HR34-700: No IFC, no H2HD

Hi all,

Strangest thing…for the last week or so, I can not get IFCHD (564) or H2HD (271) at all.

What I *can* get is the SD channels of each just fine. I have painstakingly done the "Channel Up One at a Time" thing like 3-4 times now, to see if there are any other channels that might be giving me the same message:

771-Signal loss on Satellite in 1. Press SELECT for solutions.

I've done all the things--unscrewed cables, rebooted, hard rebooted, power-cycled the receiver--like I said, all the things. Went outside, saw absolutely nothing blocking the satellite dish whatsoever.

I'm on the "Xtra Choice Classic" package, all my locals are fine (Chicago area). We had that FreeView weekend a few weeks ago, all those channels worked fine as well.

Made the call to DirecTV tonight. They had me do all the same things I've already done, but I obliged them anyway & did all of the above over again. The tech I spoke to also had me check the 9501-area channels. All came back fine. The tech did have me run the satellite setup test, and I got one red "x," trying to remember where--she had me speed through the results--believe it was under 103 (was top row, last box with the red "x").

Same thing. No 564, no 271 (in HD).

Anyone else ever run into this issue? I can't imagine what this might be; it was quite cold here for a few weeks, but the last 2 days we've seen a thaw…and this problem has gone on both during the big chill as well as the thaw (of sorts…temps around 43º today).

Can you think of anything else I could try? Seems quite odd that all the other channels I've tried seem to work just fine, as do the SD channels for 564 and 271…but the HD channels for each of those two just won't come in & give me the same 771 message. What do you think?

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Thank you for your responses!

@litzdog911, here are the readings I took just now: https://copy.com/lQoE3sMdAGGjw1OB

What's interesting(?) is that I have a season pass set up to record Portlandia on IFC; the channel played an episode overnight here, and it's a severely garbled/unwatchable recording. There is video/sound mostly throughout the recording, but it's really janky with lots of stuttering & complete dropouts. I was not given the usual warning about a "partial recording" or anything like that from the receiver.

@coolman302003: you're correct, I cannot receive those channels you mention either.

I have but one D* receiver/DVR. We're in a small townhome. I've had D* in HD since 2010. This is the first time with this issue.

What I *don't* have is the $7.99 per month "protection plan" or whatever it's called from D*. The CSR on the phone last night said that I should keep checking for 8 days (as of Saturday, yesterday). If the channels don't return, then I may need to make a call and have someone sent out.

What I can't afford is the $49.99 service call. I guess I'll just go without those channels for 8 days (which is not a big deal at all); then add the protection plan; then a day or two later, make a call; then cancel when all is well.

The dish is bolted to the roof of our townhome (which we own). I don't currently have a ladder tall enough to head up there to look, and the tools I used to have when I'd set up my own D* when my career had me moving often--I don't have them any more, I gave them to a family member out of state.

So judging by those readings I took, I gather that this is a job best left up to a D* repairman?


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I've got an HR34/700. Yep, connected: https://copy.com/bOepskcHomZDRMqD

This could possibly be good news then. I'll check the connections outside--that's easy enough to do. I suppose I may need to just tighten some connections or unscrew/rescrew them back in…unless there's something else I should check out.

Thank you again for your time on this! I like learning how to troubleshoot stuff like this.


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Rats--I ran out of time yesterday to head outside to test some cables. I hope to get that done this week at some point…unless, as @slice1900 points out, it's definitely an LNB issue.

In which case, it sounds like I have to wait 8 days from this past Saturday (the day I called D* about this issue), as that's what the CSR told me to do--if the channel doesn't come back in 8 days, sign up for the protection plan & have someone out to take a look…or do what @coolman302003 suggests and beg for mercy from D* CRG for a freebie replacement…

 

Ok--thank you all.

I'm seriously considering calling up D* and nicely demanding a free visit. I *do* call D* every 8-10 months for discounts, but I haven't in about 6 months.

I suppose I could ask to speak directly to the CRG & see if they'll send me directly there…I've had issues getting handed off to them in the past. But I suppose it won't hurt to ask be transferred straight there.

I was about to call to ask for another discount or use a flyer Comcast sent me in the mail as ammo, but I'd rather get the channels I'm paying for first.

 

Ok--it looks like those channels are back up for me.

For now.

My latest call to D*: without coming out and saying it, after explaining the issue (the person I spoke to seemingly didn't know about my call last weekend), this time the CSR I spoke to (I didn't have a chance to ask for CRG, which was on my lips waiting to be spoken the entire time) "said"…but "didn't say"… that my issues should be fixed now, their system was showing that all was well.

So--best I can gather from this is that the 1st tech support person I spoke to, who said "all the channels you're missing are working fine for me, but I am seeing an issue with IFC"--it seems like maybe there WAS an issue on their end…but they didn't want to admit it? I dunno…I haven't seen any other posts anywhere from people in my area saying they're having the same issue(s).

In any event, I did not close the case (at least in my mind). I'm still checking those channels every time I sit down for the evening to watch television. I won't hesitate to call D* again and try to head off the CSR at the pass & ask for CRG immediately instead of acting a little timid like I did this last time. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Thanks again everyone for your help and advice on this. I really appreciate it. I'm not completely convinced my equipment is working the way it's supposed to (even though it appears as if it is right now), but if I lose those channels or others again I won't hesitate to call immediately & go straight to the customer retention folks first.