Help with Ext 771 on some channels

[crwmlw]

Ok here is what I have. (2) HR20 DVR's and both of them I get the 771 Message on some HD channels like History HD and National Geographic HD, if I keep flipping between channels they finally come in. Had tech come by today and he said dish is properly aligned and he is not sure whats wrong because it was working when he was here. Anyone have suggestions, I also replaced multiswitch and B-Band converters. Thanks

[K4SMX]

If it effects both receivers, there's a problem either in your cabling or connectors between the multi-switch and the dish, or the LNB is intermittently bad, since you've already replaced your multi-switch. Is your dish an AT-9 or a Slimline?

Please start keeping a list of exactly which channels are effected to determine if they are the same on both receivers. We'll also be able to determine exactly which satellites and tp's are having problems.

[crwmlw]

Thanks. The one channel for sure I try to watch most is History HD Channel 269 and that is the 771 problem for sure. I believe it is the slimline. How do I know for sure? The dish was replaced in October of last year.

[crwmlw]

Ok from the pictures I looked at on line it looks like the slimline dish

[litzdog911]

Post back your with your signal readings on the 99 and 103-deg satellite transponders.

[crwmlw]

Ok here we go.
99 (s) Transponders 1-6 are 92 86 91 96 95 96
103(s) Transponders 1-6 are 0 0 0 0 0 0
Transponders 17-24 are 97 95 0 99 45 0 0 0

[jforgione]

Ok here we go.
99 (s) Transponders 1-6 are 92 86 91 96 95 96
103(s) Transponders 1-6 are 0 0 0 0 0 0
Transponders 17-24 are 97 95 0 99 45 0 0 0

Are you using both tuners (sat 1 and sat 2)? If you are only using one tuner, I recently had a similar problem since the latest software push. After going through sat setup again the problem went away.

[litzdog911]

What about 103(c) readings? There are two 103-deg W satellite screens.

[houskamp]

Ok here we go.
99 (s) Transponders 1-6 are 92 86 91 96 95 96
103(s) Transponders 1-6 are 0 0 0 0 0 0
Transponders 17-24 are 97 95 0 99 45 0 0 0
103s is all spotbeams.. need 103c..

[crwmlw]

Ok 103c is as follows
1-8 are 96 95 96 95 95 95 96 95
9-16 are 95 95 95 96 96 97 na na
17-24 are 97 na na na na 98 na na

[K4SMX]

Those signals look fine. What was the answer to the question about whether these are single antenna wire installations? If you are using single antenna lines, there's a procedure for correcting this problem. If you're using two antenna lines to these receivers, which I suspect you are, please post your signals for the other tuner as well on 103(c) if they are not substantially the same as those you already posted

BTW, HISTHD is on 103(c), tp 7, and NGCHD is on 103(c), tp 4.

Even though you have replaced your multi-switch already, just for a clean experiment you can try temporarily bypassing your multi-switch with double-female "barrel" adapters, connecting the coax lines from the receivers straight to the dish. It's possible your cable lengths are too long, if you're using copper-clad steel center conductor RG-6 coax instead of the recommended solid-copper RG-6. A lot of the former is marked "CCL" on the jacket. It will carry satellite RF signals just fine, but not the DC signaling voltages required by the multi-switch in the LNB. The result is symptoms such as you report. Frequently, removing the multi-switch from the equation provides a better voltage level to the LNB's internal multi-switch.

So how long are your cable lengths and what kind of coax are you using? You can unscrew a connector and look at the cut end of the center conductor to see if it's solid copper. If you still have the problem running straight to the dish, and your cable lengths are < 125', the next step would be to replace your LNB. If this fixes the problem, there are solutions.

[crwmlw]

Ok numbers are the same for both tuners as far as signal goes. as far as the lines go Im not sure. The lines run about 60 feet to the multiplexer then it varies depending on where the receivers are. 1 of them is another 30 feet to one receiver, 20 to the other and another 50 or so to the 3rd.

[urnote96]

what kind of rcvr, i was having the same problems today during installs on H21-100's

[crwmlw]

Are HR20's

[K4SMX]

Those lengths should be OK if there weren't a multi-switch in the equation. So pick up 4 of these adapters (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103459&cp) and temporarily bypass it.

[hrobbs]

Those lengths should be OK if there weren't a multi-switch in the equation. So pick up 4 of these adapters (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103459&cp) and temporarily bypass it.

I had the same problem last month and bypassed the multi-switch as is being recommended, all workrd fine after that. Got a new WB68 and all is well. If you've already replaced the multi-switch you're probably ok, but it's worth doing the bypass just to rule that out.