View Full Version : NO B Band Converter, NO HD TV
Hey I was just on the phone with DTV CSR and they wanted to know if a I had a B Band Converter. They said I would recongize it as a small gray box that hangs from the back of the satellite input connectors on the back of my HD reciever. Apparently it's required in order to recieve the new HD channels coming out this month. If you don't have one call DTV and ask them to order you one or two if you have a HR20, it's free of charge and required for viewing.
I also learned that you can use the mover connection deal to move your equipment around the house if you wanted to relocate a STB from one room to another and cables would be required to be rerun or installed, it's a once a year deal or should I say option. It's a savings of $70 which is the normal DTV service charge.
This maybe already known but just in case it wasn't, NOW YOU KNOW!
Herdfan
09-11-07, 07:52 AM
It's a savings of $70 which is the normal DTV service charge.
Its also a reset of your 2-year commitment.
This is True, but if your not planning on going anywhere for the next 2 years it's all good!
Doug Brott
09-11-07, 08:19 AM
Tyrate .. Your installer was supposed to have left these for you during the installation. That did not always happen and DIRECTV is trying to make things right.
Do you have a multi-switch or are the cables coming directly from your dish to your receiver? If you're not sure, perhaps you can note the number of receivers you have. The reason that I ask is that if you do have a multi-switch, then you should verify that that has been updated as well. The only two multi-switches that will pass the new HD channels to your receiver are the Zinwell WB68 (8-port) and WB616 (16-port) mult-switches. If you have a multi-switch, your installer may not have changed that either since the BBCs weren't left.
Stuart Sweet
09-11-07, 08:20 AM
...for those who have an H20 or HR20, if you don't have those BBC's hooked up, do it now and test them. (channel 499). If you don't have one, or if yours fail, get new ones, pronto. You don't want to miss out.
JDubbs413
09-11-07, 11:02 AM
When I go to my B Band Converter test channel it does the Searching for signal on Satellite In 1...711.
I am pretty sure my B Band Converters work fine because I get all the rest of HD channels that are offered right now.
Does this mean something is wrong?
Michael D'Angelo
09-11-07, 11:03 AM
When I go to my B Band Converter test channel it does the Searching for signal on Satellite In 1...711.
I am pretty sure my B Band Converters work fine because I get all the rest of HD channels that are offered right now.
Does this mean something is wrong?
The searching for signal message is what you want to see.
Canis Lupus
09-11-07, 11:06 AM
JDubbs,
This means that the BBC for your Tuner 1 is working. To test the BBC on the other tuner, go up or down 2 channels with the channel button, then directly enter 499. This will swap your tuner from 1 to 2 and you want to get that same "Searching..." message, except for tuner 2. Good to check both of them ;)
JDubbs413
09-11-07, 11:22 AM
The searching for signal message is what you want to see.
LOL wow you can tell I am new to this.
Doug Brott
09-11-07, 11:29 AM
LOL wow you can tell I am new to this.
Hopefully when the new satellite actually goes live there will be a slide on there that says "success!" The current method is confusing, but accurate :).
Just had a second HR20-700 installed a couple weeks ago. They had a sticker right on the top of the unit stating that the BBCs need to be connected. And they had a picture ofthe back of the unit with the what the BBCs look like and how they should be connected. Fortunately I already knew about them and my installer was good enough to know to connect them, but I thought it was start of D* to include that sticker. I promptly removed it though, as it was blocking some air vents.
Doug Brott
09-11-07, 11:34 AM
I had an HR20-700 installed today and there was no sticker on the top for me with respect to the BBCs. The installer was surprised to see the new "black" BBCs, though. :)
Tyrate .. Your installer was supposed to have left these for you during the installation. That did not always happen and DIRECTV is trying to make things right.
Do you have a multi-switch or are the cables coming directly from your dish to your receiver? If you're not sure, perhaps you can note the number of receivers you have. The reason that I ask is that if you do have a multi-switch, then you should verify that that has been updated as well. The only two multi-switches that will pass the new HD channels to your receiver are the Zinwell WB68 (8-port) and WB616 (16-port) mult-switches. If you have a multi-switch, your installer may not have changed that either since the BBCs weren't left.
Doug, this is the first I've heard about any issue with the "new HDs" and multi-switches. I know I do not have the Zinwell switch, but I have gone through the 499 B-Band test successfully. Am I still going to have a problem? Is this explained in another thread somewhere? If not, could you post some more details.
Thanks, Rod
lwilli201
09-11-07, 11:41 AM
Doug, this is the first I've heard about any issue with the "new HDs" and multi-switches. I know I do not have the Zinwell switch, but I have gone through the 499 B-Band test successfully. Am I still going to have a problem? Is this explained in another thread somewhere? If not, could you post some more details.
Thanks, Rod
If you are getting the Searching for Signal on 499, you are good to go.
I know I do not have the Zinwell switch, but I have gone through the 499 B-Band test successfully. Am I still going to have a problem?
Thanks, RodIf you have a multiswitch and it is anything other than the Zinwell WB68 or WB616 (unless you have an SWM), you will not get the new HD channels. The channel 499 test has nothing to do with the multiswitch functionality.
If you are getting the Searching for Signal on 499, you are good to go.That is not necessarily true. That only verifies the BBC is working.
LameLefty
09-11-07, 11:59 AM
If you have a multiswitch and it is anything other than the Zinwell WB68 or WB616, you will not get the new HD channels. The channel 499 test has nothing to do with the multiswitch functionality.
That is not necessarily true. That only verifies the BBC is working.
Um, I was failing the ch.499 test every single time until I insisted D* send someone out to replace the Zinwell 6803 switch with the WB68. Now I pass with the correct switch. So yeah, the switch can have an effect on the test. On the other hand, I understand that at least some Spaun high-end switches are wideband-certified and will work as well, but they are much more expensive.
Um, I was failing the ch.499 test every single time until I insisted D* send someone out to replace the Zinwell 6803 switch with the WB68. Now I pass with the correct switch. So yeah, the switch can have an effect on the test. On the other hand, I understand that at least some Spaun high-end switches are wideband-certified and will work as well, but they are much more expensive.All I was trying to get across is that passing the channel 499 test with a multiswitch other than the WB68 or WB616 (or an SWM) is very likely to lead to great disappointment when the new HD channels go live. There were even CSRs as late as a week ago telling people that other multiswitches were OK, as long as they passed the channel 499 test, which was patently false.
Hey thanks for the inputs on the multiswitches, I actually had no idea about the B Converter, I got my HR20 about 6 months ago, I'm not even sure if I have them (BBC) or not already, I haven't been home since I found out about them this morning. When I'd called CS apparently the question pop up on the CSR screen so she asked me about it, that's how I found out about it but she didn't mention anything about the multiswitches I'll check that out when I get home this afternoon. I'm pretty sure I don't have the B Converters, I don't remember seeing them before so I'm sure I'l be ordering them when I verify it later. Anyway I'm glad someone said something I've been waiting for this HD deployment for a long time now and I would of been pissed if I missed out on it. Thanks again guys!
Canis Lupus
09-11-07, 12:59 PM
JDubbs - don't sweat it. I had to teach an Installer how to do this yesterday. ;)
Keep reading and posting here and you will get the answers you seek :)
LOL wow you can tell I am new to this.
Canis Lupus
09-11-07, 01:01 PM
Hey Tyrate,
those BBCs are either installed between your cable inputs and your receiver, or they're still in the box. ;)
either way, make sure you have them and that they work properly using the 499 test.
Hey thanks for the inputs on the multiswitches, I actually had no idea about the B Converter, I got my HR20 about 6 months ago, I'm not even sure if I have them (BBC) or not already, I haven't been home since I found out about them this morning. When I'd called CS apparently the question pop up on the CSR screen so she asked me about it, that's how I found out about it but she didn't mention anything about the multiswitches I'll check that out when I get home this afternoon. I'm pretty sure I don't have the B Converters, I don't remember seeing them before so I'm sure I'l be ordering them when I verify it later. Anyway I'm glad someone said something I've been waiting for this HD deployment for a long time now and I would of been pissed if I missed out on it. Thanks again guys!
All I was trying to get across is that passing the channel 499 test with a multiswitch other than the WB68 or WB616 (or an SWM) is very likely to lead to great disappointment when the new HD channels go live. There were even CSRs as late as a week ago telling people that other multiswitches were OK, as long as they passed the channel 499 test, which was patently false.
So what are the keywords/features on the multi-switch that make it capable of handling the new channels? I'm still trying to understand the "why". Also, if I call DTV about this, are they going to have a clue?
LameLefty
09-11-07, 02:41 PM
So what are the keywords/features on the multi-switch that make it capable of handling the new channels? I'm still trying to understand the "why". Also, if I call DTV about this, are they going to have a clue?
It has to be capable of passing all of the frequency bands necessary - the new satellite (D10) and its twin D11 (which will be launched late this year, hopefully) use Ka-Low band (the "B-Band" from "B-Band Converter") and older switches don't pass that band. You need a Zinwell WB68, WB616 or a very expensive Spaun powered wideband multiswitch.
marksman
09-11-07, 03:10 PM
I recommend people check too. When I originally installed the HR20 myself I did not install them, but then an installer came out for something else and hooked them up.
However, when the test went live, it did not work. So DirecTV had to send out new ones.
DishCSR
09-11-07, 04:42 PM
I also learned that you can use the mover connection deal to move your equipment around the house if you wanted to relocate a STB from one room to another and cables would be required to be rerun or installed, it's a once a year deal or should I say option. It's a savings of $70 which is the normal DTV service charge.
using the mover's for something like this is just stupid, ( unless of course you need a new dish installed for some reason). moving a receiver to a new room is known as a relocation which is 49.00 a service call (70.00) does not get any kind of install or reinstall done, it only restores service, so whatever idiot told you this, is just that, an idiot
reubenray
09-11-07, 05:32 PM
It has to be capable of passing all of the frequency bands necessary - the new satellite (D10) and its twin D11 (which will be launched late this year, hopefully) use Ka-Low band (the "B-Band" from "B-Band Converter") and older switches don't pass that band. You need a Zinwell WB68, WB616 or a very expensive Spaun powered wideband multiswitch.
How can I tell what multiswitch I have?
Michael D'Angelo
09-11-07, 05:33 PM
How can I tell what multiswitch I have?
It says the model on the front of it. You want a Zinwell WB68.
Got home and found out I got everything installed propertly, so thanks I'm glad I was able to generate some conversation, I hope no one gets caught off guard. On the installation part I will look into what's the standard wire rerun charge is and go with the best offer, I guess. I have the protection plan but that piece of crap does nothing for me, it's big waste of money as far as I can see. I've been with DTV for 8 - 9 years now and I've use it once in all that time, everytime I think I can use it the senario usaully doesn't apply. I know if I cancel it something horrible is going to happen to all my equipment.
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