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PeskyEye
08-12-08, 03:57 PM
Weird problem started within the last 24-48 hours.

All of my virtual channels (HR21-700), e.g., 501 for HBO East vs 70, or 537 for SHO East vs 71 have stopped working (771 "Searching for Signal" error).

Took me a while to realize that the original channels (70-79) work okay.

In particular, UHD, which now has two virtual channels, works on 74 and 756, but not its original position 259. (756 is the new virtual channel for the Olympics).

FWIW my setup is 5-LNB into SWM split into 2 HR21-700 receivers. Same problem on both receivers. Red-button reboot and the problem remains on both.

As I said, this is a new behavior, everything has worked fine for 6+ months prior to the last few days.

I called cust support and they refused to get into any details, saying just that they would send someone out to "fix the problem". Needless to say, this doesn't sound like something the DTV repairman can fix to me; it sounds more like a DTV issue. Perhaps related to the new Olympics virtual channels, or perhaps related to the new swath of HD channels which are coming this week (30 new channels on 8/14)?

Anyways, has any one seen something similar, or is it just me?

Any other thoughts or comments?

Thanks
Stuart Sweet
08-12-08, 04:02 PM
The channels you are referencing are no longer "virtual" channels but are MPEG4 mirrors on the new 99(c) satellite. May I ask, what are your signal strengths on 99(c)?
PeskyEye
08-12-08, 04:15 PM
Ah, thanks, that explains a lot.

My 99(c) signal strength is 0 for all 14 transponders (!).

Has this always been the case or is this a new bug for me? (I don't think I've checked the signal strength on 99 before). Were there channels on 99(c) before this? I guess not if it's a new satellite ...

Any idea what could be wrong that would cause me to have no signal on 99(c)? 99(s) also has no signals. I assume my existing dish and SWM-8 are supposed to work with this satellite? I guess I can try bypassing the SWM and reinserting the BNC connector to see if I get signal on 99 then.

Thanks again for the quick reply!
kevinwmsn
08-12-08, 05:21 PM
Channels have only been added in the last several weeks on 99C. What's your signal strength on 103C? If you get something on 103C but not 99C, you'll need a dish alignment. DirectTV can do it for you(may charge if you don't have protection plan) or you can adjust it yourself(there are threads on this site giving instructions).
Rence
08-12-08, 08:53 PM
Same problem here - called DTV over the weekend, we did the signal test - I had some low numbers.

Tech arrived today - realigned the dish - signal strength is up - and the missing channels (HBO, Showtime, ESPN etc.) now are coming in.
newsposter
08-13-08, 08:27 AM
this is sorta on topic, i thought hdnet had a channel in the 200s now for mpeg4 but when i searched for art mann last night, i only got hits for the 70s channel

shouldnt i have see the other channel of hdnet? (i would prefer all mpeg4 since a tree grew and is slowly blocking 119 for me)
dennisj00
08-13-08, 10:36 AM
this is sorta on topic, i thought hdnet had a channel in the 200s now for mpeg4 but when i searched for art mann last night, i only got hits for the 70s channel

shouldnt i have see the other channel of hdnet? (i would prefer all mpeg4 since a tree grew and is slowly blocking 119 for me)

I had to add 259, 306 and 552 to my Favorites. Don't know why they didn't populate automatically.
newsposter
08-13-08, 12:01 PM
hmmm i never thought to check if i have favs turned on or not..great suggestion!
newsposter
08-13-08, 05:36 PM
what other channel should 79 be?
litzdog911
08-13-08, 06:34 PM
what other channel should 79 be?

Ch 306 is beamed from D11 at 99º.
newsposter
08-14-08, 05:59 AM
any idea why a show would appear on one channel listing but not the other? I know hdtivo would do eps across all channels (obviously needing SP for each channel) but i swear hr20 also would list shows across all channels when you did a search
PeskyEye
08-15-08, 08:49 AM
DTV just came out, realigned the dish, and now everything works.

I am a little suprised, the dish was just installed (Jan 2008). I guess they didn't take the time to align it carefully. My 101 was ~80 before the alignment (and 0 on 99), now it is ~95 on 101 and ~80 on 99.

The DTV tech (Ironwood Communications) seemed to know what was up. He took one look at signal strength on 101 (didn't even check 99) and knew the dish had to be tweaked. My guess is that he is seeing this problem a lot.