Need help with major D*TV meltdown

[XWing]

I'm a first-time poster here, so please forgive me if I ask stupid questions. I really need some advice or my other half is gonna kill me! :eek2:

We have 4 DirecTivo boxes: one is a HR10-250 and the rest are RCA DVR40s and a DVR80. I have a 3-LNB oval dish with the usual 4 outputs plus a roof-mounted antenna for OTA; these 5 lines feed into a Terk BMS58. From there I have 2 lines connected to each of the 4 DVRs. Until last Wednesday, all of this stuff worked perfectly, and had been fine for some time. Last summer I even ran all new lines and connectors for a cleaner installation.

Suddenly we're getting freaky things on all of the boxes. On every one, either Sat 1 In or Sat 2 In can't get a signal. Signal tests show strong signals on both inputs for most of the boxes, except that only even-numbered transponders show any signal at all. (The HD box can't get anything at all on Sat In 2; the problem moves to Sat In 1 when I swap the inputs).

The "checking the satellite dish setup" screen cranks for quite awhile, then shows no sats detected on either input for 101, 119 or 110. It also shows my multiswitch as a "DiSEqC" (this used to say "4-port"). If I continue, I can get some channels, but blank images on others. Examples: fine on FX (248) and A&E (265); no signal on COM (249) or LIFE (252).

I thought the multiswitch might have failed, so I replaced it with an identical one; it didn't help. Now I suspect one of the LNBs. I've checked the tightness of all of the connections. We have had some nasty weather lately, but the connectors look pretty good.

Based on this info, does the problem point to one of the LNBs, bad cable(s), or a possible dish misalignment? I gotta believe it's something before it gets to the multiswitch since it affects all of the DVRs.

Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated to get me out of the doghouse. (And fighting a nasty cold for the last week hasn't helped, either...)

Thanks in advance.

[Jhon69]

I'm a first-time poster here, so please forgive me if I ask stupid questions. I really need some advice or my other half is gonna kill me! :eek2:

We have 4 DirecTivo boxes: one is a HR10-250 and the rest are RCA DVR40s and a DVR80. I have a 3-LNB oval dish with the usual 4 outputs plus a roof-mounted antenna for OTA; these 5 lines feed into a Terk BMS58. From there I have 2 lines connected to each of the 4 DVRs. Until last Wednesday, all of this stuff worked perfectly, and had been fine for some time. Last summer I even ran all new lines and connectors for a cleaner installation.

Suddenly we're getting freaky things on all of the boxes. On every one, either Sat 1 In or Sat 2 In can't get a signal. Signal tests show strong signals on both inputs for most of the boxes, except that only even-numbered transponders show any signal at all. (The HD box can't get anything at all on Sat In 2; the problem moves to Sat In 1 when I swap the inputs).

The "checking the satellite dish setup" screen cranks for quite awhile, then shows no sats detected on either input for 101, 119 or 110. It also shows my multiswitch as a "DiSEqC" (this used to say "4-port"). If I continue, I can get some channels, but blank images on others. Examples: fine on FX (248) and A&E (265); no signal on COM (249) or LIFE (252).

I thought the multiswitch might have failed, so I replaced it with an identical one; it didn't help. Now I suspect one of the LNBs. I've checked the tightness of all of the connections. We have had some nasty weather lately, but the connectors look pretty good.

Based on this info, does the problem point to one of the LNBs, bad cable(s), or a possible dish misalignment? I gotta believe it's something before it gets to the multiswitch since it affects all of the DVRs.

Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated to get me out of the doghouse. (And fighting a nasty cold for the last week hasn't helped, either...)

Thanks in advance.



Suggest you get a DirecTV tech out there to fix it.;):welcome_s

[Greyshadow2007]

I'm a first-time poster here, so please forgive me if I ask stupid questions. I really need some advice or my other half is gonna kill me! :eek2:

We have 4 DirecTivo boxes: one is a HR10-250 and the rest are RCA DVR40s and a DVR80. I have a 3-LNB oval dish with the usual 4 outputs plus a roof-mounted antenna for OTA; these 5 lines feed into a Terk BMS58. From there I have 2 lines connected to each of the 4 DVRs. Until last Wednesday, all of this stuff worked perfectly, and had been fine for some time. Last summer I even ran all new lines and connectors for a cleaner installation.

Suddenly we're getting freaky things on all of the boxes. On every one, either Sat 1 In or Sat 2 In can't get a signal. Signal tests show strong signals on both inputs for most of the boxes, except that only even-numbered transponders show any signal at all. (The HD box can't get anything at all on Sat In 2; the problem moves to Sat In 1 when I swap the inputs).

The "checking the satellite dish setup" screen cranks for quite awhile, then shows no sats detected on either input for 101, 119 or 110. It also shows my multiswitch as a "DiSEqC" (this used to say "4-port"). If I continue, I can get some channels, but blank images on others. Examples: fine on FX (248) and A&E (265); no signal on COM (249) or LIFE (252).

I thought the multiswitch might have failed, so I replaced it with an identical one; it didn't help. Now I suspect one of the LNBs. I've checked the tightness of all of the connections. We have had some nasty weather lately, but the connectors look pretty good.

Based on this info, does the problem point to one of the LNBs, bad cable(s), or a possible dish misalignment? I gotta believe it's something before it gets to the multiswitch since it affects all of the DVRs.

Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated to get me out of the doghouse. (And fighting a nasty cold for the last week hasn't helped, either...)

Thanks in advance.

If you've replaced the external multiswitch, there's a good chance that the one built into your 3-LNB dish is bad.

[Mike728]

If I were you, I would call DirecTV and ask if they are offering any specials for upgrading to MPEG-4. If you're a long time loyal customer, they should offer you a free upgrade, including a new 5LNB dish and an OTA'less HR21. Your other SD boxes will still work as before.

[K4SMX]

If I were you, I would call DirecTV and ask if they are offering any specials for upgrading to MPEG-4. If you're a long time loyal customer, they should offer you a free upgrade, including a new 5LNB dish and an OTA'less HR21. Your other SD boxes will still work as before.
Excellent idea. Meanwhile, I think you'll find that one of the lines from your multi-switch to your dish is bad, so carefully examine the connectors and cabling on that side of your multi-switch. Check the 13V line, if you have no odd tp's. It's also possible the internal multi-switch in the LNB has gone bad. A new, free 5 LNB dish as part of an mpeg4 upgrade is definitely the way to go.

[carl6]

There have been many similar complaints at DirecTV.com forums and at Tivocommunity forums.

I suspect that changes to the guide data (to support channels I get) is having an adverse effect on older receivers and DirecTivos.

Absolutely call and let DirecTV know you are having the problems, but I'm not sure that it is a failure on your end. It is possible that you have a bad LNB or a bad cable/connector someplace, and is definately work checking. But it is also possible it's not on your end.

Carl

[joe diamond]

Trading up to the 5lnb isn't a bad idea. Make sure the replacements have OTA ports if you need them.......HR21.....OTA..... anyone?........

Anyhow, what the DTV tech may do is take a jumper and or a signal meter and test all the ports on the lnb. (If defective the lnb gets changed and the system gets a test.)
If they all test ok he will bypass the multiswitch and house wire and test the receivers. You also can do this. Devise a test site and bring the boxes, one at a time and test them on a line (or two) coming directly from the lnb.

Connect the multiswitch to known good cable and fittings.......test the output ports.

If the lnb, tuning, multiswitch & receivers are ok you start adding portions of the house wire until you find the rat bites & staples in the cable or fittings that were crimped with pliers.

There may be a download you are missing.

Go for it!

Joe