New install HR-21 = No HD channels

[Moog]

I've posted a few times in the past in the R-15 forum...now I've upgraded to HD.

Had the install yesterday (new slimline dish, HR-21). Trouble is the tech could not get any HD channels. Re-aimed the dish multiple times, got signal strenght of +95.

I did get about 2 HD channels. They were not in HD, and were not the correct channel. Example: ESPN-HD was broadcasting a local channel in SD with no audio.

The tech was dumbfounded and after calling DTV and the install supervisor multiple times, and after spending all day, he left to come back later today with his supervisor to try to figure out the problem.

Apparently he did run new lines, multiswithc and replaced the LNB of the new dish too.

I can receive all SD channels no issues there, and my HD channels are not "grayed" out in the guide, it's just that all HD channels are "searching for sat. signal."


Thoughts?

[David MacLeod]

bad bbc's ?

[say-what]

Did they install the bbc's on the back of the receiver and did they use the correct multiswitch (Zinwell WB68)?

Are there any splitters anywhere on the line to the HR21?

[Moog]

Did they install the bbc's on the back of the receiver and did they use the correct multiswitch (Zinwell WB68)?

Are there any splitters anywhere on the line to the HR21?

They did install new bbc modules at both lines at the back of the receiver.
My guess is the only way to know if they are faulty is to flat out replace them?

There are no splitters on the 2 lines to the HR21. They run directly from the sat to the DVR.

Are there know issues with bad bbc's?

[Michael D'Angelo]

I know you said you are getting signals 95+ but what SAT's? The new HD channels are on 103c, your HD locals are on either 103s or 99s and the old ones are on 110 and 119. What are your signals on them?

Here is a another question (probably stupid). For the HD channels are you seeing a HD and SD version both in the guide?

I am wondering if the installer did not set the HD DVR up for the 5 LNB dish. If he didn't than you would not be see the HD version in the guide and the channels will not work.

[David MacLeod]

just to verify, in first post you mention a multi switch but here you say straight ,from "sat to dvr". is there a switch there? I don't have personal experience with it but some people have reported issues with the wb68 unpowered switches.

yes, bbc's can go bad easily and expectedly especially if bent. I don't think swapping the 2 would help you much but replacing might. also, maybe wiggling them around while watching signal strength might show if they are bad.
I had 2 (2 different dvr's) go bad in same day due to bending. I was able to figure this out by wiggling and watching the signal jump around.

edit-Mike suggestion about setup is a good one I did not even think about.

[Moog]

I know you said you are getting signals 95+ but what SAT's? The new HD channels are on 103c, your HD locals are on either 103s or 99s and the old ones are on 110 and 119. What are your signals on them?

Here is a another question (probably stupid). For the HD channels are you seeing a HD and SD version both in the guide?

I am wondering if the installer did not set the HD DVR up for the 5 LNB dish. If he didn't than you would not be see the HD version in the guide and the channels will not work.

Sat 103 is pretty much "dead" from what I recall.

The guide shows BOTH HD and SD channels, when I tune to HD channels, I get the "trying to acquire sat signal" notification.

If there is no signal for Sat 103, what could be the cause?

[Moog]

just to verify, in first post you mention a multi switch but here you say straight ,from "sat to dvr". is there a switch there? I don't have personal experience with it but some people have reported issues with the wb68 unpowered switches.

yes, bbc's can go bad easily and expectedly especially if bent. I don't think swapping the 2 would help you much but replacing might. also, maybe wiggling them around while watching signal strength might show if they are bad.
I had 2 (2 different dvr's) go bad in same day due to bending. I was able to figure this out by wiggling and watching the signal jump around.

edit-Mike suggestion about setup is a good one I did not even think about.

I have a total of 2 receivers in the house.
There is a multiswitch installed, so when I said "direct" I should have said from the dish, via multiswitch, and to the receiver.

It sounds like the bbc's are a little on the "fragile" side of things.

[Stuart Sweet]

No signal from 103 could be a bad LNB or bad aiming.

[David MacLeod]

bad bbc's would do that as well as incorrect setup in menu. did the installer try other bbc's?
I was curious a few minutes ago so I plugged 2 known broken bbc's into a dvr and had 0 on most 103 xponders.
if I recall right the setup would fail if bbc's were bad but would allow you to continue after showing the failure on 99/103 sats.

[Moog]

^^ Thanks for the info. It appears that it's either down to the bbc's or the LNB, although he did replace the LNB already.

I don't believe there are issues with the aiming of the dish.

Tech is supposed to show up in a couple of hours.
I'll let you all know the verdict.

[hdtvfan0001]

^^ Thanks for the info. It appears that it's either down to the bbc's or the LNB, although he did replace the LNB already.

I don't believe there are issues with the aiming of the dish.

Tech is supposed to show up in a couple of hours.
I'll let you all know the verdict.
You won't get the HD channels without the BBC's....the tech should check those as soon as he gets there.

[Moog]

You won't get the HD channels without the BBC's....the tech should check those as soon as he gets there.

Will do.

[say-what]

I am wondering if the installer did not set the HD DVR up for the 5 LNB dish. If he didn't than you would not be see the HD version in the guide and the channels will not work.Might be worth going through the initial guided setup to make sure the 5lnb dish is selected - couldn't hurt.

[Moog]

Might be worth going through the initial guided setup to make sure the 5lnb dish is selected - couldn't hurt.

...but I see all the HD channels in the guide.

[say-what]

...but I see all the HD channels in the guide.The guide is populated based on your account settings and the data sent to the box. It doesn't really care if you can or can't see the SATs broadcasting the HD channels.

[Moog]

The guide is populated based on your account settings and the data sent to the box. It doesn't really care if you can or can't see the SATs broadcasting the HD channels.

So you are saying that if a 5 lnb dish was net setup in the guide would still show HD content?

[David MacLeod]

yes, guide is pulled (if I remember right) from different sat.
I had 3 lnb for a few days after getting hr20 and channels were in the guide, just not watchable.

[Moog]

yes, guide is pulled (if I remember right) from different sat.
I had 3 lnb for a few days after getting hr20 and channels were in the guide, just not watchable.

Thanks.

My checklist for the tech: bbc(s), 5lnb versus 3lnb setup on the DVR, multiswitch.

[408SJC]

where in cali r u?

[Moog]

where in cali r u?

SoCal - near L.A.

[Moog]

The verdict is in:

Bad multiswitch...not wrong multiswitch, but faulty.

My last install 2 years ago resulted in a bad multswitch too.

If you ever wonder where all the bad multiswitches end up.......they apparently end up with me.

Thanks again for all the input. This forum is great.

[David MacLeod]

The verdict is in:

Bad multiswitch...not wrong multiswitch, but faulty.

My last install 2 years ago resulted in a bad multswitch too.

If you ever wonder where all the bad multiswitches end up.......they apparently end up with me.

Thanks again for all the input. This forum is great.

glad its working and hope you enjoy it.