New equipment by Sept. 1st?

[WolfClan Dan]

I have recieved several calls from Halstead Communications, the local installer, stating I need to call them because Directv is switching its HD signal to, I think, "B-band".

My question is, why would the installer call me and not Directv? I have a Slimline dish, HD programming, HR20. Will I need new equipment by Sept 1st?

[Tom Robertson]

I have recieved several calls from Halstead Communications, the local installer, stating I need to call them because Directv is switching its HD signal to, I think, "B-band".

My question is, why would the installer call me and not Directv? I have a Slimline dish, HD programming, HR20. Will I need new equipment by Sept 1st?

The first question is does your HR20 have the little gray BBC devices attached? If so, you are likely good to go already.

Next tune to channel 499. If you get "Searching for signal on Satellite in...(771), you know that one of the BBCs is working. With a bit of recording on both tuners on 499, you can verify that both are working.

Cheers,
Tom

[JLucPicard]

I have recieved several calls from Halstead Communications, the local installer, stating I need to call them because Directv is switching its HD signal to, I think, "B-band".

My question is, why would the installer call me and not Directv? I have a Slimline dish, HD programming, HR20. Will I need new equipment by Sept 1st?
Tom is correct. What is being done now, I believe, is they are checking to make sure the B-Band Converters are connected to your HR20 inputs and working right. If not, reception of the new MEPG4 HD signals from the new sat won't work properly.

Some installations were done without connecting the BBC's, some I've read actually threw them out. D* will provide them to people who need them, so checking things now as Tom said will save you a lot of headaches in the future.

[lwilli201]

If you need BBC's, go to this Directv web site to request them. They will be free.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P4200018

I would report to D* about Halstead Communications contacting you. Seems like a scare tactic to get them out. You can bet if they come, it will not be free.

[LarryW]

In Houston, Texas the local DirecTv installer called and wanted to be sure that I had the b-band converters installed. The offered to come and install them for free if I did not have them.

[WolfClan Dan]

Thanks for the input, my HR20 indeed does have two of the little gray devices already.

Awesome.

[Newshawk]

If you need BBC's, go to this Directv web site to request them. They will be free.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P4200018

I would report to D* about Halstead Communications contacting you. Seems like a scare tactic to get them out. You can bet if they come, it will not be free.

From what I understand, the HSPs are the ones contacting most D* customers. Thus, this is not a scare tactic, just putting the HSP CSRs to use.

[ddrumman2004]

I also received a call that was a recording stating that I needed to call that number back to set up a call to install the converter that is already installed on my H20. Not sure who it was but the call originated in Florida and I live in N MS.

[LameLefty]

Thanks for the input, my HR20 indeed does have two of the little gray devices already.

Awesome.

Make sure they work by checking channel 499 as Tom indicated. I have them too (I've had them since my box was installed last October), but I'm failing the ch.499 test on both tuners, so evidently they BBCs have failed. I'm not sure why or how, exactly, since they've not actually had anything to do but sit there passively. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I've ordered new ones through DirecTV but apparently it'll be several weeks until they arrive. So check now and get them ordered ASAP if you don't want to miss new HD programming after D10 launches.

[bobnielsen]

I haven't received any such call, but if they do I'll say "I don't need them, I have a SWM installed" and confuse the heck out of them.

[packfan909]

I haven't received any such call, but if they do I'll say "I don't need them, I have a SWM installed" and confuse the heck out of them.

Either that, or make them jealous as that makes the install so much easier. Love my 8-CH. Can't wait for the D12 to be activated.

pf

[SatireWolf]

Either that, or make them jealous as that makes the install so much easier. Love my 8-CH. Can't wait for the D12 to be activated.

pf

I'd love to get an SWM to put in my structured wiring closet so I can utilize my high gain HDTV antenna again. I have dual RG6 quad pre-wried in every room of my house, but the only rooms that I can use the antenna in don't have TV's, just computers with HD tuner cards.

I have 2 HR20's so the two places I view (living room and bedroom), I don't get some of my HD locals, because DTV doesn't carry them.

Anyways, the last installer that was in my house tried to convince me that the B-band filters interefered with the signal, and that he took them off anytime he saw them, because it 'fixed' someone's signal one time.

He was a yeeehaw redneck with no understanding of the technology or what they were for....

Anyways, I kindly explained to him that they were for the new sat's DTV was puting out, and that adjacent signals were going to interfere with the new mpeg4 frequencies. He kinda scratched his head, and said 'whatever'...

They really 'don't' train installers on what all this stuff is for. I think they spend 90 percent of the time teaching them how to point the silly dishes, and the other 10 percent of the time on terminating coax, and hope they can figure out the rest.

[celticpride]

so what is channel 499 suppose to show with the BBC's connected? on my HR20 it has a searching for sattelite sinal 771 , when i press the INFO button it sas to hit the red reset button. i'm confused so i just left it alone , so is mine working properly or not?

[jlancaster]

so what is channel 499 suppose to show with the BBC's connected? on my HR20 it has a searching for sattelite sinal 771 , when i press the INFO button it sas to hit the red reset button. i'm confused so i just left it alone , so is mine working properly or not?
yes they are working...wacky way for them to tell you they are working just fine isn't it?

[celticpride]

thanks thats a relief ! i thought i was going to have to have D* come out. now i just have to wait for the new sat to go online.

[Dolly]

Whew you guys had me scared. I didn't understand what you were talking about, but I looked at my HR20 and I do have those little gray things attached. I thought I should be good to go since my HD install was just done this month :goodjob:

[tonyd79]

so what is channel 499 suppose to show with the BBC's connected? on my HR20 it has a searching for sattelite sinal 771 , when i press the INFO button it sas to hit the red reset button. i'm confused so i just left it alone , so is mine working properly or not?

If you hit INFO on your remote (to get programming info), rather than the INFO button on the screen, you will get a message telling you that 771 means you passed the test.

Congratulations. Now sit back and wait for HD from the skies.

[SledDog]

Here's one for ya...

My install is only 1 month old. I have an H20 with a BBC installed and a slimline dish. When I go to 499, all I get is a blank screen. No searching for signal....

I hit info and it tells me it's the "B-Band Converter test channel" If you see Searching for Satellite Signal itis correctly installed. If you see an information slide then you need to order one...

I see neither, just a blank screen.

So, does it appear my BBC is bad? Or what am I missing...

UPDATE:

I remove the bbc plug the coax directly into the H20 and get the same thing.... A blank screen

[MetroNY]

What message will I get on 499 if the test failed? Mine just keeps searching and searching..........

[CCarncross]

Is the H20 updated to correctly acknowledge the BBC's yet? I thought it still needed another software update. IIRC, the HR20 is the only one whose software recognizes the BBC installation.

[SledDog]

This just gets crazier...

While I had the bbc disconnected I accidentally hit the power button the remote an turned off the H20. I hit it again to turn the power back on and I get the 771 message. I had the coax to the dish connected.

So I turn of the power with the remote again, installed the bbc, turn the H20 on with the remote and I get a blank screen again!

I attempted to recreate the 771 again with the bbc out and coax to the dish connected, no joy. Just a blank screen.....

[zinger1457]

My install (HR20-100) was 2 months ago and there are two BBC's connected to the rear but when I select channel 499 I get a message stating that the B-Band converter is not connected.

[WolfClan Dan]

Both of my BBC's are back there, however when I record ch 499, I cannot seem to get playback to verify Tuner 2.


Hmmmmm.

[JLucPicard]

If you get a good result on tuner 1, try swapping the BBC's between tuners - that should let you verify if both are good or just the one.

[jrd4849]

Here's one for ya...

My install is only 1 month old. I have an H20 with a BBC installed and a slimline dish. When I go to 499, all I get is a blank screen. No searching for signal....

I hit info and it tells me it's the "B-Band Converter test channel" If you see Searching for Satellite Signal itis correctly installed. If you see an information slide then you need to order one...

I see neither, just a blank screen.

So, does it appear my BBC is bad? Or what am I missing...

UPDATE:

I remove the bbc plug the coax directly into the H20 and get the same thing.... A blank screen

I have an H20-100 and get the same blank screen as you. This receiver has the original firmware. However I also have an H20-600 that is running the CE firmware and I get the "searching for signal" message. So is my BBC bad on the H20-100 or does it need a firmware update for the test channel to work properly?

[joed32]

Check the CE section. It's coming.

[SledDog]

I have an H20-100 and get the same blank screen as you. This receiver has the original firmware. However I also have an H20-600 that is running the CE firmware and I get the "searching for signal" message. So is my BBC bad on the H20-100 or does it need a firmware update for the test channel to work properly?

It's good to know I'm not the only one. So, it would appear that this is "normal".

Having switched from E*, it's hard to believe that D* receivers have this many issues.

It appears that most, if not all of D* receivers (hd and non-hd) have some type of firmware/software issue.

So far I'm seeing only small problems. Like the non-HD recevier (D-11 500 with the lastest software update) I have that resets when you try to access previous searched items (channel, program, so on) menu. And the bbc check issue with the H20. And the picture quality issues.

I don't mind a little experimentation when it comes to this type of equipment. I have not downloaded any of the CEs, yet. I'm trying to get a handle on what the equipment is doing and the current problems. I still have yet to figure out the point of diminishing returns, when having the equipment/service is out weighed by the hassle of using/maintaining it, with D*. But so far, I'm seeing more problems then I ever did with E*'s. Looks like the folks that write code for E*'s receivers do a better job of testing before the product is released.

I worked for a SCADA company that did what D* appears to be doing with their "new" equipment. This company was more interested in getting the product "out the door" then they were in making sure the firmware/software was right. This company would then go back and devote some resources in an attempt to fix the problems. But they never solved all of them. Their focus was on the next new product in development.

It appears D* is attempting to do something about the problems. But how long will it be before D* decides that fixing the problems are not worth the effort and moves on to next generation of products?

It may be too early in my experience with D*to make an informed judgement, but if this is the norm, I may end up switching back to E* after my commitment.