Added C-kit to existing dish but only get about 80% of HD channels...?

[scottm_dj]

Hey guys...this is a great forum. I have a question for you all regarding HD channels per LNB. I inherited an HR20 from my friend who dropped the service completely--and added the HD service. At the moment anyway, I cannot get the 5LNB dish on my roof so I am making do with my old 2 LNB elliptical dish with a newly added C-kit for a Center LNB (so I should have effectively 101, 110, and 119). I have a very close call for tree clearance as it is and don't want to mess with it any more. I now get the following HD channels perfectly--HBO HD, Showtime HD, ESPN HD, TNT HD, HD Net Movies and Universal HD (cool channel!).

However, I do NOT get at all ESPN2 HD, HD Net Regular, or (the worst) Discovery HD. These must be on a different LNB/satellite than the others that maybe was disabled with the center add? I can't complain with the ones I do get now from having nothing...but any idea why the others won't come in? I need to get the 5LNB up eventually for the new HDs and locals, but this has to do for now...

Thanks for any help!

[Pink Fairy]

Those channels come off of the 119 satellite...have you tried repeating the setup? You can do two birds with one stone, the repeating the setup and you can check the signal strength on the 119 while you do so...On the 119, check transponders 26, and 27 :)

[bobnielsen]

Those channels you do not get are on the 119 satellite. Are you getting good signal strengths on that one? Also check channels 490-494, which are test channels for 101, 110 and 119.

[scottm_dj]

I am taping something now so I can't reconfigure at the moment...but...I did check 490-494. Ch490 says SatA 101 Odd 13V , 491 SatA 101 Even 18V, 492 SatB 119 Odd 13V, 493 does not come in w/ same msg as missing channels, and 494 SatC 110 Even 13V. That means SatB 119 EVEN 18V is apparently AWOL. I'm not sure I had it before before adding the C-kit--but the HD channels mentioned appear to be the only ones gone upon checking.

Does that help at all--was something not reconnected with the C install?

I do remember getting a lot of N/As for the 119 sat I believe--and I wasn't sure whether to say I had 2, 3 or 5 LNBs for setup. I will give exact details to what it says when I stop taping :)

[bonscott87]

Double check that you have the combiner for 110/119 installed properly. Could be a cable reversed or something causing 119 to fail. This is of course assuming you got 119 properly before and don't have a tree in the way as you said they were close.

[jdspencer]

Since the 110 TPs are also even and are combined with the evens on 119 it can't be the multiswitch. I would check the cable and connections from the 119 LNB to the Sat C kit combiner. Next, physically swap the 101 and 119 LNBs to see if things change.

[veryoldschool]

Also the 110 SAT only has three active transponders so don't sweat the N/As

[scottm_dj]

Ok..here is a quick recap of all the figures:

101--32 active. 1-8 (93 avg w/ 0 for #4), 9-16 (90 avg), 17-24 (95 avg w/ 0 for #18), 25-32 (94 avg w/ 57 for #20)

110--only 3 active. 1-8 (only 85 for #8, rest N/A), 9-16 (82 #10 and 87 #12, rest N/A), 17-24 and 25-32 (all N/A)

119--11 active. 1-8 and 9-16 (all N/A), 17-24 (N/A thru 21, 22=0, 23=80, 24=0), 25-32 (76,0,96,0,92,0,0,0).

Does this pinpoint any issues?

Thanks again!

[veryoldschool]

Ok..here is a quick recap of all the figures:

101--32 active. 1-8 (93 avg w/ 0 for #4), 9-16 (90 avg), 17-24 (95 avg w/ 0 for #18), 25-32 (94 avg w/ 57 for #20)

110--only 3 active. 1-8 (only 85 for #8, rest N/A), 9-16 (82 #10 and 87 #12, rest N/A), 17-24 and 25-32 (all N/A)

119--11 active. 1-8 and 9-16 (all N/A), 17-24 (N/A thru 21, 22=0, 23=80, 24=0), 25-32 (76,0,96,0,92,0,0,0).

Does this pinpoint any issues?

Thanks again!
You seem to be missing the 18V 22 kHz control signal. for your even 119 transponders.

[Mertzen]

Just get a Phase III. those old pieces of crap are not even worth the trouble fixing or trouble shooting.

[lwilli201]

Make sure that the cable coming from the diplexer is connected to the Sat B, 18 V 22 khz input. Also make sure that you have the sat c lnb diplexed to the sat b lnb.

http://www.directv.com/imagine/pdf/MultiSatC.pdf

[bpayne]

Make sure that the cable coming from the diplexer is connected to the Sat B, 18 V 22 khz input. Also make sure that you have the sat c lnb diplexed to the sat b lnb.

http://www.directv.com/imagine/pdf/MultiSatC.pdf



The above poster is right, you have the Sat C combiner combined onto the wrong line going into the 4x4 multiswitch. The Sat C combiner should be placed in line with the coax coming off of the 18v 22kHz port- the C leg goes to the Sat C-kit, the B leg goes to the one of the ports of the 119 LNB.

[bonscott87]

Also note that many of the transponders on 119 are spotbeams for SD locals so you may very well get zeros or quite low on many of them even once you get this fixed.

Back in the day (like 5 years now I think) when I got HD I had a choice: Sat C kit for $40 or new Phase III for $75. I just got the PhaseIII. You can probably get the Phase III for next to nothing on eBay since the 5 LNB is the current dish used in installs. Or just have DirecTV upgrade you to the 5 LNB for free.

[veryoldschool]

Also note that many of the transponders on 119 are spotbeams for SD locals so you may very well get zeros or quite low on many of them even once you get this fixed.

Back in the day (like 5 years now I think) when I got HD I had a choice: Sat C kit for $40 or new Phase III for $75. I just got the PhaseIII. You can probably get the Phase III for next to nothing on eBay since the 5 LNB is the current dish used in installs. Or just have DirecTV upgrade you to the 5 LNB for free.
Now, now...where is the challenge in that. :lol:

[scottm_dj]

Actually, I got the 5lnb from the guy but it's too big to put on the roof where mine is now (even DTV was doubtful when called in for another issue). Also, with the tree thing I'm afraid to change out to a Phase III since that will have to have a completely different mount than my 2LNB as well and I barely clear as is. So, I'm left with the C-kit with this issue...

Thanks for all the help...I will do some checking.

One more thing...for the channels not received:

For ESPN2 HD I get 'Searching for Signal Ln (in?) 2..."
For Discovery HD, I get 'Searching for Signal Ln 1..."
For HD Net, I get "Searching for Signal Ln 2..."

[jdspencer]

I'd still check the connectors from the 119 LNB to the combiner. You are missing all even TPs on the 119.

If you can get a Phase III dish, use it to replace your older dish.

[Mertzen]

Also, with the tree thing I'm afraid to change out to a Phase III since that will have to have a completely different mount than my 2LNB as well and I barely clear as is. So, I'm left with the C-kit with this issue..."

I'm quite sure you can just put the Phase III on the same mount.

[scottm_dj]

We actually almost took one off the side of a house selling next door to a friend and replaced it with mine...did I say that? :) But in looking at it, it did not appear to be directly replaceable with the mast (bigger). AND at the very least it would require realignment which is a real pain without a birddog--especially with my tree issue. But if you guys are sure it will fit in the mount location I may try one and see--after I check out the C-kit wiring fiasco.

[veryoldschool]

We actually almost took one off the side of a house selling next door to a friend and replaced it with mine...did I say that? :) But in looking at it, it did not appear to be directly replaceable with the mast (bigger). AND at the very least it would require realignment which is a real pain without a birddog--especially with my tree issue. But if you guys are sure it will fit in the mount location I may try one and see--after I check out the C-kit wiring fiasco.
You should find the mast is a 1 5/8" which is the 3 LNB. You should be able to get it aligned with the receiver. I did it with the "beeping" of my old receiver. The higher the beep the stronger the signal. beep beep. :D

[bonscott87]

Actually, I got the 5lnb from the guy but it's too big to put on the roof where mine is now (even DTV was doubtful when called in for another issue). Also, with the tree thing I'm afraid to change out to a Phase III since that will have to have a completely different mount than my 2LNB as well and I barely clear as is. So, I'm left with the C-kit with this issue...


It's exactly the same. In fact the Phase III dish itself is a bit smaller and lighter. I picked my Phase III up at Best Buy way back then, put it together, took down the old oval dish, plopped the Phase III on, set elevation to the same, tilt was a bit different then before and viola, higher signals then I had before.

The 5 LNB is the dish with the different mount (2") because it's bigger and a lot heavier then the Phase III.