I think you need a Zinwell 6x8 Multiswitch with the slimline dish.
Need some help troubleshooting install
Yesterday DirecTV came and swapped out my 3LNB dish to a 5LNB dish. Since then, my setup has been unusable - I need some help figuring out what my next step should be. Here's the deal:
Currently have a HR20 and two H20's that were previously fed from the 3LNB dish through an Eagle Aspen 4x8 multiswitch that duplexed in OTA. Worked great, no problems. After the dish swap, the receivers are having problems with pixelation on the SD channels, and don't get anything on HD channels. I used to get ESPNHD on 73, but now it reports a 727 error - channel not available. Pretty much the only thing that works at all is OTA (good thing too - no Olympics would have my wife really mad!). BTW, I've installed the BBC on the HR20, and tried taking it on/off the H20 - no difference.
It looks like I'm getting signal strengths in the 90's on 101, 110, 119 but zero strength on 99c and a mix of 0/66 on 99s.
So... not knowing too much about this, I'm wondering:
- Is the multiswitch messing with things?
- Is the cabling bad for the new dish, even though it worked with the previous setup?
- Should I try going with a SWM self install to see if that would fix things? I wanted to do that anyway to get both tuners on the HR20 running.
- Should I just call DirecTV and get a service call? I'm afraid they're going to balk at seeing the Aspen multiswitch and not do anything.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Currently have a HR20 and two H20's that were previously fed from the 3LNB dish through an Eagle Aspen 4x8 multiswitch that duplexed in OTA. Worked great, no problems. After the dish swap, the receivers are having problems with pixelation on the SD channels, and don't get anything on HD channels. I used to get ESPNHD on 73, but now it reports a 727 error - channel not available. Pretty much the only thing that works at all is OTA (good thing too - no Olympics would have my wife really mad!). BTW, I've installed the BBC on the HR20, and tried taking it on/off the H20 - no difference.
It looks like I'm getting signal strengths in the 90's on 101, 110, 119 but zero strength on 99c and a mix of 0/66 on 99s.
So... not knowing too much about this, I'm wondering:
- Is the multiswitch messing with things?
- Is the cabling bad for the new dish, even though it worked with the previous setup?
- Should I try going with a SWM self install to see if that would fix things? I wanted to do that anyway to get both tuners on the HR20 running.
- Should I just call DirecTV and get a service call? I'm afraid they're going to balk at seeing the Aspen multiswitch and not do anything.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
1. The multiswitch you are using is not wide-band capable. You need a WB68.
2. You can't diplex OTA with the new HD and 5-LNB dish, at least not with a normal installation.
Start with a WB68 and no OTA. Get that working properly. THen do some searching here about adding OTA to the HD setup. There are some tricks you can try that may or may not work.
Carl
2. You can't diplex OTA with the new HD and 5-LNB dish, at least not with a normal installation.
Start with a WB68 and no OTA. Get that working properly. THen do some searching here about adding OTA to the HD setup. There are some tricks you can try that may or may not work.
Carl
If the multiswitch is a known bad deal with the new dish, I'll go ahead and order the SWM stuff. My understanding is I can duplex in OTA with an SWM, although some success has varied...
the 4x8 multiswitch is only rated for 950-1450 MHZ where the 5LNB requireslatimere said:If the multiswitch is a known bad deal with the new dish, I'll go ahead and order the SWM stuff. My understanding is I can duplex in OTA with an SWM, although some success has varied...
frequency rating of 250-2150 for the HD to function properly
Based on the equipment listed in the OP's post, he doesn't need a switch at all. He lists 1 HR20 & 2 H20s, 4 tuners. So first thing is that the switch needs to go, or be replaced with a WB or a SWM.
Next is the OTA, sounds like you got things diplexed. The diplexers need to go.
Doing those two things should get everything back in working order.
Next is the OTA, sounds like you got things diplexed. The diplexers need to go.
Doing those two things should get everything back in working order.
Yep.. pull the switch and hook the lines together with barrel connectors.. also pull any diplexers.. this will get you up and running till you can get the swm..
As above.......you don't need a switch........the guy who just changed the dish also probably doesn't know of the WB 6x8 or the SWB......clueless HSP lad, no doubt.
So barrel the four sat lines from the new dish to the four existing house lines.
AND move the BBCs upstream the from the diplexers and split the OTA four times.
as in: Ka/Ku.......BBC....sat line to diplexer...barrel connect to house line
+
OTA to spliter( x 4) to ant line diplexer " " " "
You need 4 diplexers, a 1 x 4 splitter for the OTA ...(the barrel connectors could be ground blocks) and you are back where you were. Moving the BBCs is reported to work but they are not weather proof & DTV does not support the practice.
Joe
So barrel the four sat lines from the new dish to the four existing house lines.
AND move the BBCs upstream the from the diplexers and split the OTA four times.
as in: Ka/Ku.......BBC....sat line to diplexer...barrel connect to house line
+
OTA to spliter( x 4) to ant line diplexer " " " "
You need 4 diplexers, a 1 x 4 splitter for the OTA ...(the barrel connectors could be ground blocks) and you are back where you were. Moving the BBCs is reported to work but they are not weather proof & DTV does not support the practice.
Joe
Thanks for the previous responses. Based on your feedback, I went ahead and did a self install of a SWM8. At first, I used a SWS4 to split the feed coming out of the SWM1 line, and I duplexed OTA in on the SWM. With this, the HR20 worked OK on sat channels, but one of the H20's was giving "multiswitch error" messages. Oh, and the OTA signal was too low - getting pixelation and breakup.
So, I got rid of the SWS4 and plugged the HR20 into SWM1, the problem H20 into SWM2, and the other H20 (which is on a non-HD TV) into one of the legacy ports. Things were somewhat better in that the HR20 worked fine, the non-HD H20 seemed to work OK except for not getting new MPEG4 channels, and the "problem" H20 would work 50% of time, but still give errors about the multiswitch.
So...I tried swapping the HR20 and H20 on SWM1/2. Fixed the problem on the H20, and the HR20 seems to work OK. Once in awhile a HD channel freezes up, but not very often. OTA signal strength is improved, but strength on the local NBC station is still an issue.
Couple of questions:
1. Anyone know if it is likely an issue with the SWM ports or is it the difference between HR20 and H20 that causes them to be so picky on which receiver is connected to which SWM port?
2. Anyway to boost the OTA signal coming through the system? I'd like to be able to get better signal on the current setup, and ideally have enough signal to support running the H20's off of a SWS2 in the future as I add HD capable TV's. Would a OTA preamp/amp wired in before the SWM help at all?
3. As an aside, I was hoping one of the benefits of the SWM would be multi-tuner capability on the HR20. I've noticed that if I am recording from OTA and sat, I can't watch another sat channel. Is this normal behavior - ie, can I record OTA, a sat channel, and watch a different channel all at the same time?
Thanks in advance...
So, I got rid of the SWS4 and plugged the HR20 into SWM1, the problem H20 into SWM2, and the other H20 (which is on a non-HD TV) into one of the legacy ports. Things were somewhat better in that the HR20 worked fine, the non-HD H20 seemed to work OK except for not getting new MPEG4 channels, and the "problem" H20 would work 50% of time, but still give errors about the multiswitch.
So...I tried swapping the HR20 and H20 on SWM1/2. Fixed the problem on the H20, and the HR20 seems to work OK. Once in awhile a HD channel freezes up, but not very often. OTA signal strength is improved, but strength on the local NBC station is still an issue.
Couple of questions:
1. Anyone know if it is likely an issue with the SWM ports or is it the difference between HR20 and H20 that causes them to be so picky on which receiver is connected to which SWM port?
2. Anyway to boost the OTA signal coming through the system? I'd like to be able to get better signal on the current setup, and ideally have enough signal to support running the H20's off of a SWS2 in the future as I add HD capable TV's. Would a OTA preamp/amp wired in before the SWM help at all?
3. As an aside, I was hoping one of the benefits of the SWM would be multi-tuner capability on the HR20. I've noticed that if I am recording from OTA and sat, I can't watch another sat channel. Is this normal behavior - ie, can I record OTA, a sat channel, and watch a different channel all at the same time?
Thanks in advance...
1. Anyone know if it is likely an issue with the SWM ports or is it the difference between HR20 and H20 that causes them to be so picky on which receiver is connected to which SWM port?
Shouldn't matter which port.. What kind or cable are yu useing?
2. Anyway to boost the OTA signal coming through the system? I'd like to be able to get better signal on the current setup, and ideally have enough signal to support running the H20's off of a SWS2 in the future as I add HD capable TV's. Would a OTA preamp/amp wired in before the SWM help at all?
You can add an amp.. Best thing is to add it right at the antenna..
3. As an aside, I was hoping one of the benefits of the SWM would be multi-tuner capability on the HR20. I've noticed that if I am recording from OTA and sat, I can't watch another sat channel. Is this normal behavior - ie, can I record OTA, a sat channel, and watch a different channel all at the same time?
It will only record 2 at a time.. that is 2 sat or 2 ota or 1sat+1ota.. You can watch a recording at the same time..
Shouldn't matter which port.. What kind or cable are yu useing?
2. Anyway to boost the OTA signal coming through the system? I'd like to be able to get better signal on the current setup, and ideally have enough signal to support running the H20's off of a SWS2 in the future as I add HD capable TV's. Would a OTA preamp/amp wired in before the SWM help at all?
You can add an amp.. Best thing is to add it right at the antenna..
3. As an aside, I was hoping one of the benefits of the SWM would be multi-tuner capability on the HR20. I've noticed that if I am recording from OTA and sat, I can't watch another sat channel. Is this normal behavior - ie, can I record OTA, a sat channel, and watch a different channel all at the same time?
It will only record 2 at a time.. that is 2 sat or 2 ota or 1sat+1ota.. You can watch a recording at the same time..
Since you got diplexers in the mix, who knows what is affecting your signal.
As such, I'm done here.
Good luck.
As such, I'm done here.
Good luck.
Everything is running RG-6 for cable as best I can tell. Honestly, if I can get OTA signal levels up that would make me 95% happy right now. Anyone have recommendations on a OTA amp??
houskamp said:1. Anyone know if it is likely an issue with the SWM ports or is it the difference between HR20 and H20 that causes them to be so picky on which receiver is connected to which SWM port?
Shouldn't matter which port.. What kind or cable are yu useing?
2. Anyway to boost the OTA signal coming through the system? I'd like to be able to get better signal on the current setup, and ideally have enough signal to support running the H20's off of a SWS2 in the future as I add HD capable TV's. Would a OTA preamp/amp wired in before the SWM help at all?
You can add an amp.. Best thing is to add it right at the antenna..
3. As an aside, I was hoping one of the benefits of the SWM would be multi-tuner capability on the HR20. I've noticed that if I am recording from OTA and sat, I can't watch another sat channel. Is this normal behavior - ie, can I record OTA, a sat channel, and watch a different channel all at the same time?
It will only record 2 at a time.. that is 2 sat or 2 ota or 1sat+1ota.. You can watch a recording at the same time..
OTA amps that aren't right at the antenna are near useless. You want one with the power supply in your house and the amp near the antenna.latimere said:Everything is running RG-6 for cable as best I can tell. Honestly, if I can get OTA signal levels up that would make me 95% happy right now. Anyone have recommendations on a OTA amp??
See my sig for a good model, it's from Channel Master. There are other versions with less gain or are UHF only.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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