Multiple Bad HR20's

[loubolb]

I decided to upgrade the bedroom H20 to a HR20 a couple of weeks ago. I got a deal through retention for $99 and setup a install. Everything was fine while the installer was there. The unit was a New hr20-100. 15 minutes after he leaves I'm setting up my series links and it reboots and never comes back up. Many reboots later and the box will not make it past the hello screen. Call DTV they send me out a new one. It’s a HR20-700 refurb so now I’m stoked. Plug it in all is well 5 minutes in and I get a searching for sat on tuner 1. Check all connections swap cables no luck will not get signal on tuner 1. Call DTV they are very sorry and send me out another unit, its another HR20-700 refurb, boots up fine all seems well. I start recording a show then try to change the channel and I get the message saying all tuners are in use. I check signal strength and tuner 2 won’t show anything. No zeros just dashes across all transponders on all sats. Many reboots later still tuner 2. Not searching for tuner 2 just acts like its not there. Called DTV and they are having someone from a group that deals with situations like this (multiple failed units) call me today. Guy on the phone kept insisting that its something wrong with my setup but it was working fine with my H20 for over a year. Not sure what to tell these guys when they call but I'm 99% sure its bad boxes and not my setup. I am definitely going to be requesting a New HR20 not a refurb and after reading an earlier post I’m going to see if they can hook up HR21.

[Sirshagg]

It's certainly possible that three receivers were bad, but I'd agree that it's probably time to look into other possible causes since this does seem rather unlikely.

I would have to agree on the NEW replacement though.

[loubolb]

I have another HR20 thats been solid for about a year and a R10 that is fine. I went up in the attic and changed ports on the multiswitch with no change. The only thing I havent done is run 2 new cables. The cables were fine with the H20 I had in that room.

[Sirshagg]

I have another HR20 thats been solid for about a year and a R10 that is fine. I went up in the attic and changed ports on the multiswitch with no change. The only thing I havent done is run 2 new cables. The cables were fine with the H20 I had in that room.

Has the working HR20 been connected in the same location and in the same way as the failed HR20's?

[Milominderbinder2]

When the installer was there, did you have him run new RG6 everywhere?

If not, how old is your wiring? Is it RG59? Is it copper core? Are the connectors the compression type?

- Craig

[celticpride]

I had a similir problem make sure you check the connectors ( mine were bad) of course make sure you have 2 cables running to the back of your HR20 dvr.

[loubolb]

The wiring is less then a year old RG6 50' runs from the multiswitch. They are store purchased molded cables. I had run the cables not the technician and they are the same type of cables run to the other HR20 in another room. I have even taken the known good ports of the multiswitch (the other HR20's ports) and swapped them with the ports that were connected to the failing HR20s and the existing HR20 had no problems while the bad one had the same issues.

The other HR20 has not been connected in the other location but when I get home tonight I will do that.

Also when I swap cables on the bad dvr (tuner 1 cable to tuner 2 and vice versa)the signal strenghts on bad recievers are nearly identical on tuner 1. This in my opinion would be enough to verify the reciever is bad.

Also when I do a system test it says Tuner 2 is OK and next to it it says not aquired.

[loubolb]

Just got off the phone with DTV and they suspect its the reciever and are going to send out a new one. I also swapped out my good and bad systems and it confirmed that the lines seem to be fine. He spoke with a set top box engineer and she suspeted that if it could be the multiswitch shorting out the tuner after a certain amount of time. New box will tell.