Do I need a new head on SlimLine-5?

[jvictorv33]

Newbie needs help. I've done all my own installs for last decade - just followed the directions and all has worked - till now.

I'm only getting signal from 2 of the 4 outputs on my slimline-5 head. Working left to right - outputs 1 and 2 (nothing) outputs 3 and 4 giving me low 90's on meter. Is it likley that the multiswitch in head is actual broken? Can I open it up and see if I can fix it or just spend the $50 to replace?

Do all 4 outputs send the exact same signal? Can I split the ones that work and send the resulting 4 lines into a SWM 8?

Thanks for your help-

[jdspencer]

All outputs from the LNB assembly can carry the same signals depending on what the receiver requests.
Have you tried a receiver on each of the four outputs?
Check the connections for corrosion as this can cause the switching voltage to not get through.
Open connections are also obviously a cause.

Did you use the same piece of coax when you tested each output?
Splitting the two good outputs into an SWM8 won't work, it needs all four from the dish.

If the results remain the same then the LNB assembly needs to be replaced.

[BattleZone]

Do all 4 outputs send the exact same signal?

Internally, the SL3/SL5 LNBs have a 4x4 switch, so each of the 4 outputs can output any of the 4 available banks of transponders on any port.

Can I split the ones that work and send the resulting 4 lines into a SWM 8?

No, because the SWM8 (or WB68) would need access to all 4 banks of transponders *simultaneously*, which means they need all for lines from the LNB. The switch locks each of the 4 lines into one of the 4 banks, so that all 4 banks are available to the switch at the same time.