TBS 5590 Multi-Standard Probe

tbs5590

TSReader supports a wide range of input devices and we've always tried to be "device agnostic" and not really got involved with hardware. That said numerous customers have asked over the years for a portable demodulator that supports every worldwide standard and also handles DVB-ASI.

Working with our friends at TBS, we've developed the TBS 5590 - a multi-standard USB-2 probe for TSReader. The TBS 5590 supports the following input types:

  • DVB-ASI
  • DVB-C (16QAM to 256QAM)
  • DVB-C2 (COFDM - 16QAM to 4096QAM)
  • DVB-S (QPSK)
  • DVB-S2 (QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK)
  • DVB-S2X (QPSK, 2-4-2APSK, 8PSK, 8-8APSK, 16APSK, 4-12-16rbAPSK, 4-8-4-16APSK)
  • DVB-T (COFDM - QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM)
  • DVB-T2/T2Lite (COFDM - QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM)
  • ISDB-T (COFDM - QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM)
  • QAM-B aka ITU-T J.83 Annex B (64QAM & 256QAM). Both fixed North American and variable symbol rates are supported

In other words pretty much all worldwide MPEG-2 transport formats except 8VSB which can be received with a cheap USB stick like the Hauppauge HVR-955Q. Best of all, the TBS 5590 is only $299 — added to TSReader Professional, a powerful real-time MPEG-2 Transport Stream analyzer can be yours for less than $700!

When receiving RF signals, the TBS 5590 shows real signal levels that engineers want to know:

  • Signal level in dBmV
  • Carrier to Noise (C/N) in dB
  • Bit Error Rate (BER) as an exponent

The TBS 5590 is supported in TSReader 2.8.53 and later and is available for purchase directly from TBS's website. TSReader includes source modules for each mode and will automatically reprogram the demodulator when changing modes. Other than the Windows driver (XP through Windows 10), no additional software is required. TBS uses the Microsoft BDA interface, so it's also compatible with "watch TV" programs like ProgDVB.
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