[4larsons]

I am new to this forum and have been searching online trying to find out if our situation is out of the ordinary.

We signed up for Dish Network last December and had the dish installed by Dish (or their contractor). Within about 6 weeks we lost service the first time and have had 7 service calls this first 12 months.

Each time I have called the 800 number and gone thru the routine - reset the receiver, run thru the switch tests, etc. with the person on the phone - then each time they say they need to send someone out.

When they come out we have gotten a different story each time, but it seems to boil down to them needing to climb up on the ladder and readjust the dish. By the way, the dish is mounted to the roof, not on a fence or movable object.

The first guy who came out blamed the installers and said they must not have installed it well. The next guy said someone must have moved the dish. The next few guys didn't know what happened but said they needed to readjust the dish and that now it was "tight". Finally, after about 5 calls we asked to have a supervisor come out and he said the dish had some faulty part and he replaced it.

We made it about 4 months and then lost signal again. The next guy who came out said the dish was securely fastened so someone must have moved it. Now the dish is out again - this time we can pick up one satellite but not another - so we are awaiting another service call.

We have not moved the dish. If you wanted to move the dish you'd need to climb up on a ladder against our house.

Is it normal for this type of thing to happen?

I can't imagine someone climbing up on a ladder to mess with our dish, but the dish does always seem to go out at night or when we aren't around so I don't know what to think.

Looking for any answers or feedback about this situation.

 

[normang]

What reciever(s) do you have, what kind of dish? Any switches installed?

 

[jarvantgroup]

Could be a problem in the cable or a barrel connector in the line. If there is/was any moisture intrusion in the line, corrosion may have happened and may be causing the problems you are explaining. Is any of the cable buried underground?? Check your fittings outside and make sure the center conductors aren't corroded. It may have been nicked or damaged. Also, did the tech ground the cables before the enter your house?? Sometimes the LNB actually may be faulty. Just hope that the tech actually replaced it with a new one and just didn't tell you that he did. :eek2:

 

[boba]

By any chance do you have a Super Dish there has been some older posts about the Super Dish sagging?
No that is not normal to have so many service calls.

 

[4larsons]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I didn't think this was "normal" or else no one would want to use Dish Network.

Here are answers to the questions:
We have two Dish 322 receivers.
On the screen it tells me I have DPP Twin switches (labeled Twin 1 and Twin 2- I think).
The antenna on the roof says Dish 500 on it.

There are no cables underground. I haven't checked the Conductors but I will.
From what the the men who have been here have said, they have moved the dish each time to solve the problem so we didn't look at the cables or connectors. I will also look to see if I can tell if it's grounded.

I think they actually did replace the antenna/dish because I was at home and he had the old one laying in the front yard for me to look at. However, I didn't actually see him take it off the roof.

 

[normang]

Are both receivers experiencing similar problems, or is it only one?

If both, then it maybe a Dish/LNB Issue or once of the cables and its connectors, if its only one receiver, then it could be that unit, or the cables leading to it..

 

[Tom-Tx]

I've had E* for 10 years and never once had to adjust my dish to fine tune the signal.

 

[finniganps]

I've had E* for 10 years and never once had to adjust my dish to fine tune the signal.

Yeah, I've had mine for almost 7 years......only adjustment was when I upgraded to DP equipment a few years ago.

 

[robert koerner]

It sounds as if something is of out wack with the way the the mounting bracket is bolted to your house?

Unless you've found dead birds around your house, or have some kind of animal climbing on your dish.

Any bird droppings around the install? Some BIG bird roosting on the dish?

My dish hasn't needed re-aiming since its install. We have many micro bursts here during the summer.

 

[4larsons]

Both receivers are experiencing the same thing.

No birds nesting - nothing anywhere near it.

The cables and connections seem fine. They are finally coming today so I will have them check the mounting bracket. I may see if I can get the dish moved or replaced.

 

[TNGTony]

I was about to suggest you get them to replace and reinstall the dish and mounting bracket. I've had Dish for 10 years this May and never once had to adjust my dishes (3).

See ya
Tony

 

[robert koerner]

Neighborhood kids throwing a baseball at your dish?

Mounting bracket bolted to your roof wound up in the joint between sheets of plywood?

 

[nismo]

I did come across a service call once with a similar scenario. I ended up replacing all external cabling and moved the ground block indoors, and ran the ground back out to the ground rod. The electronics (LNB) were replaced as well. From the indoor ground block, the run continues barrel free right to the LNB. You can use a DP dual to align the dish (I just aim at 119) eliminating barrels, and simply do a deflection of the dish test for fine adjustment, signal level is always topped out. For insurance, I also silicone grease the connection to the LNB. I tried many methods when first starting out but with a simple battery powered analog meter, a 500 Dish with a DP dual on the 119 side, There has never been a service call to my knowledge. (Atleast for dish installation).

If any water penetrates a fitting, it may run down through the cabling and doesn't matter how many times the fittings are replaced, you'll have another service call--seen it before. So by eliminating potential outdoor failure points, you'll narrow potential points of failure.

It is also very important that the mast is anchored to a rafter. Over time the lags will come loose if not. If diplexors are used make sure they're not on the black list... (Its on this forum somewhere) I'm issued Perfect Visions and have been pretty good--not pefect, but pretty good thus far. (No pun intended

Although an obvious one, make sure you're line of sight is clear. If installed in late fall or in winter, a lock is obtained through branches, but as the leaves fill in you will lose your connection.

With so many service calls in your case, there's definitely alot of variables, so I hope the above example will help narrow it down.

Good luck

 

[robert koerner]

<with a simple battery powered analog meter>

Can you explain more fully about using a battery powered meter? I have many multitesters kicking around. The older ones used analog meters.

TNX
bob

 

[nismo]

<with a simple battery powered analog meter>

Can you explain more fully about using a battery powered meter? I have many multitesters kicking around. The older ones used analog meters.

TNX
bob

What I was refering to was a Channel Master 1007IFD single LNB meter. Some of the guys I work with have fancy digital meters including a Birdog. I didn't find it neccessary to spend that much money when a $50 battery powered meter works just fine.

 

[robert koerner]

TU
Bob

 

[4larsons]

Update - Dish came out and replaced the LNB and checked out all the cables. The guy who came this time seemed convinced that replacing the LNB would solve the problem, but if not he is going to replace the cable that runs outside the house. We have his contact information and he said he'd be willing to come back if we have further problems. I appreciate all the feedback from the forum.

 

[LA Native]

I have a similar setup, except for only one 322 receiver. Had two service calls in a month. 1st guy replaced the LNBs. Second guy, after checking everything else, replace the diplexer (sp?) in our basement, which connects coax coming from the dish to coax running to the receiver. Things working fine since then.

Thanks for the quick feedback. I didn't think this was "normal" or else no one would want to use Dish Network.

Here are answers to the questions:
We have two Dish 322 receivers.
On the screen it tells me I have DPP Twin switches (labeled Twin 1 and Twin 2- I think).
The antenna on the roof says Dish 500 on it.

There are no cables underground. I haven't checked the Conductors but I will.
From what the the men who have been here have said, they have moved the dish each time to solve the problem so we didn't look at the cables or connectors. I will also look to see if I can tell if it's grounded.

I think they actually did replace the antenna/dish because I was at home and he had the old one laying in the front yard for me to look at. However, I didn't actually see him take it off the roof.