USB DVB tuner TBS5520SE stops working after some time

[newkind]

Hi,

I have a question about others exprience with USB DVB tuner TBS 5520SE.

My setup:

• X96 Max+ tv box with latest CE version (without BL301 injection) - CE 20.1 (as of writing, but the same issue existed in the previous versions of CE too)
• TBS 5520SE connected with original cable (2 USB plugs for data and power delivery) connected to the powered active USB hub Aukey CB-H3
• TVHeadend 4.2

ISSUE: I have noticed that after some time from the reboot (couple hours) the tuner stops working. I can no longer play the channels from the TVH. All I get in the TVH log window is - “no input detected”.

2023-04-05 11:28:53.297 [   INFO] mpegts: 10719V in DVB-S 130E - tuning on Silicon Labs Si2183 #0 : DVB-S #0
2023-04-05 11:28:53.557 [   INFO] subscription: 0306: "127.0.0.1 [ blah | Kodi Media Center ]" subscribing on channel "TVP INFO HD", weight: 150, adapter: "Silicon Labs Si2183 #0 : DVB-S #0", network: "DVB-S 130E", mux: "10719V", service: "TVP INFO HD", profile="htsp", hostname="127.0.0.1", username="blah", client="Kodi Media Center"
2023-04-05 11:29:03.510 [WARNING] subscription: 0306: service instance is bad, reason: No input detected

When I go to the DVB Inputs configuration (TVH Configuration → DVB Inputs), the device is still there:

Power Save is turned off for the DVB-S tuner:

lsusb shows the device just fine so it would seem like the connection is still there:

This is the dmesg | grep "dvb\|si2147\|si2148\|si2157\|si2158\|si2183":

CoreELEC-X96:~ # dmesg | grep "dvb\|si2147\|si2148\|si2157\|si2158\|si2183"
[    4.779019@3]- kernel-overlays-setup: processing conf /storage/.cache/kernel-overlays/50-driver.dvb.crazycat.conf
[    4.909057@0]- kernel-overlays-setup: added modules from /storage/.kodi/addons/driver.dvb.crazycat//kernel-overlay/lib/modules/4.9.269
[   11.281169@1]- dvb-usb: found a 'TBS 5520se USB2.0' in cold state, will try to load a firmware
[   11.331504@1]- dvb-usb: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-usb-tbsqbox-id5521.fw'
[   11.457461@2]- dvb-usb: found a 'TBS 5520se USB2.0' in warm state.
[   11.457797@3]- dvb-usb: will pass the complete MPEG2 transport stream to the software demuxer.
[   11.460287@3]- dvbdev: DVB: registering new adapter (TBS 5520se USB2.0)
[   11.587774@2]- dvb-usb: MAC address: 00:22:ab:c0:4c:fb
[   11.588482@2]- dvbdev: dvb_create_media_entity: media entity 'dvb-demux' registered.
[   11.616119@3]- si2183 5-0067: Silicon Labs Si2183 successfully attached
[   11.655612@2]- si2157 6-0061: Silicon Labs Si2147/2148/2157/2158 successfully attached
[   11.703513@1]- dvbdev: dvb_create_media_entity: media entity 'Silicon Labs Si2183' registered.
[   11.704179@1]- dvbdev: dvb_create_media_entity: media entity 'Silicon Labs Si2183' registered.
[   11.711116@1]- dvb-usb: TBS 5520se USB2.0 successfully initialized and connected.
[   22.406637@3]- si2183 5-0067: found a 'Silicon Labs Si2183-B60'
[   22.434436@1]- si2183 5-0067: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-demod-si2183-b60-01.fw'
[   23.030733@3]- si2183 5-0067: firmware version: 6.0.13
[   23.275850@3]- si2157 6-0061: found a 'Silicon Labs Si2157-A30'
[   23.297267@0]- si2157 6-0061: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-tuner-si2157-a30-01.fw'
[   24.878287@1]- si2157 6-0061: firmware version: 3.0.5
[   24.894351@3]- si2157 6-0061: found a 'Silicon Labs Si2157-A30'
[   24.894638@3]- si2157 6-0061: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-tuner-si2157-a30-01.fw'
[   26.178167@3]- si2157 6-0061: firmware download failed -11
[  935.599582@0]- si2157 6-0061: found a 'Silicon Labs Si2157-A30'
[  935.599730@0]- si2157 6-0061: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-tuner-si2157-a30-01.fw'
[  936.835778@0]- si2157 6-0061: firmware version: 3.0.5
[31285.867186@0]- si2157 6-0061: found a 'Silicon Labs Si2157-A30'
[31285.867379@0]- si2157 6-0061: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-tuner-si2157-a30-01.fw'
[31286.524814@0]- si2157 6-0061: firmware download failed -11
[31286.527587@0]- si2183 5-0067: err setting tuner params
[31286.527595@0]- si2183 5-0067: set_params failed=-11
[31322.466263@0]- si2183 5-0067: err setting tuner params
[31322.466270@0]- si2183 5-0067: set_params failed=-11

Especially looks like suddenly the tuner firmware can’t be downloaded:

[31285.867186@0]- si2157 6-0061: found a 'Silicon Labs Si2157-A30'
[31285.867379@0]- si2157 6-0061: downloading firmware from file 'dvb-tuner-si2157-a30-01.fw'
[31286.524814@0]- si2157 6-0061: firmware download failed -11
[31286.527587@0]- si2183 5-0067: err setting tuner params
[31286.527595@0]- si2183 5-0067: set_params failed=-11
[31322.466263@0]- si2183 5-0067: err setting tuner params
[31322.466270@0]- si2183 5-0067: set_params failed=-11

The connection to the device is somewhat broken. The only way to make it work again is to reboot the device to reinitialise the usb connection? I have no idea what could cause this.

Let me also state that i’m testing this on the FTA channels.

I have no idea how to debug this further - if there is any issue with the drivers or some kind of other power saving feature in the CE?

If anyone could share their exprience or maybe give me an idea how to debug this deeper would be awesome! Thanks!

[crazyturk]

Feed the tuner with annex 5 volts or increase the adapter ampertia.Use 4 or 5 amperes adapter.

I gave 5 more volts because I used a motor system.

[newkind]

Thanks for the reply. I thought that a good powered USB would be sufficient as I don’t use any motor systems - just a fixed satellite position. By the way - did you add that barrel plug by yourself? I just checked my TBS 5520SE and I don’t have such power supply input - it can only be powered by USB.

[crazyturk]

I made the entrance myself.Since the original power supply was 12 volts, I used the IC 7805 reduction into the tuner.
4 or 5 amp power supply will be enough for you.My friend uses 4 amp power supply.

[newkind]

Oh ok. Do you really think its still the issue with the power and not some kind of bug in CE or drivers? Do you maybe have a photo of the board and how you added that power plug? I checked some photos and it looks like there is already a dedicated place on the board for the DV power plug socket. Also if i’d be using a 5V 4A power supply I guess I would just need to install the power plug socket without any extra reductions like IC 7805 right?

[crazyturk]

It will be enough to change the power supply to 5 volts 4 or 5 amps without any additions Or you can use a second 5 -volt power supply with its original cable.
The phone charging source can be used for this.
As in the picture

[newkind]

Awesome! Thanks again. I have connected the red usb plug to the 5V 2A charger so we’ll see if this helps. If not - I’ll add a DC power input and connect it to the 5V 4A power supply. If that won’t work, we’ll know it’s not a power issue. Anyways, I’ll post my results later after some testing. Thanks again!

[newkind]

Ok, so it was fine for couple days but this morning I had to restart the box. I’ll give it couple more days and we’ll see again. It seems to be somewhat improved tho, before that it was just hours before it broke, now it was days so improvement

[newkind]

OK, so here’s an update after having it tested for couple more days. Plugging the RED USB plug into a phone wall brick (5V 2A) was not a solution - it was better but the issue was still there, it just took longer to occur again.

THE SOLUTION was to actually solder the DC barrel socket to the motherboard of the TBS5520SE and plug it into external power supply 5V 4A like @crazyturk suggested. Since doing that, had zero issues with the device and it’s working great for the past week or so.

Thank you @crazyturk! Without you i wouldn’t even know there’s an unpopulated DC socket place on the board

[dhtbox10]

hi, where is a + and gnd - on the desk? thx

[newkind]

If you buy a proper DC power socket, you can place it only in one way so there’s no way you’ll do it wrong: