Problem with certain channels and DVR

[blailock]

I don't know if this is the correct forum to post this to, but it seems like the best one to me. I'm hoping for some advice.

Last week, my DVR and all 4 of my SD boxes stopped receiving specific channels. I could get my locals (Huntsville, AL), all of the new MPEG4 HD's, and all of the old 70's HD's. The other SD channels were the problem. I would guess that I was unable to get more than I actually received. For instance, I couldn't get USA, but I could get FX. I could receive channel 299, but not 300. Then, Saturday morning, our power went out for a few minutes. Well, my DVR could not download the necessary data to make it operational. After bootup, I got the "Searching for Guide Data" message. My old recordings were available, but I couldn't watch any channels or record anything new. I tried resetting it several times, but nothing changed. So, now my DVR doesn't work at all, and I'm only getting some of the channels on my SD boxes.

I called D*, explained the problem and setup a service call. They won't be coming out until Monday, November 19th. Well, yesterday (November 13th), all of the sudden everything started working again.

I guess I'm hoping someone can clue me in as to what the problem might have been (the CSR was clueless), and also advise me on whether I should keep my service call or cancel it.

Thanks,
Jeff

[texasbrit]

Could be several things but the most likely are dish alignment or a multiswitch failure. What are your signal strengths on all the transponders on the 101 satellite?

[blailock]

Here are my signal strengths on the 101 sat

1-8: 97 98 95 56 96 99 95 99
2-16: 95 95 95 0 95 99 94 100
17-24: 88 100 89 0 95 100 95 100
25-32: 95 95 95 100 96 100 95 99

Thanks,
Jeff

[texasbrit]

No immediately obvious issues with signal strength.
If these signals are from an SD receiver, check the same receiver and see which channels you are missing.

Which multiswitch are you using?

[blailock]

I am using the Zinwell 6x8 multiswitch.

Those signals were from my HR20.

I'm not missing any channels now, so I guess it's kind of hard to tell what went wrong earlier.

[JLucPicard]

The 56 on transponder 4 looks low - low enough to not get channels coming from that transponder, I don't know. There's a chart here somewhere that lists (as best as information was available, I think) which channels come through which transaponders (or maybe that was just locals???). One TP being low could be an LNB issue?

I'm not good at diagnosing this stuff. Others will be much more help!

[Stuart Sweet]

What are your signals on the other satellites?

[blailock]

I'll have to look at the signals on the other satellites later tonight, but I believe that all of the channels that I was not able to get earlier were on the 101 satellite.

Thanks,
Jeff