View Full Version : Arrrrg...Dish Alignment or BBC's?
Ok, mostly lurk out here, but need some advice...
I had my dish aligned a few months back to take care of a rain fade problem. Most of my satellites have a signal strength over 80% with the majority being in the 90% range. The one exception is 103(b). The only transponders with signals are 11 (70%), 17 (90%) and 22 (85%). Everything else is 0. Whenever I try the test channels I get the "Searching for Satellite" message. When I set up the appointment for the realignment DT sent out a set of BBCs. The installer also left a set of BBCs while he was there. So I was able to swap out the BBCs. Still get "Searching for Satellite".
I am guessing I need to get Direct back out to align the dish again. What I don’t understand is that the few transponders on 103(b) seem to have good signal strengths so I must be seeing the satellite. Does anyone have any other recommendations? If not, I will get DT out.
BTW, I have an HR20-700.
Thanks
Joe
Mike Bertelson
09-25-07, 08:11 AM
Ok, mostly lurk out here, but need some advice...
I had my dish aligned a few months back to take care of a rain fade problem. Most of my satellites have a signal strength over 80% with the majority being in the 90% range. The one exception is 103(b). The only transponders with signals are 11 (70%), 17 (90%) and 22 (85%). Everything else is 0. Whenever I try the test channels I get the "Searching for Satellite" message. When I set up the appointment for the realignment DT sent out a set of BBCs. The installer also left a set of BBCs while he was there. So I was able to swap out the BBCs. Still get "Searching for Satellite".
I am guessing I need to get Direct back out to align the dish again. What I don’t understand is that the few transponders on 103(b) seem to have good signal strengths so I must be seeing the satellite. Does anyone have any other recommendations? If not, I will get DT out.
BTW, I have an HR20-700.
Thanks
Joe
These are my signal strengths. I had my dish moved(got a new roof) and the installer aligned it as normal. This was before we were able to see 103°(b).
It would seem if it was aligned correctly the first time you should have no problem getting 103°(b).
Also I have a clear unobstructed view...no trees/buildings/etc.
The numbers should be different than yours but if you compare the relative differences between the transponders/sats and against yours it might give you some basis.
If you can post your readings someone else might be able to tell you if they are what they should be.
Anyone from your area of the country?
Mike
101° 1-96 2-96 3-94 4-100 5-93 6-99 7-95 8-97
9-95 10-97 11-96 12-100 13-95 14-99 15-96 16-100
17-95 22-100 19-94 20-100 21-94 22-98 23-94 24-99
25-94 26-98 27-94 28-95 29-94 30-99 31-91 32-100
99° 1-99 2-98 3-85 4-99 5-100 5-100
103°(a) 1-89 2-58 3-0 4-87 5-86 6-43 17-0
110° 8-96
10-96 12-97
119° 22-95 23-89 24-96
25-98 26-96 27-97 28-96 29-98 30-97 31-89 32-99
Ok, mostly lurk out here, but need some advice...
I had my dish aligned a few months back to take care of a rain fade problem. Most of my satellites have a signal strength over 80% with the majority being in the 90% range. The one exception is 103(b). The only transponders with signals are 11 (70%), 17 (90%) and 22 (85%). Everything else is 0. Whenever I try the test channels I get the "Searching for Satellite" message. When I set up the appointment for the realignment DT sent out a set of BBCs. The installer also left a set of BBCs while he was there. So I was able to swap out the BBCs. Still get "Searching for Satellite".
I am guessing I need to get Direct back out to align the dish again. What I don’t understand is that the few transponders on 103(b) seem to have good signal strengths so I must be seeing the satellite. Does anyone have any other recommendations? If not, I will get DT out.
BTW, I have an HR20-700.
Thanks
Joe
What all is in your system, any multiswitches? How about OTA do you have an antenna and is it run on a separate line or is it diplexed in?
These are my signal strengths. I had my dish moved(got a new roof) and the installer aligned it as normal. This was before we were able to see 103°(b).
It would seem if it was aligned correctly the first time you should have no problem getting 103°(b).
Also I have a clear unobstructed view...no trees/buildings/etc.
The numbers should be different than yours but if you compare the relative differences between the transponders/sats and against yours it might give you some basis.
If you can post your readings someone else might be able to tell you if they are what they should be.
Anyone from your area of the country?
Mike
101° 1-96 2-96 3-94 4-100 5-93 6-99 7-95 8-97
9-95 10-97 11-96 12-100 13-95 14-99 15-96 16-100
17-95 22-100 19-94 20-100 21-94 22-98 23-94 24-99
25-94 26-98 27-94 28-95 29-94 30-99 31-91 32-100
99° 1-99 2-98 3-85 4-99 5-100 5-100
103°(a) 1-89 2-58 3-0 4-87 5-86 6-43 17-0
110° 8-96
10-96 12-97
119° 22-95 23-89 24-96
25-98 26-96 27-97 28-96 29-98 30-97 31-89 32-99
Where are your 103(b) numbers? 103 a is spaceway1 and it is a spot beam sat you will not get all the transponders there.
What all is in your system, any multiswitches? How about OTA do you have an antenna and is it run on a separate line or is it diplexed in?
Sorry, meant to put that in the original post. Slimline to multiswitch (sorry, dont have type with me as Im at work). Multiswitch to HR20. No diplexing. Pretty much a straight run. I to have a small indoor OTA connected directly to the OTA connection on the HR20. I should also mention that I am able to get Local HD channels off the dish with no issue.
Sorry, meant to put that in the original post. Slimline to multiswitch (sorry, dont have type with me as Im at work). Multiswitch to HR20. No diplexing. Pretty much a straight run. I to have a small indoor OTA connected directly to the OTA connection on the HR20. I should also mention that I am able to get Local HD channels off the dish with no issue.
Check the MS when u can and see what model you have, there are only 2 approved switches, Zinwell wb68 and Zinwell wb616, some people have been getting the test channels with a few other switches but I would stick with approved stuff.
What are BBC's?
B Band converters, they are required(unless you have an swm) to receive the new signals from D10 in the Ka Lo band. Small rectangular grey or black boxes that attach to the back of the Hr20/H20/H21 receivers.
OK, What are SWM's?
New, not yet available- Single Wire Multiswitch. New technology that is much much more flexible than the old way. Sat lines can be split with an SWM in use, and the bbcs are not necessary either.
There are people here who are in testing with the SWM and the word is that a few markets are having them installed now but they are still very rare.
Thanks for the Information
Skins Fan
09-25-07, 09:21 AM
Where are your 103(b) numbers? 103 a is spaceway1 and it is a spot beam sat you will not get all the transponders there.
Agree, you didn't give your 103b readings. That is what you want to look at.
Mike Bertelson
09-25-07, 09:21 AM
Where are your 103(b) numbers? 103 a is spaceway1 and it is a spot beam sat you will not get all the transponders there.
These are from over the weekend.
103°(b) 1-95 2-94 3-88 4-88 5-94 6-94 7-91 8-94
9-82 10-91 11-89 12-92 13-96 14-96
17-96 22-97
Mike
smitchell24
09-25-07, 09:29 AM
On a somewhat similar note, I have the latest firmware, DOD, 4 BBC's for my HR20-700 & HR20-100, plus the HD package, but am getting a ZERO rating & signal strength for 103b & thus ALL the test channels are NOT working.
Could there be any other issues than just the need for a re-alignment? Is it possible that ALL other transponders work & all current HD channels come in just fine, but 103b doesn't?? Could there possibly be a multi-switch or BBC issue related to 103b & the new channels, even if I get current HD channels & passed that BBC test on one of the test channels months ago?
Thanks in advance! A D* tech will be arrived shortly & just want to tell them the correct info, cause initially they told me that I couldn't get 103b cause the channels are NOT active yet, but thats NOT true, as many are reporting good readings on all the test channels! Just want to get this completely addressed before the new channels go live, & am especially leery of the new stuff lighting when I am currently getting a 0 rating on 103b.
Sorry, meant to put that in the original post. Slimline to multiswitch (sorry, dont have type with me as Im at work). Multiswitch to HR20. No diplexing. Pretty much a straight run. I to have a small indoor OTA connected directly to the OTA connection on the HR20. I should also mention that I am able to get Local HD channels off the dish with no issue.
It is very probable that you have an out-of-date multiswitch. You should also have some 100's showing for the 101 and 119 satellites, so please make sure that when they replace your multiswitch, you are getting excellent sig strengths on 103(b), because your alignment still could be a tad off, in spite of the recent re-alignment.
It is very probable that you have an out-of-date multiswitch. You should also have some 100's showing for the 101 and 119 satellites, so please make sure that when they replace your multiswitch, you are getting excellent sig strengths on 103(b), because your alignment still could be a tad off, in spite of the recent re-alignment.
Thanks, I'll check the multiswitch tonight. I do have 100's on some of the transponders for 101 and 119. Didnt post those as I didnt write down the exact numbers this morning before I left for work. I tend to think my dish is aligned pretty well. I've been trying to avoid calling DT until HD goes live, and been hoping it will work. At this point Im pretty sure it wont. If its a MS problem, I will call them otherwise may wait until after go live (so I wont have to wait for them more then once).
Thanks, I'll check the multiswitch tonight. I do have 100's on some of the transponders for 101 and 119. Didnt post those as I didnt write down the exact numbers this morning before I left for work. I tend to think my dish is aligned pretty well. I've been trying to avoid calling DT until HD goes live, and been hoping it will work. At this point Im pretty sure it wont. If its a MS problem, I will call them otherwise may wait until after go live (so I wont have to wait for them more then once).
If you don't have a WB68, you are entitled to call them immediately.
Seeing this is playtime for everybody until Directv actually starts broadcasting and thing simmer down I'll stick my 2 cents in. In playing with my AT-9 I removed the BBC to see what effect it had on 103, my 103a went up 3-5% and my 103b went to no signal at all.
I started out with similar problems. I found that switching the inputs around on my multiswitch took care of my problems. I have a Zinwell WB68.
i too once had some signal issues on 103b. granted all mine at best are 55-85, but switching isnputs around was the same as basically what i did, by resetting the connection on the multiswitch. seemed the signal is so picky, that i reenabled signal pickup just by ensuring they were tight, straight connections. it immeditaly allowed me to get a signal just by removing and reattaching the coax.
I started out with similar problems. I found that switching the inputs around on my multiswitch took care of my problems. I have a Zinwell WB68.
That's very interesting. I wonder what the technical explanation is for that fixing your problem? Loose connectors, a bad WB68? Doesn't seem like he has loose connectors, 'cause everything else seems to work...
I was having troubles with my two HR20-100's with no signal in tuner one for 103b. Tuner two was showing most transponders in the 40-60 range. My HR20-700 received signal in both tuners in the 50-70 range. Because I was getting nothing in tuner one on the 100's I thought it might be bad boxes. The tech put in a new HR20-100 and it received a signal in both tuners but fairly low. Before replacing the boxes his boss told him to replace the AT-9 with the new slimline and to replace the WB68.
Now I have signals on all transponders in the low ninties for 103b on all boxes. And all test channel work.
That's very interesting. I wonder what the technical explanation is for that fixing your problem? Loose connectors, a bad WB68? Doesn't seem like he has loose connectors, 'cause everything else seems to work...
Checked the connections into the box last night. However I did not check the ones into the MS. If the MS turns out to be correct I will try moving around my connections. I will update everyone tomorrow.
Checked the connections into the box last night. However I did not check the ones into the MS. If the MS turns out to be correct I will try moving around my connections. I will update everyone tomorrow.
Ok, it looks like I may have a multiswitch problem. I have a JVI Trunkline MS. From the posts in the last couple of hours it appears that this issue is hitting a lot of people. Does anyone know if DT will overnight one to me?
techrep
09-25-07, 05:16 PM
Ok, it looks like I may have a multiswitch problem. I have a JVI Trunkline MS. From the posts in the last couple of hours it appears that this issue is hitting a lot of people. Does anyone know if DT will overnight one to me?
D* will want to send a tech out to install it. The only way to get one expedited is to buy from a vender like Solidsignal.
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