Any ideas?

[jdeaton]

When I run the system test, I often (but not always) get the following:
“-Satellite Dish Alignment or Distribution Problem-
Your Satellite dish alignment or cabling requires servicing.”
Diagnostic Code 41-596


I have 3 HR20’s and one H20. I also have an attic mounted self installed SWM-8 which has been in place for a year or more. Until recently, everything had been fine. Now, not only do I usually fail the dish alignment test but I’m also getting error messages stating guide data is not being received.

We did recently have a thunder storm that appears to have knocked out our irrigation controller and my Vonage router.

So… what is the likely problem, the LNB, the SWM or something else? I’m quite sure dish alignment is about perfect. (I get some 100’s on all but one or two birds)

Any ideas on what I can test for myself or do I need to call DirecTV. The last time D* (Mastec) was out the installer said he had never seen and SWM 8 and pretty much refused to deal with it.

[armophob]

When I run the system test, I often (but not always) get the following:
“-Satellite Dish Alignment or Distribution Problem-
Your Satellite dish alignment or cabling requires servicing.”
Diagnostic Code 41-596


I have 3 HR20’s and one H20. I also have an attic mounted self installed SWM-8 which has been in place for a year or more. Until recently, everything had been fine. Now, not only do I usually fail the dish alignment test but I’m also getting error messages stating guide data is not being received.

We did recently have a thunder storm that appears to have knocked out our irrigation controller and my Vonage router.

So… what is the likely problem, the LNB, the SWM or something else? I’m quite sure dish alignment is about perfect. (I get some 100’s on all bur one or two birds)

Any ideas on what I can test for myself or do I need to call DirecTV. The last time D* (Mastec) was out the installer said he had never seen and SWM 8 and pretty much refused to deal with it.

Do you have any video or audio issues as well? If not, I am reminded of an old joke. "Doctor my arm hurts every time I do this................"

[carl6]

What are your satellite signal strength readings for all of the satellites? Could be a dish alignment issue.

[Mertzen]

What's your signal on 119?

[Go Beavs]

If you're using a SWM-8, the guide data comes from the 101 sat. I would look at those signal strengths first.

[paulman182]

I get that message too. In my case, it's low signal on the 103c and 99c, signals in the 50s and 60s.

I'm not experiencing any problems except during storms, so I doubt that DirecTV will do anything abou it.

[Mertzen]

I get that message too. In my case, it's low signal on the 103c and 99c, signals in the 50s and 60s.

I'm not experiencing any problems except during storms, so I doubt that DirecTV will do anything abou it.

Signals below 70s would require a truck roll.

[jdeaton]

It appears it was the lightning strike. I undid the connections at the ground block in the attic and one of the four coax connections was charred and black. The exit coax fitting leading to the SWM8 had the RG6 copper conductor completely melted away. I cut off and re-terminated 2 ends and all seem well. My HR23 is still saying it hasn’t received guide data in some period of time but I expect this will correct itself sooner or later.
Thanks everyone for your input.

[boba]

It appears it was the lightning strike. I undid the connections at the ground block in the attic and one of the four coax connections was charred and black. The exit coax fitting leading to the SWM8 had the RG6 copper conductor completely melted away. I cut off and re-terminated 2 ends and all seem well. My HR23 is still saying it hasn’t received guide data in some period of time but I expect this will correct itself sooner or later.
Thanks everyone for your input.I'd guess your problem is corrosion rather than lightening. If a strike actually melted copper you would have a lot more damage.:):):)