MRV Problem

1562 Views 17 Replies 6 Participants Last post by veryoldschool, Jan 30, 2012

Bevostein

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2012

I transitioned from unsupported MRV to supported MRV last week. I also upgraded from a SWM8 to SWM 16. I was in a real rush while the tech was here and the service call was running long so we did not check one of my boxes for internet and MRV connectivity before he left. The others were working so I assumed all would work.

I have one box that won't get internet or MRV. It previously connected no problem thru unsupported MRV. My system is a SWM16 with an HR34 and a HR24 being fed from the channel 2 of the SWM thru a 2 way splitter. I also have a HR22 and a HR21 being fed from channel 1 of the SWM thru a 4 way splitter. It is not a green label splitter but it was a splitter that I used with the SWM8 and was an approved splitter for the SWM8 when originally installed. The tech said a green label splitter wasn't required since the SWM16 is powered directly into its power port. The cable distance from the PI to the SWM is only 5 feet (Is that a problem? I have read something about 15 foot minimum of RG6 but don't know if that applies to the direct power port on the SWM.)

The HR34, HR24 and HR22 connect to the internet and see each other over MRV just fine. The HR21 can not connect to the internet or see the other boxes. Nor do the other boxes see the HR21.

I have checked all connections, rebooted the HR21, checked to make sure the DECA wasn't bad by switching the HR22 DECA and HR21 DECA, rebooted the SWM, and called Directv tech services and did troubleshooting with. No luck with any of that.

I have a service call tomorrow afternoon but hate waiting around for them. Any other suggestions on things to try before the tech gets here?

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

PokerJoker

· #2 · Jan 28, 2012

You probably need to replace that non-green label splitter. The tech was incorrect and misinformed about why green label splitters are needed. It has nothing to do with power. The actual reason is that they are designed to do a much better job of passing the DECA signal through to each device.

Keith

old7

· #3 · Jan 28, 2012

Personally, I'm suspicious of the splitter. I'd start by switching ports on the 4-way splitter to see if that makes any difference. You may need to reboot.

If it isn't too much trouble I might also try moving the HR-21 to another location and see if it works there.

veryoldschool

· #4 · Jan 28, 2012

Not sure how everything is laid out, which would help.

The non green labeled splitter, may be approved for SWiM, but isn't for DECA, "but" this means the loss from output to output is high and it still should work for seeing receivers on the other SWiM-16 output.
What are the LED colors on the DECA connected to the HR21?

Next would be to use the HR24 to run DECA tests.

This can be done on the front panel, by pressing the guide and right arrow buttons [both]. It may take a few tries, but you should see a menu with coax on the left.
The first test shows the loss between all the DECAs and the next [Phy Mesh] shows the quality of the networking.

So check that the 3 LEDs are green, and if so, post the results of the two tests here.

Bevostein

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 28, 2012

old7 said:
Personally, I'm suspicious of the splitter. I'd start by switching ports on the 4-way splitter to see if that makes any difference. You may need to reboot.

If it isn't too much trouble I might also try moving the HR-21 to another location and see if it works there.

I did switch ports on the splitter but didn't reboot afterwards. I will try that. Haven't tried moving the box. That's a good idea

Bevostein

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 28, 2012

veryoldschool said:
Not sure how everything is laid out, which would help.

The non green labeled splitter, may be approved for SWiM, but isn't for DECA, "but" this means the loss from output to output is high and it still should work for seeing receivers on the other SWiM-16 output.
What are the LED colors on the DECA connected to the HR21?

Next would be to use the HR24 to run DECA tests.

This can be done on the front panel, by pressing the guide and right arrow buttons [both]. It may take a few tries, but you should see a menu with coax on the left.
The first test shows the loss between all the DECAs and the next [Phy Mesh] shows the quality of the networking.

So check that the 3 LEDs are green, and if so, post the results of the two tests here.

As for the nonworking DECA lights - the power light is green, the link light is flashing yellow and the network light is unlit.

The layout - I don't have a schematic so I will try to describe it - I have a central box in the garage that has power. The 4 lines from the satellite come to the central box and connect to the SWM16. The SWM16 PI is plugged into an outlet in the central box and has a 5 foot RG6 cable that goes the DC power port on the SWM16.

Channel 2 of the SWM is connected to an RG6 cable that runs to the family room of the house. The HR24 and HR34 are in this location. The line running here goes into a 2 way green label splitter that is at the location of the HR24 and HR34. One output of the 2 way splitter feed the HR24 and the other the HR34. This results in channel 2 of the SWM16 having 7 tuners attached to it.

Channel 1 of the SWM is connected to the "In" port of the non green label splitter by a 1 foot RG6. The 4 way splitter is in the central box. The splitter is an SWS-4 splitter. It is just like this one found at solid signal

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=sws-4&d=DIRECTV-SWS-4-Satellite-4-Way-Wide-Band-(2--2150-MHz)-Splitter-(SWS-4)&sku=874409002428

If you look at the SWS-4 image on solid signal, the HR22 is connected via RG6 coming in from the master bedroom to the bottom left port of the SWS-4. There is a white DECA attached to the HR22

The nonworking HR21 is connected via RG6 coming in from the kids playroom to the top left port. This is the power port although it is not being used to supply power to the SWM16. I have also tried the HR21 on the top right port.

A DECA broadband adapter is also install in the central box. It is plugged into a router in the central box and a 4 foot RG6 cable connects the adapter to the SWS-4. This line is attached to the bottom right port of the SWS-4, again referencing the picture on solid signal.

Hope that description helps.

I will run the tests you described with the HR24 and post of the results

Thanks for everyone's suggestions

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Bevostein

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 28, 2012

What seems weird to me is that the HR24 and HR34 on channel 2 of the SWM can see the HR22 on channel 1 of the SWM but none can see the HR21 that is on channel 1.

And the internet is coming off of channel 1.

Bevostein

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 28, 2012

One other item, the HR21 has no problem getting the satellite channels. It is just internet and MRV not working on that box.

Davenlr

· #9 · Jan 28, 2012

Bevostein said:
One other item, the HR21 has no problem getting the satellite channels. It is just internet and MRV not working on that box.

Could it be something simple like a bad ethernet cable between the DECA and the HR21?

veryoldschool

· #10 · Jan 28, 2012

Bevostein said:
As for the nonworking DECA lights - the power light is green, the link light is flashing yellow and the network light is unlit.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...--2150-MHz)-Splitter-(SWS-4)&sku=874409002428

If you look at the SWS-4 image on solid signal, the HR22 is connected via RG6 coming in from the master bedroom to the bottom left port of the SWS-4. There is a white DECA attached to the HR22

The nonworking HR21 is connected via RG6 coming in from the kids playroom to the top left port. This is the power port although it is not being used to supply power to the SWM16. I have also tried the HR21 on the top right port.

A DECA broadband adapter is also install in the central box. It is plugged into a router in the central box and a 4 foot RG6 cable connects the adapter to the SWS-4. This line is attached to the bottom right port of the SWS-4, again referencing the picture on solid signal.

Hope that description helps.

I will run the tests you described with the HR24 and post of the results

Thanks for everyone's suggestions

So the blinking cLink is why this is off line. The DECA isn't syncing/finding another DECA.
While the SAT levels seem fine, this coax may have a diplexer or some other item that is blocking the DECA signal.

veryoldschool

· #11 · Jan 28, 2012

Davenlr said:
Could it be something simple like a bad ethernet cable between the DECA and the HR21?

First the cLink needs to be green, as that is when the RF DECA is good.

HoTat2

· #12 · Jan 28, 2012

veryoldschool said:
First the cLink needs to be green, as that is when the RF DECA is good.

I'm actually still a bit confused by the distinction between the "c.Link" and "NTWK" indicators on a DECA module.

I once thought a lit green Network indicator simply meant the DECA was connected to a valid ethernet LAN client with the blinking noting the flow of data packets between them as the LAN indicators for many other network devices do.

Yet I notice when a DECA is powered up and properly connected to other DECAs in the cloud the NTWK indicator turns green and flickers even without the ethernet cable connected to a client.

Bevostein

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 29, 2012

veryoldschool said:
So the blinking cLink is why this is off line. The DECA isn't syncing/finding another DECA.
While the SAT levels seem fine, this coax may have a diplexer or some other item that is blocking the DECA signal.

Nailed it! Turns out there was a diplexer at that location. There is a large entertainment center with all the cabling behind it. I installed the entertainment center 3 years ago and I now remember that I put a diplexer inline so I could add an AM21 at some point. Never got around to adding the AM21 and completely forgot about the diplexer 3 years later....

Thank you for rescuing my Sunday afternoon from the waiting game

veryoldschool

· #14 · Jan 29, 2012

Bevostein said:
Nailed it! Turns out there was a diplexer at that location. There is a large entertainment center with all the cabling behind it. I installed the entertainment center 3 years ago and I now remember that I put a diplexer inline so I could add an AM21 at some point. Never got around to adding the AM21 and completely forgot about the diplexer 3 years later....

Thank you for rescuing my Sunday afternoon from the waiting game

It sure helps when the person asking for help, also gives enough info to point to what the problem is.
Good SAT, but no cLink was the give-a-way.

Bevostein

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 30, 2012

VOS - In doing the troubleshooting for my original problem I ran the coax network test on my HR24 like you suggested. It says "coax network not connected". The HR24 can be seen by my other boxes and it can see them. It can download VOD so it is internet connected. I have rerun the satellite setup, RBRed the box, powered down the SWM and done a number of other things to see if it will show connected. My HR34, which is on the same line as the HR24, does not show the same error when I run the test. It shows connected and provides the measurements.

Two questions, I guess:

Does it really matter that it says this given I seem to be able to connect to other boxes and download? Maybe I should leave well enough alone but am I missing something I don't realize?

Any suggestions on other things to try to go about fixing this? The only other thing I can think to do is move the box to another location and see if I have the same issue.

veryoldschool

· #16 · Jan 30, 2012

I wouldn't want a HR24 telling me it wasn't coax connected, when it was.
Try it at another location, and next I'd try a "reset everything" [wiping out all recordings and settings!!!!!!], and then see if it showed it was connected after setting it back up.
If nothing worked, I'd look to get it replaced.

Bevostein

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 30, 2012

Yea that's the way I look at it too. I don't like things "not working" even if they are working.

The HR34 and HR24 are at the same location. I will just power them down and switch the RG6 lines. If the problem moves to the HR34 I will know its the in the line. If the problem stays with the HR24 its in the box and I will try the reset.

veryoldschool

· #18 · Jan 30, 2012

Bevostein said:
Yea that's the way I look at it too. I don't like things "not working" even if they are working.

The HR34 and HR24 are at the same location. I will just power them down and switch the RG6 lines. If the problem moves to the HR34 I will know its the in the line. If the problem stays with the HR24 its in the box and I will try the reset.

Since they're so close, another thing to do is pull the power cord on it for a good 10 mins. I didn't post this before, because "the move" would have done this.
You've got a glitch that needs to clear, and the re-running of the SAT setup should have done this.
Maybe also try resetting the network defaults and run the "connect now" option.

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