So what is wrong? My receiver, etc?

[Tomsoundman]

I have a DISH model 301 receiver to a Dish 500 and I keep losing signal. Everything has been fine for a while, secure bolt to brick wall. Every so often, I get the screen that is going 5 steps through transponders trying to lock on a signal. When it is working, dish is aligned correctly on both satellites so I don't think it is that.

Last night, couldn't ever get a signal. Re-did cable inside (too cold outside to run new wire).

Could the problem be:
1. Bad receiver - could overheating do this? It is in a tight cabinet.
2. Bad cable - are the symptoms above from bad cable.
3. Anything else?

Thanks

[Mark Lamutt]

What does a check switch tell you? My guess is a bad cable coming from your dish, but that's just a guess at this point.

[Tomsoundman]

I was afraid to do a check switch. Will try tonight.

[boba]

Please post all the results of the switch test. It should tell you the status of your satellites,what switch you have and what type of system (Twin, quad,Dish Pro or Legacy).Also what is your signal strengths on different transponders and satellites?

[jwwahly]

Is there an outside connection like a ground block? If so moisture could have got into it and started to corode the ends off.This will cause the same symptoms.

[Tomsoundman]

OK,
On check switch, I get no switch detected. (Before I would get Twin showing polarity, etc.) To eliminate cable / ground block question, I went outside (where it was frikkin freezin) and did cable directly from reciever to LNB and got nothing. Even tried different cables, all were RG6.
Tonight I plan to try reciever at neighbors to troubleshoot that.
Thanks for the help so far!

[88fan]

if it is a new system and the twin lnb was made in the USA then this could be your problem ....Dish had alot of bad lnbs that were made in the US also, some 301's got screwed up when they loaded the new superdish software, I have seen both of these cause your symptoms

[Tomsoundman]

Receiver bad. It was refurbished anyway, lasted for a while. Instead of getting another, I'm switching to Direct. So long Charlie. Things for sale here soon....

[Mike Richardson]

Receiver bad. It was refurbished anyway, lasted for a while. Instead of getting another, I'm switching to Direct. So long Charlie. Things for sale here soon....

And when your Direct receiver dies, switch to Echostar - oh wait, you can only switch once and get free hardware.

[retiredTech]

I have a DISH model 301 receiver to a Dish 500 and I keep losing signal.
Could the problem be:
1. Bad receiver - could overheating do this? It is in a tight cabinet.

Thanks

ANY unit that is NOT ventalated WILL probably Fail. (E* or D*)

if you place it where it overheats.

So I suspect you NEED to give it some breathing space.

[88fan]

yep , pile all the vcrs and dvd players you can on top of your receivers. does them good. not.