Problem with 501 [Archive]

elbyj

08-12-03, 04:01 AM

:( Need a little technical assistance from all readers. Yesterday afternoon we had a thunder storm in the area. Turned off the DVR and TV when we lost the signal due to the storm cloud cover. When the storm had past, I turned on the sets again and was hit with a "NO SIGNAL" screen. Since I had experienced this about a year ago, I pulled the card out and put it back in hoping this would resolve the problem -- it didn't! Checked the signal and I had 0 on both feeds. Did a switch test with XXXX results -- no switch found! Contact the E* helpdesk. Ran through all the various common test with the same results -- no signal! Since I have two receiver, I check the one upstairs and it was receiving a signal strength of 125 on both feeds -- eliminated the dish. E* recommend to swap out the switches on the roof -- so I did -- same results no signal. Okay -- that leaves the new cable run that I installed in Nov 2002 or the DVR. The E* helpdesk gave me their standard replacement speech with 1000 options, but still only a rebuilt 501, but eligible for extended warrenty. E* helpdesk indicated to swap out the receivers to verify the cable feed -- I will do that tonight when I have the energy to move the cabinets and unplug all the cables. However, E* indicated to me that it was possible the harddrive was fried by the storm -- however, during my tests yesterday I was able to recover and view stored shows from the hard drive. This doesn't sound to me like a burned drive!! Do you have any advice???

Thanks --

boba

08-12-03, 10:20 AM

elbyj

08-12-03, 01:06 PM

Follow DISH's advise swap the second receiver to the PVR location to verify that you do have a signal. If you have a signal the cable and switches are okay, the receiver is your problem. If you have been foolish enough not to have bought the $1.99 extended warranty, you are at DISH'S mercy maybe they will offer you a decent replacement offer with purchase of their $5 extended warranty or maybe you can qualify as a new Directv subscriber and get a bargin that way.

Thanks for the help Boba. However, when I got off work this PM, I did unplug the 501 from downstairs and moved it upstairs. Well, it worked fine. Now that leaves a possibility of a cable problem with the new cable. Took the receiver back downstairs, plugged it back up, and tested the unit. Got the "NO SIGNAL" screen for about 30 seconds and then E* came back on like nothing happened! Freakish! Yes! All the techies can now tell me why it started back to work. Did unplugging the AC resolve the problem or did unplugging all the connections and redoing everything resolve the problem. Anyway, I am not out a receiver, but I will take the advice and sign for the warrenty.

Neil Derryberry

08-12-03, 03:33 PM

Are your switches/lnb's dishpro? if so, having both recievers disconnected for a moment would have interrupted power to the dishpro equipment, allowing it to reset. I've had to reset a DP34 switch before in this manner.

If it is legacy gear, I'm not sure.

Moral here... buy the warranty!

Pat A

08-13-03, 01:12 PM

I have had similar problems with my 501 from time to time, especially after a rain fade event. When running a switch test, the 501 would either not register all of the transponders, or it would say that my SW64 was a 44 or even a 21. I have been able to fix it by repeatedly running the switch test until it finds all of the transponders. Sometimes I have to run the switch test as many as 8 times before it corrects itself. I think that there must be a problem in the software or hardware of the 501, as I have never had a similar problem with my 4900 or 6000.