Installation Problem

[jpercia]

I recently added a 3rd HD receiver (HR-23) to my current setup of an HR-20, and H20. Since this required some new runs of cable and a multiswitch I let DirecTV do the installation - what a nightmare . After the installers fumbled around for 6 hours (I kicked them out at midnight) they still didn't have it working right. I don't have a signal on any of the 5 tuners from 99(b),103(a), and 110. 119 and 103(b) give me a signal on odd transponders only. Any idea what they did wrong and how I might fix it?

They replaced the multiswitch, all of the cables and the dish with another Oval 5-LNB nothing worked.

[WestDC]

Have you called in and complained??

[RobertE]

I recently added a 3rd HD receiver (HR-23) to my current setup of an HR-20, and H20. Since this required some new runs of cable and a multiswitch I let DirecTV do the installation - what a nightmare . After the installers fumbled around for 6 hours (I kicked them out at midnight) they still didn't have it working right. I don't have a signal on any of the 5 tuners from 99(b),103(a), and 110. 119 and 103(b) give me a signal on odd transponders only. Any idea what they did wrong and how I might fix it?

They replaced the multiswitch, all of the cables and the dish with another Oval 5-LNB nothing worked.

No signal on the even transponders indicates an issue somewhere with the 18v 22khz tone line. Something is wrong along that line. Connector, ground block port, etc.

[Johnnie5000]

No signal on the even transponders indicates an issue somewhere with the 18v 22khz tone line. Something is wrong along that line. Connector, ground block port, etc.

etc = Lnb, Lnb Port, the cable itself, the multiswitch, more etc.

Could be a wide variety of things. Could be something as simple as a piece of braid touching the stinger in one connector somewhere in the system. That always makes things go fubar and is the last thing anyone looks for.

Sounds like the OP had a rookie installer...:eek2: Call the install company back and ask for a field supervisor to come out and figure it out.

[jpercia]

Sure I called D* and complained. They connected me to the local installer, who connected me back to the original installer. He says he is coming out this afternoon. It is now 6:30 pm and he still isn't here. Not that he will know what to do when he gets here. At least I can tell him that it is the 18V 22KHz line that is the problem. Any chance they will install a SWM if I ask? Will an SWM work with older H20, HR20, and HR23?

[Mertzen]

Any chance they will install a SWM if I ask? Will an SWM work with older H20, HR20, and HR23?

It will work with those IRDs. But the chances are unlikely.

[joe diamond]

It is jumper time.

Establish a signal from the dish (ODU) to one receiver (IRD) and tune that. Connect a known to be good new cable and fittings through a window to the closest receiver / TV. Build out from there. Bet it is a fitting.

Joe

[Johnnie5000]

Bet it is a fitting.
me too

[Mertzen]

me too

If the techs were there for 6 hours I am sure at least they checked fittings. I know I know, but they can't be that bad.

[Johnnie5000]

If the techs were there for 6 hours I am sure at least they checked fittings. I know I know, but they can't be that bad.
True, but he said they didn't leave until midnight... meaning it was dark ouside. If its braid vs stinger, they wouldn't have seen that in the dark.

[jpercia]

He's back - showed up at 7pm. I guess he will be even later tonight. He is stumbling around saying he doesn't know what to do. I am reading this forum and giving him ideas - quite comical really. I spoke with the installation company and they are going to send a field supervisor later tonight.

[Johnnie5000]

He's back - showed up at 7pm. I guess he will be even later tonight. He is stumbling around saying he doesn't know what to do. I am reading this forum and giving him ideas - quite comical really. I spoke with the installation company and they are going to send a field supervisor later tonight.
Damn. :lol: Gotta be a rookie. My money is still on shorted out connector.

[RobertE]

Send the poor guy home. He or someone else needs to be out there during daylight. Working in the dark is going to make finding the problem 100x harder than it should be.

[David MacLeod]

dangerous on ladders too :)

[jpercia]

8:15 PM two more installers have arrived. I have connected the new HD-DVR directly to the multiswitch via two brand new coaxial cables. They have replaced the cables from the dish to the multiswitch. Still not getting the even transponders on 103.

Update: One of the two additional installers actually knows what he is talking about...

[RobertE]

Are none of the boxes getting 103 evens?

How about bypassing the switch straight to one of the boxes. That will either rule in/out the switch or one of the lines.

[jpercia]

They just bypassed the switch and it worked. So they are now replacing the switch...for the third time.

[RobertE]

Did they try all 4 lines straight to a box?

[jpercia]

They connected only two wires directly to the box. They are out replacing the multiswitch and grounding it properly. They had grounded the multiswitch to an antenna wire. The new tech thinks that is the problem. The antenna wire is "sending crazy signals and frying the multiswitches".

[RobertE]

:nono2:

[jpercia]

Hmm...replacing the multiswitch a third time didn't work.

[RobertE]

They need to isolate which line is giving the problem

They need to try each of the remaining lines.

One of those, if shorted should result in no signal at all to the box/tuner.

Once that is done, then they need to inspect that line end to end.

Each connector, the ports one the ground block, even the lnb itself.

If these guys would do some basic divide and conquor, they would have had it fixed 2 hours or more ago.

[jpercia]

It worked. They replaced all 4 wires from dish to switch (again), they replaced the LNBs (again), and they tuned the dish (again). They also asked me to disconnect my off air antenna which was there from the pre-local HD days. In the back recesses of my brain I recall reading something on this site about diplexing your antenna line to your satellite feed would be problematic in the future. I think during the original install the antenna line was diplexed in for a portion of the cable run. Could that have been an issue? The three installers all have different theories.

[RobertE]

It worked. They replaced all 4 wires from dish to switch (again), they replaced the LNBs (again), and they tuned the dish (again). They also asked me to disconnect my off air antenna which was there from the pre-local HD days. In the back recesses of my brain I recall reading something on this site about diplexing your antenna line to your satellite feed would be problematic in the future. I think during the original install the antenna line was diplexed in for a portion of the cable run. Could that have been an issue? The three installers all have different theories.

Yes, a diplexer on the line can cause a number of issues.

[Johnnie5000]

They need to isolate which line is giving the problem

They need to try each of the remaining lines.

One of those, if shorted should result in no signal at all to the box/tuner.

Once that is done, then they need to inspect that line end to end.

Each connector, the ports one the ground block, even the lnb itself.

If these guys would do some basic divide and conquor, they would have had it fixed 2 hours or more ago.
+1
Still going w/shorted out connector. Ask those poor guys if they have a pocket toner, if one says yes, remind them that they have a short detector on the toners. One guy on one end with the crack pipe, the other with the squeeler, find the shorted out line quick that way.

EDIT: It worked.
nevermind, they got it fixed...

[rabid_hobbit]

+1
One guy on one end with the crack pipe, the other with the squeeler, find the shorted out line quick that way.


lol, is that just you being funny, or actual shop-talk for technician?:D

[Mertzen]

I think during the original install the antenna line was diplexed in for a portion of the cable run. Could that have been an issue? The three installers all have different theories.

Yup, diplexers will kill some to all of the signal. :nono2:

[Johnnie5000]

lol, is that just you being funny, or actual shop-talk for technician?:D
Shop talk. But if you hold it sideways it does look like a crack pipe :lol:
http://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductImages/test/203-550.jpg (http://www.techtoolsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3902)

[jpercia]

+1

EDIT:
nevermind, they got it fixed...

true dat

[joe diamond]

Shop talk. But if you hold it sideways it does look like a crack pipe :lol:
http://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductImages/test/203-550.jpg (http://www.techtoolsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3902)

Damn,

You can use a toner for a crack pipe!

Joe

[Johnnie5000]

Damn,

You can use a toner for a crack pipe!

Joe

Every now and then I let that slip out in front of a customer, "I'll find that wire, lemme go get my crackpipe". Some get really really confused until they see what I'm talking about, others get really excited:joy:... those are the ones you gotta watch out for.

[psweig]

I recently added a 3rd HD receiver (HR-23) to my current setup of an HR-20, and H20. Since this required some new runs of cable and a multiswitch I let DirecTV do the installation - what a nightmare . After the installers fumbled around for 6 hours (I kicked them out at midnight) they still didn't have it working right. I don't have a signal on any of the 5 tuners from 99(b),103(a), and 110. 119 and 103(b) give me a signal on odd transponders only. Any idea what they did wrong and how I might fix it?

They replaced the multiswitch, all of the cables and the dish with another Oval 5-LNB nothing worked.

I was missing the even tansponders on 99c, and it turned out to be a diplexed OTA and Sat cable. This can't be done. :D

[Johnnie5000]

I was missing the even tansponders on 99c, and it turned out to be a diplexed OTA and Sat cable. This can't be done. :D

It technically can, but its a complicated pain in the ass that I'd rather not get into. Best just to have separate lines anyway. Fewer breaks in the line=less signal loss and fewer potential issues in the future.