we have been conducting tests to try and receive digital ......the only way we can get it to work is by using a fortek star receiver to pick up the transmitted digital picture change over to minitioune and all is well.
I don't understand ' to try and receive digital ' ?? not a DATV signal ?
I suppose that you try to receive a Broadcast satellite station.
when you use a "fortek star receiver", your receiver send +13v or +18V in the coaxial to power the LNB and set the polarization (V or H)
if the frequency is high (above 10.6 Ghz, your receiver send also 22kHz to switch the LNB LO frequency from 9500 MHz to 10600 MHz
if you use a Minitiouner you can sent the power supply (12v or 18v) to the LNB via a jumper ( read the documentation)
a Minitiouner can send also the 22kHz but you need to add a strap
( but you don't need to do that, staying with the 9500 LO freq as the Zero Tuner of your NIM accepts high values)
so both hardware can do the job, but with a Minitiouner you need more to understand what you are doing and how things work.
you have to set up with a fortek star first for switching your LNB as it must be for a specific frequency, but you could work without that procedure.
About MER and constellations,
I have made a presentation in 2012 at CAT12, look at pages 14..16
http://www.vivadatv.org/download/file.php?id=491and in 2015 at CAT15, look at pages 17 and 18
Jean-Pierre F6DZP