Multiswitch Question

[compnurd]

I just added a WB68 to my setup and had some questions.

Should the MS bring my signals down a peg or 2?

Some transponders are several points lower on my 101 then without it.

My 103b also drops about 10 points from low to high 90's to low to high 80's.

is this normal or could the switch be bad?

[LameLefty]

Ten points is a bit much! A couple of points perhaps. I have ten transponders on 101 at 100 and nearly all are 95 or higher. On 103(b) last night, all were 92 or higher, and most were 94 - 96. So it's not just the fact of the switch. Check your connectors and the actual connections with the switch and each device.

[compnurd]

LOL, ok should it cause my box to reboot while checking signal levels?

[LameLefty]

LOL, ok should it cause my box to reboot while checking signal levels?

Um, no. :lol:

I would be you either have a defective multiswitch or a short in the cabling - something that is utterly freaking out your receiver. Possibly you have a bad tuner in the receiver, however. Try disconnecting the switch again and then checking signals and see what happens.

[compnurd]

It works fine and signals are slightly higher without it. oh well. bad multiswitch

[Mickey]

I asked this question on another thread. I did not receive a reply. I thought I would repeat it here. I don't want to start a new/special thread to ask this question, and I have read so many frickin posts lately, and haven't run into the answer for this. I am trying to say....I have tried to figure out the answer to this by looking elsewhere on the board. Anyway, my question below:

I am getting the message on 480 & 481. I have gotten 498 to work intermittently.

I have a question. I had my new dish and HR20 installed 1 week ago today. The installer used a Zinwell 4 x 8 switch intead of a 6 x 8. I asked him if he was supposed to use a 6 x 8 to support the new channels. He said no, the 4 x 8 would work fine. Was he wrong? Do I have to get them to come back out and install the 6 x 8 for this setup to work properly for the new HD?

[LameLefty]

I have a question. I had my new dish and HR20 installed 1 week ago today. The installer used a Zinwell 4 x 8 switch intead of a 6 x 8. I asked him if he was supposed to use a 6 x 8 to support the new channels. He said no, the 4 x 8 would work fine. Was he wrong? Do I have to get them to come back out and install the 6 x 8 for this setup to work properly for the new HD?

He was absolutely wrong. You need the Zinwell WB68, not one of the older models, period.

[carl6]

Mickey,

Your installer was wrong. You need to call and get them back out to put in a WB68. If you have fewer than four tuners total, you can go straight from dish to receiver without multiswitch.

Carl

[fwlogue]

I have a question. I had my new dish and HR20 installed 1 week ago today. The installer used a Zinwell 4 x 8 switch intead of a 6 x 8. I asked him if he was supposed to use a 6 x 8 to support the new channels. He said no, the 4 x 8 would work fine. Was he wrong? Do I have to get them to come back out and install the 6 x 8 for this setup to work properly for the new HD?

WB68 is a must for the new HD channels

[Mickey]

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

Something odd, though....when I got home from work tonight.....all the channels were working. 498, 480, 481, 9300 and 9301!

This is SOOOO confusing! I just hope the channels work when they go live with this stuff! Everything seems to be working fine now for the 1st time, but I don't have a lot of confidence that it will stay this way. 498 worked a few times before now, and then didn't. Now, all is working. :nono2:

[compnurd]

yeh just seems to have an issue with the 103b. 99 and 103a signal testing dont have the issue. when i have my next DVR put in i will have them swap it

[veryoldschool]

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

Something odd, though....when I got home from work tonight.....all the channels were working. 498, 480, 481, 9300 and 9301!

This is SOOOO confusing! I just hope the channels work when they go live with this stuff! Everything seems to be working fine now for the 1st time, but I don't have a lot of confidence that it will stay this way. 498 worked a few times before now, and then didn't. Now, all is working. :nono2:
Whether it's working or not, get the RIGHT multi-switch [Zinwell WB68].

[Mickey]

I am getting all the new HD channels today and they look great.

Should I still go to the trouble of calling D* and setting up an installation visit to get the 6 x 8 switch? Everything seems to be working fine.

[dbmaven]

I am getting all the new HD channels today and they look great.

Should I still go to the trouble of calling D* and setting up an installation visit to get the 6 x 8 switch? Everything seems to be working fine.

At least in this thread I did not see the model number of the switch posted....do you know what it is ?

[LameLefty]

At least in this thread I did not see the model number of the switch posted....do you know what it is ?

Mickey originally said:
The installer used a Zinwell 4 x 8 switch intead of a 6 x 8.

Here's the thing: no Zinwell 4 x 8 switch is wideband-certified for Ka-Low signals. So whatever the model number, it ought to be replaced.

[ChicagoTC]

If you have an older Zinwell 4x8 it's probably a SAM-4803. It doesn't support KaKu wideband. I'm very surprised this is working. Are you sure it's a 4x8?

[McCoyRJ]

I wasn't getting any of the new HD channels until I bypassed the Aspen DTV4X8 that was leftover from my old satellite. Once bypassed, they all come in very clear and my 103(b) signals are in the 90's.

I just ordered a Zinwell WB68 from Solidsignal.com for $51 and then called D* technical support to see if they would credit my account. They did without question and told me that they are now telling all of their tech reps to install wideband 6X8 multiswitches. Might want to give them a call.

[Mickey]

At least in this thread I did not see the model number of the switch posted....do you know what it is ?

I am at work, so I can't check the model number right now. I will later when I get home.

As I stated previously, this installation was done last week. It is a Zinwell switch, and the installer said it was a 4 x 8. He told me this because I was trying to make sure I got the 6 x 8 so things would be right (as stated on this board). He told me I would be fine with this switch and did not offer to put in a 6 x 8. I asked him about this more than once. I also called about my installation beforehand, and was told they would be installing a 6 x 8 switch. D* installers, gotta love 'em. :nono2:

[ChicagoTC]

Did you actually see the switch? It could very well be a 6x8. In 95% of installations people won't use the 2 extra input on the 6x8. So maybe the installer just meant he was only using 4 inputs. Those 2 flexports are for sat 72.5 and 95.

Here is an easy way to tell, did he run an extra cable run for power and it is plugged into an AC outlet? The Zinwell SAM 4803 requires power.

[Mickey]

Did you actually see the switch? It could very well be a 6x8. In 95% of installations people won't use the 2 extra input on the 6x8. So maybe the installer just meant he was only using 4 inputs. Those 2 flexports are for sat 72.5 and 95.

Here is an easy way to tell, did he run an extra cable run for power and it is plugged into an AC outlet? The Zinwell SAM 4803 requires power.

I went home at lunch and wrote down the information from the switch. It is a Zinwell SAM-4803 4 x 8 multiswitch. And yes, it does have a cable ran for power and it is plugged into an AC outlet.

In spite of this, all of my HD channels seem to be coming in fine. Give me your advice fellas. It seems that most that have commented say call and get the 6 x 8 anyway. I hate to have to meet an installer again. That is such a pain. But, I also don't want to experience problems later and have to deal with it. I am surprised this is working since the consensus is that is shouldn't. :confused:

[LameLefty]

I am surprised this is working since the consensus is that is shouldn't. :confused:

It's statistical variability - the spec says ONE thing, but the reality is something else. Sometimes you get better than you expect, over times less, but the spec is a minimum that you HAVE to have. Sometimes a product is changed throughout its lifetime and uses better/newer components than the original design as costs and market conditions for suppliers change too. So products get more capable than the minimum required. Chip manufacturers do this all the time, which is why there was (is?) a burgeoning market for kids interested in way overclocking their computer systems, past the spec the chip is rated for. It could be that you just got a switch on the higher-end of the bell curve there. It could also be that the product was in fact uprated even though the spec never changed.

On the one hand, you don't know which theory is right, correct? Or if there is some other explanation. On the other hand, you KNOW a WB68 meets the minimum spec. If it were me, I'd get the new switch off ebay or from SolidSignal and replace it myself, then tell Directv you had to do it because the installer didn't and get a credit. That should preclude you from having problems in the foreseeable future related to the switch.

[wavemaster]

As an aside, those of you thinking about picking up a WB616 I was told when I ordered mine they were going fast.

There will probably be quite a run on them for the next few months.

[mndwalsh]

I wasn't getting any of the new HD channels until I bypassed the Aspen DTV4X8 that was leftover from my old satellite. Once bypassed, they all come in very clear and my 103(b) signals are in the 90's.

I just ordered a Zinwell WB68 from Solidsignal.com for $51 and then called D* technical support to see if they would credit my account. They did without question and told me that they are now telling all of their tech reps to install wideband 6X8 multiswitches. Might want to give them a call.

what signals were you getting before you bypassed the multiswitch? I think I have the same issue with my Aspen some channels worked this morning but most didn't. I have my Zinwell on the way and a tech coming out Friday just in case.

[dbmaven]

Mickey originally said:
Quote:
The installer used a Zinwell 4 x 8 switch intead of a 6 x 8.

Here's the thing: no Zinwell 4 x 8 switch is wideband-certified for Ka-Low signals. So whatever the model number, it ought to be replaced.

Yes - I read that, and that's specifically why I asked about a model number. Given the number of horror stories we've seen over the last couple of weeks about "sure that <fill in brand/model switch> will work with the new HD" etc, etc., it seemed like a good idea to validate that it either is or isn't a WB68 - by looking at it. Now we know for sure that it isn't.

[LameLefty]

Yes - I read that, and that's specifically why I asked about a model number. Given the number of horror stories we've seen over the last couple of weeks about "sure that <fill in brand/model switch> will work with the new HD" etc, etc., it seemed like a good idea to validate that it either is or isn't a WB68 - by looking at it. Now we know for sure that it isn't.

Yep. And as pointed out in this (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1163313&postcount=21) post, some under-spec'd switches may work, but my philosophy is why take the chance?

[dbmaven]

Yep. And as pointed out in this (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1163313&postcount=21) thread, some under-spec'd switches may work, but my philosophy is why take the chance?


Nobody's arguing that. Heck, I got into it recommending that somebody replace a SWA-48 that they say is receiving all the channels perfectly ! (That means that we agree! )


All I was trying to do was establish the fact that it wasn't a WB68 by incontrovertible evidence....