Weird reception problem this morning

[PaulieORF]

Everything was fine last night, but this morning I wake up and am getting "searching for satellite" on all the MPEG4 HD channels, including my locals. Everything else works. I checkd my signal strenght on the transponders on 103(c) and am only getting signal on the odd transponders, with zero on the even ones. On the odd transopnders my signal levels are between 27 and 34. Last time I checked my signal strength on 103(c) before today, I had readings in the 80s and 90s.

There has been no type of weather or wind here at all since yesterday. I'm just really confused as to what's going on here.

BTW, I checked this on both my HR21 and H21, same thing is happening on both. I've tried resetting the, etc, nothing works. In the meantime, signals on 101,110, and 119 are screaming in the mid to upper 90s for the most part.

[K4SMX]

It's likely your dish either dropped slightly or spun slightly on the mast. The odd/even disparity in your 103 signals is indicative of an out-of-alignment dish. You could have those 101/110/119 signals and also have very low 103's and 99's.

So the first thing I'd do is select one of those odd 103(c) tp signals with the Signal Meters under View Signal Strength in the System Setup > Satellite menu and see if you can re-peak them back to normal using the AZ and EL fine adjustment bolts. If they can be made higher, it's an indication that either your mast has dropped out-of-plumb because the bracket has come loose or your mount is loose on the mast. This is pretty common. Don't forget to loosen the lock down bolts before adjusting the fine tuning mechanisms.

Other ideas in case that's not the problem: Not having mentioned any SD receivers, I gather you don't have an external multi-switch to go bad. Even though you have "screaming" 119's, I'd still remove, inspect for corrosion, and re-tighten with a 7/16" wrench the connectors on the dish lines to the grounding block and at the LNB if you have access to it. I'd also bypass the grounding block with 4 double-female "barrel" adapters (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103459&cp=2032058.2032231.2032280&pg=2&allCount=314&fbn=Cable+type%2FCouplers&f=PAD%2FCable+Type%2FCouplers&fbc=1&parentPage=family). It's certainly possible you have a bad LNB, if your HD locals are on 103 and not 99, but at least you can check all these things yourself.

[PaulieORF]

It's likely your dish either dropped slightly or spun slightly on the mast. The odd/even disparity in your 103 signals is indicative of an out-of-alignment dish. You could have those 101/110/119 signals and also have very low 103's and 99's.

So the first thing I'd do is select one of those odd 103(c) tp signals with the Signal Meters under View Signal Strength in the System Setup > Satellite menu and see if you can re-peak them back to normal using the AZ and EL fine adjustment bolts. If they can be made higher, it's an indication that either your mast has dropped out-of-plumb because the bracket has come loose or your mount is loose on the mast. This is pretty common. Don't forget to loosen the lock down bolts before adjusting the fine tuning mechanisms.

Other ideas in case that's not the problem: Not having mentioned any SD receivers, I gather you don't have an external multi-switch to go bad. Even though you have "screaming" 119's, I'd still remove, inspect for corrosion, and re-tighten with a 7/16" wrench the connectors on the dish lines to the grounding block and at the LNB if you have access to it. I'd also bypass the grounding block with 4 double-female "barrel" adapters (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103459&cp=2032058.2032231.2032280&pg=2&allCount=314&fbn=Cable+type%2FCouplers&f=PAD%2FCable+Type%2FCouplers&fbc=1&parentPage=family). It's certainly possible you have a bad LNB, if your HD locals are on 103 and not 99, but at least you can check all these things yourself.

Thanks. Unfortunately I live in a condo and do not have access to the dish on the roof. It was installed just one week ago, so I think I'll give the installer a call and have him come check it out.

[JLucPicard]

Your installation should be warranteed for 90 days. If you get no love from the installer, give DirecTV a call.

[K4SMX]

Thanks. Unfortunately I live in a condo and do not have access to the dish on the roof. It was installed just one week ago, so I think I'll give the installer a call and have him come check it out.
In that case it's very likely the main bracket bolts were left loose, allowing the dish to rotate slightly in the wind. Call the installer directly first, if possible.

[PaulieORF]

I just called my installer. When I described the problem to him he said either the dish moved just a bit, or the LNB is dead. He should be out sometime tomorrow. Nice thing is that he said I don't have to be home.