My multiswitch may be dying

[Mark20]

Lately I've been having low signal levels on the odd transponders. I loosened (but did not completely remove) and retightened the grounding block connections since I had a problem there a year ago. No change. Next disconnected and reconnected the inputs to the MS and all was good. Mid to high 90's across the board. An hour later the signals were down again. I've repeated this several times with the same results.

Finally bypassed the MS completely and wired the dish directly to one R15 and signals were at least in the high 80's on all transponders. Left this for an hour or so with no change in the levels. I'm guessing there is an amplifier in the MS to give me those 90's levels.

Can I just put a voltmeter on the MS ports for the dish to see if the 13V & 18V are there for telling the LNB to get the horizontal and vertical polarizations?

[veryoldschool]

Yes you can use a voltmeter.
Have you checked the cable at the dish yet? They could be loose also.

[Mark20]

Thanks.

No haven't gone up to the roof yet. Not that hard but I ended up working this past weekend and I don't want to be up there when its dark. Something about that sudden stop...

[Mark20]

Well this is looking like more than a multiswitch problem.

I measured the voltage and 13V side was 11.5 and the 18V was 13.3V. Bypass the MS to one receiver and after a while things again didn't look good again. So cabling or dish/LNB are the problem. Probably won't be able to look at the dish before Friday but I'm thinking of either calling DIRECTV for service or an independant.

I'm leaning toward an independant even though it will probably cost me more (don't have protection plan) but I would like this to be "one and done". Fixed right the first time.

Any opinions or recommendations for a Philly area DIRECTV installer.