Defective 5LNB on AU9?

[sonicranger001]

So here I am, with all my technology and I still AIN'T getting anywhere!

I have to ask because I haven' t seen anyone else say anything about defective/bad LNB's.

Let me lay out everything.

1) All new RG6 to a multiswitch in basement
2) Two lines to HR10-250
3) Lines test OK
4) Dish mounted, plumbed and properly secured
5) Alignment...
My meter tells me I get a maximum of about 40 on the 101, I've moved the dish 12 feet to the left and right, adjusted elevation just shy of Mount Everest and thats the best I get. My receiver says I get nothing on the 119 and a few of the 101's
Also, my meter says I'm getting about 40 on the 99 and 103. So I'd HAVE to be in the ballpark on 101 if thats the case right?


I have read about "If you get odds on the 101 you're really looking at 119..." well as I said I went through the entire gamut of azimuths and that doesn't want to change. Whats the possibility, at this point, that my LNB is no good???

EDIT: I thought I'd add, as it would be helpful (duh) that my LNB is an Eagle Aspen, or at least thats what the label on the multi-switch/output connector says. The LNB covers are clear, I haven't see any pictures of my LNB w/clear covers, they are all white LNB covers.

When the weather warms up again, I'm going to start over with each step and see if I miraculously get a different result, just in case.

[litzdog911]

It's much more likely an aiming problem than a defective LNB. The fact that you get any reading pretty much rules out a defective LNB, but it's certainly possible.

What meter are you using? Most of the common meters cannot read the Ka-band signals from the 99 & 103-deg satellites.

Have you installed one of these dishes before? Have you reviewed the installation videos here ....
http://www.solidsignal.com/dtvkuka

[jdspencer]

Make sure the mast is absolutely plumb and that you have the correct tilt for your location.

[HD-DVR Fan]

What the other are saying about the mast and aiming the dish can't be underestimated. However, after about 5 hours of troubleshooting my install, the technician replaced the LNB and we were off to the races. For what it's worth.....

[veryoldschool]

So far I'm not sure what I'm hearing.
Your HR10-250 can't "see" the Ka SATs, & most likely neither does your meter.

Now if you "used to have" the 3 LNB dish, that one pointed to the 110 SAT & you new 5 LNB needs to point to the 101 SAT.
110 has only three transponders [odd] active.
101 should light up almost all of them [maybe one or two are zero]
119 has only from about 17 up active.
I'm recording right now so I can't give more than this for the exact numbers, but these are very close.
40% isn't very close to any alignment so you still have some work.
Here's the link to the D* dish pointer: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/dishPointer.jsp
If yoi have a compass remember to adjust for magnetic verse true north.

[sonicranger001]

OK,

I know my HR10 was invented before the 99 and 103 satellites were even in Geo-Sync orbit above our planet! I'm not worried about them, I'm worried about the fact that I can't seem to get over 40 or so on the 101.

A)
I'm curious as to an LNB failure or something along those lines. If I'm getting SOME signal then my LNB is good and it is NOT the problem???


B)
OR people have had occassional issues tuning their dish and only received limited signal from various birds, REPLACING the LNB solved the problem???


That is my question, if it is A then I'm going to start everything over because something is clearly wrong with my work.

If it is B then I need to get a new LNB and start over ANYWAY! :nono2:

[litzdog911]

OK,

I know my HR10 was invented before the 99 and 103 satellites were even in Geo-Sync orbit above our planet! I'm not worried about them, I'm worried about the fact that I can't seem to get over 40 or so on the 101.

A)
I'm curious as to an LNB failure or something along those lines. If I'm getting SOME signal then my LNB is good and it is NOT the problem???


B)
OR people have had occassional issues tuning their dish and only received limited signal from various birds, REPLACING the LNB solved the problem???


That is my question, if it is A then I'm going to start everything over because something is clearly wrong with my work.

If it is B then I need to get a new LNB and start over ANYWAY! :nono2:

In my experience, LNBs pretty much either work or they don't. I think it would be very unusual to have a "failure" with the symptom was "low signal levels". That's why I think you're dealing with an aiming/alignment issue.

It might be time to call a professional installer, unless you have lots and lots of time to mess with this.

[veryoldschool]

OK,

I know my HR10 was invented before the 99 and 103 satellites were even in Geo-Sync orbit above our planet! I'm not worried about them, I'm worried about the fact that I can't seem to get over 40 or so on the 101.

A)
I'm curious as to an LNB failure or something along those lines. If I'm getting SOME signal then my LNB is good and it is NOT the problem???


B)
OR people have had occassional issues tuning their dish and only received limited signal from various birds, REPLACING the LNB solved the problem???


That is my question, if it is A then I'm going to start everything over because something is clearly wrong with my work.

If it is B then I need to get a new LNB and start over ANYWAY! :nono2:
"normally" I would say the LNB is a "go/no go", so if you get anything it isn't the LNB.
FWIW

[Radgar]

Check your connection from your LNB to your meter. Make sure your fittings are correct. A bad fitting could be the problem. Also try different inputs on the LNB. If your using the same input it could be going bad. Are u using a meter at the dish or the meter in on the receiver. How many lines are u running from the dish to your switch. You need 4 lines coming from the dish to the switch or you could run into problems.


Radgar

D & E installer since 1998

[jdspencer]

To help us further, please check all transponder strengths on all satellites and report the results.

Also, I'm sure Radger meant LNB outputs. :)

[Radgar]

To help us further, please check all transponder strengths on all satellites and report the results.

Also, I'm sure Radger meant LNB outputs. :)

Whoops my bad. Yes meant LNB output. Thanks


Radgar

D & E install since 1998

[iceman2a]

It sounds to me you may be trying to aim the dish with settings for a 3lnb dish?
Where are you getting your az-el & tlt settings from?

[Dwrecked]

No offense, but it seems like you're out of your element Donny. It sounds like you need to call D* and have a pro come out. Aligning a KA/KU dish is not for the DIYer. I suppose it all depends on how much your time is worth though.

[sonicranger001]

Well I've tried all the different settings that I've gotten.

My HR10 of course tells me to aim at the 110.

The Directv website is WORTHLESS it doesn't even provide a tilt degree.

I used this website which gives me the same result as my HR10
http://satcalculator.freehostia.com/satcalculator_results.php

I get:

225.4 Azi
67.7 Tilt
33.93 Ele

Thats with all three satellites selected on the sat calculator, saying I have an AT9/AU9 Dish. Of course if I just alter the settings slightly I get an Azimuth anywhere from 215-230, an elevation of 32-41 and a tilt of 61-101!!!

I'm just the lone A$$hole that can't put my dish on the mast and point it at the sun and get 99's like apparently everyone else on this forum did!

[sonicranger001]

Just to be clear that I really am NOT a moron, I'm actually very frustrated right now.

I have attached some photos of my wiring job in my basment which I did. The electrical panel was installed by my brother-in-laws friend, who happens to be an electrician, I installed about a dozen circuits and wired the entire media panel as that isn't his "thing"

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t156/sonicranger001/DSC01903.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t156/sonicranger001/DSC01900.jpg

[veryoldschool]

Tell you HR10 that you only have a single LNB dish. Then it will tell you where to point for the 101 SAT. The 5 LNB points to the same place.
Once you get 101, then you can "play" with the tilt for the rest.

[iceman2a]

Well I've tried all the different settings that I've gotten.

My HR10 of course tells me to aim at the 110.

The Directv website is WORTHLESS it doesn't even provide a tilt degree.

I used this website which gives me the same result as my HR10
http://satcalculator.freehostia.com/satcalculator_results.php

I get:

225.4 Azi
67.7 Tilt
33.93 Ele

Thats with all three satellites selected on the sat calculator, saying I have an AT9/AU9 Dish. Of course if I just alter the settings slightly I get an Azimuth anywhere from 215-230, an elevation of 32-41 and a tilt of 61-101!!!

I'm just the lone A$$hole that can't put my dish on the mast and point it at the sun and get 99's like apparently everyone else on this forum did!

If the HR10 tells you to align off the 110, and the web site sez the same thing then that's wrong! Post your zip code and I'll enter into the HR20 and get some coordinates!!

[harsh]

225.4 Azi
67.7 Tilt
33.93 EleI tried a different calculator for North central Ohio and get quite a different azimuth reading. I used Vermillion (which may not be very close to you) and got a number of 214 and change for the magnetic azimuth. Could you offer your ZIP code?

[eandras]

Let me ask you a question? Are you diplexing the OTA Antenna on your line to your STB. I thought that the 5 LNB sent one of the bands through the same frequency range as ota television frequencies and that . Could that be part of the problem? He has four satellite inputs and 1 ota on the levitron 5 x 8 and only 4 lines out ot STB's.

[veryoldschool]

Let me ask you a question? Are you diplexing the OTA Antenna on your line to your STB. I thought that the 5 LNB sent one of the bands through the same frequency range as ota television frequencies and that . Could that be part of the problem? He has four satellite inputs and 1 ota on the levitron 5 x 8 and only 4 lines out ot STB's.
That will be with the new KA SATs going up soon that use Ka Lo [right now they only use Ka Hi].

[harsh]

That will be with the new KA SATs going up soon that use Ka Lo [right now they only use Ka Hi].Ka band goes much higher than what DirecTV is using; it ranges from 18GHz to 40GHz. They are currently using A-band (19.7-20.2GHz) for downlink and B-band (18.3-18.8GHz) for backhaul.

Credit to tibber (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=82295) for the facts.

[veryoldschool]

Ka band goes much higher than what DirecTV is using; it ranges from 18GHz to 40GHz. They are currently using A-band (19.7-20.2GHz) for downlink and B-band (18.3-18.8GHz) for backhaul.

Credit to tibber (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=82295) for the facts.
Yes, I [kind of] know that, but it's the down converted IF to the receiver...

[harsh]

He has four satellite inputs and 1 ota on the levitron 5 x 8 and only 4 lines out ot STB's.Most importantly, the Leviton switch may not be compatible with the 5LNB configuration.

[JohnF]

This might be relevant.

A few days ago an installer disconnected my 3LNB and installed a Slim Line 5LNB and an international dish. Also installed a Zinwell 6 x 8 multiswitch.

All was ok when he left, but later I found all even transponders on 101 had no signal. The odds were ok and the other satellites were also ok. The next day, on 101 some of the evens were ok, and some of the odds were off.

Another installer came out and knew the problem immediately. He said they had just learned that there was an incompatibility between the particular brand of LNB elements and the 6 x 8 switch. He was an employee of the installation firm and the original installer was a private contractor who worked with the same firm. The second installer, the employee, told me some of the private contractors had not received the word yet.

He put a different brand of elements on the LNB arm, and all ok.

[veryoldschool]

This might be relevant.

A few days ago an installer disconnected my 3LNB and installed a Slim Line 5LNB and an international dish. Also installed a Zinwell 6 x 8 multiswitch.

All was ok when he left, but later I found all even transponders on 101 had no signal. The odds were ok and the other satellites were also ok. The next day, on 101 some of the evens were ok, and some of the odds were off.

Another installer came out and knew the problem immediately. He said they had just learned that there was an incompatibility between the particular brand of LNB elements and the 6 x 8 switch. He was an employee of the installation firm and the original installer was a private contractor who worked with the same firm. The second installer, the employee, told me some of the private contractors had not received the word yet.

He put a different brand of elements on the LNB arm, and all ok.
Maybe, but I had the "even/odd" problem, called D* they said "oh yeah that's..." I went out and tightened the loose coax & it was fixed. [the even & odds are controlled by the 13 & 18 VDC] FWIW

[JohnF]

Maybe, but I had the "even/odd" problem, called D* they said "oh yeah that's..." I went out and tightened the loose coax & it was fixed. [the even & odds are controlled by the 13 & 18 VDC] FWIW
But it did not remain even/odd, but changed - some evens came on, some odds went out, and the installer did not need to tighten any of the coaxs at the multi switch.

[veryoldschool]

But it did not remain even/odd, but changed - some evens came on, some odds went out, and the installer did not need to tighten any of the coaxes at the multi switch.
With some 30+ years working with RF, "your" problems [or the installer's] seems more related to a bad cable [connection/connector]. The LNB will pick up all odd or even transponders depending on the control signal. What would give the type of "malfunction" you described would be a poor [bad] RF match [most likely in the cable].
A tech can get "fooled" when changing a piece of hardware into thinking it is defective as they remove the cables to change it. Problem goes away...must be the equipment, right? Well from many years of "being there", I've found a lot of the time the equipment isn't bad but the mating of the cables was. I'll say it once again: "RF can be funny". It bounces through the cables & many things can cause it to "bounce back" and not get to where it should end up. FWIW

[JohnF]

With some 30+ years working with RF, "your" problems [or the installer's] seems more related to a bad cable [connection/connector]. The LNB will pick up all odd or even transponders depending on the control signal. What would give the type of "malfunction" you described would be a poor [bad] RF match [most likely in the cable].
A tech can get "fooled" when changing a piece of hardware into thinking it is defective as they remove the cables to change it. Problem goes away...must be the equipment, right? Well from many years of "being there", I've found a lot of the time the equipment isn't bad but the mating of the cables was. I'll say it once again: "RF can be funny". It bounces through the cables & many things can cause it to "bounce back" and not get to where it should end up. FWIW
Everything you say makes sense to me and I have an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering. But, FWIW, I am relaying information that the firm, ConnectTV, which is a large company handling DirectTV installation and service in the Los Angeles area, has reported the problem I experienced as related to design issues associated with a particular brand of LNB. This was not just the opinion of one installer, but the company's position. I'm just reporting.

[veryoldschool]

Everything you say makes sense to me and I have an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering. But, FWIW, I am relaying information that the firm, ConnectTV, which is a large company handling DirectTV installation and service in the Los Angeles area, has reported the problem I experienced as related to design issues associated with a particular brand of LNB. This was not just the opinion of one installer, but the company's position. I'm just reporting.
You [or they] may have it "exactly" right. "I don't know". I would think: "we" might have heard more about it here though, maybe it's coming up.

[JohnF]

You [or they] may have it "exactly" right. "I don't know". I would think: "we" might have heard more about it here though, maybe it's coming up.
Maybe so. Could also be instead of a fundamental design issue with the equipment, a bad batch that came to ConnectTV that could be relatively isolated. Who knows?

[veryoldschool]

Maybe so. Could also be instead of a fundamental design issue with the equipment, a bad batch that came to ConnectTV that could be relatively isolated. Who knows?
I think "we're on the same page" here.
The dish is only used with D* equipment, so any "compatibility" issues would really be a defective dish [or design]. :)