Screwed Up LIL HD

[jdjeff]

I have 6 HD DVRs and one HD STB set up on my system. Most of the DVRS are HR20-100's with a couple of HR21-700's thrown in for good measure. For the past year or more I've been having trouble with (mainly) my HD LIL channels, particularly fox but also abc (I'm in Houston). The SD channels are fine, but I get almost constant break ups and freezing on the HD channels (my wife is going to kill me as she likes 24, Idol and So You Think You Can Dance :nono:). It is most noticeable, I believe, when more than one DVR is recording, but is still a problem even if I cancel the other DVRs and just record on one. This also occurs if watching live. I don't have problems on any other channel other than 296 and 299 HD kids channels, which sometimes just black out and give me a searching for satellite message. This doesn't happen very often, though. My signal strength is in the mid to high 90's on all satellites, and doesn't swing, so signal strenght doesn't appear to be the issues. I've replaced all of my BBC's, reset, reset and reset some more. I'm running out of options, Directv doesn't seem interested in helping, and I've still got the wife is going to kill me issue. Any thoughts?

[jodyguercio]

Have checked all your connections from start (at the LNB) to finish (at the STBs)? Might have loose connections or some corrosion. Also with the setup you describe, you probably have some sort of switch in play so I would also check those connections.

[jdjeff]

checked and tightened all connections. Replaced the multi-switch (5x16 with two 5x8s per directv). Reterminated all non-standard connectors. Checked the ground, etc...

[say-what]

Could also have an issue with the local station's signal. Can you get the OTA signals? If so, are there glitches in that? The mpeg4 encoders used to convert the local signals by DirecTV sometimes produce the problems you describe when they encounter glitches in the OTA signal used for uplinking.

[litzdog911]

I know you say you've checked them, but Please post back with your signal readings for each satellite's transponders (and both tuners if applicable). You'll find these readings under "Menu" -> "Setup" -> "System Setup" -> Satellite -> "View Signal Strength".

Fill in your readings for each satellite and tuner using these examples. A properly aligned dish will show 80-90s on most of the relevant transponders (although some will be low or zero):


Satellite transponders (32 total at 101º)
[Most of your standard definition channels are beamed from 101ºW]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # # #
17-24 # # # # # # # #
25-32 # # # # # # # #

Satellite transponders (3 total at 110º)
[A few HD channels, also beamed from 99 & 103º until 2009]
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA #
9-16 NA # NA # NA NA NA NA

Satellite transponders (11 total at 119º)
[Local SD channels for some cities, Spanish package]
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA # # #
25-32 # # # # # # # #

Satellite transponders (16 total at 99º(s)) [or 99º(b)]
[Local HD channels for some cities]
1-8 # # # # # # NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA # #
17-24 # # # # # # # #
[Note: these can be very slow to appear]

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c)) [or 99º(a)]
[National HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA
[Note, these can be very slow to appear]

Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(s)) [or 103º(a)]
[Local HD channels for some cities]
1-8 # # # # # # NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA # #
17-24 # # # # # # # #
[Note, these can be very slow to appear]

Satellite transponders (14 total at 103º(c)) [or 103º(b)]
[National HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

[hdAddict]

I've had no problems with any of the Houston LIL's. I live in western Harris County.

[jdjeff]

No problem with OTA HD or SD. As I mentioned, my signal strenght on all (relevant) satellites and transponders is mid to high 90's (mostly from 95-97 with some 99's thrown in). Both tuners show very high signal strength. DTV came out and confirmed alignment as well.

[litzdog911]

No problem with OTA HD or SD. As I mentioned, my signal strenght on all (relevant) satellites and transponders is mid to high 90's (mostly from 95-97 with some 99's thrown in). Both tuners show very high signal strength. DTV came out and confirmed alignment as well.

So you're not going to post your signal readings?

[jdjeff]

I'm out of town, so can't post them. Will do so when I return.

[jdjeff]

Here you go:

101º

1-8 97 98 96 0 95 100 95 100
9-16 98 97 97 96 100 95 100
17-24 97 0 97 99 96 100 96 100
25-32 97 75 97 100 97 100 97 100

110º

1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 97
9-16 NA 97 NA 98 NA NA NA NA

119º

17-24 NA NA NA NA NA 100 43 99
25-32 95 100 100 100 83 100 83 100

99º(s)

1-8 97 0 0 0 98 0 NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 0 31
17-24 100 97 0 32 0 0 0 0

99º(c)

1-8 95 92 91 91 93 90 92 89
9-16 92 89 94 88 95 89 NA NA


103º(s)

1-8 0 0 0 0 0 0 NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 90 92
17-24 55 25 0 92 26 34 95 80
[Note, these can be very slow to appear]

103º(c)

1-8 96 95 92 95 94 94 89
9-16 94 91 95 86 94 88 NA NA
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA