H-20-100 Still Nothing on Channel 499

[WarBird]

Ok, I've been reading old posts for the last 10 days, but I'm not sure some of the information I've found is related specifically to the "100" model. I have software release 0X2021 from 7/30 @ 3:44am. There is a signal from 6 transponders on Sat 99(b). Still when I tune to 499 it's just a blank screen, no searching for sat message, no slide telling me I don't have the B band converter, nothing. I thought about calling tech support, but then started to think about it. I won't believe the answer they give me anyway. So, anyone else in the same boat, and if so is this still normal, or do I need to do something else to be ready for the rollout of the new channels?

[veryoldschool]

Ok, I've been reading old posts for the last 10 days, but I'm not sure some of the information I've found is related specifically to the "100" model. I have software release 0X2021 from 7/30 @ 3:44am. There is a signal from 6 transponders on Sat 99(b). Still when I tune to 499 it's just a blank screen, no searching for sat message, no slide telling me I don't have the B band converter, nothing. I thought about calling tech support, but then started to think about it. I won't believe the answer they give me anyway. So, anyone else in the same boat, and if so is this still normal, or do I need to do something else to be ready for the rollout of the new channels?
:welcome_s to the forum.
When I ran that test [with that software] I had the searching for signal message, but you aren't alone, as there are others that have seen the same thing as you.
D* is sending out replacements for free [I've had six sent, which all worked].
I'd have them send out a new one "just in case" and wait for the next software download. I had 0x2022 before the current CE software I'm testing.

[WarBird]

Thanks VOS. When you say replacement, I asssume you mean the B band box and not the H20 itself?

[veryoldschool]

Thanks VOS. When you say replacement, I asssume you mean the B band box and not the H20 itself?
Yes, the BBC was what I meant. :lol:

[WarBird]

Just ordered one through their website, should be here in 10-14 days. We'll see if it makes any difference. Even if it doesn't, can't hurt to have a backup on the shelf.

[texasbrit]

Ok, I've been reading old posts for the last 10 days, but I'm not sure some of the information I've found is related specifically to the "100" model. I have software release 0X2021 from 7/30 @ 3:44am. There is a signal from 6 transponders on Sat 99(b). Still when I tune to 499 it's just a blank screen, no searching for sat message, no slide telling me I don't have the B band converter, nothing. I thought about calling tech support, but then started to think about it. I won't believe the answer they give me anyway. So, anyone else in the same boat, and if so is this still normal, or do I need to do something else to be ready for the rollout of the new channels?


The channel 499 slide comes from the 103 satellite - are you getting any signals on 103 at all? What's your zip code?

[WarBird]

No, I'm not getting anything from the 103, all showing n/a. Zip code 26554. Is this a dish aiming issue?

[texasbrit]

No, I'm not getting anything from the 103, all showing n/a. Zip code 26554. Is this a dish aiming issue?
It should not be but I am just suspicious. Since you don't get HD locals then all the transponders you would see on 99 and 103 are spotbeams for other cities. I have not looked at the map in detail but you are surrounded (albeit at a distance) by cities that do have HD locals and I would have expected some of them to have HD locals on 103, and for you to be in the edge of the spotbeams. And logic says that if you were not receiving 103 at all then if you select 499 without the b-band converter fitted you would get searching for signal, not a blank screen. That it is, it would look like the bbc was fitted and had passed the test. But 499 is an unusual channel, the transponder delivering it does not show up on the 103 signal strength screen. A blank screen usually indicates you are getting a signal (carrier) but no programming.

What signal levels do you get on the 99 satellite?

[WarBird]

Here's the levels for everything I'm seeing......

Sat 101:

1-8-- 97 95 95 72 95 100 93 98
9-16-- 95 95 96 81 95 100 95 100
17-24-- 95 90 95 83 95 100 94 100
25-32-- 95 87 93 97 93 100 91 100

Sat 110:

1-8-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 95
9-16-- n/a 92 n/a 95 n/a n/a n/a n/a
17-24-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
25-32-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Sat 119:

1-8-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
9-16-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
17-24-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 98 96 95
25-32-- 96 100 98 98 98 98 0 100

Sat 99(b):

1-8-- 60 80 31 86 32 0 n/a n/a
9-16-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
17-24-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
25-32-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Sat 103(a)

1-8-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
9-16-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
17-24-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
23-32-- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a


Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[veryoldschool]

You can always try the CE software:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=94433

[WarBird]

I'm planning on doing just that.....If I can stay awake for another 3 hours:zzz: :lol:

[STEVEN-H]

If you have an external multi switch you must set up the H20 to use 6x8 switch in order to get 103 signal. If not set it to 4x4. You must have this set correctly to receive the signal. If no external multi switch is used be sure the H20 is set to 4x4.

[WarBird]

No external multi switch, just went back through set up, it's on 4x4.

[satwood]

FWIW, I just activated the replacement H20 I received. With the national release of firmware on my old one, channel 499 displayed "searching for signal" when the BBC was installed. When i upgraded to the CE last weekend, the channel 499 screen was blank afterwards. The new receiver arrived with the latest national release and it displays "searching for signal" on 499. I'm going to load the CE tonight and then I'll report on what it does.

Steve

[WarBird]

I will do the same.

[computersecguy]

Okay.. So I received the x2021 software on 2 July and on the 499 channel receive blank screen whether or not BBC is installed. I hear you guys talk about the 103 sat and that is where it comes from. While all of my transponders for 103(a) Signal OK show N/A, I can go to signal meter and it shows between 93-95% signal for transponder 0. Does this mean that I am good to go, or should I be looking for a new bbc? I will try this new software that goes live in 30 mins or so and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for you help. I see that the satellite is getting closer. I can't wait to see ice road truckers in hd...

[WarBird]

No change for me with the CE software download.

computersecguy, sounds like we're in the same boat. I'm also seeing 91% - 93% signal for transponder 0 on 103(a), but on the summary screen, all the transponders show as n/a, If anything changes for you, let me know.

[computersecguy]

No change for me with the CE software download.

computersecguy, sounds like we're in the same boat. I'm also seeing 91% - 93% signal for transponder 0 on 103(a), but on the summary screen, all the transponders show as n/a, If anything changes for you, let me know.

I think I am going to end up calling the csr... 202a and still nothing. Or maybe monday night I will know if the discovery channel shows up in hd with some programming...

[veryoldschool]

Just remembered: You need to wait like for five min to get the reading off those transponders. They take much longer than the 101, 110, or 119 transponders.

[WarBird]

Just remembered: You need to wait like for five min to get the reading off those transponders. They take much longer than the 101, 110, or 119 transponders.

I gave that a try as well, let it sit for over 30 min (on the 19" CRT in the kitchen). It went to screen saver a couple of times, but nothing other than "N/A" for all the transponders.

[veryoldschool]

I gave that a try as well, let it sit for over 30 min (on the 19" CRT in the kitchen). It went to screen saver a couple of times, but nothing other than "N/A" for all the transponders.
That sure was long enough to have them show up it they were going to.
Looking back at your posts:
You list N/A for ALL of the SATs on 103. This isn't what you should be seeing.
You should be seeing one through six & seventeen showing zeros and the others N/A.
Try a reset everything and see what you get after going through the setup guide again.

[WarBird]

Reset everything, still N/A for all transponders on sat 103. If i check the individual signal strenth meter, all it has available is transponder 0 and it is showing strength of 93.

[RobertE]

Reset everything, still N/A for all transponders on sat 103. If i check the individual signal strenth meter, all it has available is transponder 0 and it is showing strength of 93.

If the 103 is showing all NA, then something else is wrong in the system. Reciever, multiswitch(es), LNB, or LOS. Something is causing the box to not find the 103 sat.

[computersecguy]

I guess I was under the impression that 103 was made of spot beams for local channels. If you weren't in one of those spots, you couldn't see any of the transponders. Is that incorrect? I see the 99 sat but all transponders 1-6 show 0 for signal strength. I don't see any channels that I would expect missing.

[veryoldschool]

I guess I was under the impression that 103 was made of spot beams for local channels. If you weren't in one of those spots, you couldn't see any of the transponders. Is that incorrect? I see the 99 sat but all transponders 1-6 show 0 for signal strength. I don't see any channels that I would expect missing.
"Zero" is not "N/A" which seems to be the problem.
With the correct software what used to show N/A, now will show the transponders you listed. If there aren't any spot beams that you can pickup, then zero will be displayed instead of N/A.

[WarBird]

If the 103 is showing all NA, then something else is wrong in the system. Reciever, multiswitch(es), LNB, or LOS. Something is causing the box to not find the 103 sat.

But how do i determine which? Is it also possible that the dish could just be aimed incorrectly? I don't have much faith in the installation company that put it up. I'm getting good signals on 101, 110, and 119, and not too bad on 99 considering I'm not in the market for locals. If the tilt of the dish is wrong, could the LNB just not be seeing the sat? But then again, why wouldn't it be saying "searching for signal". Does the zip code that you enter on setup have anything to do with what signals the receiver looks for?

[veryoldschool]

But how do i determine which? Is it also possible that the dish could just be aimed incorrectly? I don't have much faith in the installation company that put it up. I'm getting good signals on 101, 110, and 119, and not too bad on 99 considering I'm not in the market for locals. If the tilt of the dish is wrong, could the LNB just not be seeing the sat? But then again, why wouldn't it be saying "searching for signal". Does the zip code that you enter on setup have anything to do with what signals the receiver looks for?
Zip code is for pointing, but nothing more.
If you have no signals [bad dish alignment] you would still get "zero" for the 1-6 transponders and not N/A

[WarBird]

So if I'm seeing all N/A and nothing at 0 on the 103, then that would rule out a problem with dish pointing and also a bad LNB? Can I then limit the possibilities to a bad h20 or BBC? New BBC is on way (according to DTV website), so we'll see shortly.

[veryoldschool]

So if I'm seeing all N/A and nothing at 0 on the 103, then that would rule out a problem with dish pointing and also a bad LNB? Can I then limit the possibilities to a bad h20 or BBC? New BBC is on way (according to DTV website), so we'll see shortly.
Back to basics:
What model H20 and what version software is shown on the info screen?

[WarBird]

H20-100. ox202A.

[veryoldschool]

H20-100. ox202A.
Something isn't right with your "N/A" listings. Have you done a reset everything from the setup menu yet?

[computersecguy]

I have reset everything. I have also resetup the satellite and still show all n/a for all transponders for the 103a bird. When I go to show the signal meter, I receive about a 95% signal for transponder 0 which is the only satellite that I have a 0 listed. On the 103 bird, 0 is the only transponder that I am able to select. I have a newer system (Mar 07) and have the bbc installed with the slimline 5lnb dish. are there any tricks to attempting to get the receiver to look at transponders that don't actually exist?

[WarBird]

Exactly the same thing here, mine was just installed in July. Could it be that DTV just has it set up that certain receivers are not yet looking for anything on the 103? Maybe geographic regions or maybe the newer receivers? If anyone has any reassuring info, please pass it on.

[veryoldschool]

Exactly the same thing here, mine was just installed in July. Could it be that DTV just has it set up that certain receivers are not yet looking for anything on the 103? Maybe geographic regions or maybe the newer receivers? If anyone has any reassuring info, please pass it on.
OK my new receiver now has 2021. When I go and re-run the SAT setup, it shows zero for the first six transponders on 99 & 103 and N/A for the others. With in five or so min the zeros change to show the levels that I see on my HR-20s & H21 [three from each].
When I tune to 499, I get the searching for signal message.
This is what it should do with the BBC installed.

So far WarBird, I'm not reading that you are seeing zeros for transponders on the 99 & 103. N/A should only be shown for transponders above #6.

[texasbrit]

OK my new receiver now has 2021. When I go and re-run the SAT setup, it shows zero for the first six transponders on 99 & 103 and N/A for the others. With in five or so min the zeros change to show the levels that I see on my HR-20s & H21 [three from each].
When I tune to 499, I get the searching for signal message.
This is what it should do with the BBC installed.

So far WarBird, I'm not reading that you are seeing zeros for transponders on the 99 & 103. N/A should only be shown for transponders above #6.

Also Warbird mentions he has release oX202a. I did not think this was a national release for the H20-100, only a CE release. True???

[veryoldschool]

Also Warbird mentions he has release oX202a. I did not think this was a national release for the H20-100, only a CE release. True???
That was this weekend's CE. I had it until the replacement came yesterday.
That CE has the one press guide, woohoo!

[computersecguy]

Warbird... If you are still watching this, I did call d* and it seems that some H20-100s no matter what software are showing black screens. As long as you have the 5lnb, and the bbc installed, they claim you are ready to go. I sure loved sitting on the phone for 30 minutes to hear that...

[WarBird]

Warbird... If you are still watching this, I did call d* and it seems that some H20-100s no matter what software are showing black screens. As long as you have the 5lnb, and the bbc installed, they claim you are ready to go. I sure loved sitting on the phone for 30 minutes to hear that...

Thanks for following up. Unfortunately that doesn't make me feel much better. If you would have asked three different reps the same question, you probably would have gotten three different answers. Guess we'll see if we get the new channels when they go live.

[WarBird]

Received new BBC today, no changes to channel 499.

[texasbrit]

Warbird - apparently you are not the only one reporting this problem. The issue has been passed to the DirecTV developers but right now no-one is quite sure why it is happening to just a very few people. And all the reports are from people who are in areas that don't get HD locals yet. Somehow it seems that all the transponders from the current 103 satellite are being set at N/A.
More info if/when I have it.

[WarBird]

texasbrit,
That seems to be exactly the issue, I believe that the software is causing all the transponders on the 103 to be set to N/A. I'm wondering if because I receive no locals, only national network feeds that the receiver is being "told" not to look for anything on the 103 sat. Please keep me posted if you have any new info.

[thekochs]

Guess we'll see if we get the new channels when they go live.

A D* tech posted on another thread that they go live 9/27.