[jimlenz]

I moved one of my hr20's upstairs with my new tv and am having trouble with reception on hd channels. I checked the signal strength and note that 99s and 103s are not receiving good signals at all. I assume this is where the local hd and other hd channels are coming from? The problem is that the picture is partially scrambled, like it is not getting good reception. All other signal strengths look fine.

I looked at my other boxes and dont get good strength on these either but have no problem getting the hd channels, both local and other.

Any idea what the problem might be?

Thanks

Jim

 

[jdspencer]

First thing to check are the cable connections.

 

[HDTVsportsfan]

Make sure the connector is on correclty and there are no braids from the shielding touching the center copper core.

 

[TomCat]

First thing to check are the cable connections.

Why on earth would that be the first thing to check? The HD channels come in on the very same cables at the very same frequencies. There would have to be issues common to more than just HD channels to point there.

HD channels with low signals (while SD is still OK) is typically due to a poor dish alignment. Even though both Ku and Ka signals reach your DVR converted to the same L-band frequencies, since Ka signals (which are where the HD channels live) are originally much higher in frequency (before the LNBF conversion) the focal points are much smaller than those for Ku (where the other channels live). A dish can be tuned off slightly and still be close enough to register enough signal in the Ku focal points while that same misalignment will mean a significant dropoff for Ka, and the end result is bad HD channels while SD channels still seem OK.

If you can reach the dish and also see the signal level screen (or have someone on a phone or walkie) try pressing from the rear of the dish forward on the edge, first at 3:00 position, then 12:00, 9:00, and finally, 6:00. Press and hold for at least 10 seconds warping the dish slightly out of its current alignment each time (temporarily, of course). If the signal levels ever go up, you are out of alignment. If they go down each of the four times, you are not.

 

[HDTVsportsfan]

Jim.... what are your signal strength numbers on all of the satellites.

 

[jimlenz]

I checked all the connectors and they seem to be working fine., Note that this only occurs on the hd local stations and some other hd stations. tnthd, showhd, hbohd, espnhd and others work fine.

101 85-95
110 88-92
119 85-97
99c 86-92
99s 0-47
103s 0-82
103c 74-91

Note I have 4 other receivers using this same dish and have no problems accessing these same stations.

Thanks for your assitance.

Jim

 

[jimlenz]

Any help with this issue is greatly appreciated???

Thanks

Jim

 

[litzdog911]

...
Note I have 4 other receivers using this same dish and have no problems accessing these same stations.

Thanks for your assitance.

Jim

That's an important clue. If your other four HD Receivers have no problems with these same channels, then it's not a dish issue. What happens if you swap the "bad" DVR with one of your "good" Receivers? If the problem stays with the "bad" DVR, then you know it's defective. If it stays in that room, then something is wrong with the satellite signal feeding that room.

 

[prospect60]

The signal levels aren't bad overall, but they are significantly low on 99s and a little low on the other 99/103 sats. That would tend to make me think you need to fine tune your dish alignment (assuming the weather is OK there) and would likely explain why just some of your HD channels are affected. I'd expect there to be at least 1 or 2 transponders on 99s at least in the 80's and maybe one of the 103s transponders in the upper 80's/low 90's. Even on 103c the strengths look a little low, but probably acceptable with clear skies.

I'm not sure why the upstairs set is the only one with problems unless that set is a bit pickier. If the signals are significantly different on that box I'd wonder if the cable run is a bit too long or if there is a cabling issue of some other sort.

 

[K4SMX]

.....I'd expect there to be at least 1 or 2 transponders on 99s at least in the 80's and maybe one of the 103s transponders in the upper 80's/low 90's.....

His Detroit HD locals are on 103(s), not 99(s), so he should not expect necessarily to see any strong tp's in the Spaceway2 section of 99(s). His dish does need re-alignment, but that's not the cause of this problem.

Since the problem receiver is obviously an HR2x, I'm wondering what his signals are like on tuner 2. He could have a bad cable on tuner 2, which will be revealed by the tests recommended by litzdog911.

 

[jimlenz]

I have had this tuner for awhile, it is a hr20. I had just moved it from another location where it worked fine.

I tested the signal strengths on tuner 2 and they are very similar to tuner 1.

I am really at a loss as to what the issue might be.

I cant imagine it being the dish as all my other units work just fine. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

JL

 

[Diana C]

What was at this location before you moved the HR20? It is possible that the cable running to this location is old or of poor quality and you're having a problem with the stacked signals (the "b band" signals). Tune to channels 480 through 483 and confirm that they all check out okay.

 

[jimlenz]

Well, I have not had a tv in this room for about 5 months but the one before it worked fine with an hr20.

I checked the stations 480 to 483 and it said the b-band is all working correctly.

The only thing I can think is the wiring now. But if the wiring was a problem why would it only happen on the hd locals and some select hd channels. The sd stations all work fine...fortunately, i have ota so that gets me the locals. However, some of the hd's are affected so they are scrambled.

Thanks

JL

 

[prospect60]

I guess process of elimination:

If you can move the HR20 and/or TV to a location where you know things work then you could start swapping things out to determine in the HR20, wiring, or TV is at fault.

Move one of the other receivers upstairs and see if the same issue occurs. If so then it's not the receiver or if the HR20 works downstairs then it has to be the wiring or TV.

If you move the TV downstairs and it works with either the current HR20 or another Receiver then there has to be a wiring/cable issue.

Are the signal strengths similar on the other receivers?
Are you using a multiswitch and can you change to a different output from the MS?
When you moved the receiver upstairs did you run a new run of cable or splice the old input cable to a extension run?

 

[K4SMX]

I have had this tuner for awhile, it is a hr20. I had just moved it from another location where it worked fine.

I tested the signal strengths on tuner 2 and they are very similar to tuner 1.

I am really at a loss as to what the issue might be.

I cant imagine it being the dish as all my other units work just fine. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

JL

It was suggested to you that you swap receivers. Have you done this?

That's an important clue. If your other four HD Receivers have no problems with these same channels, then it's not a dish issue. What happens if you swap the "bad" DVR with one of your "good" Receivers? If the problem stays with the "bad" DVR, then you know it's defective. If it stays in that room, then something is wrong with the satellite signal feeding that room.