorded video data so as this function could be used instead of using a video recorder.
The audio signals (music) can be recorded and played back from HDD.
The advantage of the SCSI port is its high transmission speed (the SCSI port transmission speed rate with the DVB9600 is more than 3,4Mb/s when the serial port speed reaches only 38,4kb/s).

5. The list of DVB2000 compatible CD ROM drives (from http://rehtec.com)
The mentioned drives should be functional with DVB2000 firmware (with PC and without PC).

Last updated 15.12.2004