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Low signal on 99(c)

1K views 17 replies 8 participants last post by  LowPingBoy 
#1 ·
Hi all,

I have a Slimline (AU9) dish with a Zinwell WB68 multiswitch and an HR20-700 receiver. I performed my own install of the Slimline, which was done before even D10 went live. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a signal level meter... I was patient and used the receiver signal meters.

I've been getting a 771 error when trying to view ABC HD Family or the Planet Green channels. I understand those are on 99(c) now, so I started to troubleshoot. Test channels 482 is also giving a 771 error, although 483 does show good. All the other test channels are fine. I tried bypassing the multiswitch, but no love -- the readings were identical either way.

Also, I'm getting identical readings on both tuners, so it doesn't seem to be a particular cable/tuner/B-Band issue.

It looks like something at the dish, and was wondering if some of the experts here could give me some pointers on which setting to check (azimuth, elevation, tilt, etc). I'm in the Southern California area.

Here's my numbers:

101
1-8 86 83 83 0 85 95 85 94
9-16 86 86 85 0 88 96 85 95
17-24 87 100 86 0 88 96 85 95
25-32 86 0 82 100 86 94 83 95

119
(N/A on xponders 1-16, or first 2 rows)
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A 83 56 80
25-32 83 83 82 81 0 82 73 86

103(c) (these seem somewhat low)
1-8 62 73 54 63 65 72 53 65
9-16 74 59 67 63 74 N/A N/A N/A
(remainding xponders N/A)

99(c) <-- the problem child -- sometimes I get all 0's
1-8 0 29 0 28 0 23 0 22
9-16 0 21 0 20 0 23 N/A N/A
(remainders are N/A)

Thanks in advance for any tips or pointers! :)
 
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#3 ·
I would guess that your main LNBF assembly is defective.

Until you can replace that, make absolutely certain that the mast is plumb and adjust the slant until your 119W numbers come in better and see how things go. Your 103(c) numbers are not stellar either.

Remember that your aiming at something that is over 22,000 miles away and only a couple of dozen feet wide.
 
#4 ·
harsh said:
I would guess that your main LNBF assembly is defective.

Until you can replace that, make absolutely certain that the mast is plumb and adjust the slant until your 119W numbers come in better and see how things go. Your 103(c) numbers are not stellar either.

Remember that your aiming at something that is over 22,000 miles away and only a couple of dozen feet wide.
Jumping the gun a bit on claiming a defective LNB arn't we?

First thing first, get the mast plumb, and re-peak the dish. Then we can proceed to defective parts.
 
#6 ·
harsh said:
Not in view of the every other transponder on 99(c) thing.
Elevation being off will do that. But then again, I only install about a dozen or so of these a week, so what do I know. :rolleyes:
 
#8 ·
All,

Thanks for your help.... RobertE, you nailed it, it was elevation.

I now have most transponders on 99c in the low 80s, and all are showing signal now.

The issue was two-fold:

1) Mast wasn't plumb. Over time, I guess things have settled a bit. It was plumb side-to-side but not front-to-back (e.g. elevation was off). Frankly, I should have checked this right away before even posting... but I swear it was plumb when I installed it! :rolleyes:

2) After plumbing, the elevation did need a couple of turns on the fine-adjustment screw to peak up the numbers.

So now 101 is all very high 90s and several 100s, high 80s on 103(c) and low 80s on 99(c). I can now receive ABCFHD and Planet Green and they are clean.

Thanks again for such rapid replies, I really appreciate it!
 
#9 ·
Good to hear!

Probably missed the rafter/stud on the mast mount. Happens to the best of us from time to time. :p Just make sure your monopoles are good and secure and you should be all set.
 
#10 ·
TS Hanna got me. Low/no signal on 99(s) and 103(s). Checked the plumb with a laser +/- .001 degree on each. No local HD, 269 HD, etc.

Current signals:

101

1 -8 97 97 95 86 95 100 93 99
9 - 16 95 98 96 78 96 100 95 100
17-24 95 0 97 73 96 100 96 100
25-32 97 0 97 97 97 100 97 100


119

1 - 8 NA
9 -16 NA
17 -24 NA NA NA NA NA 100 100 100
25 -32 70 100 100 100 91 100 99 100

103(c)

1 - 8 97 96 95 95 95 95 92 94
9 - 16 95 94 95 93 95 94 NA NA
17 -24 NA
25 -32 NA

99 (c)

1 - 8 95 92 92 91 95 88 90 89
9 - 16 95 87 91 89 95 91 NA NA
17 - 24 NA
25 -32 NA

99(s)

1 - 8 0 0 0 32 0 0 NA NA
9 - 16 NA Na NA NA NA NA 57 0
17 - 24 0 0 79 0 0 0 45 37
25 - 32 NA

103(s)

1 - 8 93 85 95 97 0 98 NA NA
9 - 16 NA NA NA NA NA NA 0 0
17 -24 0 0 0 0 97 0 0 0
25 -32 NA

Not sure how to try to peak the (s) signals, but when I try very minor adjustments they do not improve and some others (101, 119, etc.) degrade.

Any ideas suggestions greatly appreciated. I have an Acutrac III plus but do not know how to better focus on the problem I have.

Thanks a lot.

LBP
 
#11 ·
Signal strength looks good across the board. Do not concern yourself with low readings on the (s) satellites, those are spot beams for particular markets, not national feeds. Your 103(c) and 99(c) look good, those are the ones to look at if you suspect signal strength/antenna alignment problems.

If you are having issues with 'missing' channels or content, the cause is quite likely something other than antenna alignment. Post back with your particular problems and the experts here will be glad to assist.
 
#12 ·
LowPingBoy said:
TS Hanna got me. Low/no signal on 99(s) and 103(s). Checked the plumb with a laser +/- .001 degree on each. No local HD, 269 HD, etc.

Current signals:

<snip signal levels>

Not sure how to try to peak the (s) signals, but when I try very minor adjustments they do not improve and some others (101, 119, etc.) degrade.

Any ideas suggestions greatly appreciated. I have an Acutrac III plus but do not know how to better focus on the problem I have.

Thanks a lot.

LBP
You don't have an alignment issue. Whatever issue you have is somewhere else in your system.
 
#13 ·
Don't want to steal this thread but I also have a problem with my first time self install with a Slimline. I can't seem to get any higher number than these. Could these numbers indicate elevation or something more?

101

1-8 72 73 30 0 73 80 69 79
9-16 73 74 70 0 73 81 67 82
17-24 70 93 69 0 73 80 69 79
25-32 75 0 70 92 74 79 67 82

119

1-8 n/a
9-16 n/a
17-24 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 55 0 49
25-32 0 73 59 62 0 65 47 63

99c

1-8 49 43 45 39 48 43 45 40
9-16 48 44 43 34 51 44

103c

1-8 33 33 32 35 32 33 33 34
9-16 31 33 33 36 33 35

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
 
#14 ·
kerry431 said:
Don't want to steal this thread but I also have a problem with my first time self install with a Slimline. I can't seem to get any higher number than these. Could these numbers indicate elevation or something more?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Could be elevation, azimuth or tilt. Or all of them. Basically your alignment sucks.
 
#17 ·
jal said:
Hey guys: I have a similar problem, but with 103(c) On 101, 110, 199, all in the 90s. On 99(c) in the mid 80s. On 103(c) high 60s to low 70s. What is it?
A little bit of elevation with a dash of tilt.
 
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